Driving Back From Point Edward

"A Barn Raising?" Click to enlarge.

We saw this barn yesterday on the way to our condo in Point Edward and I just had to stop on the way back to snap a picture. You just don't see a barn on wheels too often.

We saw a small, 6" diameter, snapping turtle on the road so I turned around and went back. I snatched her from the center line and set her near the ditch. I don't know if that was where she was trying to go but perhaps my gesture was appreciated because she never snapped at me.

A White Motor Co. dump truck retired to a field. I'll call it "Ol' Rusty". Click to enlarge.

Fifty eight years ago, in 1955 my Dad made the announcement that he had acquired a White Truck dealership in North Bay. This meant we had to sell our house in Byron (near London Ontario) and move away to what was for me a completely different land. I remember trucks like this very well, even though I was only (age 6)  in first grade when we left to make our fortune as a family in the "Great White North".

The business was wildly successful at first as the dealership sold hundreds of trucks like Ol' Rusty (above) to service the booming Elliot Lake uranium mines. Just as quickly; I think it lasted less than three years from boom to bust, the mines closed up and we lost everything. The trucks were sold to our dealership on credit "with recourse". This meant my Dad (the dealership) had to come up with the money or try to recover the trucks from the rough-and-tumble bush truckers who often burned or otherwise destroyed them rather than give them back.

To add insult to injury his business partner from Saul Ste Marie ran off with any money that was left. Our life savings and the money from the house was gone and my Dad had to start all over. In some ways I wonder if he ever fully recovered from that blow, not only to his finances but to his ego and self-esteem.

I placed the cab of the truck back in a 50's street scene just for fun.

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Spring At The Ponds.

Spring continues to pop, nearly explosively, compared to the rather bland lead-up. Tulips, daffodils and leaves in our front yard have burst forth in the last few days.

Near to our home there is an environmentally sensitive area known as the Westminster Ponds. Wendy and I took a walk today and I shot this lovely picture of Walker's Pond. Click to enlarge.
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Funny New Gizmos - Trongs.

Just when you think they've thought of everything something new always shows up. I came across these strange gadgets on Groupon. They are called Trongs. The idea looks good at first glance but what do you do with the Trongs at a restaurant when they are all covered with wing sauce? Wrap them in a napkin and stuff them in Wendy's purse I guess. Too sissy for me! "Showering in a raincoat" comes to mind.

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A Walk In The Newport Forest

Upon the invitation of the previous owners Kee and Pat Dewdney we attended the annual Spring Wildflower Walk at the Newport Forest near Wardsville Ontario. You may recall we did this for the first time last May. This private, "closed conservation area" was donated by the Dewdneys to the Thames-Talbot Land Trust and access is by invitation only. You can read about this fascinating 200 acre preserve if you CLICK HERE.

Young Polyporus squamosus A.K.A "Dryad's saddle or Pheasant's back mushroom " growing on an old stump along the trail in the Newport Forest. Note the snail to the right of the picture. Click to enlarge.

Our daughter Erin led the walk and I must say she did a great job of pointing out the many varied species of plants and animals we encountered in this unique location on the edge of the Thames river. The weather was perfect and the baked goods and treats at the end were vigorously consumed by the hungry hikers.

Picture by Wendy

We were a little early this year for the Virginia Bluebells.

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Orange Peel Fungus near the pathway. Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Picture by Wendy

Kee Dewdney welcomes the group.

Erin aptly led the walk.

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle. Picture by Tim

Walking with a group of expert naturalists and scientists certainly shows up how much I don't know about my surroundings. Their trained eyes and ears easily locate dozens upon dozens of things I wouldn't even normally notice. What a wonderful opportunity it was for me to participate and learn. Thank you Erin, Kee and Pat.
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Looks Like An Old "Traveller's Cheque" Commercial

Take enough pictures and you are bound to catch something interesting. If you looked at the 256 pictures of Frank and Megan's wedding you may have noticed this picture. I don't know the people involved here but I hope there is an explanation for the apparently blatant, light-fingered move on the dance floor. Did anybody report their wallet missing? I hope not!

Funny! What is this woman doing? Click the pic to enlarge.

 Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person of a victim without their noticing the theft at the time. It requires considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection. A thief who works in this manner is known as a pickpocket.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Does anybody still buy Traveler's Cheques?

It's OK. If you look at the enlargement you'll see that she's holding not a wallet but the man's belt.
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Mayday, It's Mayday, Mayday, May First.

Today we took our little yacht to Port Stanley since the air temperature crested 70F. We launched at Stan's Marina ($13) and enjoyed a nice ride on Kettle Creek. Unfortunately the SSE breeze made the lake less than perfect and the temperature dropped to 60 F near the water. Oh well, this provided a good opportunity to explore the Creek a bit.

"Artsy" Picture of Stan's Marina.

"Once Proud"

"Seen Better Days"

"Under the Lift Bridge" Click the pic to blow up.

A work crew driving piles for the docks.

There is lots of work going on getting the docks back in. There are very few boats in the water this early in the season.

Another pile driver across the creek works on the Lion's Club docks.

This home-owner had a good idea.

 You may recall this railway bridge from my "Artsy" post card picture when they built it back at the turn of the last century. See below:

"New Pere Marquette Bridge" Port Stanley circa 1906. Click to enlarge

Low lake/river levels and winter debris limited our passage north.

Non-Artsy

Artsy

Fish Net Cork Drying Kiln shown center. Click twice to enlarge.

Non-Artsy

Artsy. Click 2 x.

I'll end the post with my final "artsy" picture (below) of the fish processing house at the end of Main Street.

Artsy pic of the fish house. Click to enlarge.

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All the Wedding Pictures Good and Bad, You Decide.

I took too many pictures of Frank and Megan's wedding to place here on my blog so I've uploaded them to Photobucket. If you know me, you'll know I have a theory about my picture-taking ability. "Take 1000 pictures and a few might turn out OK."

 CLICK HERE to see the 256 pictures. I really don't know how the Photobucket web site works but it was FREE.

Note that the pictures I uploaded to Photobucket are really too small to print out. They lack the detail to make attractive prints. If you want any of them for that purpose, write down the name or number of the picture(s) and contact me. I'll be glad to send you the original digital images.
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