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.
I WAS HOPING TO CATCH A BEAN HARVESTER IN OPERATION AND FINALLY I DID
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.
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.
IT’S EASY TO MISS THIS ENTRANCE ALONGSIDE THE GRAVEL ROAD
A NICE COMMON AREA HAS BEEN CLEARED
THAT IS A SOLID CEMENT TABLE
EVEN HAS AN OUTHOUSE
NOW I KNOW THE NAME OF THESE TREES WHICH GROW NEAR OUR HOUSE
A RESTING BENCH ALONG THE TRAIL
FRAMWORK FOR A LEAN-TO OF SORTS
A SINGLE HEMLOCK TREE STANDS BEHIND THE SIGN
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.
FOREST CREATURES
EACH TIME I DRIVE BY THE HOUSE LOOKS A LITTLE WORSE FOR WARE
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
WE PUT UP THAT SATELLITE TV DISH YEARS AGO AND IT’S STILL THERE
ABOUT WHERE THAT TABLE IS IN THE CENTER IS WHERE OUR FIREPIT WAS AND OUR STAR PARTIES WERE HELD
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.
I USED TO MOW ALL THAT AND WE HAD A NICE FLOWERBED AND MAILBOX WHERE THAT LONG GRASS IS BOTTOM RIGHT
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
SO SAD TO SEE THE OLD HOUSE LOOKING SO FORLORN AND I’M AFRAID IT’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED
MAX AND I WOULD WALK DOWN THAT ROAD MOST EVERY NIGHT AS FAR AS THE TREE LINE ON THE RIGHT
A NICE POND ACROSS THE ROAD WHERE WE OFTEN WALKED
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.
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.
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
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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Thumping!
Thumping who?
Thumping green and slimy is climbing up your back!
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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.
ReplyDeleteHow 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely old farmhouse you and Kelly lived in.
ReplyDeleteLooks 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.
We have poison ivy which I've unfortunately tangled with but haven't run into any poison oak.
DeleteLike they say, "You can never go back home", or something to that affect. I sure can attest to that.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteAl: Your photography is better than ever.
ReplyDeleteI 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