COLD DAMP DAY BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE IT'S SPRING NOW:))

I wouldn't exactly call it fog but there was a definite mist in the air for most of the day giving us a cold and damp feeling.  With overnight rains having passed through the area I knew the already soupy country roads would be even more soupier so it was off to Goderich and back with Pheebs and I staying on pavement.  McDonalds coffee, harbor tour, a few things at Walmart and we were home again before 11.  Pretty exciting morning eh.

A COLD AND DAMP START TO OUR DAY AS WE ROLL OUT OF OUR PARK

LAKE ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING AND BREAKING UP

GODERICH HARBOR ICE IS THINNING OUT AS WELL

COULD THIS BE CONSIDERED A TUG CLUSTER OR A CLUSTER OF TUGS

Well, our afternoon wasn't much better.  It was too cold, damp, and muddy to do anything outside and going for a walk certainly wasn't appealing.  Sat in my cozy sunroom corner reading.  One would think by now I would be some kind of historian regarding aircraft, airmen, and events leading up to, during, and after the second world war but alas with my short term memory every time I start a new book I've already forgotten the one I just read.  I've had a fascination with airplanes and their pilots ever since I was a small boy and it is still with me over 70 years later.  Everything was so different in the world then from the way it is now.  I am impressed over and over and over again at the quality of the people from those years.  It's no wonder folks from that era are called the greatest generation.  I read about those people every day.  I read about their morals, their decency, their personal codes of honor, their hopes and dreams, goals and aspirations.  I read about their Moms & Dads, Grandparents, and their own children.  Yes it is certainly a different world today.  Better in some ways and yet when historians look back years from now we in comparison will never have to think about being looked upon as the greatest generation.  I believe that title will remain forever with the generation who earned and deserved it the most.

I SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE SUGAR SHACK CHIMNEY SO I KNOW THEY ARE BOILING UP A BATCH OF MAPLE SYRUP

AND THIS IS HOW WE GET OUR MAIL HERE IN THE PARK

SO DID AL HAVE HIS TOOLS OUT TODAY??  NOPE, WE HAVE A RETIRED PLUMBER IN OUR PARK AND MIKE CAME OVER THIS MORNING AND INSTALLED A NEW KITCHEN FAUCET ASSEMBLY FOR US

Reading Sue's latest post Crossing The Country Kelly and I nodded our heads in agreement with Sue's take on traveling and how it has changed for them.  We feel the same way and well understand that great feeling of returning home after being on the road for awhile in an RV.  We've been home just over a week now and we're sure glad to be here.

Here's a friend and fellow RV Blogger needing a hand moving her 5th wheel from Yarnell Arizona to Bryce Canyon Utah sometime in the next little while.  Gaelyn at Geogypsy.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Fred got home from his Sunday round of golf later than normal and very tired. "Bad day at the course?" his wife asked. "Everything was going fine," he said. "Then Harry had a heart attack and died on the 10th tee."  "Oh, that's awful!"
"You're not kidding. For the whole back nine it was hit the ball, drag Harry, hit the ball, drag Harry."
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Q: Why do bees buzz?
A: Because they can't whistle!
Q: Can bees fly in the rain?
A: Not without their little yellow jackets!  Q: What goes zzub, zzub?
A: A bee flying backwards! 
Q: What are the cleverest bees?
A: Spelling bees! 
Q: What bee is good for your health?
A: Vitamin bee! 
Q: What's a bees favorite novel?
A: The Great Gats-bee! 
Q: What do you get if you cross a bee with a door bell?
A: A hum dinger!  

What do you call a dentist in the army? 
A drill sergeant

Q: What was the first animal in space?  A: The cow that jumped over the moon.

Q: What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?  A: Finding half a worm.

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MORE BIRDS RETURNING AND AN ORANGE SURPRISE IN OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

CANADA GEESE ON OUR PARK'S POND THIS AFTERNOON

Although we don't have an unobstructed clear view of morning's sunrise due to trees we can still see the orange, red, and yellow glow in the clear early eastern sky.  And I can see it right from my recliner.  As the Sun slowly rises it's rays tumble through our big living room window splashing across the floor, through the kitchen, and up the hallway.  Always a heartening way to start the day knowing blue sunny skies are once again upon us. 

I'M ITCHING TO GET AT THE SPRING CLEAN-UP

Pheebs and I wandered out around the Hullett Marsh but with some of the roads leading into the Marsh still closed we didn't venture in and instead slowly worked ourselves around some country roads on the way home.  With temps in the low 40's we were able to have Pheebs window down with a bit of heat on.  She likes it when her windows down but she's not one to stick her whole head out the window into the wind.  Just sits there in the seat looking out like we people do.

PHEEBS LIKE RIDING ALONG WITH HER WINDOW DOWN

NO NOT A GOLF COURSE IT'S A FARMER'S FIELD WITH A CORNER OF SNOW LEFT IN IT

HAD THE JEEP IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE EASING DOWN THIS ICY HILL TOWARDS THE MAITLAND RIVER

SURPRISED TO SEE THIS ROAD GRADER OUT ALREADY GRADING THE ROAD

LOOKS LIKE A DRIVING SHED GOING UP ON THIS FARM

GOING TO BE A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THIS COUNTRY POND THAWS OUT

So nice to see and hear returning birds to the area.  On our recent Jeep rides it has been Red Wing Blackbirds and Killdeer we have been hearing the most along with Canada Geese and Crows.  At home here at the feeders I've seen several Blue Jays, a Cardinal, two Mourning Doves, Black Cap Chickadees, Nuthatches, a pair of Downie Woodpeckers, Robins, and a dozen or so Dark Eyed Juncos.  So nice to see all my birdy Pals coming back.  And a surprise in our front yard frog pond this afternoon.  Despite this winter's record breaking cold I clearly saw a Goldfish at a hole in the ice and I'm pretty sure I saw a second one moving along slowly under the thin ice cover.

I WAS SO SURPRISED TO SEE THIS SPLASH OF ORANGE IN OUR FROG POND

RED WING BLACKBIRD

HOW NICE TO HEAR THIS ROBIN CHIRPING

IT'S OFFICIALLY SPRING NOW SO CANADA GEESE ARE PAIRING UP

SO NICE TO SEE MOURNING DOVES BACK IN OUR FRONT YARD

DARK EYED JUNCO

MALE CARDINAL

With Facebook 'Friend Requests' continuing to come in I have to say again, I do not accept friend requests.  Been hacked twice years ago doing that so no more.  I know most people mean well and I thank you for your genuine requests but please don't be offended when I do not accept them.  I'm not a Facebook person to begin with and basically only use it to drop my post in at the end of each day.  Thanks to you few folks who hit the 'Like' button and occasionally leave a comment.  I do see and appreciate that.  And thank you to last night's commenters for your kind words and continued support.  And of course a very big thank you once again to 'Spring' which officially arrived this afternoon at 5:58 P.M.   And right on time too:))

PHEEBS AND I HEAD OUT FOR AN AFTERNOON WALK

Our morning sunshine gave way to an afternoon cloud cover so Pheebs and I headed out for a walk before the predicted rain showers began.  Hadn't walked the Park's Pine Tree Trail since late last Fall but everything looked pretty much the same.  A few small trees and branches down but that was about it.  Pheebs met her old Pal Dexter on the trail who had his Dad out for a walk as well

TROTTING ALONG THE FOREST TRAIL

WE SPOTTED DEXTER AND HIS DAD GERALD OUT FOR WALK AS WELL

DEXTER AND PHEEBS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Because of an ear infection, Little Johnny, had to go to the pediatrician. The doctor directed his comments and questions to Little Johnny in a professional manner. When he asked Little Johnny, "Is there anything you are allergic to?" Little Johnny nodded and whispered in his ear. Smiling, the pediatrician wrote out a prescription and handed it to Little Johnny's mother. She tucked it into her purse without looking at it. As the pharmacist filled the order, he remarked on the unusual food- drug interaction Little Johnny must have. Little Johnny's mother looked puzzled until he showed her the label on the bottle. As per the doctor's instructions, it read, "Do not take with broccoli."

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- My youngest son asked me how old I was.  I answered, "39 and holding.  "He thought for a moment and then asked, "But how old would you be if you let go?"
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A missionary, in Africa, was out taking a walk in the jungle. Suddenly, he heard a noise from the brush in front of him. It was a lion. He started to back up and heard a noise from behind. Sure enough, it was another lion. He looked to his left and then to his right. You guessed it, lions were on both sides. It looked grim, so the missionary sat down where he was and started to read his Bible. Shortly after he started reading, the lions jumped the missionary and ate him.Moral of the story: Never read between the lions. 
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A FEW WORDS ABOUT MY ANNUAL POST TRAVEL BLOG BLUES

A touch warmer today as we etched up into the mid to high 30's.  Lots of sunshine.  Nice.  A usual morning outing for Pheebs and I as we muddied ourselves around a few country roads.  Even managed us a short forest walk.

FROSTY MORNING FOR BAYFIELD'S POLE WALKERS BUT THEY ARE A HARDY BUNCH

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER

DECIDING WHETHER TO TAKE AN ICY PLUNGE INTO THE BAYFIELD RIVER

IT'S THAT 'MAPLE SYRUP' TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

MORNING SUN IS THAWING OUT COUNTRY ROADS AFTER OVERNIGHT BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES

STILL A FEW PATCHES OF SNOW IN SOME FIELDS

GOOD THING I WASHED THE JEEP A COUPLE DAYS AGO EH......WOULDN'T WANT THIS NEW MUD COVERING UP ALL THE OLD MUD

It seems about a week after returning from our Southwest travels each year I find myself in a post-travel blog slump.  I generally go through a short period of blog dis-interest where I don't much feel like writing.  My mind seems to trot out a mild case of the 'poor me's' and I drag out all my usual reasons for losing interest in things.  This generally lasts a few days until I can convince myself once again that what I think many times is repetitious blog blathering on my part is actually somehow helpful not only to myself but a few blog readers as well.  So, bear with me if you can and I'll work on freeing up the creative side of my mind again and we'll get this roller coaster blog interest of mine back on track again:))

TOOK OURSELVES FOR A WALK IN THE BANNOCKBURN CONSERVATION AREA

SPRING IS HAPPENING

GROANER'S CORNER:((    You might be a redneck if...
- You think that Dom Perignon is a Mafia leader.
- Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.
- You go to your family reunion looking for a date.
- Your Junior/Senior Prom had a Daycare.
- You think the last words to The Star Spangled Banner are, "Gentlemen, start your engines."
- You lit a match in the bathroom and your house exploded right off its wheels.
- You had to remove a toothpick for your wedding pictures.
- The bluebook value of your truck goes up and down, depending on how much gas it has in it.
- You have to go outside to get something out of the 'fridge.
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“I suggested building beds above each other to save space but the idea was debunked.”
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