Monday, March 09, 2026

NOT WANTING TO UNNECESSARILY CONFUSE MYSELF

 GODERICH'S HARBOR ICE CONTINUES TO MELT
I amazed myself Sunday morning when I was able to change the Subaru's clock one hour ahead to Daylight Saving Time without my usual laptop in hand with a 'how-to' instruction video on the screen.  I'm not sure how I did that and not wanting to unnecessarily confuse myself, I will simply chalk it up to 'divine intervention.  

MAPLE SYRUP PAILS COLLECTING SAP
 A GREEN SUGAR SHACK CAN BE BE SEEN THROUGHT THE TREES

 LOOK CAREFULLY AND YOU WILL SEE FOUR SAP PAILS
A nice drive through the countryside this morning along the Bannockburn Line netted me a few photos.  Driving along slowly, it was a good opportunity to open the sunroof to make sure it was working okay after the long winter.  It was, and with the two front windows down, and the heater on, the only thing missing was Pheebs riding with me, enjoying the Spring scenery going by, and the morning's cool breeze flopping her ears around.  We hit 60F today but strong winds drove the windchill factor down to 43F.

 WITH RECENT RAINS AND THE SNOW MELT, AREA CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE FLOWING

SPRING'S YELLOW WILLOW BRANCHES
Home again, I only spent a half hour or so on outside things like raking up more yard waste.  I have a real good start on the Spring clean-up this year and I am quite happy about that.  

 A CLUSTER OF LAST YEAR'S BEACH TREE LEAVES
 COUNTRY ROADS IN SPOTS WERE SLIGHTLY MUDDY TODAY
With a Doctor's appointment coming up next week, Woodsy and I slipped up to Goderich this afternoon, where I dropped into the Dynacare Centre and left behind a few vials of blood.  Surprisingly, I was the only one there and they took me right in.  No waiting time is unusual.  From there we took a drive down to the harbor and out to Rotary Cove.  There is still ice on the lake, but it is melting rapidly.  A quick stop at the Food Basics grocery store and off for home we went.      

 LAKE HURON'S ICE IS MELTING AND ON THE MOVE
 AN ODD CLOUD PATTERN OVER GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE
 CHUNKS OF LAKE ICE
 LOOKING SOUTHWEST ALONG LAKE HURON'S SHORELINE

 GODERICH'S HARBOR ICE IS BEGINNING TO FINALLY BREAK UP
 SEEN IN GODERICH TODAY
Al's Music Box::  Michael Rowed The Boat Ashore by the Highwaymen.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Three unfortunate contractors find themselves stuck in a Gulf prison. One starts to pick away at the cement between two blocks of concrete. To his surprise, he spots something shining. It turns out to be a tiny brass lamp. He brushes away the dirt, and suddenly a cloud of red smoke appears from the spoat. As the smoke clears, a big genie floats before them."Thanks, guys! You've freed me from that miserable lamp and as you probably already know, we genies can grant three wishes. But only three wishes. Ok, let's get on with it." The three prisoners have a quick discussion but it's obvious that since there are three of them and three wishes they should simply have one wish each. First prisoner, "Genie, I wish I had never left my old job in Manchester and that I was still there." Wooosh! He disappeared.  The second prisoner steps forward eagerly, "Genie, I too wish I had never left my old job in Birmingham and that I was still working there." Wooosh! He also disappeared.  The last guy stood pondering, "Genie, I'm not so sure about going straight back to my old job in London. Should I go to see my mum or to my girlfriend's flat. I wish my two mates were still here to help me decide." .... Wooosh! Wooosh!

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I didn't realize how bad of a driver I was until my navigation system said: "In 400 feet, do a slight right, stop, and let me out."

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- You know it's cold outside when you go outside and it's cold.

- “Due to the cabbage crop failure it was really hard to get ahead!”

- How many Germans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One. They're very efficient and don't have a great sense of humour.

- What should you do if your round of golf is interrupted by a lightning storm? Walk around holding your 1-iron above your head, because even God can't hit a 1-iron!

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Things Mom Would Never Say::
- "How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"
- "Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too"
- "Just leave all the lights on ... it makes the house look more cheery"
- "Let me smell that shirt -- Yeah, it's good for another week"
- "Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I'll be glad to feed and walk him every day"
- "Well, if Timmy's mom says it's OK, that's good enough for me."
- "The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It's not like I'm running a prison around here."
- "I don't have a tissue with me ... just use your sleeve"
- "Don't bother wearing a jacket - the wind-chill is bound to improve"

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery









Sunday, March 08, 2026

I CALL THAT A TWO THUMBS UP WIN-WIN SITUATION

BY GOLLY, WE'VE GOT CROCUS FLOWER SHOOTS POKING OUT OF THE GROUND
Imagine the wondrous feeling this morning when I stepped out the door to the melodious sounds of a Robin somewhere high in one of the Pine trees.  And later, on a slow drive through the countryside, it was the lovely Spring sounds of Red-winged Blackbirds I heard.  And visually, how nice it was seeing farmers' fields again without layers of snow on them.  Still patches of snow around, but only patches.

 HOW NICE TO SEE GREEN FARMER'S FIELDS AGAIN
 MAYBE NOT GREEN BUT WHO CARES, AT LEAST THE SNOW IS ALL GONE
 THESE ARE MAPLE SYRUP DAYS
 A RATHER ABSTACT ELEPHANT SCHNOZZ
 MY COUNTRYSIDE WALKING ROAD WILL SOON BE FREE OF SNOW AND ACCESSIBLE FOR MORNING WALKS AGAIN :))
I LOVE OLD BARNS
 THIS CANADA GOOSE COUPLE HAS PAIRED UP AND WILL SOON BE SCOUTING OUT A NESTING SITE
Home again, I didn't waste any time in hauling out my leaf rake, a couple of shovels, a pitchfork, and my trusty wheelbarrow.  I spent the best part of three hours outside, thoroughly enjoying an early Spring clean-up.  Four wheelbarrows of yardwaste raked, as well as branches picked up.  I, of course, wore myself out, but it felt good to slump back into the house with all my usual Spring clean-up aches and pains.  Yes, I know there will be more snow on the way and probably a couple of nasty winter storms, but that's okay because I had a great three hours outside today under 49F sunny blue skies, accomplishing something.  And, for me, I call that a two thumbs up win-win situation:))  

I WAS ABLE TO GET MOST OF MY PATHWAYS CLEANED UP TODAY
Al's Music Box:((
 Guantanamero by The Sandpipers.

 I'M GUESSING THESE ARE DAY LILY SHOOTS ALREADY REACHING FOR THE SUN
GROANER'S CORNER:((:(( During a terrible storm, all the highway signs were covered with snow. The following spring, the state decided to raise all the signs twelve inches at a cost of six million dollars. “That’s an outrageous price!” said a local farmer, “but I guess we’re lucky the state handled it instead of the federal government.” “Why’s that?” “Because knowing the federal government, they’d decide to lower the highways.”

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After the church service a little boy told the pastor, "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."
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- Dieters know this: A waist is a terrible thing to mind!

Q. Why are married women heavier than single women?
A. Single women come home, see what's in the fridge and go to bed. Married women come home, see what's in bed and go to the fridge.

Q. Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and good-looking?
A. Because those men already have boyfriends.
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An old fisherman wrote to a mail order house the following: "Please send me one of those gasoline engines for my boat that you show on page 438, and if it's any good, I'll send you a check." In a short time, he received the following reply: "Please send check. If it's any good, we'll send the engine."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery