Artsy Flora In Grand Bend

My "artsy" pics for today are memories of Linda's gardens and Grand Bend.

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Linda's Place In Grand Bend

On Sunday we drove up to Linda's place in Grand Bend. Her yard is always so beautiful, I had to pause and snap a few pictures.

A mandatory walk with Montey took us along the shoreline in  lovely Southcott Pines.

It was a hot, hazy, humid day and the lake was calm with little breeze to cool us off.

The lake levels are up so high the beach has all but disappeared.

Residents have come up with innovative methods of preserving their steps, hopefully for future use when this cycle of high water levels changes.

One of the last weekends of the summer drew lots of people in spite of the overcast skies and chance of thunderstorms.

We always enjoy our visits to this amazing spot.
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Feedback on New CruiseAmi Product "Cool My Head"

"High winds could be problematic"

Tim, 
I’m going away soon with many Chinese individuals who have yet to be blessed with any significant vertical stature. Has the new release been extensively tested in what could be a niche selection of the ‘smaller but heavily populated’ corners of the world? My concern isn’t for the little chaps if all together in one group but when there is a ‘mix of nations’ rendering “hat height” to the same level as “eyes and nose” height. Being a director of the firm I’m just concerned about potential safety issues when not if the product goes viral. We may have to sign exclusive territory deals focused in the north eastern global arena for now?

Your partner in the progress of shade for all. 
Mark

Hello Mark,
As you are a native born Brit, I certainly appreciate your brolly perspective since, in North America our experience with bumbershoots is much less extensive. I assume that the danger you are referring to relates to the ribs of the "Cool My Head" or more specifically the tips thereof, could come in contact with another, taller persons eyes.

I referred the question to our head worry wort, health and safety officer Wendy. She reminded me that elevators do smell different to midgets and shorter people do sometimes seem to be "in your way". However, she respectfully points out that even in the U.K. the full size gamp or large umbrella could come in contact with another person's eyes since the umbrella is rarely held in a perfectly horizontal plane. With this acknowledgement of the potential for eye injury she had the following recommendation:

Since we are marketing the product for use in bright sun and not as a rain hat, most, if not all, other people will likely be wearing sunglasses. This in itself offers some form of eye protection. That being said, we may have to supply the "Cool My Head" hat with tiny suction cups or foam Smurfs on the end of each rib. Said suction cups or Smurfs could then also be marketed separately for sale in Great Britain and elsewhere as an add-on kit to their brollies. Further testing, however; will be required before we instigate any changes.

We'll talk further on this subject at our meeting with John, our Sales Manager at our tax deductible field test aboard the Veendam Dec 10.
I will have several samples on board for your appraisal and testing.

Hope this addresses your concern I remain

Yours truly
Tim 
CruiseAmi, R'nD

P.S. The Cool My Head product is being produced in China. Due to the fact that they copy everything, (even patented items)  I'm sure they have lots of experience with these already.

Dear Tim,
Thank you for taking my concern and reputation for the product seriously. It’s comforting to know that you have extended the consideration to further analysis with the products testing team especially our resident worry-wort.
Further it’s awesome that you have now created a potential value add product that could be marketed beyond the original “Cool My Head” application into generic umbrella ware with the suction cups.
I’m particularity looking forward to the testing scenarios onboard the ship.
Has WWW considered high winds?

Sincerely a servant in the shade, Mark 

Hi Mark,
High winds could be problematic. See attached:
Tim
CruiseAmi R'nD

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Newest CruiseAmi Product for Immediate Release

In the fine tradition launching new products on cruises, CruiseAmi proudly presents...
Cool My Head. Click on the brochure to enlarge it.

And don't forget our other fine products...

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FloatDown 2018

We didn't drive to Sarnia but through the magic of the internet we did get a good vantage point, namely the River Cam in Port Huron.

With an almost calm Easterly breeze, the U.S. floaters will be gently pushed to their own side of the river. Below is a view from the Atcheson Ventures River Cam.

CLICK HERE to see hundreds of Google pics.
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We're Booked! A Cuban Explorer.

We just booked a cruise on the Holland America Veendam Dec. 10 leaving from Ft. Lauderdale for 11 nights departing Dec. 10 2018. It goes to a few places we've never been to before. Couldn't pass up a  cruise with 7 other very good friends. See VacationsToGo.com FastDeal #16942 Just for your information. We'd love to see YOU too! Email me for more info.

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A Turtle Birthday Party at the A.W. Campbell Conservation Area

Wendy and I drove an hour or so west of London to attend a Turtle Birthday Party... my first.

Here's the Twitter blurb:
"Happy Turtle birthday! Today's our 2nd Annual "Turtley Awesome Shellebration"! Stop by A.W. Campbell Conservation Area today between 1-4pm today!! We'll have three native turtle species for you to see, cake, and fun activities for kids"

After an opening speech by the Mayor of St. Clair County, Steve Arnold, the fun began.

Erin and her colleagues from the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority gave a brief talk about the project to save the turtles. Did you know that all eight kinds of turtles found in the region are now on the list of "species at risk"?

Erin's friend Dawn, one of her Derby Girls friends showed up in Roller Derby attire for the party.

Erin lovingly explains some interesting  things about one of the three varieties of live, baby turtles on display. One of the main causes of the demise of turtles is animal predators. The rescuers gather the eggs shortly after they are laid and incubate them in a lab before returning them to where they were found. The first year of the program they only rescued 23, this year over 900.

Baby soft-shell turtles were hatched only two days ago. Human activity has reduced the turtle habitat, thereby concentrating the number of natural predators into smaller and smaller spaces. This makes it more likely the eggs will be taken by raccoons, skunks, snakes and other animals. Rescuers have to actually hide and wait, sometimes behind trees, to run out and get the eggs ahead of the emboldened raccoons.

Another Roller Derby girl, Corina, helps with the crafts.

Lots of interesting stuff for young and older.

A fine summer day in the park.
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Demolishing The Tanks At Imperial Oil

A Google view of the tank farm (Before).

I had to stop and snap some shots of this mass destruction at the Imperial Oil refinery as Canada goes further "down the tubes".

CLICK HERE to read more about the demolition.

Demolition has begun at a section of the Imperial Oil manufacturing site in Sarnia.
It’s where lubricants and specialty products were made for decades, until that part of Imperial Oil’s manufacturing business in Sarnia ended in 2010.
The Sarnia site continued to blend and package lubricants shipped in from other Imperial Oil manufacturing sites for a time but that ended in 2012.
Now, a section of the company’s site that begins due south of Rainbow Park, and includes a warehouse as well as production facilities, is being dismantled.
It’s on more than 20 hectares of Imperial Oil’s 485-hectare site in Sarnia, where approximately 1,000 people work in refining, chemical production and research.
“They have been doing decommissioning work for the last couple of years,” said company spokesperson Jon Harding.
That stage of the work has been completed, and dismantling of structures on the site has begun.
“It will last for the next few years,” Harding said.
“There’s a lot of infrastructure in there to come down.”
There are no plans to sell the land or expand other operations into the area being cleared, Harding said.
The land will be kept by the company and could be used at times for overflow parking during maintenance turnarounds, as set up areas for projects, and other uses, he said.
The demolition is being carried out by “global experts” with experience in the work, Harding said.
“It’s all very carefully planned and executed,” he said.
“We’re committed to operating and doing this project in a manner that’s environmental responsible.”
It’s estimated 40 to 50 workers could be involved in the demolition work, at its peak.
Harding said the company plans to provide information to its neighbours during the demolition to ensure they’re “not inconvenienced in any way.”
Imperial Oil has been in Sarnia since 1897.
When the company said a few years ago that it had decided to close down the remaining blending and packaging operation, approximately 60 workers where impacted.
“We made reasonable efforts to reassign the folks,” Harding said.
Many moved over to other operations with the company, and some took early retirement.
“We made a change, driven by business needs and business opportunity,” Harding said.
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In Search Of Stuff We Don't Need...

CLICK HERE to read about the Big Yard Sale.

We picked our good friend George up at the condos at about 8:30 am. After getting some US cash at the exchange at the bridge we were off to the big 150 mile sale.

The yard sales are only part of the reason for visiting this amazing sale.

The ability to see some beautiful properties, some of them down long lanes and only accessible at an event like this, is the other reason for coming.

Lunch alfresco at the Windjammer, right at the marina in Lexington is always a highlight.
 

They call them Nachos but they are really home-made chips.

George had a Reuben with home-made chips.

We couldn't believe how nice the old Hotel Cadillac looked after its extensive renovation. Wow!

We wound up the day with a visit to George's condo to visit with Judy. Of course as usual the trip from the visitor parking lot to the condo took a very long time as we stopped and visited with people along the way. We wished we had time to visit more friends and neighbours but hopefully another day soon.
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