SURE IS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE CHRISTMASY AROUND HERE

Rained through the night but aside from a few morning drizzles we had ourselves a reasonably decent day and with temperatures hanging around 45 degrees I was able to spend an enjoyable hour rooting around outside in the yard.  Even planted a small 20” cedar tree I found washed up on the beach in Goderich this morning.  Still had all it’s wet roots attached so figured waves had dug it out of a bank somewhere near by or maybe all the way across the lake in the State of Michigan.  Oh-Oh I wonder if maybe I should be declaring that tree just to be on the safe side:))

THE GODERICH WENDYS IS SLOWLY TAKING SHAPE AND A SIGN OUT FRONT SAYS OPENING IN THE SPRING

A TUGBOAT GUIDES THIS LARGE LAKE FREIGHTER TOWARDS THE GODERICH HARBOR AND THE SIFTO SALT MINE DOCK

Spotted a Lake Freighter heading into Goderich’s port bow first.  Most freighters back in so I hung around and watched how the medium sized Algoway with the help of the tug boat Cote-Nord turned itself around in the inner harbor before sidling up to the Sifto Salt Mine dock with bows pointing back out towards Lake Huron.

I THINK A FEW THOUSAND GALLONS OF PAINT WOULD DO WONDERS FOR THIS  AGEING FREIGHTER

I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR THIS FELLAS RADIO CHATTERING

Needing a few things at Walmart I parked in the lot and immediately armed myself with a shopping cart.  Minutes later I was in the store bashing my way through early Christmas shoppers.

THE COTE-NORD PUSHES ON THE ALGOWAY’S STERN

THE BOW OF THE FREIGHTER SEEMS TO BE UP AGAINST A CROOK IN THE DOCK AND PIVOTING

AN ALGOWAY CREWMAN CHECKS THE PROGRESS

THE COTE-NORD CHURNS UP THE HARBOR WATERS WITH HER ENGINES RUMBLING

A CREWMAN ON DECK STAYS IN TOUCH VIA RADIO WITH THE FREIGHTER’S BRIDGE

Saw our first burst of sunlight on the way home and about an hour later a second sun burst lit up our front yard and it was that welcome blast of of sunshine that drew me out of the house right quick.  I wonder how many days are left till Spring.

I SLIPPED OVER TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBOR AND SAW THE ALGOWAY HASD NOW BEEN TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND AND MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD THE SALT MINE DOCK

CREWMEN ON DECK WATCH CLOSELY AS THE FREIGHTER EDGES EVER CLOSER TO THE CEMENT PIER

ALL EYES ON DECK I SUPPOSE YOU COULD SAY

I WONDER IF THAT IS THE CAPTAIN PEERING DOWN FROM THE BRIDGE…..NAWWWW, HE DOESN’T HAVE HIS CAPTAIN HAT ON

I WONDER WHAT OLDER SAILORS WOULD THINK ABOUT NEWER SAILORS IN THEIR PRETTY ORANGE JUMPSUITS AND YELLOW HATS >>>>>>>>>

For an early taste of Christmas at night be sure to see the Furry Gnome’s post entitled, Christmas Lights.  He took these colorful photos in Goderich Ontario and gets himself a little loopy with the camera in the process:))

LOOKS LIKE THIS HARBOR FISHERMAN IS PACKING IT UP FOR THE DAY BUT NOT THE FELLOW BELOW….HE’S THERE JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY

ON THE WAY HOME IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE SUN TRYING TO WIGGLE IT’S WAY THROUGH THE CLOUDS

Despite the cloudy gray days I have been doing Okay so far and I think part of the reason is that it has been due to the fact that this is only the second time in the past 13 years we have been home at this time of year for the Christmas Season.  In 04-05 we were still here but ended up spending Christmas in Big Bend National Park in Texas before having to race home to resume our jobs a few days after New Years.  The winter of 05-06 was the last full winter we spent here at home before our RV Snow Bird lifestyle kicked into gear in late 2006. 

I SURE SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME IN THIS ROOM

THIS IS MY COMFY COZY READING CORNER WHERE IT’S NICE AND WARM BY THE STOVE

AND OF COURSE THIS IS WHERE ALL MY BLOGS GET PUT TOGETHER IF AND WHEN WE ARE NOT TRAVELING

As well I’m enjoying the cooler and mildly colder days for several reasons.  I have always loved walking into a warm cozy house in the winter.  There is something special about that and it brings back pleasant childhood memories for me.  Seeing Christmas lights go up not only at our house but our neighbors houses as well gives one a peaceful feeling and again it stems from my childhood helping to decorate the tree and adorn it with lights, tinsel, and angel hair.  All my best Christmas memories of ever are from my younger years.

 

Our sunroom is always a cozy place to be no matter what time of year but now with all our twinkling lights and seeing the orange blue flames of our gas fireplace stove licking around logs that never burn up is especially extra special.  We have had our gas stove for about 10 years and this is the first time we have been using it to any extent and I have come to love it as each night I sit here in our sunroom putting my blog together.  Soon as we get some snow on the ground I will slip outside and begin taking some outdoor Christmas light photos.  Yes, so far so good and I’m holding my own much better than I thought I would up to this point………………..

HERE’S KELLY AND I AT THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON 10 YEARS AGO ON NOVEMBER 21RST 2007

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A lawyer was cross-examining the doctor about whether or not he had checked the pulse of the deceased before he signed the death certificate. "No," the doctor said. "I did not check his pulse." "And did you listen for a heartbeat?" asked the lawyer. "No I did not," the doctor said. "So," said the lawyer, "when you signed the death certificate, you had not taken steps to make sure he was dead." The doctor said, "Well, let me put it this way. The man's brain was in a jar on my desk but, for all I know, he could be out practicing law somewhere."

-------------------------------------

- Did you hear how the student who began his Middle Ages story with:  "He was a dark and stormy Knight……………..

Q: What's the difference between a teacher and a train?
A: The teacher says "Get that gum out of your mouth", where as the train says "Chew, Chew ".

- "The reason that every major university maintains a department of mathematics is that it is cheaper to do this than to institutionalize all those people."

------------------------------------------

A man says to his friend: "My wife's credit card got stolen last week." "That's a shame," says the friend: "have you told the police?" "No way," says the man: "the thief is spending less than she did!"

==================================