I’M STUCK WITH MYSELF

'WOW' imagine my surprise Friday night when I stepped outside with Pheebs and the air had actually cooled down to an almost pleasant civilized level.  And here's the best part......I heard Crickets and for me Crickets are the sure harbinger of Autumn's earliest stirrings.  Now how encouraging is that for a cool weather fella like myself.  Yes indeed, a true 'Yahouie Louie' moment:))

A FEW PHOTOS TONIGHT FROM FRIDAY

Been over a month since we’ve last had the Motorhome out for some exercise so with a couple A&W breakfast coupons in hand this morning all 3 of us piled into the rig and headed for Goderich.  What an absolutely beautiful looking morning it was too.  Blue skies with big puffy white clouds.  A nice cooling breeze off the lake helped to make today’s lower humidity level tolerable.  Stopped at the Solo gas bar in Goderich’s south end and took on some gas plus topped up our propane tank.

WARMING UP IN THE BULL PEN

TAKING ON A LOAD OF PROPANE IN GODERICH

OK DAD WE’RE ALL GASSED UP SO LET’S RUMBLE:))

OH MY WHAT A LOVELY LOOKING DAY

JUST LOVE THESE BACK COUNTRY ROADS

MY TRUSTY NAVIGATOR SCANS THE ROAD AHEAD

BEAN FIELDS ARE BEGINNING TO RIPEN AND BELOW CORN IS ABOUT 6 TO 7 FEET TALL

I AM LOVING HOW THE SUBTLE SIGNS OF AUTUMN ARE GENTLY SLIDING UP ON US:))

OH BY THE HAIRS ON MY CHINNY CHIN-CHIN

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT A SPIDER WEB ON AN OLD IRON BRIDGE

BY THE LOOKS OF ALL THE CAPTURED BUGS THERE HAS TO BE ONE VERY BUSY SPIDER SOMEWHERE NEARBY

Despite it warming up later I was able to get about half an hour’s putter time in around the yard.  With such a gorgeous looking morning I figured a good way to cool myself off was to hop on my Motorcycle and take me for a cruise around the nearby countryside.  Oh how nice that was but I really really must make a decision about selling the bike.  I’m just simply not riding it enough any more and with it being such a nice low mileage quality motorcycle (Honda Shadow Aero 1100) in excellent condition it really deserves an enthusiastic owner to ride and look after it.  I think if somebody dropped around and made me a fair offer I I would probably let it go. 

ONE OF OUR POND FROGS FROM BOTH SIDES

Sure was nice bubbling along in the Motorhome this morning.  Ran smooth as a top and what a pleasure to drive.  As always I will be so glad to get on the road again this Fall.  I love the adventuress feeling of new and old places to go and if we sell the house quickly we’ll be on the road again just like we were for the first 6 years of our travels.  We have had a few emails this past week from the very first fella to look at our  Congress house last winter and he is still interested so we’ll see what happens.

HEY THERE’S ORVILLE THE ORIOLE AGAIN

I’M GUESSING THIS IS ORVILLE’S MATE MYRTLE

  

Were it not for the almost daily morning Jeep rides Pheebe and I go out on each week I think I would probably have had another difficult summer just sitting around like in previous years.  Even if it’s only for an hour or two those Jeep rides in the country have become so essential to my well being.  It’s my time alone hanging out with my best Pal Pheebs.  And of course my getting out of the house gives Kelly a welcome and much needed break as well.  I sometimes say to her at least that way she gets a break from me while on the other hand I’m stuck with myself……………………….:))

OUR BIRD BATH WAS BUSY AGAIN TODAY

GROANER’S CORNER:((  After Quasimodo's death, the bishop sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed. The bishop decided to conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process. After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills (or lack thereof), he decided to call it a day when a lone, armless man announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer's job.  The bishop was incredulous. "You have no arms!"

"No matter," said the man, "observe!"

He then began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. The bishop listened in astonishment, then told him he had the job. Dancing with joy, the armless man tripped and plunged from the belfry to his death in the street below. The stunned bishop rushed to his side.  When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before. As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, "Bishop, who was this man?"

"I don't know his name," the bishop sadly replied, "but his face sure rings a bell."

The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop resumed interviews for post of bellringer of Notre Dame.  The first man to approach him said, "Your excellency, I am the twin brother of the poor, armless wretch that fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday. As you can see, I'm more blessed than he in that I have two strong arms, the better to strike the bells. I pray that you honor his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty."  The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, but as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest and died on the spot. Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side. "What has happened?", the first breathlessly asked, "Who is this man?"

"I don't know his name," sighed the bishop, "but he's a dead ringer for his brother."

OUR FRONT YARD BIRD BATH WAS A BUSY PLACE TODAY

THIS MALE BALTIMORE ORIOLE SURE HAD HIMSELF A GOOD TIME IN THE BIRD BATH TODAY…..I FOUND OUT HIS NAME IS ORVILLE

By far the most popular hang out at our place today was the front yard bird bath.  On what I guess may very well have been the hottest day of our year so far there was a steady stream of feathery little birds seeking a drink, a bath, and refuge in the cooling bird bath waters.  From my vantage point at the computer in our sunroom I can look right out upon the bird bath about 15 feet away.  Twice I went out and topped up the water level after a lot of gleeful birdie splashing sent water flying all over the place.

OK HERE I GO

‘OHHHHHH THAT FEELS SOOOOOO GOOD’

BURRBLEBURBBLEBURRBLEBURRBLE

‘THINK I’LL JUST STAY HERE ALL DAY’

‘COME ON ORVILLE GET OUT OF THE BIRD BATH IT’S MY TURN’!!

‘JUST A MINUTE WILL YA I HAVEN’T WASHED UNDER MY WINGS YET’!!

BURRBLEBURRBLEBURRBLEBURRBLE

‘THERE THAT OUGHTA DO IT’

‘YOUR SUCH A SHOW-OFF ORVILLE’

‘YA WHATEVER MYRTLE’

Soon as I stepped out the door this morning I could tell we were in for a steam bath day so Pheebs and didn’t waste any time in getting ourselves into the Jeep.  It was 7 a.m. and we were northbound for Goderich.  A quick stop to mix it up with a few local Walmartians and we were soon on the move again.  Coffee and a carrot muffin to go at Timmies and minutes later Libby’s tires were kicking up clouds of dust and gravel.  A short leg stretch stop beside a lily pad pond and it was back in the Jeep again.  Air was just to hot and heavy to be walking or standing around in it.

It was a year ago this week that I woke up very dizzy one night.  Turns out I had a nasty case of Vertigo which left me sick to my stomach for 3 or 4 days.  Also turns out it was the last night I slept in my bed too.  Since that time I have always slept in a recliner whether it be here at home in Bayfield, Congress Arizona or in the Motorhome.  And I  have never had another case of Vertigo since.  Who knows, I may never ever sleep in a bed again…………….

‘WELL I TOLD YA YOU WOULD GET WET IF YOU FELL IN’

YIKES WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED DID I JUST GO OVER NIAGARA FALLS IN A BARREL OR SOMETHING!!

Thursday afternoon while sweltering around in the front yard planting some flowers I noticed a couple butterflies flittering about and that gave me an idea.  This morning with that idea in my head Pheebs and I headed over to Londsborough and Gray Haven Gardens.  Minutes later we had a Butterfly Bush loaded up along with 2 big bags of cedar mulch.  From there we headed for home. 

NOTICE THE LITTLE GOLDFINCH ON THE LEFT….’HEY COME ON ORVILLE QUIT HOGGIN THE BIRD BATH AGAIN WILL YA’!!

In the front yard area where I have been planting flowers there are 3 different types of invasive ground covers so figured the only way to stop or slow them down is to put a heavy layer of mulch on the ground.  I did roto-till a lot of them up but they’re hardy and I know they will return.  Living in a pine forest we do have an endless supply of pine needles so I first put a layer of pine needles down and am now putting a layer of mulch on top of those pine needles.  We have well drained soil here so those layers of pine needles and cedar mulch will help retain moisture and coolness for the plants and their roots as well.

THE PINE NEEDLES ARE THE LIGHTER BROWN AND THE MULCH IS THE DARKER COLOR

 

HAVEN’T FINISHED PUTTING IN ALL THE CEDAR MULCH YET AND THAT LARGE PINE CONE IN THE PHOTO AT RIGHT IS ONE OF THE CONES WE PICKED UP ON CALIFORNIA’S MOUNT PALOMAR LAST WINTER

Hadn’t figured on cleaning our front yard pond Thursday but that is exactly what I unexpectedly did.  Shannon (handy man Bruce’s daughter) who goes by the name of ‘Kayak Attack’ on Facebook and also lives in our park brought some water Hyacinths over Thursday afternoon.  Growing like crazy in her pond she had to thin them out so brought over 4 nice ones.  I hadn’t been paying much attention to our pond lately and when I went to put them in the water I realized the pond was way overdue for a cleaning.  Algae has been growing like crazy since we have much more sunlight in our front yard.  Hyacinths are now in the pond and all is groovy again:))

WATER HYACINTHS

THERE IS A SMALL FROG IN BOTH THESE PHOTOS

Fortunately we had a cloud cover roll in and that enabled me to stay outside working a bit longer than usual.  As it was by 11 a.m. my clean shirt was sticking to me and I had to call it quits.  Inside I went, threw my clothes in the laundry and myself into the shower.  Always amazes me how one can feel so yukky pre-shower and just so amazingly great just minutes later post-shower.  That refreshing shower is for sure the absolute best part of any hot and humid day.

SURE SMELLED GOOD WHEN I WALKED INTO THE HOUSE AND I COULD TELL LITTLE MOLLY MUGGINS HAD BEEN AT IT AGAIN

PHEEBS STAYING COOL IN FRONT OF THE FAN TODAY

Within half an hour of planting our Butterfly Bush this morning we had the prettiest purple and black Butterfly on it.  I planted it right next to our bird feeder so now looking out our sunroom windows I not only can see birds but I can see Butterfly’s as well.  Nice:))

FIRST BUTTERFLY ON OUR BUTTERFLY BUSH

We sure are needing us a good rain in these here parts.  Storms have been going around us and it’s so dry even the trees are a spittin dust.  When I went outside for a few minutes this afternoon it felt like a Turkish steam bath out there.  Whoever last winter predicted it was going to be a hot dry summer sure hit the nail on the head.  Hope it’s not the new norm…………….

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A guy calls the hospital and a nurse answers the phone.  The guy said, "Send help because my wife is going into labor."  The nurse said, "Is this her first child?"  The guy replied, "No, this is her husband."

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

One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going."
"Why not?" she asked."I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "One, they don't like me, and two, I don't like them."  His mother replied, "I'll give YOU two good reasons why you SHOULD go to church. One, you're 54 years old, and two, you're the pastor!"

--------

Q: Whats the difference between a politician and a snail?
A: One is slimy, a pest, and leaves a yukky trail everywhere and the other is a snail.