Sunday, April 19, 2015

FOR JEEPERS, PHEEBS, & I IT WAS OUR LAST COUNTRY ROAD DRIVE TOGETHER:((

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WE SAT BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WATCHING A HERD OF FRISKY PLAYFUL HORSES THIS MORNING

Our early morning thermometer said 35F but with a brisk wind from the east our wind chill factor was somewhere down around the freezing mark.  I wasn't long climbing into my lined winter pants for the day although it eventually warmed up to around 60 with sunshine for awhile.  Then the cold front arrived bringing rain later in the day & it just got cold all over again.

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I’M GUESSING THESE ARE ALL STURDY MENNONITE WORK HORSES

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NOT SURE WHY ALL THE HORSES TAILS ARE BOBBED

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We worked away at cleaning up our wooden shed for awhile before coming in for a short rest.  It was while stretched out in my recliner that a thought occurred to me.  If Pheebs & I wanted to get in one last country drive with Jeepers it would have to be this morning.  Rain forecast for the next 3 days so we took advantage of our good weather today & headed out.  It was kind of a sad drive in a way knowing this was the last time for Jeepers, Pheebs, & I knocking around the back country roads together.  In 2 days we pick up our 07 Jeep Liberty & little Jeepers will be going to a new home sometime after that.  Don't know where, don't know when but for me it will probably be my last stick shift vehicle after many years & many miles of cranking gears.  My first car, a 61 Volkswagen Beetle was 4 on the floor & I just kind of gravitated to a lot of standard transmissions after that.  Oh I've had lots of automatics too but there's just something about a gearshift on the floor that just kinda brings out the bad boy in every young fella.  Well old fellas too sometimes.  I do become attached to vehicles & have always been that way.  Always sad to see them go & especially so with our Jeep Wrangler.  So many great memories over these past nearly 5 years but needs & wants have a habit of changing & it is time to let Jeepers go.  I was reminded of one of those needs again today as I had continuing difficulty getting my right leg in or out of the Wrangler overtop that high metal lip.  I sure won't miss that & look forward to easier entries & exits in the Liberty.  But no doubt about it, of all the many vehicles I have had it will be little Jeepers I will miss the most:((
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PROBABLY THE LAST FEW PHOTOS OF LITTLE JEEPERS I WILL EVER TAKE

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Because of icy winds we didn't make too many stops in the 4 hours we were out today but we did get a couple leg stretching stops in at the Hullett-Marsh & Lake Wawanosh.  Both times upon exiting the Jeep the howling east wind lifted my Breezer hat off my head & sailed it into the next county.  Kelly had spotted a house & property for sale north of Goderich so Pheebs & I tracked it down for a look see.  Nothing we could remotely afford of course but I just enjoy being nosey sometimes.  One never knows when one might un-expectantly stumble across an exceptionally great deal.  Being in the right place at the right time has happened to us before in regards to real-estate & vehicles so we know it can & does happen.

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HULLETT MARSH ABOVE & THE CHOPPY WIND DRIVEN WATERS OF LAKE WAWANOSH BELOW

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Nice to be out again on a quiet Sunday morning touching base with many old familiar spots as we slipped our way around the gravely country roads up through Mennonite country.  I never tire of seeing their neat & well kept homes & properties.
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Sliding back home through the town of Goderich Pheebs & scored our first 6" Tuna Sub of the season & I even had the patience to stand in line with 8 people in front of me.  Well it was kind of a forced patience I guess because I had told Pheebs I was going in to get us a sub & I knew I could not come back out of the building empty handed or I was going to have a very upset little doggy on my hands.
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Called Aunt Jean in Sarasota Saturday night & she was very much under the weather with a nasty virus.  She missed out for a second time on a place she had put a bid in on at a 55+ community called Lake Tippy Canoe but has now put an offer on another 55+ condo in a community complex called Forest Lakes Country Club Estates (Forest Lakes Village) which is not far from where she lives now.  Aunt Jean should know by the end of the week if she will have a new & quieter place to move to.  Pushing 88 this July it's not an easy decision but the place she has lived the past 25 years is slowly going down hill & being taken over by younger non English speaking family's & along with that has come a lot of noise & disruption.  Aunt Jean & I are much alike & I can well understand her wanting to get away from all that.
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THINK THESE HORSES HAD SOME SPRING FEVER GOING FOR THEM THIS MORNING

GROANER’S CORNER:(( I know that you, just like me, at one time or another has said, "Now, where the Heck did THAT come from?"  Do you know where Heck is?

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It's where you go after you die, if you don't believe in Gosh.

12 comments:

  1. They bob (Dock) the tails so that they don't tangle in the harness and lines I believe.

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  2. hey al, ive been reading your blog for years now. im not trying to be a smart ass but please keep your jeep for 60 days before you get rid of it the 4.0 jeeps are getting hard to find that arent wore out the new one you are getting wont hold a candle to the 4.0 once you drive it some you wont like it near as much i made the same mistake you are about to

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  3. Boy, those horses have large hooves. I was going to suggest maybe they sell the horse hair from the tails to make violin bows. It has to come from some horse someplace. Regarding the Jeep, did you also get a soft top for it? Don't forget to include it as a feature when you go to sell it. It should add a couple of hundred to the value.

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  4. Love those pictures of the horses beautiful creatures

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  5. A few nice pics of Jeepers and a nice last ride. The sunshine was nice but that wind was pretty cool.

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  6. Nice drive.... didn't realize you live in Mennonite country. Those draft horses are gorgeous!

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  7. We actually saw some draft horses in South Florida, believe it or not!...We have some Amish communities here in Southern Illinois..I love those buggys!

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  8. I really enjoy the photos of the horses.

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  9. Yep, the cowboy agrees with JB on the tail docking business. And you are right about sometimes stumbling across a really good deal, we are so happy with our "deal" in AZ!

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  10. Hey, Al. Those sure look just like Oregon ducks there in that pond.

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  11. Love those big horses, they are such powerful creatures. Many good memories for you and the pup in the Jeep - how lucky you are! You love change as well and will make the Liberty a great part of your story.

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