JUST ABOUT WHEN I WAS READY TO THROW MYSELF INTO THE DUMPSTER

A YOUNG GULL SWOOPS LOW OVER THE WATER LOOKING FOR A BITE TO EAT

It was with great effort I pushed myself out the door under yet another dark cold November day’s solid cloud cover stretching from horizon to horizon.  Luckily Pheebs isn’t affected by weather and knowing how much she loves her morning Jeep rides I at least had a purpose and off we went.  Wondered to myself, is it even worth hauling a camera along.  Of course it turns out it was,

LAKE HURON WATERS WERE CALM TODAY WITH ONLY A SLIGHT SWISH TO THE INCOMING WAVE RIPPLES

My uninspired mind could not decide where to go so by default we gravitated towards Goderich thinking maybe there might be something down around the south harbor worth a photo or two.  Air was cold but at least morning winds were light as I stood by the water's edge listening to Lake Huron's gentle waves playing through pebbles on the beach.

A GULL DROPS INTO THE WATER AND PICKS UP A SNACK

Slipped over to the north side of the harbor and just as I was about to pull the plug on the day and throw myself into the nearest dumpster I saw a patch of dull sparkles on the water.   A diffused ray of sunlight had made it's way through the thick cloud cover and alighted on the harbor's calm waters.  My spirits were immediately lifted and I pulled over close to the piers edge with a refreshed sense of enthusiasm and looked for a few photo opportunities. 

SPARKLES ON THE WATER

ALTHOUGH NOT CLEAR BLUE SUNNY SKIES TYPE SUNSHINE THIS LARGE DIFFUSED ORB OF LIGHT WAS ENOUGH TO BRIGHTEN MY SPIRITS

A COUPLE COAST GUARD FELLAS HEAD OUT FOR WHAT I ASSUME IS A ROUTINE TRAINING EXERCISE

THOSE ARE A COUPLE MIGHTY POWERFUL OUTBOARDS THEY HAVE THERE

I THINK THE LADS WERE DRESSED IN WARM SURVIVAL GEAR

LOOKS LIKE A SENIOR’S GROUP OF PHOTO ENTHUSIASTS PROBABLY OFF THAT SAUGEEN MBILITY BUS BELOW

SPOTTED A SMALL TUG MANEUVERING A LARGE BARGE IN THE HARBOR

NEPTUNE III SWINGS THE BARGE TO STARBOARD

POWERFUL PROPELLERS CHURN UP THE HARBOR WATERS

‘HEADING OUT TO SEA’…….WELL AT LEAST IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN ‘HEADING OUT TO LAKE’

DWARFED BY HUGE SILOS A COUPLE FISHERMEN TRY THEIR LUCK IN GODERICH’S HARBOR

Bolstered by a slightly brighter sky Pheebs and I left the harbor area and headed northeast out of Goderich to one of our favorite spots east of Ben Miller where I knew chances were good for a few more photos.  With winds picking up and temperatures sliding we didn’t linger long and were soon back in the Jeep and headed for home.

ON OUR WAY TO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS

CANADA GEESE ON THE POND

Just as we pulled into the driveway we were engulfed in a full blown sun splash.  Wow what a nice feeling that was and sensing my batteries had been instantly charged I soon had the shop vac out and cleaned the Jeep but not before I had an episode with the vacuum cleaner.  Suction was really poor and despite emptying the canister and cleaning the area around the motor I could not figure out what was wrong with the vacuum.  Just as I was about to throw my hat on the ground and jump on it Kelly walked over, removed the hose, held it up and said the hose is plugged.  And with that she walked away and left me twisting in the wind.  I'm tellin ya fellas, we can't get along without em can we:)) 

IN THE FAR DISTANCE I HEARD THE RUMBLINGS AND ROARINGS OF WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE A RATHER LARGE DINOSAUR APPROACHING

WAIT A MINUTE, I SEE A LARGE GREEN SAUCER SHAPE………HOLY SMOKES IT’S GOTTA BE SOME KINDA FLYING SAUCER!!

AWWW SHUCKS IT WAS JUST A BIG OLD JOHN DEERE COMBINE HARVESTING CORN

THERE’S A FARMER IN THAT BLACK BOXY LOOKING PART DRIVING THE DARN THING TOO

YEP THERE HE IS BUT NO COWBOY HATS ON THESE FELLERS UP HERE IN ONTARIO

I’M THINKING HE’S CARRYING THAT FIRE EXTINQUISHER ALONG FOR SAFETY IN CASE HE STOPS AND WANTS TO HAVE HIMSELF A CORN ROAST

YES IT’S AUTUMN’S HARVEST TIME ALRIGHT

With a few more sun splashes egging me on I grabbed a bucket of water and cleaned two more house windows.  Carried in a few more things from the Motorhome and with the leaf blower blew cleaned out the carport, driveway and front porch.  But that was the end of my outside activities as clouds thickened, winds increased, and by late afternoon a fast moving rain storm rolled over us and that was the end of the day.

A year ago today Aunt Jean took us out for supper at Applebee's in Sarasota Florida.  Two years ago today we were at our house in Congress Arizona.  Three years ago we were there as well and four years ago today at our house we received a surprise parcel in the mail.  A Big Surprise In The Mail Today From Oregon (and we still have that treasured Hoppy picture too) Five years ago this day we were again at our house and six years ago today we were still in Bayfield waiting to head out for the southwest in a few weeks.  Seven years ago today we were at Bryce Canyon in Utah.  Eight years ago we were at Rusty's RV Park near Rodeo, New Mexico.  Nine years ago today we rolled into our ranch sitting job near McNeal Arizona.  Ten years ago on this day we were making our way westward through the Rocky Mountains west of Denver Colorado.  And eleven years ago today we were heading west through Texas I think and the farthest we made it into the west that first year was Quartzsite,Arizona and nearby Blyth California.  Awwww yes the memories………….

DID YOU NOTICE THE GREAT BLUE HERON??

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Things you don't want to hear during surgery:

1. Better save that. We'll need it for the autopsy.
2. "Accept this sacrifice, O Great Lord of Darkness."
3. Bo! Bo! Come back with that. Bad dog!
4. Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?
5. Hand me that... uh... that uh... that thingy there.
6. Oh no! Where's my Rolex.
7. Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived from 500 ml of this stuff before?
8. There go the lights again?
9. "Ya know, there's big money in kidneys? and this guy's got two of 'em."
10. Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!
11. Could you stop that thing from beating; it's throwing off my concentration.
12. What's this doing here?
13. I hate it when they're missing stuff in here.
14. That's cool. Now can you make his leg twitch by pressing that one?!
15. Well folks, this will be an experiment for all of us.
16. Sterile schmerile. The floor's clean, right?
17. OK, now take a picture from this angle. This is truly a freak of nature.
18. This patient has already had some kids, am I correct?
19. Nurse, did this patient sign an organ donation card?
20. Don't worry. I think it is sharp enough.
21. What do you mean "You want a divorce?!?"
22. FIRE! FIRE! Everyone get out!
23. Oh no! Page 47 of the manual is missing!

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Muffin!
Muffin who?
Muffin the matter with me, how about you?

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