OUR PARK'S TRUSTING 1950'S WAY OF LIFE HAS UNFORTUNATELY COME TO AN END

 THIS MORNING'S RURAL BREAKFAST LINE-UP

At 10:57 a.m. this morning we reached the longest day of the year.  From here on it's a steady backslide to Winter as each day will become shorter.  Now, how's that for a happy smiley face positive start to my blog today.  Hello summer:))

 I NOTICED THIS TOTALLY HEAT STRESSED BLUE JAY ON OUR FEEDER THIS AFTERNOON

 I WATCHED AS IT SLOWLY TILTED OVER ONTO IT'S RIGHT SIDE

 JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO HEAD OUTSIDE TO RENDER ASSISTANCE IT SUDDENLY SAT UP, FLUFFED UP IT'S FEATHERS, PICKED UP A PEANUT THEN FLEW UP INTO OUR SUNBURST LOCUST TREE IN FRONT OF THE SUNROOM  TO EAT THE PEANUT BEFORE HAPPILY FLYING AWAY

On the way to our countryside walking spot this morning I saw a police cruiser parked on the north side of the Bayfield River Road just west of Sterling Line.  Near the end of a farm lane in the grass sat a newer-looking white 4x4 Ford pick-up truck with its four doors wide open and its front end punched in.  The farmer was also there picking up stuff off his lawn where I saw a hole in the ground.  I figure the truck must have taken out a pole or something.  When I first saw the truck my first thought was 'stolen' and here's why.  For years now the crime rate factor has been steadily creeping west from the Toronto area driving crime rates up in small towns, cities, and country properties along the way.  We knew that crime rate would eventually reach us here on the pristine shores of Lake Huron.  It was just a question of when.  We folks here in the Bayfield Pines Park have been very fortunate all these years to have not been bothered by anything yet.  For the most part many folks never locked their doors, sheds, houses, or cars.  For so long it was like we lived in the 50's here.  That is until two nights ago when neighbors up the street had their Jeep Cherokee stolen in the night right out of their driveway.  Luckily, the Jeep was found the next day abandoned in Mitchell Ontario where it had run out of gas in an intersection.  However, our communities trusting way of life has finally come to an end.  The stealing of that Jeep marked the end of our 1950s confidence.  Last night when I went out to make sure our Subaru was locked it was as if I could hear the sound of doors being locked all around the Park.  Car doors, shed doors, house doors, and garage doors.  For our Park, it marks the end of innocence.  The crime element is finally upon us as low-life scum bags prowl nearby area roads and now streets right here in our very own quiet little Park!!  

 THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THAT WHITE PICK-UP TRUCK

 IT APPEARS THE TRUCK STRUCK SOMETHING TO THE LEFT OF THE FARMER'S POLARIS

With summer temperatures on the rise each day the humidity factor once again enters my life and affects my daily activities.  If I'm going to get anything done outside I had better get it done in the early morning's cooler air.  With Scooter gone, I cleaned up that parking area, leveled it out, and relocated the utility trailer there.  And where the utility trailer had been parked I will rake that area out and plant grass seed.  I did all this before 10:30 a.m. when the heat and humidity drove me inside to the wonderful cool confines of our house.  I love the furnace's warmth in the winter and the air conditioner's coolness in the summer.  A winning combo indeed.   

 CLEANING UP SCOOTER'S OLD PARKING AREA

 RELOCATED THE UTILITY  TRAILER FROM THE LEFT OF THAT DIVIDER TO THE RIGHT OF THAT DIVIDER

I wonder how many folks know that Walt Disney once lived not too far from Bayfield when he was a young boy.  In this CBC Interview, Walt talks about his roots in this area and mentions Goderich a couple times.  Northwest of Clinton is a road called, Disney Road which runs between the Maitland Line and the Fish and Game Line.  Rumor has it that there may have been a Disney homestead somewhere in that area.  The Bluevale place he mentions in the interview is further north and east of Wingham Ontario. 

 THIS MACHINE WITH ITS LONG ARMS FOLDED IN IS USED FOR SPRAYING FERTILIZERS ON AREA FIELDS

A Facebook message from my son two days ago said this, "Hey Pops, just found out that I will be transferring to that rehab hospital on Wednesday. I shouldn’t be in there for too long before I’m able to go home."   A

 HERE'S SEAN ENJOYING SOME SUNSHINE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY DAYS

Al's Music Box:)) After Midnight by JJ Cale from his album 'Naturally'.  1966.  Cale originally wrote and sang this song.  The song went on to gain popularity when Eric Clapton later recorded it.  Here is JJ Cale and Eric Clapton playing the song together at a Live Concert

 'HEY DAD WHERE'S SCOOTER'??

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers.  The first boy says, "My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, and they give him $50."  The second boy says, "That's nothing. My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $100."  The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"

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Here's an old Johnny Carson show segment where he has Tim Conway on. (Carol Burnett Show)  At the end of the interview with Conway, if you prefer to scroll through it, Johnny and Tim do a skit called Jockey Lyle Dorf.  This one even had me laughing.  

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