A NICE SHORT STORY TO START MY POST TONIGHT

 RED BELLIED WOODPECKER AND A BLACK CAP CHICKADEE

For all the angst and controversy over Facebook at times, it can be a helping platform as well.  Case in point....Our Bayfield Pines community has two Facebook sites one of which was started by Kelly a while back.  Last night (Sunday) one of our residents (Sinnan) had a local 'lost dog' ad pop up on her Facebook so in turn, she posted it on Kelly's Bayfield Pines site.  That notice then popped up on my computer's Bayfield Pines Facebook late Sunday night.  This morning our phone rang early and it was another friend of ours (Carin) here in the Park wondering if Pheebs was missing because they had a dog on the porch that looked like Pheebs.  I overheard Kelly talking on the phone to someone about a lost dog and I right away remembered Sunday night's Facebook notice.  'Bingo' From the original Facebook notice, Kelly wasn't long in tracking down the dog's owner and was able to phone her with the good news.  Kelly said the lady was so happy she was crying on the phone.  Within twenty minutes the owner and 'Danny the lost dog' were joyfully reunited.  Happy smiles all around.  Isn't it nice in this day and age of so much dissent and turmoil to have a story with a happy ending.  And it shows how internet sites like Facebook can indeed be used for good things.  And how nice to be able to start my post off this morning with something uplifting other than my usual nattering about the weather:))

 THIS IS DANNY THE LOST DOG AND HE SURE LOOKS LIKE PHEEBS

 A COUPLE OF PICS BEFORE WE LEFT OUR PARK THIS MORNING

With a prescription to drop off at the Wallyworld Pharmacy, it was a Goderich run for Pheebs and I earlier today.  We stopped for gas, grabbed a coffee to go at McD's, and headed on down to the harbor.  There were three large ships there and another one standing a mile or two offshore probably waiting to get into the harbor.  Only saw one person out walking on the boardwalk.

 PHEEBS ALWAYS GETS A TREAT AT THE SOLO GAS BAR AND HERE SHE IS LEANING OUT THE BACK WINDOW PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE LADY  GAS ATTENDANT TO BRING HER ONE

 THE ALGOMA COMPASS TAKING ON A LOAD OF ROCK SALT

 THE ZELADA DESGAGNES TAKING ON A LOAD OF GRAIN

 DECK HANDS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE GRAIN LOADING PROCEDURE

ANOTHER ALGOMA SHIP LOADING SALT AS WELL

 AND A 300mm TELEPHOTO SHOT OF ANOTHER SHIP A COUPLE MILES OFFSHORE AWAITING ITS TURN

THIS LADY WAS THE ONLY BOARDWALKER WE SAW THIS MORNING

Later, with a stop at Walmart followed by a second stop at the Canadian Tire Store, we were soon on our way home.  Roads were wet but free of snow.  

 HEADING HOME

 AND IT'S NOT ONLY TRAINS THAT CAN RUN ON TRACKS

 AND BY GOLLY WE EVEN SPOTTED 'OLD LONESOME' ON THE WAY HOME

The day remained cloudy, cold, and damp.  In a last-ditch stand to keep the squirrels off the bird station, I put an old lamp post globe on the top of the feeder along with a couple other containers.  So far, so good and I did not see any skydiving squirrels today.  Fingers crossed.

 I'M  HOPING THAT SMOOTH ROUND GLOBE WILL ACT AS A DETERRENT TO THE SKY-DIVING SQUIRREL LANDING ON THE BIRD STATION

 MALE CARDINAL

 I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE A HAIRY WOODPECKER BECAUSE IT LOOKED BIGGER THAN A DOWNIE WOODPECKER

 I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LITTLE CHAP WAS

 BLUE JAY

 BLACK CAP CHICKADEE

 RED BELLIED WOODPECKER

I'm glad we decided not to sell our 2007 Jeep Liberty a couple months ago.  That aging little Jeep seems to fit Pheebs and I like a glove.  Its rusty parts are advancing with age, it has a slow oil leak, a cracked windshield, a broken hatch latch, and overall, it's a little tired around the edges.  But then again, so are Pheebs and I. It seems the three of us were meant to stay together through our Senior years.  Like Pheebs and I, Libby doesn't mind the dusty gravel roads with their potholes, washboards, and mud.  She has a dynamite heater and a great A/C unit as well as a darn good sound system.  All three of us have some dents, bangs, scratches, and scrapes on us but that's okay because all three of us have traveled a lot of miles together since first finding Libby the Jeep back in April of 2015.  << Click the link to see the emotional rollercoaster we rode on the day we met Libby:)) 

THE FELLOW IN THE CAR WITH THE 'V' SIGN WAS OUR SALESMAN THAT DAY

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Bubba decided it was time to purchase a new saw to help clear his heavily timbered property. A salesman showed him the latest model chain saw and assured him that he could easily cut three or four cords of wood per day with it. But the first day, Bubba barely cut one cord of wood. The second morning he arose an hour earlier and managed to cut a little over one cord. The third day he got up even earlier but only managed to achieve a total of 1 ½ cords of wood.  Bubba returned the saw to the store the next day and explained the situation.  "Well", said the salesman, "let’s see what’s the matter." He then pulled the cable and the chain saw sprang into action.  Leaping back, Bubba shouted, "What the heck is that noise?"

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An American tourist was visiting a small village in Newfoundland. He approached a local person and asked, "What's the quickest way to Marystown?"  The local, scratched his head, "Are ya walkin' er drivin'?" he asked the stranger.  "I'm driving," said the stranger.  "Well, that's the quickest way then."

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