BAYFIELD’S CHRISTMAS PARADE……AND WE WERE THERE:))

Kelly and I were up around our usual 5:30 time and about an hour later heard a little voice down the hall.  Nope it wasn’t Pheebs, it was Ella.  She had stayed the night with us while Rebecca and Ricardo stayed the night at Bayfield’s Ashwood Inn.  Soon as Kirsten, the Ashwood’s owner heard it was Kelly’s daughter coming to stay she waived the charge so Rebecca and Ricardo got to stay for free.  And it was the same Kirsten who years ago arranged a surprise birthday party for Kelly and paid for some of Kelly’s children to fly in for the event.  A pretty special person I’d say and in my Sunday post I’ll have a few photos of Kirsten riding her horse in the Bayfield Santa Clause parade.  Kelly spent 10 years looking after things at Deer Park Lodge across the road from the Ashwood.  Deer Park Lodge is also owned by Kirsten.

MORNING SNUGGLES

A CHEERIOS BREAKFAST IN GRAMMA’S CHAIR

ELLA SUITS UP FOR A MORNING WALK WITH KELLY AND PHEEBS

FIRST, SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE HORNET’S NEST FEELS LKE

THEN OFF THEY GO
Could hear rain on the roof through the night but Bayfield caught a lucky break for their parade this morning when rains quit some time shortly before dawn.  Parade began at 11 but around 8:30 Ella and I in the Jeep followed ‘Gramma Kelly’ in her white Pontiac Sunfire into Bayfield where she parked the Sunfire on main street in front of the library.  The parade would be passing along main street right in front of the car and in case of drizzly rain the gang could all sit in the car and watch the parade go by.   On the way home we drove Ella down around the north harbor so she could look at all the sailboats up on blocks for the winter.  She loved the boats.

PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO GATHER ALONG BAYFIELD’S MAIN STREET

THE CLINTON PIPES AND DRUMS BAND WARMS UP BEFORE THE PARADE

WATCHING AND WAITING FOR THE PARADE TO BEGIN

THE CROWD ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE IS THICKENING UP

It was about 10:30 when Kelly, Ella, and I piled into the Jeep and headed back into Bayfield.  With people gathering on main street we were lucky to find a parking spot.  Excitement was building for the parade.  We walked about a block to where Kelly had left her car and sure enough it was a good thing we had come earlier and snagged the spot.  Met Rebecca and Ricardo and it wasn't long and the parade kicked off right on time at 11 o'clock.  No point in me talking about the parade and will let the following parade pics tell the tale.  However, because I took so many photos today I am going to have to split them up so the following photos are from the first half of the parade.

KELLY FIXES ELLA’S HAIR BEFORE PUTTING HER HAT ON

AND WE EVEN BROUGHT LAWN CHAIRS

HOW’S ABOUT A SIP OF HOT CIDER

AND HERE COMES THE OFFICIAL START OF THE PARADE AND RIGHT ON TIME TOO

YOU WILL SEE A NUMBER OF PHOTOS WITH ELLA GATHERING HERSELF A BUNCH OF  TREATS

BAYFIELD’S MAYOR


‘WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE GET THIS SILLY THING OFF MY HEAD


HEY THAT LOOKS LIKE BOB OUR TIRE GUY FROM HURON TIRECRAFT IN CLINTON

‘I LOVE YOU TOO SANTA’

ELLA RUNS OUT FOR SOME HUGS
 
‘HEY HOW ABOUT SOME OF THOSE HUGS FOR ME TOO’

Bayfield's Christmas parade lasted exactly 40 minutes and with time to spare we were able to be at the Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro for a 12 o'clock reservation Kelly had made 2 weeks earlier.  A nice cozy environment and we luckily had a table in a far corner and it wasn't too noisy. 


‘OMG HOW WILL I EAT ALL THAT’

MY MEAT LOAF SANDWICH

KELLY’S WAY TO BIG BURGER

KELLY TRIES TO SQUISH IT DOWN

‘AL IS GRAMMA REALLY GOING TO EAT THAT WHOLE THING’

‘OMG SHE IS’

‘WHOAAAAAAA’
We were all back at our place by 1:30 and with weather radar showing a heavy rain front heading our way Ricardo figured they had better head back to Kitchener while the weather was still half decent.  And that's what they did.

SOMEBODY’S NOT TOO ANXIOUS TO GO HOME JUST YET

‘BYE GRAMMA AND AL

BYE BYE ELLA SEE YOU AGAIN
I think within half and hour of their leaving both Kelly and I were asleep.  Me in my recliner and Kelly in her bed.  Yes, these Senior years are certainly having an aging affect on both of us:((

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two Irishmen, Patrick & Michael, were adrift in a lifeboat following a dramatic escape from a burning freighter. While rummaging through the boat's provisions, Patrick stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly hoping that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the amazement of Patrick, a genie came forth. This particular genie, however, stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three. Without giving much thought to the matter, Patrick blurted out, "Make the entire ocean into Guinness!" The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals. Simultaneously, the genie vanished.  Only the gentle lapping of Guinness on the hull broke the stillness as the two men considered their circumstances. Michael looked disgustedly at Patrick whose wish had been granted. After a long, tension-filled moment, he spoke:  "Nice going Patrick! Now we're going to have to pee in the boat."
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A local priest and a pastor were fishing on the side of the road. They thoughtfully made a sign saying, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!" and showed it to each passing car. One driver who drove by didn't appreciate the sign and shouted at them, "Leave us alone, you religious nuts!"  All of a sudden they heard a big splash, looked at each other, and the priest said to the pastor, "You think maybe we should have just said 'Bridge Out' instead?"
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