RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF TWO CHOCOLATE PUDDING INCIDENTS LAST WEEK

  NICE TO SEE SO MANY TULIPS IN BLOOM AND THESE ARE AT A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE ACROSS THE ROAD

Well, I figured the best way to deal with aching muscles is to put em back to work again so that is what I did.  After Pheebs and I returned from our morning country road walk under cloudy skies, I grabbed my shovel and fired up the wheelbarrow.  I was hoping that the waterlogged stone dust had lost some of its weight overnight but it hadn't.  It still felt like each shovel full weighed about 112 pounds.  And, for the second day in a row I am very appreciative for the cooler morning air.

 IT'S A BUSY TIME OF YEAR FOR FARMERS RIGHT NOW

As morning gave way to afternoon our cloud cover dispersed and with it the cooler air.  With humidity building and soon beginning to turn me into a sticky ball of paste, I had to finally pack it in and head for the cool confines of the house.  But that was okay because my legs were well overdue for a rest.  Also, I had the bulk of the stone dust in place.  I'll be back at it tomorrow if my aching muscles will let me out the door.

 MY STONE DUST PILE AT THE BEGINNING OF TODAY

 THE PILE AT THE END OF THE DAY

 HERE'S MY BEST PAL KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON ME

While wheelbarrowing this stone dust over the past couple of days, my mind tossed some old memories at me.  The last time I worked on a project like this was in November of 2012.  That project was at our house in Congress, Arizona and it was some of the same gardening tools I used today that I used back then.  I still work with my red-handled round-mouth shovel, blue-handled square-mouth shovel, and red-handled garden rake all of which I bought at Ace Hardware in Wickenburg, Arizona.  In the following paragraph, 'A Blast From Our Past' you can read about those days when I had a similar project going on but that one in Congress was bigger than this one.

A Blast From Our Past:)) On November 8th, 2012 I wrote, As Soon As He Dropped The Crushed Stone, I Thought 'Oh-Oh'  On November 9th, I wrote, Trimmed A Few Trees, Moved A Little Gravel, and Grabbed Some zzzzzz's.  On November 13th, I wrote, With Help From 'The Sons Of The Pioneers' I Finished My Crushed Stones Project Today

 I HOPE I HAVE ENOUGH STONE DUST LEFT TO DO THIS SECTION

Kelly slipped into the Bayfield Library and Foodland this afternoon returning with 4 grocery bags.  I always go out to carry the groceries in and I noticed a square white box sitting horizontal in one of the grocery bags.  I recognized it right away as a pie box and instantly gained two pounds.  'Oh-No' I thought, am I going to end up having to eat this pie if Kelly doesn't like it.  This sometimes occurs around our house ya know.  Luckily for me, Kelly did like the apple pie she had bought at the Mennonite Country Market south of Bayfield.  In fact, she said it was the best apple pie she's had in a long time and I had to agree with her.  'Whew', close call for me considering it was right on the heels of two chocolate pudding incidents last week.

 HERE'S KELLY CATCHING A FEW RAYS THIS AFTERNOON ON OUR FRONT DECK

Hard to imagine that we are in the month of May already.   It seems it was just January yesterday or something.  I think the Earth is in some kind of a fast-forward time warp or something.  Before we know it, Walmart will be putting out Christmas decorations again.  Oh, say it isn't so.....................:((   

 THIS IS WHERE I LEFT OFF TODAY

Al's Music Box:)) Mercy Mercy Me is the second single from American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, 'What's Going On'. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became regarded as one of popular music's most poignant anthems of sorrow regarding the environment. Led by Gaye playing piano, strings conducted by David Van De Pitte and Paul Riser, and multi-tracking vocals from Gaye and the Andantes, multiple background instruments provided by the Funk Brothers and a leading sax solo by Wild Bill Moore, the song rose to number 4 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart and number one for two weeks on the R&B Singles charts on August 14 through to August 27, 1971.  The distinctive percussive sound heard on the track was a wood block struck by a rubber mallet, drenched in studio reverb.  The song also brought Gaye one of his rare appearances on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it peaked at number 34. In Canada, "Mercy Mercy Me" spent two weeks at number 9.  Cash Box described the song as being "a similar chugging ballad effort" to "What's Going On," stating that "the easygoing surface lies gently above an exciting rhythm track."  Record World said that the song "couldn't be more perfect" and reflects how Gaye "developed a style uniquely his own."

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Kenny, a city boy, moved to the country and purchased a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the following day.  The next morning, the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry, son, but I have some bad news. The donkey died."  "Well, just return my money to me," Kenny said.  "Sorry, can't do that," said the farmer. "I already spent it."  "OK then, just unload the donkey," said Kenny.  "Whatcha gonna do with him?" asked the farmer.  "I'm going to raffle him off," Kenny replied.  "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!" the farmer exclaimed.  "Of course I can," replied Kenny. "Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he is dead."   A few weeks later, the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, "So, what happened with the dead donkey?"  "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars a piece and made a profit of $898.00," explained Kenny.  "Didn't anyone complain?" inquired the farmer.  "Just the guy who won. So, I gave him his two dollars back," Kenny proudly replied.

----------------------------------------------

knock knock
who's there
oddley hee
oddley hee who
I didn't know you could yodel!

----------------------------------------------

Teacher to a student: "Can you think of a solution to end unemployment?"  "Yes, sir! I'd put all the men on one island and the women on another."  "And what would they be doing then?"  "Building boats!"

---------------------------------

================================

NO AL, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS ALL IN ONE DAY!!

 OUR NEIGHBOR MONICA'S MAGNOLIA TREE IS IN BLOOM

Each morning when I peer out of our large east-facing living room window I can see my view turning greener by the day as the trees and shrubbery continue to quickly grow and fill in my view.  Disappearing quickly is winter's gray and stark colorless landscape.  Oh, how wonderful to see those horrible horrible winter months gone!!  While looking out the window a white pick-up truck backed into our driveway with my load of stone dust.

 GOLDCOAST DELIVERS MY STONE DUST

My seven bags of mulch for the front yard flower beds didn't go far so Pheebs and I were back to Gold Coast Landscaping for seven more bags again this morning.  Buy six and get one free is their Spring special at the moment.  And a swing down around Bayfield's foggy harbor and beach area before heading home.

 A FOGGY MORNING AT BAYFIELD'S BEACH 

 AFTER BEING IN STORAGE ALL WINTER THE BOAT DOCKS NEED A GOOD HOSING OFF

 I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THEY GET THIS DRYDOCKED FISHING BOAT BACK INTO THE WATER AGAIN

NICE TO SEE THESE TREES IN THE HARBOR LEAFING OUT

 A MONTH FROM NOW THIS BOATING AREA WILL BE A HUB OF ACTIVITY

 HOME AGAIN AND TIME TO GET TO WORK

I very much appreciated today's cooler air as I busied myself in the front yard.  I got right at wheelbarrowing a dozen heavy waterlogged half-wheelbarrow loads to an area between our front deck and the frog pond.  In between loads, I spread four more bags of mulch.  I had to take a couple breaks to rest my legs, right knee, lower back, and a couple dozen other muscles today.  All par for the course when using muscles that haven't been used for a very long time.  And, I had to keep telling myself over and over, "NO AL, you do not have to do this all in one day"!!  If I were to ever have a tattoo which thank heavens I never will, but speaking hypothetically, I would have those above words tattooed on my right arm in bold block letters where I could see them clearly every day.  NO AL, you do not have to do this all in one day'!!   

 MY VERY WET AND HEAVY STONE DUST PILE WITH A COUPLE WHEELBARROW LOADS ALREADY TAKEN OUT OF IT

 AND SO IT BEGINS

 AS THE STONE DUST DRYS IT BECOMES MUCH LIGHTER BOTH IN COLOR AND IN WEIGHT

 IT LOOKS LIKE KELLY SNAPPED A COUPLE PICS OF ME SPREADING MULCH

 LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER GOOD WORKING DAY TOMORROW

Finished my book The True Meaning Of Life by Judith Hindle and I do agree with much of what she has to say.  But, it is a classic example of reading with an open mind but not so open that your brains fall out.  The next book in my queue is Beneath A Scarlet Sky by author Mark Sullivan.

MONICA'S MAGNOLIA TREE

Al's Music Box:)) Mr. Blue is a popular song written by DeWayne Blackwell that was a hit for The Fleetwoods, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1959, giving the group its second chart-topping hit of the year. Roy Lanham played guitar on the track, and Si Zentner played the trombone.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  By the time you read through this, you will understand 'TANJOOBERRYMUTTS'  The following is a telephone exchange between a hotel guest and room service in a hotel ...

Room Service: "Morrin. Roon sirbees."
Guest: "Sorry, I thought I dialed room service."
Room Service: " Rye . Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"
Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd like to order bacon and eggs."
Room Service: "Ow ulai den?"
Guest: ".....What??"
Room Service: "Ow ulai den?!?... Pryed, boyud , pochd?"
Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry..Scrambled, please."
Room Service: "Ow ulai dee bayken? Creepse?"
Guest: "Crisp will be fine."
Room Service: "Hokay. Ansahn toes?"
Guest: "What?"
Room Service: "An toes. ulaisahn toes?"
Guest: "I don't think so.."
RoomService: "No? Udo wan sahn toes???"
Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'udo wan sahn toes' means."
RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...WhyUoo donwan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we botter?"
Guest: "Oh, English muffin! !! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'... Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."
RoomService: "We botter?"
Guest: "No, just put the botter on the side."
RoomService: "Wad?!?"
Guest: "I mean butter... Just put the butter on the side."
RoomService: "Copy?"
Guest: "Excuse me?"
RoomService: "Copy...tea.. meel?"
Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... And that's everything."
RoomService: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, creepse bayken, Anglish moppin, we botter on sigh and copy ... Rye ??"
Guest: "Whatever you say."
RoomService: "Tanjooberrymutts."
Guest: "You're welcome"
Remember I said "By the time you read through this you will understand, 'TANJOOBERRYMUTTS'

------------------------------------

- "If you don't like the news, go out and make some."

- "Few women admit their age, Few men act it! "

- "Women who seek to be equal to men lack ambition."

------------------------------------

=============================

THIS WHOLE IDEA COULD BE A BIG BUST

 IT'S THAT MARSH MERRIGOLD TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

An overcast gloomy looking morning but at least temperatures came up to 73F. under sunny skies later.  By late afternoon it was thunder, lightning, and rain.  Groovy.  

 I THINK BY THE TIME THESE FELLERS IN FRONT OF SHOPBIKE COFFEE ROASTERS WRAP IT UP THEY WILL NO DOUBT HAVE ALL OF THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS SOLVED

Pheebs and I headed to Gold Coast Landscaping south of Bayfield earlier today to have a look at some mulch for the flower beds.  On the way, Richard went by the other way and pulled over.  I did a U-turn and we slipped down a side street for a morning Pow-Wow.  From there I continued on to Goldcoast and ended up bringing 7 bags of mulch home.  Because we grow more moss than grass in much of our front yard due to all the shade I was also looking for something different to put down in the mossy areas.  I have decided on something called 'stone dust'.  A truck will drop off 3 square meters (one ton) of this fine gravel on Tuesday and I will then set to work wheelbarrowing it to and around the front yard to where the mossy areas are.  This whole idea could be a big bust but how will I ever know if I don't give it a try eh.  If it is a bust, we'll just sell the house and move to Portugal and live in a Villa with lots of pretty flowers year-round and no snow.  

 IT IS A BROWN MULCH I DECIDED ON

From Gold Coast, Pheebs and I headed to Bayfield's cemetery for a walk around the roads.  If I didn't know I had a hip replacement ten weeks ago, I wouldn't even know I had a hip replacement.  From the cemetery, we headed home because I had work to do

 SEEN AT THE CEMETERY THIS MORNING

I spent a few hours in the front yard spreading around three of the seven bags of mulch, leveling the bird bath, re-running some outdoor electrical cords, and half a dozen other little things.  I finally had to come in when my legs told me it was time to sit down and give them a rest.  Also, due to the day's humidity, I had to throw myself into the shower as soon as I came in to rid myself of the uncomfortable stickiness on my skin caused by the humidity.  That will be a common occurrence this summer I'm sure.    

Al's Music Box:)) No Time is a song by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, composed by guitarist Randy Bachman and lead singer Burton Cummings.  There are two versions of the song. The original recording was done for The Guess Who's album 'Canned Wheat'. But it is the re-recording (as featured on the 'American Woman' album) that was released as a single in 1969 and is the better-known. It is slightly faster in tempo and has the two verses transposed, but the extended Bachman guitar solo was cut. The single peaked at No. 5 in the U.S. and was the third in a string of million-selling singles that all hit No. 1 in Canada for The Guess Who.  The song is basically a reverse Dear John letter stating, "No time left for you." Of the song, Randy Bachman said, “That was our country-rock song... Me and Burton trying to be like Neil Young and Stephen Stills."

 BAYFIELD'S BEACH

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Scientists at Rolls Royce built a gun specifically to launch dead chickens at the windshields of airliners and military jets all travelling at maximum velocity. The idea was to simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne fowl to test the strength of the windshields.  American engineers heard about the gun and were eager to test it on the windshields of their new high speed trains. Arrangements were made, and a gun was sent to the American engineers.  When the gun was fired, the engineers stood shocked as the chicken hurled out of the barrel, crashed into the shatterproof shield, smashed it to smithereens, blasted through the control console, snapped the engineer's backrest in two and embedded itself in the back wall of the cabin like an arrow shot from a bow..  The horrified engineers sent Rolls Royce the disastrous results of the experiment, along with the designs of the windshield, and begged the British scientists for suggestions.  Rolls Royce responded with a one-line memo:  Defrost the chicken..

--------------------------------------------

Teacher: Why don't you brush your teeth? I can see what you had for breakfast this morning. Student: What did I have? Teacher: Egg! Student: You're wrong! That was yesterday!

- Years ago someone in California hollered “Gold,” and people drove from all directions. That’s the way they still drive in California.

-------------------------------------

Billy and John were given a toboggan for their birthday. After they had been out playing in the snow, Billy was in tears.  “Now, John,” said his father, “I told you to let Billy use the toboggan half the time.” “And I did,” said Billy; “I had it going down, and he had it going up.”

---------------------------------

==============================