SUN SPOTS

Mr. Sun was in the spotlight this week ---- well, it WAS the spotlight this week! On Monday it rose with a nice dawn pink. But by afternoon it was bursting through the skylight in a once-in-a-hundred year show off. I did sneak a quick peek but it was just as dramatic and cosmic watching on a pinhole projection. Wow...

Next day, to prove the show was over, torrential rains and tornadoes hit our region. Not as bad as Texas Harvey, but quite a show out the windshield.

After the deluge, the sun returned like a cosmic dryer. Chipmunks warmed up at the birdbath. And Momma Turkey showed her chick the local diner. Where's the rest of the brood??

The sun was glaring off the chrome at a local car show. Pastel dashboards out of the Ozzie & Harriet era. Custom rods. The Sheriff chasing General Lee! The irony of a French 2CV adorned in Canada's 150th colours. And a Ranchero that is just too darn sexy, plate-wise.

The Sun-Times is a sponsor of the annual Salmon Derby. The ancient ritual of going to the boat, trolling all night, waiting for the dawn's sun flares to go to the weigh-in tent. It's a huge event with big $$$ prizes and entertainment. This morning for example there's Gospel Elvis on stage.

So the sun is shining on this week's back-to-school time. But the creepy full moon is lurking too --- it's already Hallowe'en in the shops. Boo!

AT LAST, A CAR POSTING!

The summer sun is fiery bright these days. If like us you are in the path of the solar eclipse tomorrow, be careful and practice safe sun...

Last Sunday was the annual Sandfest of castle building and beaver tributes. Impressive artistry but we missed the old car show ---- that was only Saturday! :(  :( Otherwise, Pat had another attempt at bird rescue. And the huge Summerfolk Music Festival got everybody folkin' wet...

In practical car news, there's a question of whether to get the timing belt changed on the Eos. That's the toothed thing in the next picture --- who knew? And Pat's Red Rio was sold almost sight unseen in the rain! Great car, now in our Haul of Fame.

In fact, the rains came off and on for most of the week. But in Mennonite country the grain still gets stooked by hand --- how many stooks could you do in a day? Also in the wet, who's gonna win this drag race between horse vs. horsepower?

Then (relief!) a huge car show --- the biggest Mopar (all-Chrysler) extravaganza in the country. 3,000 absolutely gorgeous works of automotive art outside, another 40 pampered ones inside. Where else can you get a tail light from a '38 Plymouth? First some handmade ice cream. Shaken, not stirred by Deere --- John Deere. Then like this two-way Ramlet --- any direction is forward!

Colours like never before or since...

More fins than a day at Marineland...

Dream big...

Classic two-tone top (the vinyl roof, not the driver!)

Best In Show --- which is Pat's, which is the Car Guy's?

Overcome with nostalgia and dangerously close to buying something, I was dragged away to the safer Kid's Fest in Kincardine. Kites are cheaper than K-cars! But don't worry, there's always some Road Runner lurking...