WATCHED IT PASS OVERHEAD AT 17,500 MPH 250 MILES HIGH UP IN THE INKY BLACKNESS OF THE STARRY NIGHT SKY

Unlike a couple nights ago when it was on the spur of the moment that I rushed out into the darkened countryside to see the Aurora Borealis solar storm, tonight I took along my tripod, a ball cap with a set of night lights clipped to the visor and a red beamed flashlight just in case the solar storm was still going on.  It wasn't.  Well, at least not while I was out there around 10:15 for about 20 minutes.  However, it was not a total bust because I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot at the right time to notice the International Space Station coming up out of the southwest and crossing the night sky about 10 degrees south of the half Moon. It was headed in a northeast direction.  I've seen countless satellites over the years and the space station maybe a dozen or more times and this was definitely the bigger and brighter space station.  It was visible for nearly 5 minutes as it silently glided through the stars across the night sky.  Instead of trying to get a 'streak of light' picture of it, I just stood on the country road and watched it pass overhead at 17,500 mph 250 miles high up in the inky blackness of the starry night sky. 

 LILAC FLOWERS ARE NOW IN FULL BLOOM

Pheebs and I decided to forego our country road walk this morning and instead cruised around a few country roads enjoying the scenery. 

 I GUESS THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR 'THE' GRASS BEING GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE'

 I ALWAYS LIKE HOW THE FARMER 'ROUNDS OFF' THIS CROP FIELD EVERY YEAR

 I THINK THIS FARMER HAS A RATHER SERIOUS RECREATIONAL VEHICLE HOBBY

 I'VE NOTICED A FEW FIELDS AROUND THE AREA LOOKING YELLOW LIKE THIS BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT LOOKS THAT WAY

 JUST A HUNDRED YARDS OR SO AWAY FROM OUR PARK'S ENTRANCE

A bright sunny start to the day was brought to an abrupt end when a thunderclap rolled through the neighborhood.  Skies quickly darkened and down came the rain.  Good thing I had left all my gardening tools out for them to get washed off.  Ya right!!

 KELLY PICKED UP THAT COLORFUL HOOGUS McBOOGUS THING AT A BAYFIELD GARAGE SALE LAST WEEK

Finished my last book called, Beneath A Scarlet Sky by author Mark Sullivan.  A riveting story of unsee twists and turns based on real people and places which took place in and around Milan Italy in the last couple years of World War 2.  A gripping story of sadness, loss, graphic violence, hope, and despair.  Although I liked the book, it became apparent to me that I needed to once again turn away from the sufferings and hardship brought on by war and turn yet again to something light and refreshingly positive for my next read.  My mind needs enlightenment.  So, with skipping rope in hand, I triped back to Prince Edward Island again to see what fair folly Lucy Maude Montgomery had waiting for me in any one of her whimsical tales of life on the Island.  I have settled on, Futher Chronicles Of Avonlea.

 DANDELIONS GONE TO SEED

 A PATCH OF LITTLE WILDFLOWERS NEAR THE PARK'S POND

Sunshine finally emerged in the early afternoon but I mainly kept myself inside and off my legs again.  Well, with the exception of a walk with Pheebs later on which went off without a hitch.  Surprisingly, the day had warmed up significantly and I was able to finally pop myself out of my T-shirt and long-sleeved flannel shirt and pop myself into a light short-sleeve shirt again.  Oh, how nice to feel warm breezy air on my skin again.  But, it didn't last and by late afternoon the temperatures dropped under cloudy storm-laden skies.  I wish there was a way we could slow this Planet down a tad and prolong nicer weather days when they occur.  And, some days I wish there was a way to speed this Planet up to get it through to the other side of all the global unrest, violence, chaos, hatred, anger, deceit, lying, cheating, stealing, deception, cruelty, mayhem, madness, and every other kind of man's inhumanity to man and all the other living creatures on the Planet.  Beam me up Scotty, get me out of here and away from all this mindless humanoid destruction...............

 IT WAS A NICE WALK AROUND THE PARK'S POND THIS AFTERNOON

 THERE IS STILL A PAIR OF GEESE ON THE POND

 MOM, POP, AND JUNIOR SUNNING THEMSELVES ON A LOG

 ALL THE TURTLES WE SEE ARE 'CALLED 'PAINTED TURTLES'

Al's Music Box:)) Hey Baby by Bruce Channel is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel (pronounced sha-nel), first recorded it at Clifford Herring Studios in Ft. Worth Texas, by Channel in 1961.  Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith. The song features a prominent riff from well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton, and drums played by Ray Torres. Other musicians on the record included Bob Jones and Billy Sanders on guitar and Jim Rogers on bass. According to a CNN article from 2002, while touring the UK in 1962 with the Beatles, McClinton met John Lennon and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on "Love Me Do" and later "Please Please Me". Lennon included the song in his jukebox, and it is also featured on the 2004 related compilation album Hohn Lennon's Jukebox.  "Hey! Baby" was used in the 1987 hit film 'Dirty Dancing' in the scene in which Johnny and Baby dance on top of a log.

 OUR PARK'S POND WITH IT'S COLORS INVERTED....NOTICE THE BENCH BOTTOM RIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( After completing his annual physical on a patient, the doctor asked if there was anything that was bothering him. Joe replied, "Yeah, my hearing."  The doctor examined Joe's ear and removed some ear wax. He then asked Joe if his hearing was better.  Joe said, "I don't know, the hearing isn't till next Tuesday."

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When I go to casinos, the most ridiculous sign I see is the one that says: "If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER."

I thought about it for a moment and dialed the number. When they answered I said, "I have an ace and a six. The dealer has a seven. What do I do?"

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A teacher sees a lad entering the classroom – his hands were dirty.  She stopped him and said, “John, please wash your hands. My goodness, what would you say if I came into the room with hands like that?”  Smiling the boy replied, “I think I’d be too polite to mention it.”

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MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST AT ROMEOS CORNER GRILL IN STRATFORD ONTARIO

 PHOTO TAKEN BY THE WAITER WITH BEN'S SMARTPHONE CAMERA

An early start for us at 6 a.m. today.   We had to be at Romeos Corner Grill at the corners of Romeo and Ontario Streets in Stratford Ontario at 9 to meet Kelly's daughter Sabra, her son Ben, and his two boys, Darion and Kai for a Mother's Day breakfast:))  Stratford (my old stomping grounds) is slightly less than an hour's drive away so we rolled out shortly before 7:45 giving ourselves lots of time.  Knowing we wouldn't be gone long, Pheebs decided to stay home and keep an eye on things.

 WE SAW A FEW SMALL PATCHES OF SUNLIGHT ON OUR WAY

Using less traveled secondary roads under mostly cloudy skies it was a rain-free quiet Sunday morning's drive to Stratford.  We had never been to Romeo's Corner Grill before and the place was packed with people and more lined up to get in.  And OMG, the people noise inside was so loud it was nearly impossible to carry on a normal conversation  But, aside from that, I liked the looks of the place and remembered it as once being a Williams Coffee Shop and before that, a Fish'n'Chips place as I recall.  The food was fine and I enjoyed my good old standard bacon and eggs.  The best part was Kelly seeing two of her children and two of her grandchildren, and especially on Mother's Day.  

 KELLY AND HER DAUGHTER SABRA

 KELLY'S YOUNGEST SON BEN AND HIS TWO BOYS, DARION AND KAI

 KAI SCRUTINIZES THE MENU

 BROTHERLY LOVE HUH

 KELLY'S EGG BENEDICT

 TOASTS A LITTLE BURNT AND YOU CAN SEE I HAD ALREADY RIPPED INTO ONE OF MY EGGS

 JUST ABOUT READY TO HEAD HOME

It was 10:30 when we wrapped things up and headed outside to the parking lot and our cars.  Skies had begun clearing earlier and were still continuing to do so.  We had a really nice drive home in mostly sunshine through a very green picturesque countryside.  Rolled into our driveway shortly after noon.  

 KELLY RECEIVES A COUPLE MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS

 SNAPPING A FEW PICS

It was a perfect afternoon for doing things outside but I purposely kept myself away from doing anything at all and my right leg thanked me profusely for that.  Relaxed and contented myself reading.  Hey, it was Sunday eh.  A day of relaxation they say:))     

 HEADING HOME

 SUNNY BLUE SKIES AHEAD

Al's Music Box:)) So Far Away is a song written by Carole King, which appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar. In addition to Taylor, and King on piano, instruments include Russ Kunkel on drums, Charles Larkey on bass guitar and Curtis Amy of flute.  The lyrics express longing for a lover who is far away.  But Allmusic critic Bill Janovitz notes that while the lyrics start by focusing on the physical distance between the lovers, the lyrics use that as a jumping-off point to explore the emotional distance between lovers as well. Rolling Stone stated King's "warm, earnest singing" on the song brought out the song's sadness.  Cash Box said of it that "Carole weaves a magnificent ballad spun of soft, melodic phrasing and soothing piano accompaniment topped off with the superb Lou Adler production touch."  Record World called it a "finely crafted cut".  In 2017, Paste ranked the song number four on their list of the 12 greatest Carole King songs, and in 2022, American Songwriter ranked the song number two on their list of the 10 greatest Carole King songs.  It was performed at Amy Winehouse's funeral by friends and family as it was one of Winehouse's favorite songs.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( It was different when we were kids.  In second grade, a teacher came in and gave us all a lecture about not smoking, and then they sent us over to arts and crafts to make ashtrays for Mother's Day.

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Q: Why don't blind people skydive?
A: It scares the holy bejeebers out of their seeing-eye dogs.

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The trick is to not let people know how really weird you are until it's too late for them to back out.

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A customer walked into a bar and said, “I’ll have a pint of less, please.”  “Less?” queried the bartender. “What’s that?”  “I don’t know either,” said the customer, “but my doctor told me to drink less.”

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