TO LONDON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND BACK TODAY

 CRUISING A FEW MUDDY COUNTRY ROADS NORTHWEST OF LONDON ONTARIO THIS MORNING

It was barely light and with the threat of freezing rain in the air, it was all three of us in the Subaru rolling out our driveway this morning at 7:18 a.m.  Our destination was London's University Hospital where Kelly had an endoscopy appointment scheduled for 9 o'clock.  Luckily, the wet drizzle in the air didn't turn to freezing rain and if it had, the roads were well-salted.  We were plenty early as we dropped Kelly off at the big main door at about 8:20 a.m.  Pheebs and I soon headed ourselves back out into the countryside north of London where we stopped at a country cemetery for a short walkabout.

I liked the poetic inscription on the back of this farmer's tombstone called 'Close The Gate'.  Unfortunately, some of the words and letters were very hard to read so I hope I got it right.......

For this one farmer the worries are over, Lie down and rest your head.  Your time has been, Now let's put the tractor in the shed.

Years were not easy, Many downright hard.  The animals have all been tended.  Put away your tools and sleep in peace.  The fences have all been mended.

You raised a fine family, worked the fields well, And always followed the Sun.  Hang up your shovel inside the barn. Your work here on Earth is done.

Farming led your journey through life. Often a jagged and stony way.  The Sun is setting the cows will be bedded.  And here now is the end of your day.

Your love of farming has passed on to your kids.  The stories now like fine wine.  Wash off your work boots in the puddle left by the rain one final time.

Take off your gloves and put them down.  No more sweat and worry for you.  Your labour is done, your legacy lives on.  And we will close the gate.    

 MAYBE THIS WAS THAT FARMER'S HOME

 SO GREAT TO SEE THE SNOW DISAPPEARING

Country roads were a soupy mess but we cruised around a few of them anyway northwest of London.  Despite the cloudy day, it was just nice seeing the countryside slowly emerging from under its blanket of winter snow.  For sure we will get more snowy weather between now and mid-April but for today, it was just nice being out in the changing countryside.

 YES, THE COUNTRY ROADS SURE WERE MUDDY ALRIGHT

 I THINK GREEN IS MY FAVORITE COLOR THIS MONTH

MELTING SNOW AND RECENT RAINS POOLING AT A LOW SPOT IN A  FARMER'S FIELD

Slowly working our way back towards London we pulled into a churchyard in Arva and awaited Kelly's phone call.  We weren't there five minutes when my cell phone rang.  It was the hospital calling saying Kelly could be picked up in about 10 minutes.  Arriving at the hospital it was the usual traffic chaos at the entrance and I kept driving around and around watching the front door for Kelly every time I went by.  On the twelfth pass through the congestion I spied a parking spot and while wiggling my way into it I saw Kelly in the passenger side mirror being wheeled along the sidewalk in a wheelchair by a hospital attendant.  They had been out front for most of my circle attempts but Kelly had told the attendant to watch for a brown Jeep Liberty so they never saw Pheebs and I in the white Subaru going by again and again and again.  And I of course didn't see them because they were watching from behind the glass doors.  Anyway, we finally made the connection and got Miss Daisy loaded into the back seat and away we went.  With a stop in the town of Lucan at Tim Hortons for some lunch and coffee to go, and with snowflakes in the air, we were home about 45 minutes later.  Dropping Pheebs and Kelly off I headed for the carwash to get all the mud washed off Subie.  Even remembered to do the floor mat and even more amazing, I remembered to put the floormat back into the car.

 PHEEBS IS LASER-FOCUSED ON THAT TIM HORTONS DOOR

 YAAAAY, HERE COMES MOM WITH THE SNACKS:))))

 OH-OH THOSE ARE SNOWFLAKES IN THE AIR

 AND HERE WE ARE HEADING HOME WITH PHEEBS  STRETCHING BACK  BETWEEN THE SEATS TRYING TO MOOCH SOME EXTRA SNACKS FROM KELLY

I did something this morning that I have not done in years.  I left the house without my main camera in hand. (Nikon Coolpix P900)  I just plumb forgot it.  I don't know how I forgot it but I did.  We were about twenty miles from home when I realized my folly and I'm not the type of guy to turn around and go back for stuff.  Luckily, I always travel with a spare camera which in this case happened to be a Sony RX90 in my coat pocket.  Whewwww, close call.  For me going anywhere without a camera is like somebody else going somewhere without pants on.    

 OUR EARLY FEBRUARY THAW

GROANER'S CORNER:((    My wife and I went into town and visited a shop. When we came out, there was an officer writing out a parking ticket.. We went up to him and I said, "come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?" He ignored us and continued writing the ticket. I called him a "nasty name." He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn-out tires. So my wife called him an "even nastier name".  He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing more tickets.  This went on for about 20 minutes. The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote. He finally finished, sneered at us, and walked away. Just then our bus arrived, and we got on it and went home.  We always look for cars with out of State stickers. We try to have a little fun each day now that we're retired. It’s so important at our age!!

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Someone threw a bottle of mayonnaise at me yesterday...I was like, "What the Hellmann?!?!"

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HUSBAND: When I get mad at you, you never fight back. How do you control your anger?
WIFE: I clean the toilet.
HUSBAND: How does that help?
WIFE: I use your toothbrush.

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