WITH A COFFEE AND MUFFIN TO GO FROM TIM HORTONS IN BLYTH ONTARIO WE HEADED FOR AMISH COUNTRY

It was a daybreak start this morning with Kelly having to be up early and on the road for London by 6:15.  Of course Pheebs and I were up early as well so we too were out the door and on the road as well, only heading the other way.  After finishing the dishes and getting a load of laundry in it was shortly after 7 when I loaded up the little Spooger Buns and headed for Blyth Ontario.  In Wednesday’s post I had mentioned about a Tim Horton franchise coming to Bayfield and surmising it might be similar to the newly opened Blyth Time Hortons I was curious to see what the Horton coffee shop/gas bar/ and convenience complex might look like.  Besides, it gave us something to do and somewhere to go this morning.

TIM HORTON COFFEE SHOP, CONVENIENCE STORE, AND GAS BAR IN BLYTH ONTARIO

AND YES I DID PICK US UP A COFFEE AND MUFFIN TO GO WHILE HERE

With coffee and muffin in hand under a heavy cloud cover threatening rain at any time we headed northwest out of Blyth over towards Amish-Mennonite country.  The ominous looking clouds presented some nice lighting opportunities for photography which was a welcome change from the usual contrasty bright sunny days we usually find ourselves in.

THIS MORNING’S CLOUD COVER GAVE THE LANDSCAPE A WHOLE DIFFERENT FEEL

NOW THAT IS ONE VERY ODD LOOKING HORSE

Aside from a couple horse drawn buggies we didn’t see too many folks out and about and the few we did see I didn’t feel comfortable taking their photos so concentrated my efforts on buildings and livestock.  Noticed some new buildings and fencing on some of the farms giving me the impression these people are doing well for themselves.  Always nice to see the great effort they make in keeping their farms looking so neat and proper.  On a couple farms I saw children out and about making me think they may be out of school for the summer already.  We did pass a couple Mennonite schools and they looked pretty quiet with no grass trampled down in the playgrounds.

THESE MENNONITE-AMISH FOLKS HAVE BUILT THEMSELVES A BRAND SPANKING NEW HOUSE AND BARN

ANOTHER FARM JUST UP THE ROAD HAS A NEW BARN AS WELL

THESE FOLKS HAVE SOME NEW FENCING AND IF YOU LOOK HARD YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE A COW AND IF YOU LOOK EVEN HARDER YOU MIGHT SEE THE HORSE TOO

THIS HOUSE AND BARN NEAR LAKE WAWANOSH ARE ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD

QUITE A SHINE ON THIS FELLOW

A SAWMILL OPERATION

And what would a drive through Amish country be without swinging by Lake Wawanosh in the heart of horse and buggy country.  Always a nice stop here as Pheebs and I tumbled out of the Jeep for a stretch and walk by the water’s edge.  Only sound to be heard was a whisper of wind in the trees and a couple Blue Jays in the nearby forest.  Looking off to the west I could see skies becoming darker and knew we would soon be under a wet blanket of water falling out of those graying clouds.  Loaded up Pheebs and we turned for home about 40 minutes away.  Of course it’s never straight home we go.  There’s always a few stops along the way for picture taking of course.

ALWAYS ENJOY STOPPING AT LAKE WAWANOSH FOR A LEG STRETCH

DARKENING CLOUDS AT LAKE WAWANOSH AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER IT WAS RAINING

Had stopped to photograph some white Geese in a cornfield when the rains came down and that was about it for our day.  Up with the windows and off we went.  It was sometime before noon when we rolled into the driveway.  Kelly wasn’t back from London yet.

  

THERE WAS A LITTLE SNUZZLING GOING ON THERE……OK BEAULA YOU LOOK ONE WAY AND I’LL LOOK THE OTHER

STILL SOME HANKY SPANKY GOING ON OVER THERE AT THE BACK OF THE PACK

Have to say I am really enjoying both my ‘new to me’ Nikon D7200 and Sony camera.  The Sony has replaced the Canon Power-shot camera that I have been carrying in a case on my belt for the past half dozen years or so.   Today’s Tim Horton interior pics were taken with the Sony.  Really liking the color and correct exposures I am getting with the D7200.  I currently have my 70-300 lens on that camera.  This camera makes it much easier to track birds in flight or animals on the move.  I still have a lot to learn about the D7200 but it’s an enjoyable learning curve for me.  Well the stuff I can remember and successfully apply that is.

A FEW OTHER PHOTOS TAKEN ALONG THE WAY THIS MORNING

And I liked this post written by Kathy over at It's About Time.  In it she talks for the first time about her thoughts on RV Full-timing.  An informative read for folks contemplating living full time on the road in an RV.

Kelly was home before 2 and said everything went fine at the hospital.  Had to have some fluids injected then sit around for an hour before being put into the cat-scan machine.  Said it was 3 hours from the time she arrived at the hospital until the time she left.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A brunette with two red ears went to her doctor. The doctor asked her what had happened to her ears and she answered, "I was ironing a shirt and the phone rang - but instead of picking up the phone I accidentally picked up the iron and stuck it to my ear."  "Oh Dear!" the doctor exclaimed in disbelief. "But, what happened to your other ear?"
"The jerk called back!"

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- “What do mice wear on their feet? Squeakers!”

- If your friend says “Let's have a sausage party”, you better prepare for the wurst.

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A woman visited a modern-art gallery. One painting was bright blue with vivid orange swirls and the one hanging next to it was black with lime-green splotches.  The artist stood nearby, so as politely as she could, the woman said to him, "I'm sorry, but I just don't understand you paintings."  "I paint what I feel inside me," the artist replied.  "I see," the woman replied innocently. "Have you tried Alka-Seltzer?"