I SAW ABOUT THE ANGRIEST LOOKING SKY I HAD EVER SEEN LATE TODAY

Weather channels for southern Ontario started off with a heat alert this morning.  We here in Bayfield started off with overcast skies & distant thunder out over Lake Huron & a few drops of rain.  By mid morning solar streamers were making their way through the thinning cloud cover & by 10:30 Pheebs & I were on our way to Goderich to run a few errands.  Since having to move my laptop mouse to assisted living about a year ago then into almost full time care a few months ago I decided to pull the plug on it & go get myself a new cordless mouse.  Opted for another Microsoft product so hope it's health remains well for as long as my other Microsoft mouse did.  Stopped into the Maitland Medical Center & booked myself an appointment Monday afternoon with my Nurse Practitioner.  It's time to re-new a few 6 month prescriptions before we head South.  Hope I don't have to get any needles stuck in me for anything. 

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF OUR RURAL FARMLAND THIS MORNING

 
Tim Hortons coffee just released a new blend of darker roasted coffee for it's consumers & this morning I figured I'd try one.  Pretty good & I'd say anyone finding that burnt taste of Starbucks too strong & maybe Tim Hortons a bit on the mild side they should be pleased with Horton's darker roast.  I'd say it pretty well falls in between too strong & a tad too mild.  So would I get another one??  Sure I would:))

RIPENING BEAN FIELDS

Not wanting to waste the sunny warm morning Pheebs & I once again decided to take a longer route home but ended up cutting it short due to the building heat & humidity.  Air was very muggy.  Thank heavens we had a stiff southwest breeze blowing today.  But only blowing out in the open & not in our Park with all it’s trees.  Back home we didn't waste any time retreating into the cool confines of the house & that is pretty much where we stayed for the rest of the day.  Kelly did venture into Bayfield for a stop at the library.  She came home completely wilted.  Thankfully cooler weather is on our doorstep for Saturday & the coming week.  That will enable me to get all the final outside things done around the house before we leave.  Rob from Deer Park Lodge dropped over & re-caulked our  sunroom's skylight & swept all the pine needles off our roof.  I think some of those pine needles have been up there for years.  Since I wisely stopped climbing up shaky ladders a few years back I have not been able to do that job myself.   

ROB SWEEPS OFF OUR STEEL ROOF BEFORE CAULKING OUR ?? IN THE FOREGROUND

Checked our computer's live radar map about 5 o'clock & 'Holy Smokes' I could see a strong band of severe thunderstorms starting across Lake Huron from the Michigan side.  And the thunder was already audible.  Checked again about 20 minutes later & it had not only Bayfield in it's sights but the narrow band stretched from about Flint Michigan to well north of Barrie Ontario.  Soon as supper was finished I checked again & the storm was nearly upon us & fast approaching just offshore.  Grabbed my cameras & jumped into the Jeep heading for Bayfield's Pioneer Park on the cliff top overlooking the lake.  Soon as I exited our own 5 Seasons Park I could see a dark gray sky through the trees to the west & yet in my rear view mirror the sun was shining in clear skies on the Eastern horizon.  Another couple minutes & I was out free of the forests trees & saw the most amazing sky of ever back towards the North-East.  I rapidly took some photos out the side window & windshield as I headed into Bayfield. 

I TOOK THE FOLLOWING 4 PHOTOS WHILE RACING OVER TO BAYFIELD’S PIONEER PARK

LOOKING NORTHEAST ON BAYFIELD RIVER ROAD

LOOKING OUT MY WINDSHIELD TOWARDS BAYFIELD

AGAIN LOOKING NORTHEAST & THE 2 LIGHTS ARE FROM WINDOWS AT THE BAYFIELD VILLAGE INN ON HIGHWAY 21

LOOKING EAST FROM HIGHWAY 21 AT THE NORTH END OF THE VILLAGE      

Wind had really picked up so I kept a wary eye out for branches on the ground.  Minutes later I was at Pioneer Park & the wind had the trees whipped into a frenzy.  People were scattering for their cars.  One lady remained with her camera along a wood rail fence & two more joined her.  The clouds overhead & out over the lake were in absolute turmoil as I grabbed 7 or 8 photos.  Rain was just beginning & I knew it was only minutes or seconds before the really heavy stuff hit.   In all my years I had never seen skies as angry looking as the skies I was looking at around 5:45 late this afternoon.  Bolt lightning was coming straight down out over the lake & the thunder just came rolling ashore like a barrage of cannons.  WOW I thought to myself, NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL EXCITING!!  Suddenly the rain was upon us & I made a mad dash for the Jeep only a short distance away.  I assume the 3 ladies did the same.  Drove the mile or so home under black skies, pelting rain, & wind gusts that shook the Jeep.  Just as I pulled in the driveway the rain let up for a few seconds long enough for me to make a mad dash out of the Jeep into the house.  With one flash of lightning & an instant loud crack of lightning the storm seemed to signal it's departure.  Rains eased up as the thunder claps & lightning moved inland.  Checking the live radar while uploading my storm photos I could see we were in the clear as far as thunder & lightning but the light & heavy rains did stop & start for another hour or two.  Radar showed towns & villages along with farms & farmland were now in the grip of the rumbling storm.  Could only hope there were no tornados wrapped in those storm clouds............................

THIS WAS THE FIRST PHOTO I TOOK ARRIVING AT PIONEER PARK AS A LADY SCRAMBLES OVER A FENCE

ANGRY SKIES

LOOKING OUT OVER LAKE HURON IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION

NO PHOTO ENHANCEMENTS HERE, THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE CAMERA SAW THE STORM

 

WIND WAS REALLY WHIPPING THE TREE BRANCHES AROUND

LOOKING IN THE DIRECTION OF DETROIT MICHIGAN IF ONE WERE TO FOLLOW THAT SHORELINE SOUTHWEST ABOUT 132 MILES

TREE BRANCHES BENDING IN THE WIND

TORRENTIAL RAINS ARE FAST APPROACHING HIDDEN IN THAT SOLID CLOUD COVER JUST OFFSHORE

RECORDING THE STORM ON THEIR CAMERAS & OR CELL PHONES & MY LAST PHOTO BEFORE THE RAINS WERE SUDDENLY UPON US

THE RAIN IS WRAPPED IN THAT SMOOTH CLOUD SECTION LOWER RIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A woman, employed as a telemarketer, was making phone calls to different households.  A little boy answered and whispered, "Hello". The woman asked if his mother was there. The little boy whispered, "Yes". The woman asked if she could speak with her. The little boy whispered, "No, she's busy."  The woman asked if his father was there. The little boy whispered, "Yes". The woman asked if she could speak with him. The little boy whispered, "No, he's busy too." The woman asked if anyone else was there and the little boy whispered, "Yes, the fire department is here". The woman said, "May I speak with one of them?" The little boy whispered, "No, they're all busy."  The woman asked if anyone else was there, the little boy whispered, "Yes, the police department ". The woman said, "May I speak with one of them?" The little boy whispered, "No, they're all busy too." The woman said, "May I ask where you are & what they're all doing?" The little boy whispered, "I'm in the closet & they're all looking for me."