LIBBY WAS NEEDING A SET OF SEAT COVERS SO I TOOK A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE TO GET THEM

BAYFIELD’S PIONEER PARK STEPS LEADING DOWN TO THE BEACH ON AN APRIL’S COLD SATURDAY NIGHT

After posting Saturday night’s post Pheebs & I hopped ourselves into the Jeep & took us for a drive to Bayfield’s cliff top Pioneer Park overlooking Lake Huron.  A frigid cold wind blowing in across the lake’s icy water didn’t keep us there too long.  With warmer weather on the way this will soon be a favorite spot each night for many people enjoying Bayfield’s summer’s sunsets.

It is imperative to have seat covers put on both Wrangler & Liberty Jeep seats if the seats are not leather.   At least on our 06 Wrangler & 07 Liberty that applies because they are essentially the same seat material & Jeep (Chrysler) really missed the boat when they chose their seat material years ago.  Material is lackluster & even a fly walking across the seat will leave messy footprints.  So, Pheebs & I were on a mission this morning to find us a set of seat covers for the Libbygator's front seats. 

EVEN ON OUR LOCAL BACK ROADS ONE MUST BE VIGILANTE OF ONE’S SPEED:))
Browsing through Canadian Tire's on-line catalogue a few days ago I found a set of seat covers that looked acceptable for our Liberty but also noticed the Goderich store didn't have that particular kind of seat cover in stock.  But the Canadian Tire store in Stratford Ontario had then in their store.  It was a nice sunny Sunday morning & with Pheebs & I itching for an excuse to slip out for a cruise we were soon into the Jeep & on our way to Stratford.  On our way via the back country roads that is.  Carrot Muffin & a Tim Horton's coffee to go in Clinton & we were on our way.  Less than a slow hour later we were bearing down on the city of Stratford.  But we didn't head straight away to the Canadian Tire store.  We had us a stop in Stratford's Avondale Cemetery first.

ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR THE CALL OF KILLDEER EACH SPRING
Both Uncle Harry & my Dad are buried there & not too far apart from each other.  Had been a couple years since I'd stopped by so this morning was a good time to drop in & let my thoughts & memories wander.  As it later turned out it was not my only cemetery stop for the day.

Stratford is a bigger & much busier city now than when I lived there from 1975 to 1995.  My home town of Tavistock Ontario is only 10 miles from Stratford so I have many memories of Stratford from my early years as well.  Upon leaving Avondale Cemetery at Stratford's west end heading for Canadian Tire at the city's east end I kind of followed a meandering route through the city touching base here & there with familiar spots along the way.  Too many memories for me to take everything in because every corner I turned & every street I drove down brought back my many years spent in & around that city.  I had to finally & intentionally shake that off & get myself to the Canadian Tire store.  Old memories can sometimes leave one feeling slightly depressed & in a state of sadness at the passing of time.

Didn't take me long to locate the seat covers I had seen on line & I was back out of that busy Canadian Tire store right quick.  Had my hat pulled down pretty low over my eyes while in the store.  Didn't want to run into any old ghosts.  Minutes later Pheebs & I quickly high tailed it out of town & were once again freely ambling along through the quiet countryside.  Next destination was my old home town of Tavistock & once again old memories awaited me every step of the way.  It is these types of old memories that really bring home the realities of aging.  Stopped at the cemetery where my Grandmother, Grandfather, Step Father, Mother, & one Uncle are buried.  Had been a couple years since I had stopped there.  Everything looked the same but I didn’t linger.  Church was about to let out & I didn’t want to get caught in a stampede of church people.  Took Pheebs for a walk in the town's Park where my memories go back to some of my earliest childhood days.  All & all the old home town looked the same but indeed there have been many, many, prominent changes.  Oh to be able to snap my fingers & see the old town as it once was with all the same old familiar & friendly people walking the sidewalks once more.  You see, I am one of the fortunate ones to have spent my boyhood days growing up in the 50’s.  Fortunate indeed.  Again, with feelings of sadness I had to get myself out of town & move on.

AS A YOUNG BOY I PLAYED IN THE LUMBER PILES STORED IN THESE SHEDS BACK IN THE EARLY 1950’S
From Tavistock we wandered a series of old nostalgic country roads  through the Wildwood Nature area on our way over to the small town of St. Marys.  Many memories for me in this town as well so just kind of rolled on through slowly making our way back to Bayfield.  Cruised on by the old Weenie Roast Ranch where Kelly & spent about 7 years renting an old country farm house years ago.  Many great memories but again sadness to see the house & property in such neglect & dismal disrepair.  Oh Dear……. Well enough was enough as I pointed Libby's nose for home & cracked on some speed.  It was time to shake off the past & again focus my mind on the present & upcoming future.  We were home shortly after 2 p.m. & our Sunday morning jaunt had lasted five & a half hours.

KELLY & I ONCE HAD THIS OLD 2 STOREY BRICK HOUSE & PROPERTY LOOKING PRETTY SPIFFY & THE 2 SMALLER EVERGREENS YOU SEE RIGHT BESIDE THE HOUSE WE DUG UP FROM THE BUSH & PLANTED THERE…THEY WERE ONLY A COUPLE FEET TALL THEN BACK IN LATE 90’S

THE FELLOW WHO OWNS THE HOUSE LIVES THERE NOW & EVERYTHING IS QUITE A MESS

WE HAD FLOWER GARDENS & I USED TO MOW ALL THE GRASS YOU SEE IN THIS PHOTO

THERE WAS A NICE BARN JUST BEHIND THE HOUSE & THIS IS ALL THAT REMAINS OF IT NOW…I USED TO STORE MY MOTORCYCLE IN THERE EVERY YEAR

WHEN KELLY LOOKED AT THIS PHOTO TONIGHT SHE REMARKED HOW SPOOKY THE HOUSE LOOKED YET WE NEVER EVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY WHEN WE LIVED THERE…IT WAS OUR 7 PEACEFUL YEARS OF RURAL LIVING HERE THAT TURNED OUR HEADS AWAY FROM ANY KIND OF CITY LIFE AGAIN
Didn't take long for Kelly to figure out & install the seat covers after I first attempted to put the passenger side cover on upside down.  I'm quite a genius when it comes to attempting stuff you know.  All & all it was a good day.  Still cold but at least we had lots of sunshine & it was warm in the Jeep.  Will probably be another couple of years before I have myself another ‘touching base’ old memories day.  Although a bit saddening it's still good to stir up some of those old thoughts & feelings now & again & remember a time when things were once so very different from the way things are today.

THESE SEAT COVERS SEEM VERY DURABLE & I LIKE HOW THE LIGHTER PART IS A THICKER TOUGHER MATERIAL

PICKED US UP A NEW SET OF FLOOR MATS A COUPLE DAYS AGO AS WELL & WE REALLY LIKE THE KHAKI COLOR INTERIOR

LIBBY IN TWILIGHT’S GLOW AT DEER PARK LODGE SATURDAY NIGHT
GROANER'S CORNER:(( I was talking to my doctor about a weight loss-patch I had seen advertised. Supposedly, you stick it on and pounds melt away.  "Does it work?" I asked.  "Sure" he said, "if you put it over your mouth."

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Whenever my aunt went to the doctor, she would complain to me about the long delay she always endured.  One day, when my aunt's name was finally called, she was asked to step on the scale. "I need to get your weight today," said the nurse.  Without a moment's hesitation, my aunt replied, "One hour and 45 minutes!"