UP TO AND DOWN TO AND OVER TO AND A PERCEIVED CRAZY GUY MIGHT LIVE HERE!!

 WITH HER HOLDS LADEN WITH ROCK SALT THE  ALGOMA INNOVATOR UNDER A CLOUDY SKY  LEAVES THE PORT OF GODERICH LATE THIS MORNING

When reading a map, north is always at the top and south is at the bottom.  East is on the right-hand side of the map and West is on the left.  So, whatever is above your present location is 'up' and anything south of your location is 'down'.  Therefore, when Pheebs and I went to Goderich this morning from our Bayfield location we went 'up to' Goderich.  A few weeks ago we went 'down to' Grand Bend.  If we go West we go 'over to' the lake and East 'over to' the town of Clinton or any other locations East of us.  Bayfield is a mile or so southwest of us but we never say we are going 'up' or 'down' or 'over' to Bayfield.  We just simply 'go to' Bayfield.  Ya, I know, it confuses me too so I guess that's why I mentioned it.  

HARDY FOLKS OUT BRAVING THE ICY COLD WINDS COMING IN ACROSS LAKE HURON

 'HURRY UP MOM AND DAD IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE

 FISHING BOATS SAFELY SNUGGLED INTO GODERICH'S INNER HARBOR FOR THE WINTER

 SPOTTED THE ALGOMA INTREPID DOCKED AT THE GODERICH SALT MINE 

I sometimes wonder if in our Bayfield Pines Park I am maybe thought of as kind of a crazy guy.  And, I can tell you that there is some merit in that.  We often have people walking by with their dogs, etc.  If at any time someone is going by and it is the same time I have just spotted a squirrel on our birdfeeder they might see me come flying out our sunroom door with arms flailing and making loud 'phisssing' noises as well as possibly using some slightly loud blue letter words.  They don't see the squirrel of course but they see the crazy guy waving his arms and maybe even throwing something like a shoe.  Yes, I've done that.  Sometimes walking by they might hear someone talking in our front yard and yes that is me again.  It may look like I am the only one there, but I'm not.  If they were to look closer they would see I am talking to Pheebs who is somewhere near me.  And yes, I always talk to Pheebs.  Some days they may be audibly alerted to a few rather loud and unsavory #!!*% words.  Those are the times I have hit my finger with a hammer or banged my head on something.  Maybe dropped a rock on my foot or slammed an engine hood on my hand.  Maybe the lawn mower won't start, maybe I can't find the screwdriver I had in my hand six seconds ago, or forgotten what I was doing the instant I turn my back on whatever it was I was doing.  Maybe the zipper is stuck on my winter coat and I can't undo it.  Ya, that one will fry me up real good every time.  Maybe I'm filling a bird feeder and the feeder tips over or when I'm trying to put a stepladder up to a tree and a branch keeps getting in my way forcing me to move the ladder which then proceeds to fold itself up with my fingers painfully pinched in the folding up mechanism!!  Or, I wonder who was walking by our house the day I left a bin door open on our motor home then proceeded to drive ahead, catch the bin door on a pine tree and rip it right off.  Or the day I couldn't get the engine hood of our Jeep Wrangler open and threw my baseball cap on the ground and jumped on it.  Yes indeed, I wonder who was walking by that day.  So, when you add these few of many things up I too would have to agree....I think maybe there might be a crazy guy living in the house!!

PHEEBS AND I HAD TO CAREFULLY MANEUVER OUR WAY THROUGH A HERD OF GEESE ON THE ROAD

Well, that's about enough out of me for another day I'd say.  And remember, if you happen to be walking past our house and think it's a Gorilla you hear, I can well assure you it is just silly me being my usual pain in the rear:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row please." she answered. "You really don't want to do that", the usher said. "The pastor is really boring." "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired."No." he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No." she said. "Good," he answered.

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How was your blind date?" a college student asked her roommate.  "Terrible!" the roommate answered. "He showed up in his 1932 Rolls Royce."  "Wow! That's a very expensive car. What's so bad about that?"
"He was the original owner."

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AND IT'S BEEN RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES ALL THE TIME

Wind and rain this morning so it was just a quick spin into Bayfield and back for us guys.  A few Christmas photos along Bayfield's Main street and that was it.  Only a couple of squirrels in the yard today and no squirrels on the bird station feeder when we got up but, early this afternoon I heard a thump, looked up, and there was a squirrel on the feeder.  Unfortunately, I did not see where it parachuted in from.  Despite watching the feeder closely there were no more attempts for the rest of the day.

The rain finally quit by late morning and our temperatures began dropping.  I bundled up for an afternoon walk around the pond but the icy wind kept us from going any farther.

 A FEW DIVING DUCK ON THE COLD CHOPPY WATERS OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

 AND THIS SUMS UP WHAT OUR MORNING LOOKED LIKE

We have a large LG smart TV but like a computer, we have never really utilized all its smartness.  Kelly decided this afternoon to see what else it had to offer besides just the hum-drum TV channels and I was quite pleased with what she found on the YouTube channel.  I can now watch all the seasons of 'Road To Avonlea' as well as Anne of Green Gables.  Not only that but there is a ton of great music as well as a wealth of quality productions dealing with the Cosmos.  Plus a million tons of other stuff.  I've been familiar with YouTube on my computer for a long time but didn't realize we could tap into all that groovy stuff on our large-screen TV with its big theatre sound.  And it's been right under our noses all the time.  I'm hoping this newfound source of entertainment will play a part in helping me to make it through yet another long and miserably cold dark and dull winter.

 BLUE JAY

 MALE CARDINAL

 FEMALE CARDINAL

 DARK EYED JUNCO

 FEMALE CARDINAL

 BY GOLLY THERE'S KELLY OUTSIDE WORKING ON SOME CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Ellen's Groove:)) I may have posted this before but for anyone interested, here is Ellen's Story as told and narrated by Ellen's dad, Hovak Alaverdyan.  You will see Hovak playing an acoustic guitar beside Ellen's crib when she was still barely able to stand up.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A husband was having great difficulty getting along with his wife – nothing but arguing and friction – so he decided to consult a marriage counselor. After they had talked for a while, the counselor said, “I suggest that you run five miles each day for a week. Then please call me back.”  A week later the counselor received a call from the husband, “Well,” asked the counselor, “how are things going with you and your wife?  “How should I know?” said the husband. “I’m thirty-five miles away.”

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Teacher: I hope I didn't just see you looking at Harry's paper, Raymond!  Raymond: I hope so too, teacher!

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A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a genie's lamp. She picked it up and rubbed it. Lo-and-behold a genie appeared. The amazed woman asked if she got three wishes.  The Genie said, "Nope. Due to inflation, constant downsizing, low wages in third-world countries, and fierce global competition, I can only grant you one wish.  So, what'll it be?"  The woman didn't hesitate.  She said, "I want peace in the Middle East. See this map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other."  The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, "Gadzooks, lady! These countries have been at war for thousands of years. I'm good, but not THAT good! I don't think it can be done. Make another wish."  The woman thought for a minute. She said, "Well, I've been trying to find the right husband. You know, one that's considerate and fun likes to cook and helps with the housecleaning, has a great sense of humor and gets along with my family, doesn't watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That's what I wish for. A good mate."  The Genie let out a long sigh and said, "Let me see that map again."

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TOMORROW WILL BE ANOTHER DAY

Under cool cloudy skies, Pheebs and I dusted up a few country roads this morning keeping an eye out for a few photos.  I didn't see much.  Most farm animals are tucked away in their warm barns now and all the harvesting things are done until next year's late Spring.  The landscape looks a little barren and there were very few vehicles out and about on the country roads.  That part I liked.

 CABLE LAYING OUTSIDE OUR PARK ENTRANCE THIS MORNING

 I THINK THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

Looking out the window first thing this morning there was of course a squirrel atop the bird feeding station.  Home from our Jeep ride, I kept a close eye on that feeder for the rest of the morning waiting to see how that squirrel had got there.  There's a tall pine tree about a mile and a half east of our location and I suspect he might have jumped from there:))  But watch as I did today there was nary a squirrel in the air anywhere so I have ended the day still not knowing how that morning squirrel got onto the bird station.  Tomorrow will be another day.

WE STILL HAVE A WEE BIT OF COLOR IN OUR FRONT FLOWERBED

Pheebs and I did make it out for another afternoon walk over by the Park's pond but there wasn't much out there to grab my imagination or the camera's attention.  These uninspiring early December days are looking very drab and dull outside.

In my Anne Of Green Gables series, I just finished 'Anne's House of Dreams' and have started  'Anne of Ingleside'.  Author Lucy Maude Montgomery wrote the first book 'Anne of Green Gables in 1908. 'Anne of Avonlea' in 1909. 'Anne of the Island' in 1915.  Anne's House of Dreams' in 1917. 'Anne of Windy Poplars' in 1936 and 'Anne of Ingleside' in 1939.  I can't begin to tell you how much I am enjoying these books, and they have coaxed both chuckles and tears out of this grumpy old codger...........   

GROANER'S CORNER:(( An elementary school teacher decides to pole the class on the difficulty of last night's homework assignment:  How many people were able to complete the assignment without parents help?  About 25% of the class raises their hands. How many people we able to complete the assignment with the help of a parent? About 70% of the class raises their hand. The teacher still notices about 5% of the class did not raise their hands.  She then calls out, "How many people had to help a parent complete your assignment?

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A little boy came home eating a big candy bar. Seeing the candy bar, his mother remembered he had already spent all his allowance money. Surprised, she asked him where he got it. "I bought it at the store with the dollar you gave me," he said."But that dollar was for Sunday School," his mother replied. Smiling, the boy said, "I know, Mom, but the Pastor met me at the door and got me in for free!"

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MY SQUIRREL WAR CONTINUES

 AT THE SOUTHWEST END OF OUR PARK'S POND

Shortly after we got up this morning Kelly looked out the window and said "Oh-Oh, there's a squirrel on top of the bird station".  I thought right away that if I write a post tonight the title will be, 'The War Is Over And The Squirrels Have Won'.  For about an hour I had full intentions of dismantling the feeder and being done with the squirrel frustrations forever!!  I had spent part of Wednesday fighting with them again when one jumped from out of the sky somewhere and landed right on top of the feeder.  I shooed him off and while waiting and watching from the sunroom to see where and what altitude he had jumped from, another squirrel went sailing through the air from a different direction to my right and landed on the bottom level of the bird station.  I shooed him off and he came right back, went up a small cherry-type tree which I had already cut branches off last summer, and launched himself through the air, landing on the feeder again.  Out to the car port I went and returned with my Swede Saw in hand.  Off came that entire branch.  Back came the squirrel minutes later, up the small cherry tree he went to a different and higher branch and catapulted himself about 15' to the feeder.  Back to the cherry tree I went and sawed off another branch,  That tree is now beginning to look like some kind of severely pruned Banzai tree.  A couple of hours later I looked out the window and there was a squirrel once again sitting on the bird station vacuuming up every single seed in sight.  And this time I had no idea where he had jumped from.  I may have to get a bulldozer in to bulldoze our whole front yard flat leaving only the bird station feeder with not a blade of grass, shrub, or tree within 100 feet of the feeder.  And why do I keep fighting with the squirrels you ask??  I love to see the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Finches, Woodpeckers, and Juncos, happily hopping around on top of the feeder every day eating to their heart's content.  And especially in this cold wintery weather.  If I take the bird station down because of the squirrels, the birds lose an easily accessible food source and I lose the joy it brings me to see the little guys out there eating and enjoying themselves.  It just makes me feel good to be in a position to help them.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE I CUT A COUPLE BRANCHES OFF THIS AFTERNOON

 AND I HAVE HAD TO ADD A BUCKET ON TOP OF THE FEEDER AGAIN TO TRY AND DETER THE 'HIGH FLYER'

I can't remember the last time Pheebs and I didn't go for a morning Jeep ride but I had no interest in even going out the door earlier today.  Flopped myself into my sunroom recliner and buried my head in my Kindle reader.  It wasn't until about 2:30 this afternoon that a thought ran through my mind.  'I wasn't being very fair to Pheebs.'  Just because I was feeling mopy and didn't feel like going out it didn't mean that Pheebs didn't feel like going out.  So, with that thought in mind, I shook off my winter blues, pulled on my boots, slipped on my winter coat, and away we went for an afternoon walk.  Pheebs was so happy to be outside that she was running around like a little crazy bug.

 IT WAS A WINDY COLD AFTERNOON WALK

 OUR PARK'S POND WATER LEVEL IS THE HIGHEST I HAVE EVER SEEN IT AND I'M THINKING THIS MAY BE THE NEW WATER LEVEL

 I'M FINE WITH THE HIGHER POND LEVEL.....BUSH PILOTS WILL BE ABLE TO LAND THEIR FLOAT PLANES HERE NOW:))

Just think, in three short weeks the days will begin to get longer.  Now, if that isn't something to look forward to at this time of year then I don't know what is:))

 YUP, THERE'S A LOT MORE WATER IN THE POND NOW

GROANER'S CORNER:((     A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of this bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.  John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by constantly saying polite words, playing soft music, and anything he could think of to set a good example. Nothing worked.  Finally, John got fed up and he yelled at the parrot. And, the bird yelled back. John shook the parrot, and the bird got angrier and ruder. Finally, in a moment of desperation, John put the bird in the refrigerator freezer.  For a few minutes, John heard the bird squawk and kick and scream... then suddenly there was quiet. Not a peep for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the bird, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arm and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I am truly sorry, and I will do everything to correct my poor behavior."  John was astonished at the bird's change of attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued,  "May I ask what the chicken did?"

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