A RELAXING DAY AT HOME AS PHEEBS AND I GIVE LIBBY A REST TODAY

ALL PHOTOS TONIGHT ARE FROM OUR MONDAY MORNING DRIVE TO GODERICH AND BACK

Wasn’t surprised my back was bothering me a bit when I woke up this morning.  After lifting and moving cement patio stones into place at odd angles it was only natural to have some aches and pains.  My objective this morning was to finish that little project off after taking Pheebs for a walk around the morning pine tree trail.

GODERICH’S DOG WALKING AREA NEAR THE BEACH IS A NICE FREE AND OPEN AREA STRETCHING ABOUT A QUARTER MILE ALONG THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON

NO FENCES OR RESTRICTIONS

YEP THAT’S THE PHEEBS DOWN THERE

LOTS OF ROOM FOR DOGGIES TO RUN AND PLAY HERE AND THIS GRASS IS KEPT MOWED

NICE SPOT FOR A MORNING WALK

THIS AREA IS AT THE SOUTHERNMOST END OF THE DOG WALKING TRAIL

GENTLE LAKE HURON WATERS LAP ASHORE

THERE’S ANOTHER COUPLE OF BEST PALS OUT FOR A MORNING WALK

MA AND PA AT THE BEACH WITH THE KIDS AGAIN

Under warm blue skies and oodles of sunshine this morning I grabbed my clippers and off we went along the Park’s pine tree trail trimming back branches along the way.  Unfortunately part of the trail now is a mess from trees being cut down recently.  Pine logs have been dragged out of the forest by a machine known as a skidder so you can imagine the resulting damage to the nice walking path.  Did my best to clear up some of the brush but I’m afraid this logging may be an ongoing thing for awhile.  We don’t own the land these trees are on so we walkers will just have to adjust and work around and clean up as much of the aftermath mess as we can.

LAKE HURON WATERS WERE A PRETTY COLOR MONDAY MORNING

THE LITTLE FELLERS ARE GROWING QUICKLY

LOTS OF SMALL SNAILS IN THE GRASS

Knew it was going to be another warm day so as soon as Pheebs and I were back home again I got myself right at that patio stone project and basically finished it in a flourish of moans and groans.  Not the best job of course but cement blocks solve a mud problem we were having at that end of the deck extension.  When my back settles down I may at some point add a few more blocks to give it a more finished look.  Then again I might not.  I’m so glad I am not a perfectionist.  With my basic impatience I would have myself half drove crazy most of the time.

THE BOARDWALK ALONG LAKE HURON’S SHORE IS ALWAYS A POPULAR PLACE FOR  EARLY MORNING WALKERS

THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THE SAGINAW IN PORT

SPOTTED A COUPLE CREW MEMBERS HAVING THEMSELVES A MORNING CHIN WAG

WITH IT’S TIPPED BACK SMOKE STACK IT REMINDED ME OF THE OLD TRAMP STEARMERS ONE WOULD SOMETIMES SEE IN OLD MOVIES YEARS AGO

Turned out to be an enjoyably relaxing afternoon reading in the sunroom and listening to music.  For lunch today it was an Oktoberfest sausage warmed up in the micro-wave followed by a big bowl of porridge.   Afternoon snack was a peanut butter and honey sandwich.

SO NICE TO SEE IRIS FLOWERS IN BLOOM AGAIN

ON THE WAY HOME WE SPOTTED THIS BUSY FARMER WORKING HIS FIELD

WILD PHLOX

Supper took some serious planning.  Couldn’t seem to decide between whipping up an Asparagus and Haricots Verts salad which would consist of warmed asparagus and green beans atop mixed greens or a Baby Gem Caesar salad with  Baby Gem lettuce, double smoked bacon, grilled baguette croutons, quenelle of Chevre, parmesan cheese and my own Caesar dressing.  Decisions, decisions.  Thought maybe Pheebs might like a Chevre Leek Mushroom Tart  with baked goat's cheese, leeks and exotic mushrooms accompanied by arugula and parmesan but then remembered she’s not a big mushroom fan.  Well neither am I so thought maybe Mussels in a nice cream sauce sauteed in chardonnay wine with Andouille sausage, caramelized onions and roasted garlic finished with a rich cream accompanied by toast points might be in order.  Also thought  a classic dish of fresh Digby scallops with a bread crumb, parmesan and fresh basil gratin might be nice as well until I remembered I don’t like seafood.  All that planning turned out to be too much for me so in the end I warmed me up some cream corn with a hot dog wiener sliced in and a piece of toast.  Dessert was a second piece of toast with honey and cinnamon.  I tell ya, we’re livin the high life here……………..

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY GRAND BEND’S YACHT CLUB WEB CAM ABOUT 7:40 TONIGHT

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A priest, a doctor, and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, "What's with those guys? We must have been waiting for fifteen minutes!"  The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such inept golf!"  The priest said, "Here comes the green-keeper. Let's have a word with him."  He said, "Hello George, what's wrong with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?"  The green-keeper replied, "Oh, yes. That's a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime."  The group fell silent for a moment.  The priest said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight."  The doctor said, "Good idea. I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist colleague and see if there's anything he can do for them."  The engineer said, "Why can't they play at night?"

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Son: "Dad, did you go to Church when you were little?" Dad: "Yes son, every single Sunday." Son: "I thought so. Bet it won't do me any good either."

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Two small boys, not yet old enough to be in school, were overheard talking at the zoo one day. "My name is Billy. What's yours?" asked the first boy. "Tommy," replied the second. "My Daddy's an accountant. What does your Daddy do for a living?" asked Billy. Tommy replied, "My Daddy's a lawyer." "Honest?" asked Billy. "No, just the regular kind", replied Tommy.

A FAST MOVING LATE DAY STORM PROMPTED ME TO CHANGE TONGHT’S PHOTOS

A LATE AFTERNOON STORM ROLLED THROUGH AND THIS IS THE TAIL END OF IT

I had a set of photos to go with tonight’s post but late this afternoon a fast moving storm roared in across the lake.  I didn’t get over to the lake fast enough to catch the incoming storm but I did manage to catch the tail end of it heading inland so photos tonight are from that storm.  Again it was hard for me to pick a few of the better shots so I have included all of the pics I took.  I will post today’s earlier photos Tuesday.

BY THE TIME i GOT TO THE LAKE  SKIES WERE ALREDAY CLEARING TO THE WEST

THE TAIL END OF THE STORM CAN BE SEEN AT TOP LEFT OF THE PHOTO AS IT HEADS INLAND

WHILE TAKING THESE PHOTOS I WAS CONTINUALLY BEING RAINED UPON

With temperatures hitting 70+ today it turned out to be a 2 shower day for me.  Now had I not decided to tackle the patio stone project I could probably have gotten away with just my morning shower but with the sun beating down and me scrambling around on the ground in the dirt I was back in the shower by 2 in the afternoon again.  It has always amazed me that no matter how hot and sweaty with muscles and bones aching all over the place it can always be made better by having a long hot shower.  Warm water running over one’s body is so therapeutic both mentally and physically.

TURNED AROUND AND HEADED EAST THROUGH BAYFIELD HOPING TO GET A FEW TAIL END SHOTS OF THE STORM

BAYFIELD’S MAIN STREET AS THE STORM PASSES FROM RIGHT TO LECT

IN THESE TWO PHOTOS RAINDROPS CAN BE SEEN ON MY LENS

With rain showers rumbling around the area Sunday night I was surprised to see sunshine first thing this morning.  Figured that was as good an excuse as any to head off to the lake and so it was off to the lake we went.  We only live about a mile or so inland from Lake Huron but needing a few things at Walmart we headed off to the Goderich beach.

WITH BOTH SUNLIGHT AND RAIN ABOVE I KNEW THERE WOULD BE A RAINBOW SO DOUBLE BACKED PAST OUR 5 SEASONS PARK OUT OF THE FOREST INTO OPEN SKIES

AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS THE RAINOW IN THE EAST

Luckily there was nobody at the doggy walking area so Pheebs and I headed off along the southerly path along the lake.  The Great Lakes are high again this year and I’m sure there are probably some cottage owners with shoreline concerns.

NOTICE IN THESE TWO PHOTOS AND THE LEAD PHOTO HOW HEAVY RAIN IS OBLITERATING PARTS OF THE RAINBOW….I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE

LOOKS LIKE FOLKS ARE GETTING RAINED ON REAL DARN GOOD WAY OVER THERE

Picked up a Shasta Daisy and another Clematis plant at Walmart’s garden center.  Also in my cart this morning were some bananas, one can of chicken soup and two cans of cream corn.  We were home by 10:30 and had a sausage for lunch followed by a peanut butter and honey sandwich.   Boy oh boy we sure do eat good here.

If I thought crawling around on one’s hands and knees laying heavy patio stones was a hard job 50 years ago but I sure had no idea then what it would be like doing it now at over 70.  Half a century ago if getting up off the ground was a non event then now at this stage of life it has turned into the main event.  It’s a good thing we have a private back yard because it’s quite a performance I have to go through to get myself back up on my feet.  I try to keep a lid on the oomphs and groans in order not to frighten any passers-by on the the road out front.

THE STORMS TAIL END MOVING INLAND FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

For supper tonight I ovenated 6 breaded chicken strips and with my favorite veggy I had myself a big mess of cream corn and chicken.  I’d say I really know how to do this cooking stuff right.  For dessert I wrapped my face around half a dozen big spoonful's of Activia Vanilla yogurt.  I like most of the berry flavored yogurts too but vanilla’s my fav.  Especially when one adds a generous splash of maple syrup and a few healthy banana slices.

Over the past week I’ve had a couple photos of colorful quilt blocks on area barns.  Up until a few months ago I had hardly ever heard or seen a barn quilt block but they seem to be popping up more and more throughout the countryside.  Here’s a link Kelly sent me this morning about a quilt block project at the library over in Clinton Ontario.  Clinton Library Quilt Block Project

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The chief of staff of the US Air Force decided that he would personally intervene in the recruiting crisis affecting all of our armed services. He directed a nearby Air Force base that will be opened and that all eligible young men and women be invited.  As he and his staff were standing near a brand new F-15 Fighter, a pair of twin brothers who looked like they had just stepped off a Marine Corps recruiting poster walked up to them. The chief of staff walked up to them, stuck out his hand and introduced himself.
He looked at the first young man and asked, "Son, what skills can you bring to the Air Force?"
The young man looks at him and says, "I'm a pilot!"  The general gets all excited, turns to his aide and says, "Get him in today, all the paper work done, everything, do it!"  The aide hustles the young man off. The general looks at the second young man and asked, "What skills to you bring to the Air Force?"  The young man says, "I chop wood!"  "Son," the general replies, "we don't need wood choppers in the Air Force, what do you know how to do?"  "I chop wood!"
"Young man," huffs the general, "you are not listening to me, we don't need wood choppers, this is the 20th century!"  "Well," the young man says, "you hired my brother!"  "Of course we did," says the general, "he's a pilot!"  The young man rolls his eyes and says, "So what! I have to chop it before he can pile it!"

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The graduate with a science degree asks, "Why does it work?"
The graduate with an engineering degree asks, "How does it work?"
The graduate with an accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?"
The graduate with an arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?"