AND I HAVE BEEN HARD AT IT

 BLUE JAY

Slate-gray skies were the order of the day as Pheebs and I ventured out of our Park in a southeast direction.  A few sprinkles of rain on the windshield as we stopped briefly at the Linwood Conservation Area on Pavilion Road.  My hip wouldn't let me walk very far.  We were back home before 11 a.m.

 IT WAS AN OKAY MORNING TO BE OUT AND ABOUT

 THE LAND IS STILL TOO WET IN SPOTS FOR THE CORN HARVEST

 US GUYS

 WE DROVE BY BIG BARKY'S HOUSE AND BIG BARKY CAME ROARING OUT AND CHASED US DOWN THE ROAD

 A LONG DISTANCE COUNTRY VIEW OF LAKE HURON

Skies remained a rainy gray for the rest of the day and our temps were hard-pressed to reach 40F.  Possible freezing rain is predicted for Wednesday afternoon.  Well, if nothing else, it's at least great book-reading weather and I have been hard at it.  I downloaded 'The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales' by Jacob Grimm about a month ago but I didn't get too far in the tales.  Of the first six I read, four of them were just as the title suggests...'grim'!!  The heck with that I thought.  Luckily, it was a free download as many of my books are.  I'll try a few more tales at a later date.  Next, I tried 'When Are You Going Back: A Memoir of the Sea' by Harry Nicholson.  I found the author almost too descriptive and I didn't have the patience to stick with his story.  Maybe it's just my impatience to 'get on with things' so I will retry this book again at a later date too.  Next, it was 'Life After Life and Medical Mysteries' by Dr. Francesco Chirico.  Another in a series of eye-opening books regarding Near Death Experiences.  Switching gears, I am currently reading 'If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation' by Jean Muenchrath.  This story takes place in California's snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Mount Whitney and Lone Pine are mentioned and that brought back memories of our four-day RV stay in the Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine at the foot of Mount Whitney.  Here's one of my favorite days in Lone Pine's Alabama Hills.  In Search Of Randolph Scott's Campfire.  I like it when I'm reading something and places we have been are mentioned.  I would love to someday return to Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills.        

 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH

 DARK-EYED JUNCO

I AM READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP MR. DEMILLE 

Al's Music Box:)) Four Strong Winds is a song by Ian and Sylvia which was written by Ian Tyson in 1962.  Ian and Sylvia were later married in 1964.  Ian Tyson noted that he composed the song in about 20 minutes in his then-manager Albert Grossman's New York apartment.  Tyson would recall "Four Strong Winds" as the first song he ever wrote, and credits Bob Dylan with giving new impetus to Ian and Sylvia's career by inspiring the duo to follow his lead in writing "original folk songs".  Ian Tyson said,  Bob blazed the trail into the wilderness, into unknown territory. Specifically, Tyson would recall meeting up with Dylan in the autumn of 1962 at the Greenwich Village Bar , 'Kettle Of Fish'.  Tyson recalled seeing this kind of little grubby kid in there who said "I got this new song".  It was Bobby Dylan - he sang me 'Blowin' In The Wind' which he had just written.  I thought, I can do that" so the next day I wrote 'Four Strong Winds'." 

 PHEEBS WATCHES A CORN FIELD PASSING BY

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Greeting cards you will not see at Hallmark::

'Looking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder:....'What was I thinking?'

'I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love.........After having met you, I've changed my mind.'

'I must admit, you brought Religion into my life.  I never believed in Hell until I met you.'

'As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am that you're not here to ruin it for me.

''You look great for your age....... Almost Lifelike!'

'I knew the day would come when you would leave me for my best friend, so here's his leash, water bowl, and chew toys.

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I think it's disgaceful that, after 50 years, people don't know know who Neil Armstrong is, or the type of trumpet he played. 

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Finally, the good-natured boss was compelled to call Smith into his office.  "It has not escaped my attention," he pointed out, "that every time there's a home game at the stadium, you have to take your aunt to the doctor."  "You know you're right, sir," exclaimed Smith, "I didn't realize it. You don't suppose she's faking, do you?"

-Don't be mad at lazy people....they didn't do anything.
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