AN EVENING'S QUIET DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE WAS A BIG HELP

We have ourselves a cold front rolling through the area right now so I am back into my warm T-shirt & long sleeve flannel standard issue JC Penny shirt.  Long underwear is standing by as temps are expected to dip into the mid to high 40't tonight!!

 

ONLY CAMERA I HAD WITH ME ON TUESDAY  NIGHT'S DRIVE WAS MY OLDER PONT & SHOOT CANON A720 POWER SHOT, BUT IT DOES OK IN A PINCH

Well, that dam black Squirrel just batted the ball back into my court again today. Looked out the sunroom window this afternoon & sure enough, there he was sitting on the bird station like King of the Castle skarfing down all the birdseed again. I have to watch & wait now to see what method he has figured out this time for getting onto the bird station. Will this ever end!!

Kelly & slipped down to see my Uncle Harry this afternoon. We were encouraged to find him making his way out of the cafeteria, on his own, in his wheelchair. Last couple of times down he had been on strong medication for lower back pain & had not been mobile. We did see a slight improvement in him today. He has a few other ongoing medical issues but at age 95 we think he is holding his own reasonably well.

Noticed our blog Followers list increased by 2 over the last few days. The Bayfield Bunch welcomes Lonedog 2 & Gypsy Boho onboard. Thanks for tagging along with us:)) Only 9 more Followers & we will hit the 300 Followers mark.
JOE & NANCY just wrapped up their volunteering stint on the greens at the U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Joe has some great up close photos of a few big names in golf. All you golfing folks out there might want to check out Joe & Nancy’s blog.

By late afternoon Tuesday I was desperately in need of some kinda change. Posted Tuesday’s short blog early then threw my old carcass in the Jeep & took myself for a long overdue drive through the evening countryside.

I have often referred to the old farmhouse where Kelly & I lived 7 years ago before moving to our present location near Bayfield. In need of some good old feeling good nostalgia I decided to head on over that way & see what kind of condition the old house was in. I already knew it wouldn't be good.  When we lived there, the owner of the house lived on another old farm just up the road. After we moved out in October of 2002 the farmer moved into the two storey brick house because his old wood house & barn had fallen down around him. It was sad last night to see the same thing happening to the old farm house Kelly & I had put so much work into fixing up over the years. We sure have a lot of great old memories of this place & it was here that Max spent the first 5 years of his life with us. It was also while we were here that we bought our first RV together. It was a 17 foot 1979 Class C Dodge Centurion. It was kinda clunky & kinda musty, but it was a start & it lit the RV travel fires under me that still burn to this very day.
 

IT WAS WHILE LIVING HERE FOR 7 YEARS THAT OUR HECTIC CITY LIVES CHANGED FOREVER TO THE PEACEFUL QUIET & TRANQUIL RURAL WAYS WHICH WE NOW LOVE SO MUCH...WE HAD NEVER HEARD THE WORDS 'BOON DOCKING' BEFORE BUT IN ESSENCE THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPILY STARTED FOR US.....  

   

OUR FIERY RED MAILBOX ONCE STOOD HERE AMID A ROCK GARDEN OF FLOWERS AND I USED TO MOW ALL THAT GRASS WITH A GASOLINE HAND PUSHER

 

THE OLD BARN IS TUMBLING DOWN NOW BUT I SAFELY STORED MY MOTORCYCLE IN THE GRAIN BIN HERE FOR 6 WINTERS

WHENEVER MY UNCLE HARRY OR AUNT JEAN WOULD COME UP THE SIDE ROAD IN THE CAR & TOOT THE HORN MAX WOULD COME RACING ALL THE WAY FROM THE HOUSE ACROSS THIS FIELD TO GREET THEM.....THOSE BIG TARPED MOUNDS OF BAILED HAY WERE NOT THERE WHEN WE WERE.  (CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE)

 

I HAVE ALWAYS CALLED IT THE OLD 'WEENIE ROAST RANCH' BECAUSE OF ALL THE CAMPFIRES WE HAD....YEP, I SURE DO MISS THIS OLD TUMBLE DOWN PLACE WITH IT'S NIGHTLY STARS FROM HORIZON TO HORIZON & IT'S SCENIC FARM FIELDS FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE.................
My travels Tuesday night also took me to my old home town of Tavistock. Always lots of memories for me there. Some good, some not so good. I only stay long enough to touch a few bases as I drive around & then I am gone again until next time………someday.

STOPPED TO CHAT WITH A FEW LADIES ALONG THE WAY 
Having just written a story about ‘DAYTON'S LAMP’ a few days ago I decided to stop around to a little picturesque church yard in the countryside about 5 miles north of Tavistock. Last time I stood in that church cemetery was was over 11 years ago when Kelly & I were present for Dayton’s burial.

   

DAYTON WAS LAID TO REST BESIDE HIS MOTHER & DAD & THEY WERE THE FOLKS WHO ORIGINALLY PURCHASED  'THE LAMP'

As most readers know, I have been wallowing around between good & not so good days for awhile now.  I'm not going to expound on all this but just wanted to say thanks to the folks out there who know & understand that every day is not a perfect day.  Thanks to those people for their words of encouragement & understanding.  Thanks to the readers for hanging in there through my season of restless discontent & sometimes snarly posts.  These not so good days too will pass. 

Long time reader Bob from somewhere near that big Phoenix town in Arizona sent me the following link this morning.  This site is COWBOY MUSIC frequently written & sung by the real cowboy fellers themselves.  This is not your standard country music from Nashville.  Music is continuous with no annoying commercials or interruptions.  Might want to have yerself a listen or two.  Yesssireee Bob, I got er on right now....10-4:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 

After both Paddy and Mick were both laid off they went to the unemployment office.   
When asked his occupation, Paddy answered, "Knicker Stitcher..  I  sew da elastic onto ladies' knickers and thongs."
The clerk looked up Knicker Stitcher on his computer and finding it classified as unskilled labour, he gave him £80 a week unemployment pay.
Mick was next in and when asked his occupation replied, "Diesel Fitter."
Since a Diesel Fitter was a skilled job, the clerk gave Mick £160 a week.
When Paddy found out he was furious.    He stormed back into the office to find out why his friend and co-worker was collecting double his pay.
The clerk explained, "Knicker Stitchers are unskilled labour and Diesel Fitters are skilled labour."
"What skill?" yelled Paddy, "I sew da elastic on da knickers and thongs, then Mick puts 'em over his head and says, 'Yep, diesel fitter'! "

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