UNCLE HARRY GETS A NEW SET OF WHEELS:))

SPOTTED A GROUP OF WHITE EGRETS THIS MORNING (Officially called 'Great Egrets)

Picture perfect morning with blue sky's & big puffy white clouds.  Thoroughly enjoying these cooler temps & 60F first thing this morning made for a great start to the day. 

HULLET MARSH WITH A BIRD VIEWING STATION IN THE BACKGROUND

VIEW FROM THE BIRD LOOK-OUT

The Ritz Villa where my Uncle Harry lives phoned a few days ago saying his old 1950's style lamp plug was not up to code & the lamp should be replaced so that was my mission for this morning.  Rounded up a newer lamp we had here at home & headed for Mitchell.

THE HULLET MARSH IS MADE UP OF MANY CONNECTING PONDS & CREEKS

Because of the picturesque morning I took some extra back roads & made a few stops along the way at a large tract of land that had been set aside years ago as a wildlife nature area.  The HULLET MARSH covers hundreds of acres & before we moved to this area we would often drive here on a Sunday & hike all areas of this large Marsh.

I COULD SEE SOME WHITE OBJECTS ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MARSH & WITH MY 300MM LENS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE FOLLOWING EGRET PHOTOS

                      

(click on photos to enlarge)

Harry's room was a bee hive of activity when I arrived about 11:30 this morning.  Awhile back Harry had been measured up & fitted for a custom wheelchair & this morning it arrived about the same time I did.  Lynette, the Occupational Therapist lady from VHA REHAB SOLUTIONS who had done the original measuring was back along with two fellows from the company that built Harry's wheelchair.  CUSTOM MOBILITY is a fairly new company based in Southwestern Ontario specializing in custom built wheelchairs designed for the maximum comfort of it's occupants.  Instead of people having to wait months for a measuring & then have to drive long distances to Parkwood Hospital in London for fittings, Custom Mobility comes right to a Seniors place of residence & does everything in the comfort of one's own surroundings.

LYNETTE CHECKS A MEASUREMENT

I was extremely impressed how Fred Geiger, the company's director of operations & his assistant Kevin, along with  therapist Lynette took the time, care, consideration & concern to help Harry adjust to his new chair.  Kevin is the fellow who actually built the chair.  Their warmth & friendliness was obvious as they had Harry take the chair for a test drive in the hall.  A few adjustments here & there & soon Harry was all smiles with his spiffy new set of wheels.  And, in his day, Harry always took great pride in is big, shiny & spiffy Detroit wheels:))

LYNETTE & FRED LOOK ON WHILE KEVIN MAKES SOME ADJUSTMENTS

In my line of part time work I see & handle a fair few wheelchairs & I can honestly say Harry's chair was the best built chair I have ever seen.  He will get a lot of pleasurable miles out it & I'll bet there isn't another chair within 40 miles that could outrun his sporty new set of wheels in the quarter mile:))

HARRY CHECKS OUT SOME TOOLS THE BOYS BROUGHT

IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE THE WARMTH & CARE THESE GOOD PEOPLE HAD FOR UNCLE HARRY

The LONDON TRAILER HITCH CENTER phoned today confirming they can indeed get the parts shipped in to turn our little Jeep into a towable Jeep toad:))  We'll set a date for that shortly then take the Santa Fe & Jeep to London & have them switch some of the towing gear from the Santa Fe to the Jeep.  Things are coming together:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  And remember, don't let aging get you down because it's just too darned hard to get up again!!

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

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It is not the concept of God I have a problem with.....it's his fan club that causes me grievous concern:((

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

OK.....SO NOW I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED!!!!

HOW DID MY MISSING HAT GET HERE?????????

Confusion stepped right out of the shadows this afternoon & tapped me a good one on the end of the nose. Coming out of the house this afternoon about 3:30 I glanced up & came face to face with..........my missing blue Las Vegas ball cap!!!! There it was beside our driveway hanging on the branch of a basswood tree. I just stood there for the longest time staring at the hat. My brain was in muddled overdrive. How did my hat end up here?? Did I put it there a few days ago & forgot about it?? Did somebody find it & if so how would they know it was mine or where I lived ?? Was it a blog follower?? I retraced my steps over the last few days & am 90% sure I did not hang it in that tree. I'm sure I was wearing it when I was in Goderich Sunday. Or was I?? I am sooooooooo confused but it's a good confusion because I have one of my favorite hats back again. If it was a good Samaritan that found it maybe they will send me an email & let me off this confusion hook. If I didn't put it there myself, then a great big THANKS to whoever found it:)) The hat is still hanging in the tree because I'm afraid if I touch it.........the darn thing might just disappear on me again!! ONE OF THE WILDLIFE VIEWING STANDS AT THE HULLETT WILDLIFE MARSH

There is a large wildlife area near here just north east of Clinton called the HULLETT MARSH. It consists of forests, large ponds, swamp, & grassy fields. I have been hiking here on & off for the past 20 years. The Marsh is alive with all kinds of wildlife & was originally set aside by the group, Ducks Unlimited years ago. Thought it might be a good place to take the scope & cameras this afternoon. Loaded up Max & Checkers in the van & off we went on the short 25 minute drive to the marsh. The doggy guys were pretty happy guys to have some new territory to explore but before I could even get my gear out of the van they both had me in a big pile of trouble. I had parked near the water's edge & within seconds they were both right into the foul smelling swampy water wallowing like a couple of big furry pigs. I could smell the mud, the slime & the ooze from 30 feet away as they flopped right down in the muck. Before we got out of there later I had mud on my camera, my tri-pod, on me. & in the back of the van. What a mess & what a yukky swamp smell all the way home in the van with two big dripping wet swamper hogs back there. Tried hosing the guys down when we got back but that muck just stuck to their fur like glue. Mom's not too happy with us guys to-night:(( HEY DAD, COME ON IN THE WATER'S FINE!!

My Son Sean was working in the area for a couple days so popped over for supper this afternoon. Got caught up on a bunch of things. The first time I ever saw him was a few days after he was born. The next time I saw him was over 20 years later. (long story) He's a good fella & has done very well for himself. Sean holds down a full time supervisory position with a well known food company plus writes, records, & produces all his own music with his band, THE WEAK NEED. AN ANGRY RED WING BLACK BIRD

Just this past week 2 fellow RV Blog folks have lost their treasured pets. I came across this article on NODIN'S NEST awhile back when they lost their dog, Blue.
DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF A PET BLUE JAY IN A BIRD BATH (720mm telescope photo)

GROANER'S CORNER: The best way to communicate with fish is to drop them a line.

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