 |
| TUESDAY NIGHT'S SUNSET TAKEN FROM DEER PARK LODGE |
Realizing I was going to be a bit late for the sunset Tuesday night I didn't go all the way into Bayfield. Halfway between our Bayfield Pines Park and Bayfield's beach is Deer Park Lodge, where Kelly once worked. With it still being early in the season, I knew there wouldn't be many, if any, people there. One of the cabins at Deer Park is called 'The Hutch' and I knew I could catch the sunset there. The Hutch was Kelly's favorite cabin and any time her Mom & Dad or brother Peter and wife Leslie came for a visit, she always booked them into the Hutch. Her daughter, Sarah, with her then husband and children, once came for a visit and also stayed in the Hutch. I have fond memories of Kelly's family gatherings there. From Deer Park, I took my customary drive into Bayfield. The beach and harbor area, Pioneer Park, and a slow cruise up and down Bayfield's short Main Street. Bayfield, in my opinion, still retains its old fishing village charm and especially so in it's off season evening hours. I like it best when it's quiet and not bustling with summer tourists. From the quiet little village, as nightfall set in, I slowly made my way out into the countryside to my night sky spot. It's actually only an eight-minute drive from our Park. Arriving there, I settled into my spot, opened the moonroof, and tipped my seat back. With binoculars in hand, I was able to look up through the open roof and see the craters on the Moon, as well as one satellite moving from west to east. No meteorites, but that was okay. I just enjoy quietly sitting there under the starry night sky. And as Jack Horkheimer always said at the conclusion of his Astronomy Star Gazer TV show, "Keep Looking Up". |
| THE HUTCH |
 |
| A LOT OF NICE MEMORIES IN THIS COTTAGE |
A LOT OF NICE HOMES IN BAYFIELD WITH THIS BEING ONE OF THEM
Had I thought of going for a country road walk this morning, then that is what I would have done. But, I guess my mind was focused on a few more little outside projects, and my morning walk went right over my head. Let's just say I shoveled up more pea stone, relocated it, and planted more grass seed where the pea stone had been. If I ever stop planting grass, Scotts (grass seed company) is going to go out of business. Skies remained sunny and blue as temperatures slowly warmed up, making for another great day to be outside doing a number of small, but enjoyably creative and constructive things. For me, the phrase 'strike while the iron is hot' rings true. I know myself well enough to get as much done as possible while I am in my 'doing' frame of mind. It will not likely last, so I have to get myself out there every day and get as much done as I can, while I can. Also, with this aging thing ramping up now, I can foresee a day, maybe not too distant in the future, when I just might not be able to do all this enjoyable outside stuff. Also, at some point, I may sell this place, and if so, I want to have things looking saleable. Also, in the back of my mind now, there is this little voice constantly on my case saying 'Git er done Al, git er done'!! But no, there are no plans afoot to sell any time soon. I like it here:)) |
| SHOVELLING UP MORE PEA STONE THIS MORNING AND SHAKING THE DIRT OF THE STONES |
 |
| WHEN IT RAINS OUR DRIVEWAY CAN BECOME MUDDY, SO I MADE A WIDE PEASTONE PATH FROM OUR FRONT PORCH TO THE CARPORT (THE PATHWAY IS ON THE LEFT) |
 |
| MOVED OUR BLUE GAZING BALL TO A NEW LOCATION THIS AFTERNOON |
 |
| I AM SURPRISED TO SEE SOME OF OUR FERNS UP THIS HIGH ALREADY |
 |
| NICE TO HEAR THE BABBLING SOUND OF WATER IN OUR FRONT YARD FOR ANOTHER SEASON |
Al's Music Box:: Taxi by Harry Chapin.
GROANER'S CORNER:(( If Noah Built an Ark in 2026::And lo, in the year 2011, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said:
"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me."
"Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans."
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, "You have 6 months to build the ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard, but there was no ark.
"Noah! I'm about to start the rain! Where is the ark?"
"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed."
"I needed a building permit."
"I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system."
"My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision."
"Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it."
"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl."
"I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls, but no go!"
"When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space."
"Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood."
"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew."
"Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work."
"The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with ark-building experience.
"To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species."
"So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."
Suddenly, the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.
Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord. "The government beat me to it."
--------------------------
At a dinner party, the speaker who was the guest of honor, was about to deliver his speech when his wife sitting at the other end of the table, sent him a piece of paper with the word “KISS” scribbled on it. A guest seated next to the speaker said, “Your wife has sent you a KISS before you begin your speech. She must love you very much.” speaker replied, “You don't know my wife. The letters stand for “Keep It Short, Stupid.”
-----------------------
Al's Doggy World
Meanings::
Al's Art Gallery
