Monday, April 18, 2011

AND, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR HOUSE TODAY......

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MALE RED BELLIED WOODPECKER

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Despite being a man, I have always loved the color pink.  And, especially if it is in a morning sunrise. That generally tells me it is probably going to be a nice day. This morning we had a mighty fine pink sunrise filtering through the pines & my spirits were once again lifted.

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KEEPING MYSELF BUSY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS 

I probably would not do well living in an area with a lot of gray rainy days. The Southwest has an endless supply of sunshine & is one of the many reasons I like it there so much. Every time we contemplate a permanent move to the southwestern end of British Columbia I worry about the prolonged cloudy wet weather I have heard so much about.  Still think a nice cozy place somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico is the all round best place to live but I'd better not get myself started on all that again.

DSC_6902Wished I had accomplished something to write about today but our sun disappeared into a heavy overcast cloud bank shortly after my encouraging pink sunrise & the days damp temperatures barely climbed above the freezing mark. Snowflakes in the air again so it was basically another drab & dreary morning & afternoon. Highlight of my entire day was driving to Subway in Bayfield for a 6" Tuna sub. Sure a big change from a short month ago today when we were hiking a couple great SUN DRENCHED TRAILS in Nevada's, Valley Of Fire.

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MALE ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK 

Kinda hard for me reading some of my fellow RVers blogs since we've been home. I know some of the places & areas they are in, I know what they are seeing & feeling & I know how much they are enjoying their traveling lifestyles. Snow birding is kind of like being on the playing field of an exciting sports event for half the year & then being benched for the other half of the year. Ya just wanna get back into the game, or in RVing words, ya just wanna get back on the road!! Well, maybe not everyone, but some of us just make better players than spectators. Bare with me folks, these dismal post trip days will eventually pass.

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'SWEET JUDY BLUE EYES' 

Kelly spent most of her day at Deer Park Lodge getting things geared up & organized for the season's onslaught of tourists & guests. She is a true workhorse & I don't know how she does it all, but she does. She even worries about guests who are here in poor weather that may not be enjoying themselves because of the cold & rain. Couple ladies coming from Michigan this week-end & Kelly is already feeling bad for them because the weather forecast for this area is not good. It's one of the things Kelly & I have in common. We are both sensitive to other people's feelings, even strangers. It is one of the things that makes Kelly so good at her job. She has a very caring attitude, cares what people think & if something isn't right she takes it to heart & put's in the time to make it right. She does this 24/7 from the time we get home in the Spring right up until the very day we leave for the Southwest in the fall again.  Pedal to the metal all summer for her.  It is just one of the many, many reasons we prefer to spend our winters in very quiet places like the deserts & mountains of the great American Southwest. It is our way of avoiding touristy places, big cities, & large noisy gatherings of people. It's just our way of living a preferred quieter lifestyle while we can, every 5 or 6 months of the year:))

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MALE RED WING BLACKBIRD 

The Bayfield Bunch welcomes ALAN & MARILYN McMILLAN as our latest blog Followers.  Nice to have you aboard folks:))

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DOWNY WOODPECKER 

Sure do like the looks of MIKE & GERRI'S Pine Mountain place in Georgia.  I’ve always liked that kind of landscaping with lots of trees, flowering shrubs, pathways, little bridges over waterways & ponds, etc.  Kind of a cozy looking Japanese garden theme.

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AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR HOUSE TODAY:)) 

In Sunday night’s blog I had a lead photo of our front yard.   Some folks commented on the fog & misty look.  Well, that wasn’t actually fog, it was a light snow coming down as seen in the other two pics below it.

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A SERPENTINE LIKE LAKE HURON CREATURE MAKES IT'S WAY ASHORE AT THE DEER  PARK LODGE BEACH

GROANER'S CORNER:((   A brunette got lost in her car during a snow storm. She remembered what her Dad had once told her. "If you ever get stuck in a snow storm, wait for a snow plow and follow it." Pretty soon a snow plow came by, and she started to follow it. She followed the plow for nearly an hour. Finally the driver of the truck got out and asked her what she was doing. She explained that her Dad had told her if she ever got stuck in the snow, to follow a snow plow.The driver nodded and said, "Well, I'm done with the Wal-Mart parking lot now so you can follow me over to K-Mart if you want."

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

14 comments:

  1. Now you look Canadian as opposed to an hombre from the Old West! I sorta like the trim look.

    The bird pictures you posted this evening are just like seeing them on my bird feeder. I sure miss those birds and haven't seen any of them in a long time.

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  2. who's that handsome fellow in the mirror?..you clean up very nicely Al!!
    Now as for your moood?..I can so relate.. I have been told a few times to stop reading all the travel blogs..it is hard to be the spectator as we sit and wonder if we will ever be in the game!..I have 'dark days' just like you...a 'blue funk'..whatever you want to call it...It is difficult when you want something so badly that is almost all you can think about....hope the sun comes out tomorrow!..sunny here...but it is far from being warm!..

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  3. I even have those feelings when we're in Apache Junction because we are in an rv park with lots of snow birds. I really don't like it but I know that I need to let Jim fish. And it's easier to do it from this park because it is centrally located to all the lakes he wants to fish. But after a month of sitting and reading other blogs, I can really get on edge. Makes me wonder how I'm going to cope when we do have to give up this life style. Just another one of those things I don't think I'll think about. Hang in there - time will go quickly and you will be back in the southwest.

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  4. Looking good Al! I can understand your funk, especially if you are still having SNOW and dreary weather. It'll be fall again before you know it and you and Kelly can get back to your favorite places.

    We've been looking EVERYWHERE for good weather and it seems it is either too hot or too cold or too windy. Bishop seems to be the only place that is "just right." We may end up staying another couple of days.

    Your bird pictures tonight are just astounding. Such beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Good looking man with the hair cut! But I kinda liked the rustic western look!

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  6. Your bird pics are great, especially the grosbeak. We usually get those fine fellows near the first of May, so I can hardly wait!
    Thanks for the kind words about our home surroundings, we truly enjoy the beauty of nature and all the birds our feeders attract.
    Take care and you have a beautiful area to spend the summer at.

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  7. My husband could not stand the rain & cloudy days. We finally left fulltime in our rv for 6 yrs. We were everywhere but our fav. place for the weather & not so many people kept bringing us back to Cochise county, Az. We have finally bought a home here & loving it. Don't give up. It was out dream for many years to find such a place.

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  8. Looking better Al! And we both totally agree about the sun--right now both of us could use some sun, 7 inches of snow on the ground and more falling fast.

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  9. Did you cut that hair and beard or did Kelly?? Oh my God..you look sooo much like the French actor/director Gerard Depardieu...One of my very favorite movies of his is Green Card with Andie McDowell..rent it..great movie with your French twin starring in it..REALLY!!!

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  10. Great shots today. I'm a little surprised to see that grosbeak up there already. The dove is my favorite. :)

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  11. Yeah, Al, we knew it was a snowfall in that picture, but the photo itself had the misty mystery look. So there! Neat haircut -- that should last you until next winter!

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  12. don't you know the saying Red Sky at night Sailors delight. Red Sky in the morn Sailors be warned. I really like you new hair cut you look ten years younger

    Take Care Al and Kelly
    Brenda Brown

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  13. Looking good Al, what a difference a trim makes. Great bird photo's today you certainly do have a big variety up there in your neck of the woods.

    Have a good day!

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  14. When you get on in years, you feel the weather before it happens. Can't imagine what 120 tornadoes brewing in NC must have felt like the other day. That arid dry desert with the sun always shining just makes you feel better. It's healthy! Like your trim. The better weather is around the corner, we hope!

    Ginny

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