KELLY'S BLOOD TEST THIS MORNING CONFIRMED A LOW HEMOGLOBIN LEVEL

SO NICE TO SEE IRIS FLOWERS IN BLOOM AGAIN

Despite what her London blood work showed this morning, Kelly was feeling slightly better today.  Her blood results at University Hospital confirmed a significant drop in her hemoglobin numbers and that is what's causing her weakened state of Anemia.  She is scheduled for an endoscopy on May 31rst. to see if they can find what might be responsible for her low red blood cell count.  Some of her other blood count numbers were down as well.  We both wish they could have scheduled that Endoscopy sooner.  Right now as I type this, Kelly is huddled in her chair with towel-wrapped frozen water bottles on her arms to deaden the nerves from itching.

 A TINY MOTH OR BUTTERFLY ON OUR SUNROOM WINDOW

 WE LIKE OUR BUNNIES

To start the day off, Pheebs and I took a short Jeep ride into Bayfield and back.  Home again, we switched cars, loaded up Miss Kelly, and under semi-sunny skies headed for London.  It was 8:55 when we rolled out the driveway and 10:05 when Pheebs and I dropped her off at University Hospital.  From there, the furry Kid and I headed north to the Medway Cemetery where we always stop for a short walk.  

 OUR SPOT AT MEDWAY CEMETERY

 THERE ARE ALWAYS PRETTY FLOWERS IN CEMETERYS

 ALTHOUGH SAD, I DO LIKE THE ARTWORK ON MANY STONES

 THIS STONE TODAY REMINDED ME OF JOHN BROWN, AN RVING BLOGGER FRIEND WHO PASSED AWAY A FEW MONTHS AGO

 A SLEEPY CREEK IN THE DARK SHADOWS OF A FOREST BESIDE THE CEMETERY

From the cemetery, our next destination was northwest to Ilderton where we grabbed a Tim Hortons coffee to go.  From there we continued west to a rather unique little hidden away place called Coldstream.  There is a small Conservation Area there so we did a walk around the parking lot because they have a big sign about dogs having to be leashed while on the trails so that wasn't for us and we soon left.  

 THE QUAKER'S MEETING HALL

 AND, THEIR CEMETERY

 MORE IRIS FLOWERS

We were about halfway back to London slowly poking our way along a few gravel roads when the phone rang.  It was Kelly and she was ready to go.  Speeding up, we scooped her at the hospital's front door about 10 minutes later and headed for home.  We were back in our driveway under cloudy skies by 1:30.

 AND HERE SHE COMES

Remember a few days ago when in my post I had a photo of the Park's new sitting bench by the pond.  It had a plaque on it which I figured was put there by the maker of the bench.  Now, some of you long-time blog readers may remember how in our RVing years, especially when we had our house in Arizona, Kelly would often paint and write things on small rocks.  She even painted talented graphics on her bicycle.  Flowers, bugs, and birds, as well as words and sayings, etc.  When she saw the picture of the bench plaque in my post she asked me who I thought made it and I said I didn't know.  Then, she said something curious to me. "I guess you didn't recognize my writing".

Al's Music Box:)) Since I Don't Have You is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song.

AN EARLY MONDAY  EVENING SUN REFLECTING IN OUR PARK'S POND

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman were trying to get in to see the Olympics without tickets. So they got to the stadium during one of the main events and discussed how they would be able to attend without paying.  The Englishman walked around the stadium and saw a pole lying on the ground and picked it up. He walked to the entrance and said, "Peter. England. Pole throwing." The guards let him in without hesitation.  While walking, the Scotsman sees a manhole. He picks up the cover, carries it under his arm to the entrance and says, "McGregor. Scotland. Discus throwing." The guards let him in also.  The Irishman is very frantic, since both his friends are now inside. He walks around the stadium and finds a roll of barbed wire. He picks it up, walks to the entrance and says, "Murphy. Ireland. Fencing."

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When I was married, my wife used to call me handsome. As a matter of fact, we are now divorced but she STILL calls me handsome.
Every time I have some money, she says, HANDSOME OVER.

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John, an avant-garde painter got married.

Someone asked the bride a few weeks after the wedding, "How's married life, Helen?"
"It's great," she answered. "John paints and I cook; then we try to guess what he painted and what I cooked."

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THESE NOT KNOWING 'ONE DAY AT A TIME' DAYS ARE TAKING THEIR TOLL

Pheebs and I were out the door earlier this morning and headed for our country road walking spot.  However, there was a farm vehicle parked in the only pull-over spot so we had to roll on by.  Turned around and headed straight home because I wanted to take advantage of the cooler morning air to get the Subaru washed.  I did that and finished up the job shortly before the humidity made being outside uncomfortable.  Surprisingly, I did slip out later for 20 minutes to mow our backyard grass.  Silly me.  I had to slip back into the house and toss myself in the shower.

 I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A GRASS CROP FOR HAY WHICH WILL LIKELY BE CUT IN ANOTHER FEW WEEKS

I THINK THIS IS NEWLY PLANTED CORN AND IF SO, THE STOCKS ARE UP ABOUT 3 INCHES

 WE STILL HAVE DANDELIONS IN BLOOM

 A NEIGHBOR'S BIRD HOUSES

Thanks to Kelly's efforts in tracking down the 'Blogger' photo sizing problem in my blog, I've been able to enlarge the photos in Sunday's post in case anyone wants to go back and have a look at them.  She was also able to find a workaround for the font colors too.  Bottom Line.....if it wasn't for Kelly and her problem-solving acumen, patience, and determination, my blog would have ended in a matter of weeks after I first started it nearly 18 years ago.  She is the one who has kept my blogging head above water.

ON THIS NEIGHBORING FARM THERE SITS AN AUTHENTIC DUTCH WINDMILL

We are off to London's University Hospital in the morning for Kelly's first meeting with the coordinator of a Liver Transplant Study Group that she has volunteered to be a part of.  We are going early because Kelly's liaison lady said she needs to undergo more blood tests due to her anemic condition this past week.  How the rest of the day goes from there will be determined by those tests and what the liver doctor has to say.  Kelly is taking an overnight bag with her in case push comes to shove.  Pheebs and I will drop her off at the hospital's main door and then await her phone call.  It might turn into a long day or it might not.  These not knowing 'one day at a time' days are taking their toll...............

 A FEW REFLECTIONS IN A LAKE ABOUT A MILE EAST OF OUR PARK

Al's Music Box:)) Tumbling Tumbleweeds by Ken Curtis...Many readers will remember a favorite old TV western called, Gunsmoke.  One of the characters on the show was Festus.  Few, if any at the time thought of Festus (Ken Curtis) as a talented singer.  Well, he was and he once sang with The Sons Of The Pioneers.  His version of Tumbling Tumbleweeds is as good as any who have ever sung it.    

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A middle aged woman decides to learn and try horseback riding assisted without any experience or lessons.  She mounts the horse with great effort, and the tall, shiny horse springs into motion.  It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the lady begins to slip from the saddle.  Out of sheer terror, she grabs for the horse's mane but cannot seem to get a firm grip.  She tries to throw her arms around the horse's neck but slides down the side of the horse anyway.  The horse gallops along, seemingly oblivious to its slipping rider.  Finally, giving up her frail grip, she leaps away from the horse to try and throw herself to safety.  Unfortunately, her foot has become entangled in the stirrup.  She is now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves as her head is struck against the ground again and again.  As her head is battered against the ground, she is moments away from unconsciousness or even death when Todd, the Walmart manager, runs out to turn the horse off.

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A judge was punishing three men because they had committed a crime. Their sentence was a few years in the desert. He said that they could each take one thing with them.  The first guy decides to take an umbrella so that he can have shade whenever he wants.  The second guy decides to take a water bottle so that he won't get thirsty.  Finally, the third guy decides to take a car door.  The judge asked, "Why in the world would you want to take a car door?" The man replies, "Just in case it gets hot, I can roll down the window."

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A PROBLEM WITH MY 'BLOGGER' PROGRAM TONIGHT

 POPPY FLOWERS ON PORTER'S HILL LINE THIS MORNING

(There seems to be something amiss with my Blogger program tonight because it will not allow me to enlarge my photos or change the font colors in 'Al's Music Box' or 'Groaner's Corner')  Try clicking on the photos to see if they will enlarge.  I hope this is just a temporary problem!!  I will try enlarging the photos and changing the font colors tomorrow to see if anything has changed overnight...........

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Surprisingly, after an unexpectedly good night's sleep, Kelly felt a touch better today.  Judging by past experiences, neither one of us had thought that would happen.  She's nowhere near out of the woods but at least today was a better day for her than this past week.  We're encouraged, but also realistic enough in our thinking to know that her feeling slightly better today is only temporary........And it was.  At the time of posting this tonight she is again feeling weak)  Thanks to readers for your thoughtful and encouraging comments.

 KELLY BROUGHT HOME SOME OUTSIDE BEGONIA PLANTS A FEW DAYS AGO

 I REVERSED THE COLORS ON THIS HANGING BEGONIA PLANT...LEAVES WERE A DARK GREEN AND THE FLOWERS A BRIGHT RED

We had us a mighty fine-looking and feeling good weather morning and I would say the best one of the year so far.  I was able to dispense with my usual morning colder weather garb of a T-shirt, a long sleeve flannel shirt, and a jacket.  I stepped right out our door with a short-sleeved shirt on for a welcome change.  Well, fancy that eh:))

 HEADING TO GODERICH THIS MORNING

 SAW A FEW THREE-WHEELERS ON THE ROAD

 TWO WHEELERS TOO

 'HEY DAD ARE WE GETTING A GRAPE SHAKE'

With prescriptions for both Kelly and I to be picked up at Goderich's Walmart, Pheebs and I were soon in the Jeep heading north.  Say, did I mention what a beautiful morning it was:))  Coffee to go at McDonalds' and we headed for the harbor whereupon I immediately noticed something odd far out on the lake.  A large freighter sat atop the horizon but something didn't look right about it.  On the road out to the cove I pulled over and hauled out my binoculars.  In the hazy distance maybe three miles out it almost looked like four large ships grouped together.  I took a couple shaky hand-held 600mm photos and was able to enlarge them later in my photo editing program but It wasn't until after we were home that Kelly saw the explanation for the 'two' Algoma lake freighters on Goderich's Sunset site.  The Algoma Intrepid was transferring its full load of salt to the Algoma Innovator after the Intrepid had experienced some kind of a propulsion problem.  Once that was explained, all seemed right with the world again.  Okay, not really, but a little bit anyway.

 I'M GUESSING THAT'S THE 'INTREPID' ON THE RIGHT AND THE 'INNOVATOR' ON THE LEFT

 FAMILIES AT GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE THIS MORNING

Home again, I forgot all about washing the Subaru and somehow got myself involved in trimming up some branches on a 12-foot maple tree with my tall ladder.  By the time I finished this, I had to retreat into the house and bask in the coolness of our wonderful A/C and strategically placed fans.  I will have to tie a brightly colored 'car wash' ribbon around my finger for tomorrow morning.

With a nice late afternoon breeze in the air Pheebs and I did venture out later for a stroll around the Park's pond.  This one turned out to be a four-turtle walk with a Green-Backed Heron thrown in for good measure.  Oh, and we heard some Chuggerrum frogs too.  With the afternoon humidity ramped up, both Pheebs and I were happy to get back to the coolness of our house again:))   

 SOMEONE HAS ADDED A NICE TOUCH TO THE RESTING BENCH BESIDE THE PARK'S POND

 TWO TINY TURTLES SITTING ON A LOG, ONE THINKS HE'S A FISH, THE OTHER A FROG

LOOKS LIKE BOTH THESE TURTLES HAVE HITCHHIKERS....SNAILS

 GREEN-BACKED HERON

 LOOKS LIKE A JAMMY PLACE TO LIVE IF YOUR A TURTLE

 ON A DIRT ROAD AT THE FAR END OF THE POND I SPOTTED THESE VERY RARE PRINTS OF THE GREAT AND ELUSIVE HIEROGLYPHIC GILLY-GALOO BIRD

 PHLOX GROWING AT THE POND'S EDGE

 PHEEBS IN OUR FRONT YARD MAKING HER WAY ALONG A JUNGLE PATH

Al's Music Box:)) Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. North wrote the music as a theme for the prison film Unchained (1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack.   It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by the Righteous Brothers in 1965.  According to the song's publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of "Unchained Melody" have been made by more than 670 artists, in multiple languages.  Of the hundreds of recordings made, the Righteous Brothers' version, with a solo by Bobby Hatfield, became the jukebox standard after its release. Hatfield changed the melody in the final verse and many subsequent covers of the song are based on his version. The Righteous Brothers recording achieved a second round of great popularity when featured in the film Ghost in 1990.   

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Are your investments in order? Below are some of the latest rumors from Wall Street. In the wake of the AOL/Time Warner deal, here are the latest mergers we can expect to see:

Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W.R. Grace Company merge to become Hale Mary Fuller Grace.

Polygram Records, Warner Brothers, and Keebler Crackers merge to become Polly-Warner-Cracker.

Duct tape is like 'The Force'...
It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

3M and Goodyear merge to become MMMGood.

John Deere and Abitibi-Price merge to become Deere Abi.

Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining merge to become Zip Audi Do Da.

Honeywell, Imasco, and Home Oil merge to become Honey I'm Home.

Denison Mines, and Alliance and Metal Mining merge to become Mine All Mine.

Federal Express and UPS merge to become FED UP.

Xerox and Wurlitzer will merge and begin manufacturing reproductive organs.

Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will merge and become Fairwell Honeychild.

3M, J.C. Penney and the Canadian Opera Company will merge and become 3 Penney Opera.

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- I'm at an age where my back goes out more than I do.

- I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.

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