AN EMAIL FROM AUNT JEAN AT 4:41 THIS AFTERNOON

A NICE SEPTEMBER MORN IN THE HULLETT MARSH

I tried several times to contact Aunt Jean but her phone was still out so we had to assume she was alright and waiting for her power to come back on.  At 4:41 this afternoon we received the following email from Jean.   “Hi Allan & Kelly,  Our power just came on about 20 minutes ago. Was going to call you right away but noticed there was hardly any charge left in any of the phones.   I made it thru the storm just fine, no damage. Will call later to fill you in on my long night.   Right now I'm going to start putting things back in the fridg, & figure out what I'll have for dinner.   We still don't have water, but I'm well stocked so no problem. Tell you more when the phones are back in order. Talk to you soon.    Love you.....Jean”

Another beautifully clear September morn as Pheebs and I again headed northeast of Clinton with a couple stops in the Hullett Marsh.  What a treat it is with no pesky bugs in the air.  For me September and October are the two greatest months of the year to be comfortably out and about.  We wandered half a dozen gravely roads north and east of the Marsh finally arcing our way slowly back home around 11.  What a great way to spend 3 enjoyable hours I thought to myself.

TOOK THIS PHOTO FROM A VIEWING STAND IN THE MARSH…..DID YOU NOTICE THE PHEEBS

IT’S NOT OFTEN WE SEE PHEEBS AND THE SHADOW COWBOY IN THE SAME PHOTO

Back home I immediately set to work removing the old shingles on our shed roof with a pitch fork.  It was high noon and soon became to warm for me but I at least got half the roof done.  With a bit of luck and some extra cool weather energy I hope to get the other half of the roof shingle free Tuesday morning. 

Sometimes while out wandering the country roads with Pheebs I can’t help but contemplate how truly lucky I am.  Despite my complaining, blusterings, occasional rants, plus my moaning and groaning about the aches and pains of aging both mentally and physically I would have to admit these are probably some of the best days and years of my life.  The other best time for me was around the age of 40 and of course many pleasant childhood memories.  I’m married to the only person in the whole world who I could possibly be married to who understands me, my impatience, and my grumpiness.  I also have the absolute most bestest little dog in the entire Galaxy.  The Pheebs:))  We certainly aren’t wealthy folks by any means but we don’t lose a lot of sleep stressing over money matters either.  We have a nice cozy place and live in a sleepy little community in one of the nicest areas of all southwestern Ontario.  A comfy Motorhome takes us to and fro from the southwestern United States for the winters each year and our summers are spent in quiet relaxation.  

THE INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH BEGINS NEAR THIS SPOT ON SEPTEMBER 23RD AND IT IS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST OUTDOOR AGRICULTURAL CELEBRATION…..RURAL FOLKS IN THE AREA ARE ALREADY DECORATING THEIR PLACES

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TWO DIFFERENT CROPS PLANTED TOGETHER WHICH IN THIS CASE IS BEANS AND CORN

NOW IF I HAD A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY THIS IS THE KIND OF BARN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE

I’M THINKING IT MAY BE HAY BALES IN THOSE PLASTIC WRAPS

NOT SURE IF THAT IS SOME KIND OF BIG MANURE SPREADER BEHIND THAT TRACTOR OR NOT

HMMMM, MAYBE IF IT’S FOR SALE WE’LL MAKE AN OFFER EH:))

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS VEHICLE IS OR WHAT IT’S USED FOR BUT IT WAS SITTING AT A FARM IMPLEMENT DEALER NORTH OF SEAFORTH

I don’t miss the working world one tiny bit.  No longer do I have to get up when I’m told to get up or go to work where somebody else tells me what to do.  No punch clocks, no deadlines to be met, no work related responsibilities.  I like being free and the one in charge of what I do all day.  My decisions - my way.  I’m fortunate to have 3 enjoyable hobbies that combine to make my days rewardable.  Photography, writing, and travel help keep the hounds of boredom at bay.  I take photos of what I want, I write what I want, and I travel wherever I want.  And I do it all at my own pace.  My decisions - my way.  I spend the majority of my time hanging out with myself, Kelly and Pheebs.  No desires to run off visiting people or join any special interest groups.  No obligations to be anywhere small or large groups of people are gathered.  When Pheebs and I are wondering through our beautiful countryside in the mornings the thought of how truly lucky I am is never far from my mind, even on the down days.  After all those turbulent years long ago I am thankful to whatever guiding force there may be here in this vast and unending Universe of ours.

I’M WONDERING IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT KIND OF BIRD THIS IS?

Here are a couple short You Tubes of my son Sean.  First one is a Biographical Interview with Sean and the second one is a song Sean wrote then teamed up with a good friend to sing Weightless and Empty.  A pretty talented guy and he’s now into writing and scoring music for Canadian movie productions.  And here’s his current personal music project, Kings On A Ledge.

ONE OF TWO OLD IRON BRIDGES IN THE MARSH

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two retired professors were vacationing with their wives at a hotel in the Catskills. They were sitting on the veranda one summer evening, watching the sun set.  The history professor asked the psychology professor, "Have you read Marx?"   To which the professor of psychology replied, "Yes, and I think it's these pesky wicker chairs."

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“My washing machine broke down this morning, but I didn't get too agitated.”

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Did you hear the one about the man who opened a dry cleaning business next door to the convent? He knocked on the door and asked the Mother Superior if she had any dirty habits.

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Sore Ewe.
Sore Ewe who?
Sore Ewe gonna open the door or not?

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Q: What was the inspiration for MG's famed octagon-shaped badge?

A: The shape of founder Cecil Kimber's dining table. MG stands for Morris Garages.

Q: In what year did the "double-R" Rolls
Royce badge change from red to black?

A: 1933

Ford, who made the first pick-up trucks, shipped them to dealers in crates that the new owners had to assemble using the crates as the beds of the trucks. The new owners had to go to the dealers to get them, thus they had to "pick-up" the trucks. And now you know the "rest of the story."

And unfortunately folks this brings to an end all the auto trivia I had:((

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