FUN THING TO DO

SAT 25 JUNE 2011 3:33pm
Here's something to do to make your blog viewing a little more interesting. Go up to the URL at the top where it says dave'sbackporch.blogspot.com/      and after the last / write in view That's all, then hit return and stand back. A drop down will appear with a bunch of new ways to see the postings.

My fav is Mosaic. Snapshot is good too because it just shows the photos, none of that pesky writing.

I know you were just waiting for something to brighten up your day! You're welcome.

A STROLL THROUGH PORT STANLEY

MON 21JUNE 2011  I hit Port Stanley the other day. It's always a good place to visit.  Check it out here.
While there I treated myself to dinner at Me & Suzi's, a cool little patioed place with a list of micro-brewery beers. I sampled a Barking Squirrel, and a Dead Elephant, favouring the Squirrel. Grilled chicken and Caesar salad was the meal, sticking to my diet. Needing to walk all that off I strolled around the town. 

Peaceful inner harbour

Lift Bridge

Fading creation

Sign of the times?

Port Stanley Terminal Rail. Rides available.

Industrial part of town

Main Beach

Catching the breeze

Para-sailor packing up

The famous Mackie's

The Drive-Around

Main Harbour with Lake Erie Fishing Boats

A goose family enjoying the harbour

                  And as the sun sets slowly over the geese, I end my walk and make my way home.

CRANE OVER TILLSONBURG

FRI JUNE 10 2011  6:24pm  Sitting in the gazebo again. Fish flies are incredibly thick and persistent but  not in here.

My brother George was in hospital but seems to be better now. That's good to hear. Helen keeps me updated.

It's been rainy and stormy off and on all week. Wanting to rain right now but only squeezing out a few drops.

Went to the open mic at the Norfolk in Dover the other day. Cindy hosted and many old faces appeared. Not that they are old, I just haven't made it there for a long while.  
Tom Swiech has a good album out and laid a copy on me. Nostalgic and romantic numbers sauteed in country. I've always been impressed with his lyrics
I'm always nervous at first about going to these things but am glad I went after.

Jackie is getting a little scooter to take her to her classes. This is for when the car isn't available, or even when it is, just for fun and to save gas. And only for short distances. It's a 50cc Honda Ruckus. Cute. Doesn't go very fast but she will still have to get a license. It's more like riding a bicycle than a motorcycle., so she won't have to keep up with traffic just stay out of the way. Not that there's much traffic on the back roads here anyway.  I think she'll really enjoy it.

Took more trucks back today, things are winding down. It will still go to the end of the month, just using fewer drivers. I go on a rack hunt on Monday. That means I don't deliver anything just pick up empty racks at stores.  Less stress over all. Not that I've been that stressed. Just saying.

Since I'm not actually taking piano lessons right now, I'm going back to the beginning to really get the sight reading down, especially in the bass clef. That's my biggest goal right now, to be able to play a song at sight as easily as I can on guitar.

Just finished Keith Richards' Life. The amazing part is that he is still alive and kicking. I seriously doubt I would be after all that.

SAT 11 JUNE 2011 11:50am Hard to believe it's still morning. I've just been at it since I got up. Just little things but it adds up.

Took some photos of this huge crane looming in the Tillsonburg skyline. The lady guarding the property came running over to tell us all about it. How it took 3 weeks to set up after arriving from the States and it was coming down soon. It was used to put steel beams on the top of an existing factory, to raise the roof so to speak. All this for producing blades for  wind turbines. She said 300 jobs would come of it, although on the news I heard 900. But if the government changes in the fall election the whole thing could be stopped.  Easy come....

I'm washing the cat's blankets. It's about time, the smell could gag you. Forgot to close the garage door properly last night and she got out. She's in heat so I know what she was up to. Just hope there's no little kitties on the way.  She's curled up on her chair right now trying to appear innocent of nocturnal shenanigans.

Rain again and all week apparently. Sheesh. 

ENTER JUNE

Getting ready for summer on the Back Porch

FRI 03 JUNE 2011 3:00pm Hello from Tillsonburg, and my back doesn't hurt a bit, right at the moment, thank you. I have today off and so far I've had Michael drive me to work to put a new battery in the bike – runs like a charm again – and took the mower in -water in the gas tank- picked up some prints – I want to have some of the kids mostly to show people who don't have a computer handy, and Jackie is returning something, then we'll do what? Not sure, maybe check out a few garage sales.

New adventure last night. Since I had the day off I could attend the writers group in Simcoe. It was good. Basically everyone reads -all poetry, except me – and then constructive criticism. A lot of what was said went over my head but it was fun. Kind of like being in an Ideas program on CBC. I did give it my best shot. Got some good ideas for improving my Old Flat-top Guitar story, which I read part of. Left a real cliff hanger – they wanted more. The one young lady, who gave the good ideas, I want to be my editor; she was good. The quality of poetry was really high. I'll definitely return next month.

SUN 05 JUNE 2011  8:36am  Went to Jeff & Darlene's yesterday. Perfect day by that time, late afternoon, while earlier there was a torrential downpour, and even hail at our place. I-Ping & Michael were visiting from the city. Really great pickerel dinner. Mosquitoes were dining well also, so we moved inside.

Did go to some garage sales on Friday and Jackie lucked out with clothes. Got a whole bag full of good ones for $15. I picked up an old globe, something I've always wanted.

Later we had a bite at Port Bruce. Many fishers there. One guy with a net gave us a few smelt to take home. He was just looking for minnows.

Took down a large broken branch from the red cedar by the driveway. It fits in nicely in the woven fence at the front.

 

Just set up the gazebo and had a coffee together, sans mosquitoes. It went up easily this year, although I do have to reverse a couple of panels. Jackie is off to the beach and I plan on doing some writing.

Almost as many bikes today as Friday 13th. Taking advantage of the clear blue skies, no doubt. I rarely ride on the weekend. My bike is a real work-horse. Jackie likes to ride occasionally, but hasn't this year yet.

Where the gazebo is you feel like you're right in the woods. You can't see any houses, except ours, or the road, so when it's quiet for a few minutes it's quite enjoyable. Weekends are much busier around here. At least everyone seems to have ceased and desisted with their lawn mowing for today. They really do get carried away with it in these parts. If everyone had a push mower or a scythe, like my Grandfather used to use on the grass, I know they wouldn't cut as much. It's just too easy to get on that little tractor and cut everything in sight.

Now the bikes are going the other way; I guess I've sat here too long.

Just looked out the window and this little guy was standing there. I shoved a camera right in his face and he just grinned back. 

"Take my good side!"