Monday, March 23, 2026

I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE BUT THEY WERE A HAPPY LOOKING BUNCH:))

 I NOTICED THIS WELL CONSTRUCTED INUKSHUK IN OUR PARK THIS MORNING
Thanks to readers for identifying the 'Chipping Sparrow' photos in last night's post.  As I've mentioned several times before, I don't have any problem identifying the difference between Robins, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Crows, Mourning Doves, and a Rhinoceros, but when it comes to all those different types of small Sparrow-like birds, I do have a difficult time.  I'm the same way with all the different types of Ducks.  I do know what Canada Geese look like, though, and I once saw a real Elephant in a Zoo.
A DRIVE DOWN AROUND THE SOUTH END OF OUR PARK THIS MORNING REVEALED MOST OF THE NEWLY REFORESTED TREES HAVE SURVIVED THE COLD WINTER
 SOME YOUNG PINE TREES ARE HAVING A BIT OF A STRUGGLE
AND, SOME YOUNG PINES JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT
 LOOKS LIKE THIS TREE SERVICE TRUCK IS IN THE PARK TO DO SOME WORK
Under cold, cloudy skies with temps bouncing off the freezing mark this morning, I decided to trade in my rake, pitchfork, and wheelbarrow for the warmth of a wee drive.  It was into Bayfield I went, where, due to an incorrect camera setting, I missed some really great action shots of a few Canada Geese having a royal battle on the Bayfield River.  Cruised Bayfield's Main Street and was once again puzzled why a group of people in front of the Shopbike Coffee Roasters coffee shop were waving at me with big smiles on their faces as I went by.  Applying a dash of logic, I figure it's got to be some kind of Bayfield welcoming committee on Main Street to wave at folks driving by.  Well hey, you know how friendly we Canadians are eh, and especially so, right here in little old Bayfield.  Now, had I thought they were waving at just me, I would have quickly headed home, parked the car, and hid out in the carport for a while, trying to figure out why.  Ummm, this is the second time this has happened.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE BUT THEY WERE A HAPPY LOOKING BUNCH
Anyway, moving right along, I slipped through Bayfield's Tim Hortons, grabbed a coffee to go, and headed southeast out of town down the Bronson Line and made a left turn onto Pavilion Road.  I was thinking of Pheebs this morning as I doddled along, so I stopped at one of our favorite little walking spots and attempted a walk.  I didn't get far in the cold wind before turning back and heading to the car.  But, for the short distance I walked, my imagination could see Pheebs running here and there with her nose to the ground, checking out all the smells.  And, I can still see her, with that loving look on her sweet face, stopping to look back to make sure I am still coming.  I so much miss my best Pal.  Continuing on with my drive, I ended up in Zurich, where I popped into Jerry Rader's Homestyle for a turkey salad sandwich and an apple blossom pastry to go.  Half an hour later, with the thermometer still sitting on the freezing mark, but under sunny skies, I was home again.  And, there went another early Spring day.

 A FEW PATCHES OF SNOW IN A SHADY FORESTED AREA ON PAVILION ROAD
Al's Music Box:: The Tracks Of My Tears by Johnny Rivers.

 AND YES, WE DO HAVE OWLS IN THE PARK....REAL ONES TOO
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean." "Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?" The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church ..." The twenty dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

A police officer saw the Little Moron down on his knees one night under a streetlight. "Can I help you?" he asked. "I dropped my watch and I'm looking for it" replied the Little Moron. The officer asked, "Did you drop it right here?" "No," responded the Little Moron, "I dropped it about a block away, but the light is

 better here."

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When my son graduated from high school, he had to give a speech. He began by reading from his prepared text.
'I want to talk about my mother and the wonderful influence she has had on my life,' he told the audience. 'She is a shining example of parenthood, and I love her more than words could ever do justice.'
At this point he seemed to struggle for words. After a pause, he looked up with a sly grin and said, 'Sorry, but it's really hard to read my mother's handwriting.'

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Sunday, March 22, 2026

MY EASY WAY OF EATING GREEN STUFF (VEGETABLES)

A morning's rain almost put the kybosh on my outside Spring clean-up.  I did go out anyway and managed to clear the pathways on the east side of the house and also the path across the road leading through a stand of pine trees leading to the pond.  When done, I rather soggily retreated back into the house.  Not many birds at the feeders today, and I'm sure they were feeling a little 'under the weather' about the cold rain and were trying to stay warm and dry in their sheltered trees.

 IN THE FOREGROUND IS A PILE OF WET LEAVES THAT I CLERED OFF THE PATH ACROSS THE ROAD LEADING BETWEEN TWO NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES TO OUR PARK'S POND

 MY PATH WINDS THROUGH THE TREES AND EMERGES ONTO A GREEN GRASS AREA AND THAT IS THE PARK'S POND TOP RIGHT
 LOOKING BACK, THAT IS OUR HOUSE ACROSS THE ROAD
,
ON THE EAST SID OF THE HOUSE, THE PATH ON THE RIGHT IS RAKED, AND I HAVE THE PATH ON THE LEFT YET TO DO
After my last medical visit with my Nurse Practitioner and diabetic lady last week, I decided it was time to make some more changes to my eating habits.  Not to worry, I'll not be giving up my peanut butter and honey.  Well, not just yet that is.  ISo, I have once again resumed my Sounds Yukky - Tastes Yummy shakes, after a long absence.  My new and updated concoction now consists of vanilla whey powder, romaine lettuce, celery, carrots, spinach, dates, walnuts, apples, blueberries, plus flax, sunflower,  pumpkin, and Ghia seeds, to which I top up with skim milk.  All whooshed around in a blender, of course.  And yes, it does taste yummy too.  If it didn't, I wouldn't have just resumed drinking these morning shakes again.  This of course, is my easy way of eating vegetables without tasting them:))

Thanks to the blog reader in yesterday's post for identifying the 'Hooded Merganser' I had pictures of.  I took those photos of the Merganser on our Park's pond.  Now maybe, someone could identify the little bird on the feeder above:))

 CANADA GEESE ARE PAIRING UP
Al's Music Box:: The River Of No Return by The Sons Of The Pioneers.


GROANER'S CORNER:(( 
A man is struck by a bus on a busy street in New York City. He lies dying on the sidewalk as a crowd of spectators gathers around. "A priest! Somebody get me a priest!" the man gasps. A policeman checks the crowd but finds no priest, no minister, no man of God of any kind. 
"A PRIEST, PLEASE!" the dying man says again. Then out of the crowd steps a little old Jewish man of at least eighty years of age."Mr. Policeman," says the man, "I'm not a priest. I'm not even a Catholic. But for fifty years now I've been living behind St. Mary's Catholic Church on Third Avenue, and every night I'm listening to the Catholic litany. Maybe I can be of some comfort to this man." The policeman agrees and brings the octogenarian over to the dying man. He kneels down, leans over the injured and says in a solemn voice: "B - 4. I - 19. N - 38. G - 54. O - 72."

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At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, "Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" "Yes I am, I married the wrong man."

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Madam
Madam who?
Madam Foots Stuck In The Door!!

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A Dutchman was explaining the red, white and blue Netherlands flag to an American.
"Our flag is symbolic of our taxes. We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bills, and blue after we pay them." The American nodded. "It's the same in the USA only we see stars too!"

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Have you heard about 4-year-old Sammy who was asked to say a prayer of thanks before Sunday dinner? The family members bowed their heads in expectation, and he began his prayer: "Thank you God for all my friends: Joey, an' Susan, an' Billy, an' Tommy," and on and on he went, naming each friend one by one. Next he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Finally he got to the food. "Thank you God for the turkey, an' the dressing, an' the fruit salad, an' the pies, an' the Cool Whip..." And then he paused. The pause was almost deafening, and all eyes were focused on young Sammy with his head still bowed in prayer. Finally (almost when Father was about to interject an "Amen"), Sammy looked up at his mother and asked, "If I thank God for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?"

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