Monday, May 16, 2016

TURNED OUT TO BE KIND OF A WILDFLOWER DAY

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PHEEBS & I FOUND US NICE WALKING AREA THIS MORNING

With a Doctor's (Nurse Practitioner) appointment for 9 Pheebs & I were on the road at 8:30.  Sad to see my NP Sue Leddy retiring so only saw her for a few minutes before meeting my new Nurse Practitioner Patricia Robinson NP-PHC.  Nice lady & I'm sure she will be just fine as long as I don't make a big pest out of myself.  Results of my blood tests were all good & I'm cleared to go for another 6 months.  Sure will miss Sue though, she had the nicest personality & was just the very much most bestest medical person I ever met.

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STOPPED BESIDE A NICE PATCH OF WILDFLOWERS ALONG KITCHIGAMI ROAD THIS MORNING

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PHEEBS IS LOVING THE WILDFLOWERS

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HEY CRAIG, THIS IS PERIWINKLE

Coffee & carrot muffin to go at Tim Hortons & we headed on down to the south harbor & beach.  Thought we'd stop at the dog walking area but with a cold icy wind coming in off the lake I didn't feel much like doing that.  Off we headed south out of Goderich to Kitchigami Road & hung a left.  Drove 2 concessions over to just past Porter Hill Line stopping at the George G. Newton Nature Reserve area where I knew there would be no wind in the bush.  Kelly & I had walked this trail one time about 10 years ago & with this mornings cold air I knew there wouldn't be any airborne bugs in the sometimes swampy area.

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It's a narrow but well marked trail in spots leading through a cedar & pine forest interspersed with large & aging hundred year old Maple trees.  After recent rains it was muddy in spots.  The land is a bit hilly & in some places cedars & pines block out sunlight resulting in little growth of anything on the forest floor below. 

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AGE OLD MAPLE TREES ALONG THE TRAIL

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THAT WHITE MARK ON THE TREE IS A TRAIL MARKER

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RUNNING IN THE FOREST

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We came across the ruins of what must have been a very large building many years ago.  Only the partial remains of  3 stone walls are left & I’m guessing it was once a barn or a large house on a long ago country homestead.  The ruins sit quietly overgrown in a small forest clearing.  After entering the trail from the road take the right hand fork when you get to it & that will lead you to the old homestead ruins.  The Pine Loop Trail was less than a mile & next time there we'll set off on a second trail forking to the left which if I remember correctly leads to the remains of an old grist mill.  DSC_0040

LOOKING EAST TOWARDS THE FOUNDATION WALL… IT’S CORNERS ARE ABOUT ALL THAT’S LEFT OF AN OLD HOMESTEAD IN THE FOREST

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NOT MUCH LEFT OF THE SOUTH WALL

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SOUTHEAST CORNER

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NORTHEAST CORNER

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OH THE STORIES THESE OLD STONES COULD TELL

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NORTHEAST CORNER LOOKING SOUTH

Home before noon I spent the rest of the afternoon puttering with a host of small jobs.  Our air is still cold so the few sunny periods we had today were most welcome.  Sure has turned out to be a long cold Spring so far but with a bit of luck we might be up into the high 60's by week's end.

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IT ALWAYS SMELLS SO NICE WALKING THROUGH A PINE & CEDAR FOREST

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ONLY A COUPLE SMALL SWAMPY AREAS ON THE TRAIL….I WENT AROUND IT & DOGGY WENT RIGHT THROUGH IT SPLISH SPLASH….INTERIOR OF THE JEEP NOW LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY SET OFF A ‘MUD BOMB’ INSIDE

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LOTS OF BIG OLD CRUMBLING MAPLES NEAR THE END OF THEIR LIFESPAN

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I THINK PHEEBS IS CONTEMPLATING A SIT DOWN

In Sunday night’s post I may have incorrectly identified a photo of a blue bird as a Bluebird.  An email from a lady here in the park (Marie) suggested it may indeed be an Indigo Bunting.  Checking my bird book I think she just might be right & in fact a male Indigo Bunting at that.

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JUST LOVING ALL THIS SPRING GREEN

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AERIAL VIEW OF A MAYAPPLE PATCH ON THE FOREST FLOOR

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Most people don’t know that back in 1912, Hellmann’s mayonnaise was manufactured in England . In fact, the Titanic was carrying 120,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico , which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York . This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico . But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York . The ship hit an iceberg and sank.  The people of Mexico , who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning. The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as – Sinko De Mayo.

7 comments:

  1. Always interesting to find old foundations in the woods.

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  2. Always love to find old foundations and buildings in the forest, so much mystery behind them.

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  3. Wildflowers and springtime, what nicer is there to see for us?

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  4. Beautiful pictures, the wildflowers are gorgeous
    Kim

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  5. Beautiful photos. I love your blog, I look forward to it every evening. Thank you.
    Ilse

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Fantastic images, Al! You are such a fine photographer! Keep it coming! (sorry for the deletion--I forgot to sign my post--not sure you know who Journeying is) Rhonda F

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