YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU ACCEPT IT + THE INTERNET WAS DOWN FOR 9 HOURS TUESDAY

 WE SURE HAVE HAD A LOT OF NICE BIG SKY DAYS LATELY

TUESDAY::  As has been my usual routine on evenings of late, I slipped out to my walking road Sunday night around 8:30 and took my stroll up the road and back.  And then, I broke with routine.  Try as I did to talk myself into slipping into Clinton for a coffee to go, I just couldn't seem to drum up any interest.  So, I came home, but not before I had snagged a couple of photos of a few cloud formations.  Oh, and on my walk Sunday night, I remembered to take a couple of photos of the spot where I took a tumble Saturday night in the ditch.

 THE DARKER PATCH IN THE TALL GRASS IS WHERE I FELL

 SUNDAY NIGHT'S SUNSET AND I SEE A SLEEPING PUSSY CAT'S EARS

AND HERE, CAN YOU WALT DISNEY'S GOOFY BEING CHASED BY A LONG-NOSED WILY COYOTE

 AND HOW ABOUT THIS LONG STREAMLINED GRAY SUBMARINE WITH ITS WHITE SUPERSTRUCTURE

 BIG BEAUTIFUL SKIES INDEED

 ANOTHER HAYFIELD CUT AND RACKED

By 8 a.m. the temperature had already reached 78F and with the humidity factor at 90%, I knew my outside time today was going to be very limited.  So, with that foremost in my mind, I carried on with the day accordingly, washing dishes instead of going for my morning walk.  We did hit a high today of 92fF. Praise be to the inventor of air conditioning.  It did slip out briefly for a sit-down on the front porch.  Popped some peanuts to my Chipmunk Pals and took a few telephoto shots of light and shadow in the front yard.  

A VERIGATED HOSTA

 A SHADOWED BUSH FERN

It was garbage pick-up day this morning, and sometime this afternoon the theme from TV's Mission Impossible rumbled into my head, followed by the words, "Your Mission, should you accept it Mr. Bossence, is to walk to the end of your driveway and retrieve the two garbage cans you will find there".  Well, it's hard to argue with Mission Impossible when told what to do, so that is exactly what I did.  And, it turned out to be the highlight of my day on this hot, humid, and sultry late weekday in June of 2026......UNTIL the day hit a low point when suddenly, at 2:45 in the afternoon, the internet (Eastlink) went down, taking the TV with it.  And it stayed down until 11:45 Tuesday night.  No internet, and no TV for nine hours.  So, thanks to some quick thinking on my part, out of long ago storage came an old boombox and a handful of CDs.  At least I still had my music, so all was not lost. The upside of course, is that I got caught up on a lot of reading. Re-reading the Anne of Green Gable series, and I'm on Anne of Avonlea at the moment.  Took myself out for a wee drive Tuesday night to put in some time with the windows up, and the A/C going.  Snagged a Horton's coffee in Clinton, then made my way southeast of Bayfield finally coming through town on my way home.  Took a few pics along the way, but lost them today while carelessly transferring the pics from my camera to the computer.  I do do unthinking silly things sometimes.

 AT LEAST I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO WITHOUT MY MUSIC

WEDNESDAY:: Again, with temps already over 80F first thing this morning, I knew it was going to be another inside day, staying cool.  For me, going outside in this heat and humidity with my oily skin just turns me into a sticky ball of paste.  And, I absolutely hate that feeling!!!!  Thank heavens I have my inside exercise bike to keep my legs limbered up.  And, so far, the internet is back on for my computer and TV.  And, once again, waaaay too hot for a morning walk. So, today was basically a repeat of yesterday, and I remained inside, trapped by the heat and humidity.  I think we got over 90F again.  Not nice for this guy.  However, I did get out to the front porch to get warmed up a bit.  The A/C in the house has got everything so darn cold I have to wear a warm hat and mitts.  While on the porch with my long lens, I did manage to snap a few bird pics......And then, all of a sudden it became very dark out.  I quickly checked my live Exeter radar site and holy smokes, there was a big bad storm racing across Lake Huron and was almost upon us.  I barely got the outside shed door closed before I heard hail hitting the steel roof and deck.  The hail only lasted a few seconds, and then came the deluge of rain with the wind driving it sideways and bending the trees.  Minutes later at 3 p.m. our power went out.  Fifteen minutes after that, everything calmed right down, the rain stopped, and the storm moved inland.  And then the sun came out.  But, our power never came back on until sometime later Wednesday night.  I had gone out in the car for a drive to charge up my phone, plus grab a coffee, and when I got home about 10:30 the power was on.  So, here I am now typing the last few words of the blog before publishing it.  And that's why I am so late tonight...................................

 A PAIR OF COWBIRDS AT ONE OF THE BIRD FEEDER TODAY

 A RED WING BLACKBIRD AT THE BIRD STATION

Al's Music Box:: Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra. 

FROM A DISTANCE, I THOUGHT THIS SMALL PATCH OF ORANGE WAS BUTTERFLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FROG POND

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 10 Commandments of Marriage::

Commandment 1. Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.
Commandment 2.
If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.
Commandment 3. Marriage is grand — and divorce is at least 100 grand!
Commandment 4. Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
Commandment 5. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.

Commandment 6. Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
Commandment 7. Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish talking.
Commandment 8. Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical, and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.
Commandment 9. Every woman wants a man who is handsome, understanding, economical and a considerate lover, but again, the law allows only one husband.
Commandment 10. Man is incomplete until he marries. After that, he is finished.

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A man gets pulled over by the police for speeding. The cop walks up to the car and says to the driver, “Sir, did you know that you were going 60 miles an hour?" The driver says, "Officer, there is no way I could have been going 60 miles an hour!" The cop says, “Really! Why is that? The driver replies," I could not have been going 60 miles an hour because I've only been out driving for 25 minutes."

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Two elderly couples were enjoying a friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?"
"Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques: visualization, association, etc. It was great."
"That's good! And what was the name of the clinic?" Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?" "You mean a rose?" "Yes, that's it!" He turned to his wife, "Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?"

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Q. Why did the pig cross the road
A. To prove that he wasn't a chicken

- If electricity comes from electrons... does that mean that morality comes from morons?

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It was a sunny Saturday morning, and a perfect golfing day. Mike was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot, when a voice came over the clubhouse speaker--"Would the gentleman on the Ladies Tee please back up to the Men's Tee!" Mike, still deep in his routine, seemed impervious to the interruption. Again the announcement--"Would the man on the Ladies Tee kindly back up to the Men's tee,  PLEASE!" Mike had had enough. He turned and shouted, "Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot!"

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AND DOWN I WENT WITH A THUD

Another fine summer's evening as I slipped out to my walking road. On the east side there is a row of white plastic-wrapped straw bales that have been there for over a year now.  There are maybe a dozen bales laid end to end running parallel with my walking road at the edge of a farmer's field.  About in the middle of that line of bales is a tall brown, spindly plant stalk maybe five or six feet tall.  It's been there well over a year now and once had yellow flowers on it.  I pass it every time I walk up the road and back.  Never knew what it was, so last night, knowing how to identify plants with my iPhone now, I decided to wade down into the tall grass ditch and make my way over to the plant.  The ditch was much deeper than I thought, and the tall, thick grass hid that.  With effort, up a short, steep bank, I was shakily able to get close enough to this tall, spindly, spikey brown thing.  My phone identified it as a biannual plant called Mullein and this one was obviously at the end of its second year, with only a bunch of small seed pods on it.  I took the picture and stepped back, forgetting the deep ditch behind me, and down I went with a thud, ka-boom, flat on my back in the tall four-foot grass.  I knew within seconds that I was okay because nothing hurt and all parts of me seemed to still be working okay.  Into my mind right away popped that saying, 'I've fallen, and I can't get up'.  But, I knew I could get up, and if I couldn't, I still had my phone in my hand if I needed to call for help.  With a rare chuckle popping out of me, I set about disentangling myself from the long grass and hoisting myself back up onto my feet.  I turned to the Mullein plant and said, 'Well, Mr. Mullein, that was quite an adventure.'  A minute later, I was back up on the road and on my merry way.  And, I'm sure I heard a little chuckle as well out of that tall Mullein plant behind me.  Ten minutes later, I picked up a coffee to go at Clinton's Tim Hortons and headed west through the countryside to my night sky spot on Tower Hill Line.  The big pinky-looking full Moon was already up off the horizon when I first spotted it.  Reaching my spot, I could right away see fireworks on the darkening horizon in the direction of Bayfield.  This display was more prominent than the two I had seen in the same direction the night before.  I stood leaning back against the front of the car, taking in the beautiful summer's night and all its fine scenery laid out in front of me.  The Moon, and the winking red lights of numerous wind turbines on the far distant horizon.  The lights of Clinton to my left, and the fireworks and tall communication tower between Bayfield and our Park winking its red lights at me as well.  I thought again last night on my way home, how really fortunate I am to have come this far and lasted this long after such a troubled life........... 

ON MY WAY TO MY WALKING ROAD SUNDAY EVENING I SAW THIS SINGLE PATH LEADING INTO A WHEAT FIELD....ODD I THOUGHT

WITH SUNDAY EVENINGS HEAVY CLOUD COVER TO THE EAST, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO SEE A FULL MOON

 THE SAME CLOUD COVER OVER AN ALFALFA FIELD ON THE EAST SIDE OF MY WALKING ROAD

FINISHING MY WALK, THE SUNSET WAS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE IN THE WEST

 LATER, WITH COFFEE IN HAND, I TOOK A COUPLE MORE SUNSET PICS

 THIS WAS MY FIRST SIGHTING OF THE FULL MOON

THE MOON PARTIALLY OBSCURED BY SOME CLOUD COVER

 A CLEAR SKY FULL MOON

Twas a warm summer breeze out of the east this morning as I made my way along my walking road, stopping to look at the flattened grass where I took my tumble the night before.  Didn't feel like going home after my walk, so I cruised a few country roads east and southeast of Bayfield before swinging north and coming into Bayfield itself.  I was there for a reason.  About a week ago, the Subaru began making noises, and I could tell those noises were coming from somewhere under the car.  A slight rattling sound when stepping on the gas and click/knock sound sometimes when stepping on the gas or backing off the gas.  A knock when I would start the wheels moving sometimes.  I suspect a brake problem so I popped into the Bayfield Garage.  The car goes in next Monday morning for repairs to whatever it is.  And, it probably ain't gonna be a cheap fix. The rest of the day just kinda floated away on me, and here I am again about to publish yet another Bayfield Bunch blog.  This post will be number 6,532.  It's no wonder they call me Mr. Blabberfingers.............

 MY MORNING DRIVE TOOK ME BY SOME SMALL CREEKS ALONG THE BANNOCKBURN LINE

I FIND IT UNUSUAL TO SEE SO MANY TURKEY VULTURES ON THE GROUND AND ALL IN ONE SPOT

Sometimes, I drift away and become lost in all the memories I find in my blog archives.  It happened to me today when I casually slipped back a couple of years to see what we were doing back then.  Kelly had just received some good news at London's University Hospital so we were on the upbeat.  I came across a post I wrote back in June of 2024 and it tells how we evolved from 'The Dreamweavers' to 'The Bayfield Bunch' years ago.  You can find this short story at the end of that post entitled, From The Dreamweavers To The Bayfield Bunch  

 A CLUSTER OF FLOWERS IN A WHEATFIELD

Al's Music Box:: Devoted To You by The Everly Brothers.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A young man watched as an elderly couple sat down to lunch at McDonald's. He noticed that they had ordered just one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the old gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, etc, until each had exactly half. Then the old man poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, but his wife just sat watching him. The young man felt sorry for them and asked "I'm sorry to intrude, but would you allow me to purchase another meal for your wife so that you don't have to split your food?" The old gentleman said, "Oh, no, thank you. But you see, we've been married a long time, and everything has always been shared, 50/50." The young man said, "Wow! That's commendable." He then turned to the wife and asked, "Aren't you going to eat your share?" The wife replied "Not yet. It's his turn to use the teeth."

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- What’s the difference between a turkey and a chicken? Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving.

- Why did the turkey stand on stilts?
Because nobody eats flamingoes for Thanksgiving dinner.
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A patient was waiting nervously in the examination room of a famous specialist.

"So who did you see before coming to me?" asked the doctor. "My General Practitioner."
"Your GP?" scoffed the doctor. "What a waste of time. Tell me, what sort of useless advice did he give you?" "He told me to come and see you."
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This guy was watching TV as his wife was out cutting the grass during the hot summer. He finally worked up the energy to go out and ask his wife what was for supper. Well, his missus was quite irritated about him sitting in the air-conditioned house all day while she did all the work, so she scolded him. "I can't believe you're asking me about supper right now! Imagine I'm out of town, go inside and figure dinner out yourself." So he went back in the house and fixed himself a big steak, with potatoes, garlic bread, and a tall glass of iced tea. The wife finally walked in about the time he was finishing up and asked him, "You fixed something to eat? So where is mine?" "Huh? I thought you were out of town."

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