DOES NOT WANT TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL

I'm a bit late posting the blog because I wanted to wait until I had talked to Aunt Jean first to see how she is doing.....I called at our usual time but my call went to voicemail.  I called 20 minutes later and it again went to voicemail.  I then called her friend Pat and Pat told me Jean is now on oxygen and continues to have trouble breathing as well as coughing spells.  Pat was there about 5 this afternoon and will return to see how Jean is in the morning, after which she will call me.  Aunt Jean is still at her facility and does not want to be taken to the hospital..........

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Pheebs and I didn't waste any time getting ourselves out the door this morning and we headed east to the Bannockburn Line and took a slow cruise through that area.  The gravel road was still in a frozen state from the below freezing overnight temperatures so it was not muddy.  Snapped a few pics along the way and then headed home on what would turn out to be a very welcome 55F day.

SAP IS RUNNING AND MAPLE SYRUP WILL SOON BE ON AREA PANCAKES

 ALTHOUGH A LOT OF SNOW HAS MELTED THERE IS STILL LOTS LEFT

Later, Woodsy and I piled into the Subaru and headed over to Exeter.  When we got there, neither one of us knew why we had taken a drive to Exeter but figured while we were there we'd have a look around.  There's a nice boardwalk trail along the river and I was hoping maybe it would be clear of snow by now.  It wasn't.  From there, I showed Woodsy where a few things are located in Exeter and we headed back towards Bayfield with a stop at Hayter's Turkey Farm Outlet west of Dashwood and Zehr's Country Mennonitte Market south of Bayfield.  Home again, I spent time outside piling up more downed pine tree branches and raking up debris on patches of ground where the snow has already melted.  Our house, two sheds, and carport are all about 90% free of ice and snow now.  What a great feeling to simply be outside and finally doing something:)))))

 HERE'S WOODSY CHASING HER DYSON VACUM CLEANER AROUND THE LIVING ROOM

Al's Music Box:)) The Wabash Cannonball was sung by Canadian country music guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Hank Snow. He recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on the Billboard country charts between 1950 and 1980. Snow had success on country music record charts with his songs including: "I'm Moving On," "The Golden Rocket," "The Rhumba Boogie," "I Don't Hurt Anymore," "Let Me Go, Lover," "I've Been Everywhere," and "Hello Love."  Hank Snow wrote songs about a wide range of topics including joy, freedom, travel, anguish, and love. His work was often inspired by his personal experiences, such as his childhood in a small town in rural Nova Scotia. He experienced extreme poverty, abuse, and physically punishing labor during the Great Depression. His mother encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming an entertainer, like his idol, country star Jimmie Rodgers.  Snow received various music awards and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. The Hank Snow Home Town Museum in Liverpool, Nova Scotia is dedicated to his life and work.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( I ordered a Chinese takeaway from a local place,and as I was driving home, I heard the bags rustling and moving!!  I thought what on Earth is that. Has something got in the bag? I thought I could see a little pair of eyes peering out at me.  I was driving so I leaned forward, picked up the bag, put it on the passenger seat and there it was again, more rustling and little eyes looking out from behind the prawn crackers.  I thought it’s got to be a rat or a mouse or something, so I carefully pulled the bag down ... And there it was ... A Peking Duck!

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A visitor to a certain college paused to admire the new Hemingway Hall that had been built on campus.  "It's a pleasure to see a building named for Ernest Hemingway," he said. "Actually," said his guide, "it's named for Joshua Hemingway. No relation."  The visitor was astonished. "Was Joshua Hemingway a writer, also?"
"Yes, indeed," said his guide. "He wrote a check."

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The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.  "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'  A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, She's dead.

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"A PRIEST, PLEASE!" the dying man says again. Then out of the crowd steps a little old Jewish man of at least eighty years of age.  "Mr. Policeman," says the man, "I'm not a priest. I'm not even a Catholic. But for fifty years now I've been living behind St. Mary's Catholic Church on Third Avenue, and every Friday night I listen to the Catholic litany. Maybe I can be of some comfort to this man."  The policeman agrees and brings the octogenarian over to where the dying man lay. He kneels down, leans over the injured man, and says in a solemn voice:

"B - 4. I - 19. N - 38. G - 54. O - 72."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kelly's Corner 

 ON A MORNING WALK WE CLIMB UP A HIGH ROCK OUTCROPPING ABOUT HALF A MILE BEHIND OUR CONGRESS ARIZONA  HOUSE

 WITH THE LITTLE WILD WEST TOWN OF CONGRESS IN THE BACKGROUND KELLY BUILDS ONE OF TWO INUKSHUKS

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 IT'S QUITE A PILE OF PRECARIOUS ROCKS SHE HAS CONSTRUCTED THERE

HEADING BACK DOWN

 FROM OUR BACKYARD KELLY USES A PAIR OF BINOCULARS TO SEE IF SHE CAN SEE HER STONE CREATIONS

AND USING MY TELEPHOTO LENTS I WAS ABLE TO SPOT THEM TOO

Al's Art Gallery

A DISTURBING PHONE CALL FROM AUNT JEAN'S BEST FRIEND

 MOURNING DOVE ON OUR FEEDER

A disturbing phone call from Aunt Jean's best friend Pat last night.  She said Jean woke up gasping for breath Wednesday morning and when Pat was over to see her she could hardly make out Jean's weak voice.  Aunt Jean's former employer and long-time friend Dr. Wiseman had been in to see her and ordered some tests.  I phoned Pat early this evening and she said she had been over to see Jean today and she was a bit better.  An electrocardiogram has shown a problem with her heart and I think Aunt Jean might be on oxygen now but I'm not sure.  I will call her at our usual time tomorrow night to see how she is doing.

Pheebs was eager for a car ride this morning so off we went into Bayield on another fine sunny morning.  Lots of people with cheery looks on their faces out and about walking.  Even saw some kids out playing.  Most unusual for this day and age.

 HOW NICE TO SEE THE BAYFIELD RIVER FINALLY FREE OF ICE AND DID YOU NOTICE THE FISHERMAN

 THE LAKE ICE IS BREAKING UP AND MORE WATER IS APPEARING

 BAYFIELD'S MORNING COFFEE KLATCH ALONG MAIN STREET

Home again, I dropped off Pheebs and picked up Woodsy for a drive to Goderich.  First stop was Food Basics and then Wendy's for a coffee.  McDonalds is closed for renovations.  Down to the harbor we went and I snapped a few pics.  Next stop was Giant Tiger where I was able to catch up my reading again while waiting in the parking lot.  From there it was north out of Goderich to show Woodsy around the neighborhood.  Being an avid walker and bicyclist I was anxious to show her the Maitland Valley Trail but snow prevented us from getting anywhere near it.  Maybe next week.  From there it was a swing around the Goderich Airport, a cruise through the Menneset Mobile Home park, and then east to the hamlet of Ben  Miller where we drove around the Ben Miller Inn before heading home via Porter's Hill Line.

 PASSED THESE HAPPY WALKERS THIS MORNING ON OUR WAY TO GODERICH

 ICE IS BEGINNING TO BREAK UP IN GODERICH'S INNER HARBOR

STANDING ON THE STIFF WATER

Feeling the need to be outside doing something in this early Springlike weather I headed outside and began gathering up more pine branches from winter's storms.  Some of the pine branches were big enough for me to use my swede saw to cut them up.  Hauled out my leaf rake and lightly raked up some debris on my melted winter paths.  What a great feeling to once again be outside accomplishing something useful and productive.  It has been a long winter waiting for these early days of Spring sunshine and warmer temperatures.

 THE BEN MILLER INN

 BEN MILLER ONTARIO

Al's Music Box:)) The Last Leaf and Rhythm Of The Fallen Rain were songs by an American vocal group called The Cascades.  They were best known for the single "Rhythm of the Rain", recorded in 1962, an international hit the following year.  In 1960, the Silver Strands were a group of United States Navy personnel serving on the USS Jason based in San Diego, California. They recruited John Gummoe, who originally acted as manager, then left the Navy to become The Thundernotes. The group's membership consisted of John Claude "John" Gummoe (born August 2, 1938) (lead vocals), Lenny Green (vocal and lead guitar), Dave Wilson (drums and vocal), Dave Stevens (bass), and Art Eastlick (rhythm guitar). Their first and only recording, "Thunder Rhythm" (and "Payday" on the reverse of the 45rpm) was with DelFi Records of Hollywood, owned and managed by Bob Keane. It was a surf-type instrumental. Lenny left soon after to pursue his own goals and the group acquired Eddie Snyder (guitar), David Szabo (keyboards), Dave Stevens (bass) and Dave Wilson (drums).  Influenced by the Beach Boys, the group became more interested in vocal harmony. They recorded demos and signed with Barry De Vorzon at Valiant Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., and changed their name to The Cascades – inspired by a nearby box of dishwasher detergent. Their first release, "There's a Reason", became a minor regional hit; in the summer of 1962, they went to Gold Star Stueios in Los Angeles to record a song Gummoe wrote in his Navy days on watch during a thunderstorm. The song was to become "Rhythm of the Rain" and the muscians on the recording included the " The Wrecking Crew" - including Hal Blaine on drums, Carol Kaye on bass, and Glen Campbell on guitar - arranged by Perry Botkin Jr. "Rhythm of the Rain" was issued in November 1962. It rose to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1963, becoming a major hit in over 80 countries. "Rhythm of the Rain" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The Cascades continued to record, produced an album and several additional singles, including the follow-up "The Last Leaf", but did not match the charm or success of their big hit.  Gummoe left the group in 1967 to pursue a solo career and later formed the band Kentucky Express. Keyboardist/vocalist Gabe Lapano took over the lead chores.  The group also added Tony Grasso, with Owens and Snyder the remaining original members. Finally, they split in 1975.  Guitarist Eddie Snyder (born 1941) died on January 28, 2023.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Joe had asked Bob to help him out with the deck after work, so Bob just went straight over to Joe's place. When they got to the door, Joe went straight to his wife, gave her a hug and told her how beautiful she was and how much he had missed her at work. When it was time for supper, he complimented his wife on her cooking, kissed her and told her how much he loved her.  Once they were working on the deck, Bob told Joe that he was surprised that he fussed so much over his wife. Joe said that he'd started this about six months ago, it had revived their marriage, and things couldn't be better. Bob thought he'd give it a go. When he got home, he gave his wife a massive hug, kissed her and told her that he loved her. His wife burst into tears.  Bob was confused and asked why she was crying. She said, "This is the worst day of my life. First, little Billy fell off his bike and twisted his ankle. Then, the washing machine broke and flooded the basement. And now, you come home drunk!"

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John: "My grandpa is 98 years old, and he doesn't even use glasses."
Jack: "Wow, that is incredible!"
John: "Yep, he drinks straight from the bottle."

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- Look, you can either agree with me or you can be wrong.- What state has the smallest drinks?  Mini-soda.

- Where do pencils spend their vacation  Pencil-Vania.

- How do billboards talk?  Sign language.

What do you call a female magician in the desert?  A sand witch.

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kelly's Corner

 AT THE COMPUTER DESK IN OUR FIRST MOTORHOME

 NOW THAT'S A BIG LEAF

 I DON'T THINK THE LITTLE MOTOMOUSE IS TOO HAPPY ABOUT KELLY NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO HER

Al's Art Gallery