Monday, November 23, 2020

AND SOME WILL SAY, 'HEY'.......'THAT'S ME TOO'

BANNOCKBURN CONSERVATION AREA
Depression can manifest itself in many ways and in my case, it quite often makes itself known when it takes away my interest in things I generally enjoy doing.  It can happen at any time with a suddenness, or it may creep up slowly and overwhelm me before I even know it is near.  The shroud it casts can be short or lengthy, but always heavy and debilitating.  With each passing year now it seems to become harder to deal with.  My smiles and chuckles seem to have long since deserted the ship and my attempts at humor which were once a great second nature for me now clumsily stumble out, if at all, in a confused state of misfires.  Some will not understand any of this and some will say, 'hey'.....'that's me too'.

OUR RURAL COUNTRYSIDE LOOKED PARTICULARLY NICE THIS MORNING
AS MUCH AS I DISLIKE WINTER IT SURE CAN BE PRETTY AT TIMES
A FEW STRANGE CRITTERS ALONG THE WAY
PHEEBS ENJOYS THE WINTER SCENERY TOO
GRAY TREE LINES ARE THE NORM NOW
With overnight temps slowly pulling back up over the freezing mark it was a combination of wet snow and drizzle falling this morning when Pheebs and I headed out.  Country roads were very soupy but we rolled along them anyway.  Air was cold and damp under cloudy skies but with the Jeep's heater on and fine music on Sirius Satellite Radio we were not at all hampered in our travels.

COUNTRY ROADS WERE MUDDY TODAY
SO NICE TO STILL SEE SOME SPLASHES OF AUTUMN COLOR
IF YOU STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION YOU MIGHT SEE A 'PICASSO LIKE' FEMALE OLYMPIC RUNNER EXITING THE FRAME ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PHOTO
Coffee to go at Clinton's Tim Hortons then off to the Bannockburn Conservation Area.  Luckily there was nobody there so I parked the Jeep and off we went along the boardwalk with patches of wet snow crunching under my shoes.  Pine tree bows were heavily laden and hanging low with wet snow and all around I could hear the dripping sounds of melting.

HEADING OFF ON THE BANNOCKBURN BOARDWALK
WET SNOW ON THE PINE BOUGHS
PHEEBS HAS HER WINTER COAT ON

THESE PINE BOUGHS WERE HEAVY ENOUGH I HAD TO DUCK UNDER THEM
ONE OF SEVERAL CREEKS FLOWING THROUGH THE CONSERVATION AREA
All was quiet in the forest, not even a bird song anywhere.  Several small rivers flow through Bannockburn and occasionally while crossing a creek I could hear the sounds of rushing water babbling its way along and frothing up as they tumbled over and around riverbed stones and rocks.

Lots of interesting smells for Pheebs as she trotted from one smelly delight to another.  She did sense something under an old steel bridge we walked across but I didn't tell her it was just an old troll that has lived under that bridge for years.  By the time we got home shortly after 10 Kelly had already left for Goderich to undergo more blood tests and pick up some additional medication for her itching problem.

PHEEBS WENT UP THOSE STEPS AND BACK.....I DIDN'T
WE BEGIN OUR RETURN BACK TO THE JEEP
THIS ANGLED SECTION OF BOARDWALK WAS VERY SLIPPERY
I DIDN'T TELL PHEEBS A TROLL LIVES UNDER THIS BRIDGE
AN OUTHOUSE IN THE WOODS NEAR THE TRAILHEAD
By noon there was no visible snow left on the ground so I adjusted a few front yard Christmas lights we had put out a few days ago.  Well, I put out a few and Kelly put out most of them.  She always has a lot more Christmas spirit than I do.  Just think, in another month we'll only be a couple days short of Christmas.  That's a big happy milestone on our way to Spring.  Thanks to readers for your encouraging and uplifting comments.  They are always helpful.............

GROANER'S CORNER:((    A circus owner walked into a bar to see everyone crowded about a table watching a little show. On the table was an upside-down pot and a duck tap dancing on it. The circus owner was so impressed that he offered to buy the duck from its owner. After some wheeling and dealing, they settled for $10,000 for the duck and the pot.  Three days later the circus owner runs back to the bar in anger, "Your duck is a rip-off! I put him on the pot before a whole audience and he didn't dance a single step!"  "So?" asked the ducks former owner, "did you remember to light the candle under the pot?"

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13 comments:

  1. Your mood will likely strike a chord with some people Al. I always find these between-seasons times pretty blah, especially until the days start getting longer again in January. We hope you keep on keeping on, getting through the cycle. The news these days sure doesn't help either, we've cut way back on that. Gord.

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  2. A LOT of great compositions in your photo line up tonight. Thank you very much.

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  3. My fairly long ago deceased husband used to say "if you're not depressed, you're not paying attention." Ha. In my previous life, I was a psychologist. Yeah. Even got paid for it, quite a while back. Now I'm a lot older. Winter's coming. Light's fading. But there's beauty in that as you have shown in your photographs. I am so happy you see it and show others. I always look forward to your blog as a part of my late evening winding down ritual. And this year is certainly a special one...so many things out of our control. So we do what we can, and you do valuable work I think. Most of the people I know are tired, no matter their age...and a bit, at the least, sad. I've made up a name for it, covid malaise. Meawhile, I am counting on you to document the first wee signs of spring up there. I will be seeing them sooner then you as I am so much farther south. But I'll still be checking on what's happening up there!

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  4. Good to know that the words start to flow again and I enjoyed your narrative of the walk you and Miss Pheebs took this morning. Really lovely photos once again. Thank you, Al.

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  5. Al, you do us all such a favor when you continue to post, even though it's an uphill battle for you sometimes. We appreciate the effort you put out to make our days better! Your beautiful photos and commentary on your day does help us cope with our days. I'd like to think that knowing that is somehow helpful when you're going through those down times.
    Sending warm thoughts from down here in Texas to you, Kelly, and Pheebs.
    P.S. Please be careful on those slippery walks. Sure would hate for you to get hurt!

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  6. Al I can relate to your depression issue. I've been battling depression and anxiety for several years. Sometimes it manifests into a real physical illness. Medication helps and I have a wonderful husband who tries to understand and is very supportive. Old ain't easy! Keep on keepin' on.😀

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  7. Your words are so descriptive, I could hear the snow crunching under your shoes.

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  8. It's interesting to see a combination of autumn and winter. Gorgeous photos.

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  9. Love your snow scenes, especially the Picasso.

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  10. Brad often describes his depression episodes as 'painful body aches'. We've tried all kinds of things but seems riding it out is just as effective.

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  11. That Bannockburn Conservation Area sounds like a fascinating place to walk! And that looked like a beautiful day!

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  12. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and commentary. Today in this part of Kansas was gray and dreary though not terribly cold yet. Your post cheered me up.

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  13. I was wondering if you ever walk on the ground alongside those slippery boardwalks? And you don't have to tell Miss Pheebs about the troll, she knew about him long ago! Thanks for the great photos and words, appreciate you sharing a bit about yourself. The vaccines are coming and I bet you will be on the road sooner than you think.

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