NOT TO GET THROWN OFF TRACK AND HEAVED INTO THE DITCH

AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY

Although it was bright cheery sunshine beaming through the pines this morning, it was very frosty outside at only 30F.  Luckily, no wind to drive that below-freezing temperature even lower.  It was a drive around the south end of our Park this morning followed by a short jaunt down Bayfield River Road and back.  I think we made it up to nearly 50F today.

ALTHOUGH MOST OF AUTUMN'S COLORED LEAVES ARE GONE WE WILL STILL HAVE GREEN EVERGREEN TREES TO CARRY SOME COLOR THROUGH THE WINTER

THIS IS ABOUT THE LAST OF THE BIG LOG PILES AT OUR PARK'S RECYCLE AREA

Rejuvenated by a better night's sleep I wasn't long in getting myself outside on the end of my leaf rake, pitchfork, and wheelbarrow.  Lots of leaves on the ground with still more to come down.  I keep telling myself that every wheelbarrow load picked up now saves me a wheelbarrow load picked up in the Spring. 

 NICE TO STILL SEE A FEW SPLASHES OF COLOR IN OUR PARK

 FLOWERS STILL BLOOMING IN ONE OF OUR PARK'S ENTRANCE FLOWERBEDS

Pheebs and I made it out for a late afternoon walk and headed past the Park's pond for the new resting bench in the woods overlooking a small ravine.  Seeing how the Park's previous owner needlessly bulldozed down my favorite forest Maple tree three years ago, I guess this resting bench will be our new destination spot for Pheebs and I.  Looking forward to heading there in the Spring to sit and listen to all the forest birds and Peeper frogs.

AN AFTERNOON WALK TO THE WOODLAND BENCH

 WHILE ON OUR WALK THIS SMALL PLANE FLEW OVERHEAD AND ACCORDING TO ITS WING NUMBER  IT BELONGS TO PAPPLE AVIATION BASED NOT TOO FAR FROM BAYFIELD

 THE PLANE WASN'T REALLY THIS LOW....I WAS USING A TELEPHOTO LENS (208mm)

I finished my I Know An Old Lady book by author, Margaret Standafer and I have to say I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.  Mystery, suspense, humor, happiness, sadness, inspiration, and just enough characters for me not to become confused by and enough gentle twists, turns, and curves in the story for me not to get heaved off track and thrown into the ditch.  Liking her writing style I think I will check out a few more books by this author.   

IVY AND OAK LEAVES AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY

 A NEIGHBOR'S BAMBOO GRASS

Al's Music Box:)) King Of The Road is a song written by country singer Roger Miller, who first recorded it in November 1964.  The lyrics tell of the day-to-day life of a traveling hobo who, despite having little money (a "man of means by no means"), revels in his freedom, describing himself humorously and cynically as the "King of the road". It was Miller's fifth single for Smash Records.  The song won Miller 5 Grammy Awards in 1966.  The crossover record reached No. 1 on the US Country chart, No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 1 on the Easy Listening surveys.  Miller recalled that the song was inspired when he was driving and saw a sign on the side of a barn that read, "Trailers for sale or rent".  This became the opening line of the song.  "King of the Road" won Roger Miller 5 Grammy Awards at the 1966 8th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony. It won for Best Contemporary (R&R) Single, Best Contemporary (R&R) Vocal Performance - Male, Best Country & Western Single, Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Male & Best Country & Western Song. He also won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Album "The Return Of Roger Miller".

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it is safe to cross the street.  I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine, when she asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals to blind people when the light is red.  She responded, appalled, 'What on earth are blind people doing driving?'

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

- I recently took up meditation.  It's certainly better than sitting around doing nothing.

- I have neither the time or the crayons to explain this to you

- When I was younger I had a job pretending to be a statue.  I held that position for some time.

- What's an ig?  An Eskimo's home without a loo!

- What does a Redneck and a Tornado have in common? Trailer parks......sooner or later they both end up in one...

- The new thought-activated car they're working on is going to be even more popular than the voice-activated one.  It goes without saying.

- My wife is one of the clumsiest people I know.  I'm so glad she fell for me

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

A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch.  "I couldn't help noticing how happy you look," she said. "What's your secret for a long happy life?"  "I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise."  "That's amazing," said the woman, "how old are you?"  "Twenty-six," he said.
---------------------------------

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

 {Quote} “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.”

                          Al's Art Gallery

LOOK UP MY FELLOW CANADIANS AND THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS

ROLLING HILLS AND DALES

For Pheebs and I on this overcast windy 50F morning our main destination was Goderich's Walmart Pharmacy.  Kelly's bladder infection has not cleared up.  Her Nurse Practitioner sent in a new and stronger prescription order to the Pharmacy late yesterday so Pheebs and I set off to pick that up.  Our usual coffee, quick swing down around the harbor, Walmart, and home.  I don't know how Kelly is dealing with so many health issues right now and still holding her own.  Some of those issues I do not put in the blog.

 THE ROSAIRE A DESGAGNES  IN PORT THIS MORNING DOCKED AT THE GODERICH GRAIN TERMINAL

With trouble sleeping Thursday night, it was a tired day today and I got about the square root of nothing accomplished.  I had one of my 'just didn't feel like it' days and hunkered down in the sunroom and buried my nose in a book.  Due to the cold wind, it was a short walk for Pheebs and I this afternoon. 

HEAVILY CLOUDED SKIES OVER THE COLD CHOPPY WATERS OF LAKE HURON

 ONE LONE CAMPER VAN PARKED OUT AT ROTARY COVE

I calmly walked into our sunroom Wednesday morning, unplugged the television beside my computer desk, and removed it from the room.  I will bring it back Sunday night to watch Skinwalker Ranch and then remove it again until the next Sunday night.  I am completely done with following news channels and I have never felt more relieved than right now that we live in this wonderful country of Canada. I wonder how many Canadians fully understand and appreciate how truly fortunate we are at this moment in time to be living here where we do.  Look up my fellow Canadians and thank your lucky stars....

 A GAGGLE OF GEESE WALKING WITH A PURPOSE

 RATHER THAN TIRE THEMSELVES OUT FLYING SOUTH I FIGURE THESE GUYS ARE HEADING OVER TO BOARD THE SHIP WHICH WILL TAKE THEM TO VENEZUELA

 LOOKS LIKE EVEN LARRY, CURLY, AND MOE ARE GOING TO BOARD THE SHIP AS WELL

Al's Music Box:)) Sunshine Superman is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released as a single in the United States through Epic Records in July 1966.  The single was backed with "The Trip".  It has been described as "[one of the] classics of the, and as "the quintessential bright summer sing along.  "Sunshine Superman" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States (Donovan's only single to do so) and subsequently became the title track of his third album.  A different mix of "The Trip" (without harmonica) is also included in the album. The single version of "Sunshine Superman" was edited down from its original four-and-a-half minutes to just over three, and this version was also used on the album; the full-length version made its debut on the Donovan's Greatest Hits LP in 1969.  Recorded on 19 December 1965, the song "has a claim to be the first psychedelic rock record ever recorded" according to The Guardian.  It was arranged by two jazz musicians, pianist John Cameron and Spike Heatley, who played double bass. John Paul Jones, who would also act as an arranger on some Donovan sessions for producer Mickie Most, played electric bass. Session guitarist Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin) played lead guitar, employing an innovative use of the volume control on his guitar for the repeating figure he played during the verses. Cameron played a two-tier Morley harpsichord on the record. After the success of the song, Cameron would arrange (and play on) many tracks for Donovan and Most.  Billboard described the single as a "rockin' production ballad with an exciting, commercial sound". Cash Box described the song as a "funky, medium-paced, blues-soaked romancer about a lad who is determined to snare the gal of his dreams", and called it "impressive". Record World said it "has an incessant and irresistible mid-shuffle beat." Following the release of the hit song, the name "Sunshine Superman" became widely associated with Donovan himself, and was used as the title or part of the title of about six of his album releases and reissues (including several compilations and a live album as well as being used as the title track of his 1966 studio album).GROANER'S CORNER:(( You are driving in a car at a constant speed.  On your left side is a drop-off and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you.  In front of you is a galloping pig which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a helicopter flying at ground level.  Both the giant pig and the helicopter are also traveling at the same speed as you.  What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?  Get off the children's merry-go-round, you're drunk.

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

- I don't own a telescope, but it's something I'm thinking of looking into!

- “I have a split personality” said Bob, being frank.

- I asked my boss, "Can I get a couple of weeks off for Christmas?"  "It's May," he said.  I said, "Sorry. May I get a couple of weeks off for Christmas?"

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

Summer vacation was over and the teacher asked Little Johnny about his family trip. "We visited my grandmother in Minneapolis, Minnesota."  The teacher asked, "Good, can you tell the class how you spell that?"  Little Johnny thought for a few seconds and said, "Actually, we went to Ohio."

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

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

                            Al's Art Gallery