THANKS TO KELLY FOR GETTING US A COUPLE PAIRS OF LUNAR ECLIPSE GLASSES

 NOT THE USUAL ECLIPSE PHOTO BUT IT IS A QUICK SHOT OF THE SUN DURING THE ECLIPSE

'Oh-Oh', it was a solid cloud cover we woke up to this morning and I knew that was not going to bode well for this afternoon's total Moon eclipse if it didn't clear up.

 WHILE VIEWING THE ECLIPSE IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS LITTLE BUNNY CAME RIGHT UP TO MY CHAIR TO ASK ME WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT

Luckily, our skies cleared by early afternoon and our temps shot up to 67F. and that had me outside and busy in our front yard for a few hours.  Of course, I have a lot of aches and pains going on but that is normal for me every year at this time with the Spring clean-up.  No aches or pain coming from my hip though.  It's mainly my lower back and legs as per usual.  Thanks to Kelly for getting us a couple pairs of lunar eclipse glasses that made it possible to watch the eclipse this afternoon.  It wasn't complete totality here (91.1%) but it was close with just a small sliver of sunlight on the west side.  Kelly watched it from our front deck and I watched it from a gravity chair in our front yard.  For me, I enjoyed how the stillness in the air descended upon our front yard hushing all the birds and making the afternoon surreal.    

 WATCHING THE LUNAR ECLIPSE IN IT'S EARLY PHASE

 FITTING THE SUN BLOCKER GLASSES OVER MY REGULAR GLASSES

 PHEEBS WASN'T INTERESTED IN PUTTING ON A PAIR OF GLASSES

With my mood in a downward spiral during last week's cold, drab, and dreary weather I decided to continue the cheering-up of my mind through my reading.  Again, I wanted to awaken that young boy in me and have that fella once again be a part of other young people's and children's happy games and adventures.  So, I chose another book from Prince Edward Island's Lucy Maude Montgomery.  The Story Girl let my imagination romp and play through the fictional pages with Felix, Peter, Felicity, Sara Ray, Cecily, Dan, Beverly, and the Story Girl herself, Sara Stanley.  I finished the book today and haven't decided on my next read yet but in keeping with my present state of mind I'm sure it will once again be something light and breezy, flecked with humor, and of course, appealing to the much younger boy in me.  I liked my childhood, and in these times of stress, and craziness in the world, I let my mind playfully wander back to those happier days through authors and stories from people like Lucy Maude Montgomery.  Here is an example of the scenic pictures she continues to paint in my mind with each one of her books. "November dreamed that it was May.  The air was soft and mellow, with leafless beeches on the western hill.  The sere stubble fields brooded in glamour, and the sky was pearly blue.  The leaves were still thick on the apple trees, though they were russet hued, and the after-growth of grass was richly green, unharmed as yet by the nipping frost of previous nights.  The wind made a sweet, drowsy murmur in the boughs, as of bees among the apple blossoms." 

 SO NICE TO SEE SUNSHINE AND WARMER TEMPERATURES TEASING MORE AND MORE PLANTS OUT OF WINTER'S COLD GROUND

Al's Music Box:)) A Teenager In Love is a song written by Doc Pomus and partner Mort Shuman. It was originally recorded by Dion and the Belmonts, and released in March 1959.  It was commissioned byLaurie Records, originally intended for the doo-wop singing group The Mystics. Laurie Records, however, gave the song to Dion & The Belmonts instead to record, and Pomus and Shuman then quickly wrote another song, "Hushabye" for the Mystics. Dion initially thought the song sounded "wimpy", but then realized the sound the song has when the Belmonts started singing "ooh-wah" at the start of the song. "A Teenager in Love" was released with "I've Cried Before" on its B-side in April 1959. 

 A FRONT YARD ORNAMENT AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU WILL SEE FACES IN SOME OF THOSE GLASS BEADS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side,he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.  But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea.He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked,  "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"  "It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the Meteorologist at the weather service responded.  So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.  One week later he called the National Weather Service again."Is it going to be a very cold winter?" he asked.  "Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied,"it's going to be a very cold winter."  The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.  Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"  "Absolutely," the man replied. "It looks like it's going to be one of the coldest winters ever."  "How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.  The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy".

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- Why did the dude only smell good on the right side? He didn't know where to buy Left Guard!

- It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker.

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At school one morning the teacher asked little Johnny what he had for breakfast. Little Johnny said, well, on my way to school I came across this Apple tree, so I climbed up there and started eating apples. I guess I eat about six, said little Johnny. No, said the teacher, it’s ate! Little Johnny said well it could've been eight I don't remember.

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WE MAY GET TO SEE THE ECLIPSE OR WE MAY NOT

 THE EYE OF THE TURTLE IS UPON ME

We're on a roll.  Two sunny mornings in a row.  'Wow':))  My computer's weather station said it was only 27F when we got up.  Kelly's weather station said it was 32F.  I think I will switch to her weather station.  I like the weather better over there.

BLUE BLUE BLUE

 BLUE SKY IN THE WATER

 THE BELL TOWER OF AN OLD SCHOOL HOUSE

IF I LIVED IN THE COUNTRY I WOULD LIKE AN OLD STONE BUILDING LIKE THIS ON THE PROPERTY

With no wind this morning Pheebs and I headed out to our country road spot and for the first time since maybe last year we briskly walked our quarter mile up the gravel road and back.  I didn't need my cane and my hip felt fine.  Pheebs was happy to be out there again she was racing around like a little crazy horse.  You would have thought she was a young puppy dog.

OUR HALF-MILE WALKING SPOT

After our walk, with Pheebs window down and fine instrumental music beamed in from Sirius Satellite Radio, we dusted up a few country roads, soaked up Spring's scenery, and eventually headed home.

SOON THIS GRAY-BROWN FOREST WILL BE A GREEN GREEN AND GREEN FOREST

 AN OLD TRACTOR TIRE AND SOME TEASELS

THIS AGED DIESEL ENGINE IS WAITING FOR A GOOD SET OF STABLE WHEELS TO COME AND TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE

 TWO BLURRY WILD TURKEY PHOTOS BUT NOTICE THE COLORS ON THESE GUYS

THIS PHOTO OF A STUMP IS A MUCH CROPPED SECTION OF A MUCH LARGER PHOTO AND WHAT MY IMAGINATION SEES HERE IS A MAMMOTH PYTHON ON THE LEFT WITH JAWS AGAPE ABOUT TO BITE THE SNOUT OF A NEEDLE NOSE CROCODILE AND.....DID YOU NOTICE THE 'REAL' CANADA GOOSE??  SHE MUST HAVE A NEST THERE IN THAT OLD STUMP 

Feeling good, I was soon back outside loading up the wheelbarrow with all our usual old lawn ornaments.  I plan to make a few more minor changes to our front yard so I didn't set any yard stuff in place.  So, what are the changes??  Darned if I know but I'm sure I will think of something shortly:))

On our afternoon walk over around the Park's pond, Pheebs and I saw half a dozen painted turtles, about thirty goldfish, and one Canada Goose.

With bright sunshine beaming through our sunroom windows this afternoon it got up to 84F and I had to fire up my floor fan to cool myself down.  For me, 84F is a little much.

Checking the weather for Monday it's calling for sun and cloud so we may get to see the eclipse or we may not.  Thanks to Kelly, and speedy Amazon, we did have a pair of proper glasses arrive early this afternoon.  And no, I don't have any interest in trying to photograph the event.  There will be plenty of fine photos on the internet I'm sure.      

Al's Music Box:)) Canadian Sunset is a popular song with music by jazz pianist Eddie Heywood and lyrics by Norman Gimbel.  An instrumental version by Heywood and Hugo Winterhalter reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 7 on the R&B chart in 1956. 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A farmer purchases an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields are grown over with weeds, the farmhouse is falling apart, and the fences are collapsing all around.  During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!"  A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's like a completely different place--the farmhouse is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there are plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows.  "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!"  "Yes, reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!"

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- Sometimes someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever.  We call those people cops.

- My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

- When one door closes and another door opens, it means you are probably in prison.

- Age 60 might be the new 40 but 9 p.m. is now the new midnight.

The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

When I say 'the other day' I could be referring to any time between yesterday and fifteen years ago.

- If you enjoy yelling "What?" from the other room?  Then marriage might be for you.

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SUCH AN UNKNOWN FOR SO LONG NOW

THE ALGOMA NIAGARA TIED UP IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GODERICH'S HARBOR

Despite this morning's cold air, the big bright blue sky sure boosted my morale.  With 3 prescriptions to pick up (two for Kelly and one for me) Pheebs and I piled into the Jeep and headed straightaway to Goderich taking in the sunny scenery all the way.  

LAKE HURON WAS A BEAUTIFUL DEEP AQUA GREENY BLUE THIS MORNING

 SPOTTED THIS FELLOW IN BLUE QUIETLY SITTING BY THE WATER'S EDGE AT ROTARY COVE

 HAD THERE NOT BEEN AN ICY COLD WIND BLOWING IN OF THE FREEZING WATERS OF LAKE HURON, PHEEBS AND I WOULD HAVE HEADED DOWN THIS PATH IN ROTARY COVE'S DOG WALKING AREA

 NICE TO SEE FAMILIES GETTING OUT AND ABOUT AGAIN

 PHEEBS WAITING PATIENTLY WHILE I STEPPED OUT OF THE JEEP TO TAKE A FEW PHOTOS

With a McDonalds' decaff coffee in hand, we slipped down to the harbor.  How nice to see sunshine popping out colors again.  Our days have been sooooo dull and drab-looking lately.

 I ALMOST MISSED SEEING THE SAGINAW TUCKED TIGHTLY IN ALONGSIDE THE HARBOR'S GRAIN ELEVATORS

 THE GODERICH GRAIN ELEVATORS AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THE SAGINAW AT LOWER RIGHT

 ATOP LAKE HURON'S BLUFFS THE GODERICH LIGHTHOUSE KEEPS WATCH OVER THE HARBOR 

With a quick stop at the Walmart Pharmacy for prescriptions I picked up a handful of groceries along the way. I was soon back out to the car and we were on our way home with Pheebs window open all the way and hardly any heat on.  Yes, the day was slowly warming up a notch:))

 LOOK CAREFULLY AND YOU WILL SEE A NUMBER OF FACES IN THE ROCK AS WELL AS A MOTHER BENDING DOWN TO TOUCH NOSES WITH HER LITTLE ONE

 IN THIS PHOTO YOU WILL SEE A GORILLA HEAD WITH IT'S FACE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE

 THE SAGINAW BLENDS SO WELL INTO THE SHADOW OF THE GRAIN ELEVATORS THAT IT COULD BE EASILY MISSED

Home again I raked up some more leaves and pine needles and topped up the bird feeders.  With energy to spare I rolled the Subaru out, grabbed a bucket of soapy water along with the garden hose, and washed the car.  First time hand washing a vehicle this year.  Maybe tomorrow I will begin hauling out some summer yard stuff and in so doing I can clean up our two utility sheds at the same time.  Or, maybe not.

 IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE A CLEAN CAR

My hip is doing great and I no longer need my cane for anything.  And not to worry, I'll not be attempting the Watusi, the Twist, or the Limbo Rock any time soon. 

 GODERICH HAS A SUPERB MUSEUM.....HURON COUNTY MUSEUM

With Kelly's liver-related itching steadily worsening she has had to resort to even stronger medications now which adds to the number of pills she has to take every day.  It's a real balancing act for her trying to remember what pills to take and when.  One of those pills is three times a day and not all of the pills she takes are compatible with each other.  And, it's the side effects from the pills that cause her so much nausea.  Late evening and through the night are some of her most difficult times and getting a good night's sleep is rare.  Mid-evening and sometimes during the day is when she has to apply towel-wrapped frozen water bottles to her arms to try and deaden the severe itching.  I sure hope she gets the call for a liver transplant soon.  They did tell her that by June she is to have an overnight bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice.  But, who knows how long after that it will be.  Everything has been such an unknown for so long now.

 AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE HARBOR

 THIS FELLA WAS TRYING TO GET PHEEBS ATTENTION

 BUT PHEEBS WASN'T AT ALL INTERESTED

 A FAR AWAY HOUSE ABOUT A MILE DISTANT ATOP A BIG HILL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR

Al's Music Box:)) Crystal Blue Persuasion is a 1968 song originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells and composed by Eddie Gray, Tommy James and Mike Vale. A gentle-tempo groove, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was built around a prominent organ part with an understated arrangement, more akin to The Rascals' sound at the time than to James's contemporary efforts with psychedelic rock. It included melodic passages for an acoustic guitar, as well as a bass pattern, played between the bridge and the third verse of the song.  According to James's manager, James was actually inspired by his readings of the Book of Ezekiel, which (he remembered as) speaking of a blue Shekhinah light that represented the presence of the Almighty God, and of the Book of Isaiah and Book of Revelation, which tell of a future age of brotherhood of mankind, living in peace and harmony.  At the time of the song's release, there were several popular types of high-quality blue-colored LSD tablets in circulation—some listeners generally assumed James was referring to "acid". In 1979, music writer Dave Marsh described it as "a transparent allegory about James' involvement with amphetamines."

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Paddy and his missus are lying in bed listening to the next-door neighbor's dog barking. It had been barking for hours and hours.  Suddenly, Paddy jumps out of bed and says, "I've had enough of this," and goes downstairs.  Paddy finally comes back up to bed and his wife says, "The dog is still barking. What have you been doing?"  Paddy says, "I've put their dog in our yard - now we'll see how they like it!"

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- What's the opposite of a microwave?
A tsunami.

- My doctor advised me to cut down on my sodium intake.  I took his advice with a pinch of salt.

- I never panic when I get lost.  I just change direction to where it is I want to go.

- Why do cows wear bells?
Because their horns don't work.

- I saw a book at the store today called "How to end 50% of your problems"  I bought two.

- I'm afraid that fulfilling my potential would really cut into my sitting-around time.

- What's Irish and comes out in the spring.  Paddy O'Furniture!

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