Tuesday, September 26, 2017

A DRIVE DOWN MEMORY LANE AND A WALK IN A COOL HARDWOOD FOREST

DSC_0016

AUTUMN CROCUS

Luckily we had a partial high cloud cover first thing this morning and that went a long way in preventing the sun's rays from turning things into a steam bath again until about 10:30.  With a nice easterly breeze Pheebs and I set off early with windows down heading for a destination I had in mind.  

DSC_5461

I WAS HOPING TO CATCH A BEAN HARVESTER IN OPERATION AND FINALLY I DID

DSC_5459DSC_5463DSC_5457DSC_5495

Monday night Aunt Jean and I had reminisced about some of the good times we had years ago when Kelly and I lived in the old farm house near Fullarton Ontario.  Had it in mind from the get-go this morning to take a leisurely nostalgic drive over that way and stir up a few old ‘Weenie Roast Ranch’ memories.

DSC_5489DSC_5490DSC_5496DSC_5497DSC_5493DSC_5494

Along the way we stopped for a walk in a hardwood bush south of Russeldale Ontario.  I remembered this spot called Sawyers Woods but had never bothered to stop there before.  Needing a good leg stretch walk we pulled over, parked, and headed into the cool shade of the woods.  What a nice little spot this was and it was evident volunteers have given generously of their time to maintain the trails and keep this area for families and friends to come and spend time gathering together in a natural setting.  Nice to see trees and ground covers labelled.

DSC_5453

IT’S EASY TO MISS THIS ENTRANCE ALONGSIDE THE GRAVEL ROAD

DSC_5419DSC_5422DSC_5421DSC_5444

A NICE COMMON AREA HAS BEEN CLEARED

DSC_5425DSC_5423DSC_5424

THAT IS A SOLID CEMENT TABLE

DSC_5420DSC_5426

EVEN HAS AN OUTHOUSE

DSC_5449

NOW I KNOW THE NAME OF THESE TREES WHICH GROW NEAR OUR HOUSE

DSC_5431

A RESTING BENCH ALONG THE TRAIL

DSC_5434

FRAMWORK FOR A LEAN-TO OF SORTS

DSC_5437 DSC_5430DSC_5452DSC_5441 DSC_5448

A SINGLE HEMLOCK TREE STANDS BEHIND THE SIGN

DSC_5445DSC_5446DSC_5451DSC_5438

HAD A HARD TIME CATCHING UP TO THIS STRAWBERRY BUSH  >>>

Stepping out of the woods back at the Jeep I was immediately aware of the growing humidity and from thereon we had to continue our travels with the Jeep's A/C on and we never exited the Jeep again until we got home about an hour and a half later.  Thankfully cooler seasonal air is on it’s way and should begin rolling into our area Wednesday.

 DSC_0004

FOREST CREATURES

DSC_5403Lots of great memories came flooding back the closer we got to the old Weenie Roast Ranch.  Coming down the country road I was reminded of all the wonderful starry night walks Max (our first dog) and I took on that road years ago.  Even in winter we were out there walking night after night.  I could see the old two story brick farmhouse coming up down the road and sadly knew what to expect.  Having driven past it a dozen times or so since we left it nearly 15 years ago I knew it would again look worse than the last time I drove by.  And so it did.  The farmer we rented it from now lives in the house and he's not the type of fellow to look after anything.  Could see most of the windows boarded up now, the barn has completely fallen down and the grounds are littered with even more junk. 

DSC_5465

EACH TIME I DRIVE BY THE HOUSE LOOKS A LITTLE WORSE FOR WARE

DSC_5469

BARN IN THE BACKGROUND HAS CRUMBLED  AND I USED TO COME DOWN THOSE STEPS AT THE LEFT EVERY NIGHT AND IMMEDIATELLY LOOK UP AT THE STARRY SKY

DSC_5470

WE PUT UP THAT SATELLITE TV DISH YEARS AGO AND IT’S STILL THERE

DSC_5475

ABOUT WHERE THAT  TABLE IS IN THE CENTER IS WHERE OUR FIREPIT WAS AND OUR STAR PARTIES WERE HELD

DSC_5471

WE LOVED THESE BIG PINE TREES WHEN WE WERE HERE

When Kelly and I first came across this old house for rent in June of 1995 it was derelict with nobody living in it.  Took us a lot of elbow Greece and TLC to get it livable for us and over the 7 years we lived there we managed to turn an old decrepit cold and empty farmhouse into a warm and cozy home for ourselves.  We fixed up the grounds, planted trees and flowers, and I even cleaned up part of the old barn on the property.  Not only did we look after our own cats but we looked after all the barn cats as well.  Max grew up with many cat Pals and they all loved him.  The farmer's tractor was not in the driveway today so I knew he wasn't home.  Stopped out front and let my mind wander back through the cobwebs of time for a few minutes.  And then it was time to go.  A big wave to the old house and a silent thank you for all the treasured memories it gave us.

DSC_5474

I USED TO MOW ALL THAT AND WE HAD A NICE FLOWERBED AND MAILBOX WHERE THAT LONG GRASS IS BOTTOM RIGHT

DSC_5480

THAT IS WHAT’S LEFT OF THE BARN’S NORTH END WHERE i HAD IT FIXED UP INSIDE KINDA NICE…..KEPT MY VIRAGO MOTORCYCLE IN THERE

DSC_5482

SO SAD TO SEE THE OLD HOUSE LOOKING SO FORLORN AND I’M AFRAID IT’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED

DSC_5483

MAX AND I WOULD WALK DOWN THAT ROAD MOST EVERY NIGHT AS FAR AS THE TREE LINE ON THE RIGHT

DSC_5477

A NICE POND ACROSS THE ROAD WHERE WE OFTEN WALKED

DSC_5485

BEFORE THE  FARMER MOVED INTO THE HOUSE WE LEFT HE HAD LIVED JUST UP THE ROAD IN THIS HOUSE……HE OWNS BOTH LARGE FARM PROPERTIES AND LIVES A LONE HERMIT’S LIFE

From the old farmhouse we headed straight away for home which I knew was 40 minutes away to the West.  Along the way I couldn't help but remember all the times I traveled that same stretch of road 15 years ago at this same time of year moving things from the old Weenie Roast Ranch to our new place here at the 5 Seasons Estates a short distance outside of Bayfield Ontario. 

DSC_5488

DSC_5404DSC_5405DSC_5407DSC_5408

DSC_5406

Back home I headed into the house and stayed there knowing our miserable late September heat wave is about to thankfully end.  Within days we will once again be back to our beautiful cooler normal Autumn weather.  Looking forward to getting outside again and resuming the many things on my list that have to be done over the next number of weeks.

DSC_0017

GROANER’S CORNER:((  OLD MUSICIANS never die, they just get played out

 
OLD PHOTOGRAPHERS never die, they just stop developing


OLD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS never die, they just go off-line

 
OLD NUMERICAL ANALYSTS never die, they just get disarrayed


OLD OWLS never die, they just don't give a hoot


OLD PACIFISTS never die, they just go to peaces

 
OLD PARADOXES never die, they just become enigmas


OLD PHOTOGRAPHERS never die, they get sent to the old focus home


OLD PILOTS never die, they just buzz off


OLD PLANETS never die, they just lose their attraction


OLD PLASTIC never dies, they just recycle it


OLD PLUMBERS never die, they just go down the drain

OLD POLICEMEN never die, they just cop out

OLD MUSICIANS never die, they just go from bar to bar 

OLD PILOTS never die, they just go to a higher plane

---------------------------------------

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Thumping!
Thumping who?
Thumping green and slimy is climbing up your back!

================================

9 comments:

  1. Nice to take a trip down memory lane, but so sad to too how things have changed and deteriorated with the passage of time. Love that woodlot looks like a dream has come true after years of hard work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How sad to see the farmhouse in such disrepair, I don't like going back to places where I used to live. The woodlot is really neat.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wish more places would label trees and foliage, although I know maintaining them is work. Love the maple leaf square - very clever! Seeing his other property it isn't surprising that the old farmhouse has fallen into ruin. I'm sure it remembers you and Kelly fondly as well. Nice to know you gave it 7 years of love and good times. I find that places I've lived in the past all look so much smaller than I remember - even if it was just 12-15 years ago. The Crocus is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely old farmhouse you and Kelly lived in.
    Looks like it had 'good bones'. Sad to see it fall to ruin.
    Question; do you have poison oak in your area? I often think of
    that when I see pictures of you roaming the woods.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have poison ivy which I've unfortunately tangled with but haven't run into any poison oak.

      Delete
  5. Like they say, "You can never go back home", or something to that affect. I sure can attest to that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You sure had a good explore this morning! Like all those barn quilts. Sawyer Woods looks interesting too. But I haven't seen any beans getting harvested up here yet.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Al: Your photography is better than ever.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I went back to the farm house where I lived during my Elementary and Teen years. Jim and I even lived in the old house while caregiving my Mom. We found a stranger living in the house and it was "trashed." My heart was broken and it was difficult to "let go." I would have felt better if the house would have been removed--my memories would have been more vivid.

    ReplyDelete