HAWK PLAYS POSSUM

The last week of August has been the hottest of the summer; cloudy sunrises were overwhelmed by sun and heat. Mama squirrel is swollen and hungry --- it looks like another batch of squirrelettes arriving soon. This beautiful hawk (a 2012 Falcon??) whacked the deck glass and looked done for. But when the Hawk Whisperer approached, it flew away like it had been taking a nap.

All the vehicles are getting undersprayed before the rain and salt coat the roads like toxic frosting on an asphalt cake. But the tops were down this week, including on a fun-run to Tobermory. Bruno the '08 took the back roads through pretty summer spots like Lion's Head and Hope Bay. The excuse for the trip was that Pat had won ice-cream; she chose a double-dip of Moose Tracks and Very Cherry.

So many events are winding up the summer such as fall fairs, air shows,tractor pulls, kid's camps, and the Salmon Derby. Fishers that have been out on the bay since before sunrise bring in their catch, hoping it's bigger than they think. Lamprey eels are still in the Great Lakes but the eradication efforts are working. (Grossest things I've seen since my nephew Ryan's Mexican walking fish!!)As of yesterday, here are the biggest trout and salmon. Fries with that, or mashed?

SNAKE IN THE GRASS, MICE CAN'T PASS

The scheduled summer repaving of our country road is still not happening. There are all kinds of signage, paint markings, new guard rails, even this asphalt grinder --- but no blacktop in sight, for 18 kilometers! Up the hill, everything this year has been healthy and lush. Trees are soaring, flowers oversized. and veggies more bountiful than usual. These spaghetti melons made a yummy main course last night.

Speaking of melons, the bra for the Mustang finally arrived and will help keep the front end clean from bugs, chips, and Interstate 75 over the winter. In the meantime, a mouse had  hauled off this purple-wrapped chocolate gifted to us from the same source as the bra! The mice have started to come indoors (no idea how they get in) with the colder days and the annual trapping ritual has begun. Not pleasant.

But the big surprise this week was a juvenile Fox snake. At first we saw it on the driveway as it supposedly slinked away into the grass. An hour later I opened the van's hood to check the oil and HOLY COW! there it was curled up on the air intake. Scary when you don't expect it. We think it hitch-hiked over from the shores of Lake Huron, where Pat had visited --- it's common habitat. I tried to remove it but it corkscrewed into the motor compartment and was holding on so strongly I couldn't drag it out without severe damage (to the snake, not the van!).

CROWDS AND CLASSICS

The week started and ended with crowds and classics. Last Sunday a family reunion on Pat's side had the crowd regaling in a photo showing some classic relations.

By Friday we were headed to Michigan in our classic Dakota when it stalled out in the crowded approach lanes of the International Bridge (Very bad if it had happened ON the bridge!). Eventually I got it started --- but it would only start in Neutral, not Park (any guesses what's the problem??). Had to quickly cancel calls for a tow and a Canadian Tire appointment. Then to Royal Oak to be royally hosted by proud parents Nikki and Christie, with truck-loving Gavin. They're only a mile from the biggest classic car cruise on earth, the Woodward Dream Cruise. 30,000 vehicles adored by a million gawkers all sparkling together like sequins on Elvis. The other Pat in the family came down to share the colours and characters on the road--- while I drooled at the beauties, my life passing in front of me on wheels.

It's impossible to put the giddiness in words or to limit it to a dozen pictures but here's a tiny sample. Absolutely beautiful classics on a historic American road, rolling by with proud drivers or whacky show-offs. Gorgeous colour combos like coral and pearl. Iconic numbers like 409 or 442 or C10. Words steeped in the car culture like Golden Commando or Goat or ragtop or Big Block. It doesn't get any better than this.

Pat's fave? The rare 1947 Ford drop-top, a post-war renewal of optimism. She liked the BAM! of the paint job and stripes. For me, the 1962 Dodge ragtop in fiery red and sunny white. The sweet spot in my love of classic cars ---- it could have been made in my home town, could have been worked on by my dad. Just plain WOW.