Sunday, April 22, 2012

‘MUSHY BEES’


AND THIS IS WHAT THE BIRD’S & SQUIRRELS SEE FROM OUTSIDE
This mornings icy winds kept me inside but Kelly took Pheebs for a long walk anyway.  When it warmed up a bit this afternoon I took Pheebs for another long walk & we made it all the way to the Bayfield River which is just south of us.  That walk took us along our usual morning Pine trail, up into a hardwood bush, & then down a long steep forested hill to the river.  Hadn’t been down there for about 7 years so it was nice to see something different for a change.
IMG_2018
IMG_2016 IMG_2017
A SPRING FOREST LEADS PHEEBS & I TO THE BAYFIELD RIVER
Sometimes in the great & quickly growing RV scheme of things I have a tendency to miss new blog sites, forget or misplace old blog sites & just generally loose touch with folks. It’s just impossible for me to keep up with everybody anymore. There are a lot of helpful blog sites & one which I was aware of several years ago & had forgotten about was FRUGAL-RV-TRAVEL.COM. Here is a site with a lot of RVing information and something for everyone.  Of course I especially like their Boondocking take on things & their frugal approach to living & traveling on the road whether it be full or part time. 
DSC_0004-3
A YOUNG MAPLE TREE IN THE SPRING OF IT’S LIFE
I have noticed that it seems to be a lot of the younger crew of RV’ers these days who have a knack for putting together many of the great informative web/blog sites. They just seem to have the energy, the smarts, the enthusiasm, & the interest to get out there & kick some back country dirt around. More & more of these younger folks are adventuress & independent enough to get themselves out of the main RVing stream & into a boon docking lifestyle that gains them access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.  I always like to hear & see photos of ‘natural’ out of the way places.
DSC_7464 DSC_7461
DSC_7462
A GREEN HERON LIFTS OFF FROM THE POND ACROSS THE ROAD
Chinle, over at SPOTTED DOG RANCH, in a recent post, brings up an opinion which I must say I am in total agreement with.  Don’t think I have ever asked someone what they did for a living.  I may be curious but I won’t ask.  If a person wants to tell me, it’s up to them.  I always find the question uncomfortable when asked because I am not one of those fellows who can grip his britches, rock back on his heels & give forth with a big rollicking tried & true success story.  And, I’ve never been comfortable with the word ‘retired’ either.  Never did stay at anything long enough to retire from.
DSC_7026
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL LAKE HURON SUNSET TAKEN FROM DEER PARK LODGE 
GROANER’S CORNER:((  The psychology instructor had just finished a lecture on mental health and was giving an oral test.
Speaking specifically about manic depression, she asked, "How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?"
A young man in the rear raised his hand and answered, "A basketball coach?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
-  If one's thoughts are positive about the landscape, one's eyes will appreciate what they see...AL.
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
DSC_7459
NORTHERN FLICKER
Took a bit of doing this morning but I struggled my heavy Spirits off another rocky runway & lifted myself into clear blue sunny skies.  I have battled depression most of my life & it can still jump up & grab me sometimes when I least expect it.
DSC_8194
I too wondered about that ‘mushy Bees’ in Saturday night’s Groaners Corner but decided to leave it in the joke anyway. Thought maybe it was a reference to mushy peas. Turns out I was right after a reader’s comment came in later today saying, Groaners Corner is for the people that have visited the UK and eaten fish and chips in a typical fish and chip shop - they also serve a certain type of green pea that is cooked to death until they become mushy - hence "mushy peas".
DSC_7399
NOT HAPPY THAT I BROUGHT IN THE BIRD FEEDERS
It was one month ago today the Boys started putting the ‘mud’ on our Arizona house. Well, they called it mud but in reality it was Stucco. That all seems so very long ago already & sometimes in an inattentive moment I think, ‘did we really do that, did we really buy a house’. Good thing I have a bunch of photos here showing the house or I might just be thinking it was all some sort of dream or something.
DSC_0004-4 DSC_0006-6

20 comments:

  1. I am just in awe of these young people on the road and wonder how do they do this financially? Maybe it's because I'm envious and wish I'd been smart enough to figure out how to do it a long time ago.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your capture of the blue heron. Nothing better than getting out in nature and as good a photographer as you are, enjoy taking pics of the beauty you see! Besides, we enjoy seeing your captures!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Al, I think the loss of little Motor is getting to you on top of wearing yourself out driving and, unpacking, cleaning up the yard, etc. On top of that the kidney stone thing and your achy legs.

    Maybe a couple of days of chilling will help.

    I admire the young folks who get out and live the good life, too. I sure wish I had more years left so I could feel like I'll get back to the places I love.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Here in San Diego, there is a chain of small grocery stores called Fresh & Easy. The parent company is Tesco's, which is British. They sell canned Mushy Peas in their British foods aisle. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm going to. I'm assuming they're like regular canned peas, which I think are very mushy indeed. In Julian, we had snow last weekend, 90s this weekend, and rain is in the forecast for next weekend. Wacky weather!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Al,

    I'm not comfortable with a bunch of pushy questions either. I generally view that as a way for someone to gather information and pass judgment. I realize there are some who have fond memories of wonderful careers, but my job was little more than a regular paycheck. We're all so much more than our jobs, but Americans sometimes have a hard time realizing it.

    I know it's probably too soon, but some day I hope you add another "best pal" to the crew!

    McBe

    ReplyDelete
  6. Al, I've been dealing with a bit of depression myself, so guess I'm in good company. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Depression: It seems to hide in the corner and crawl onto your shoulders and into your chest when you least expect it.

    I know it well, but try to escape when it is lurking near.

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW!!! The photos just keep getting better and better. Don't know how you do it but don't stop!!
    But then again you have quite a palette to draw from being in the beautiful woods of Canada. We sure don't have anything like that in the panhandle of Okla.!!
    Thanks and take care.
    Don in Okla.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your summer home is so wonderful surrounded by nature and easily accessible to long walks. The perfect contrast to the winter desert home.

    That black squirrel looks downright pissed at you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Always enjoy coming here to hear what you have to say and also to see the beautiful photos.

    I have depression at times too. I began a different thyroid med not long ago however and I am wondering if perhaps that was part of my cause at least. Docs miss a lot of thyroid issues. You may pass on the general test, but if you can get them to test for the T3 and T4 parts, sometimes you find as I did that the thyroid is working but the pituatary seems not to be receiving the messages. Weird...but the med seems to be working for me, tho, it was not for depression I asked for the thyroid, but for being so tired, etc and also to do with diabetes control.

    You have gone through some tough times of late, and that in itself would be enough for some depressed days too. Hang in there!! Hug the Pheebs some more!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tomorrow is a new day...at least you don't have to go to work!.. one day work will be but a distant memory for us too...one can hope anyway!..nice pictures today..love the header shot!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Al, depression and I have a long-standing agreement. I make it clear depression is not welcome, and it visits anyway. You don't need my advice - you've lived long enough to know what to do. Not that I don't HAVE advice - whoo doggies, do I have advice - but you've heard it all.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fresh air and exercise is always a great way to clear your head. Again what did you do for a living is a question I would never ask. When people ask I feel they are trying to judge me. And like you had many different jobs but nothing to retire from, just got tired of working and quit.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Depression is an ugly monster. I think hobopals is probably right about Motor. When our beloved Duke passed there were days I didnt even want to get out of bed. I believe some ask about what someone did for a living more out of interest rather than nosiest, maybe to find a common bond or interest, or just trying to expand their knowledge. We get so wrapped up in our fields of employment most of us have no knowledge of aspects of other jobs.
    National geo needs to look at rv blogs like yours and Judy of travels w/ Emma...they would have a heck of an issue! Both of you take such phenomenal pictures.
    Donna W

    ReplyDelete
  15. I believe that things happen in our lives at the exact time that is best for us, even if we wish we had done it sooner; then something else would not have happened, or we would have a different outlook on it. I'm very happy with the route I've traveled in life, although I often wished I had been younger when I tried the full time RV life.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I appreciate your honesty in talking about depression - it might be time for me to "fess up" on my blog in the near future. Sometimes, if one can be honest in their feelings it takes much of the "power" away of depression. Hang in there!

    You've got Kelly and Pheebs and that's a pretty dynamic duo! (Thanks to Kelly for visiting me on my blog!)

    I'm originally from Indiana and your "joke" certainly describes former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight!

    ReplyDelete
  17. OK...After reading your blog and the comments, I felt like I had been in group therapy...and it felt good. I think anyone who says they have never had bouts of depression is fooling themselves..Life, in of itself, offers many pitfalls where depression can capture us...It's how we get out of that pit..Some use medication, some exercise, some just need some time...I find it helps to look at someone who has waaay more problems than myself..Works every time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have a different problem... when asked I tell them I am a housewife (or at least when I retire in a couple years that will be my answer) my reason - I am a Network Admin (Computer Nerd) the moment people hear that - I get "I have a computer that is doing... " ;-) ... retirement means NOT having to work on computers, or help users....

    ReplyDelete
  19. Okay....gotta ask, were you a professional photographer in your working days???? Your photos are awesome, and all these birds are at your place in Canada?

    I have been reading your blog for a couple of months and have really enjoyed it. (We are friends of Mike and Pat McFall also) Keep up the great work and photos.

    We are full time RVers working in Missoula, Montana for our 3rd summer. I could only wish for some of your spectacular photos.

    ReplyDelete