IT WAS A GREAT SUNNY SATURDAY MORNING TO BE OUT AND ABOUT CHASING DOWN A FEW WINTER PHOTOS HERE AND THERE

NO DOCKSIDE FISHING BOATS WITH THE BAYFIELD RIVER STILL FROZE OVER

Since last week-ends daylight savings time shifting ahead one hour I have noticed lengthening days are definitely upon us.   Still a wee bit of light left at 8 p.m. and skies beginning to lighten by 7 a.m. and it was all especially nice with this morning's Sun looming large over the horizon dawning into a clear blue sky.  Shafts of sunlight traveling through our eastern facing living room widow flood through our kitchen and stretch themselves up the hallway almost to our sunroom.  I like when that happens every year at this time and it's always a positive feeling way to start the day.

‘WOWSERS’ NOW THAT IS ONE VERY BRIGHT BLAST OF MORNING SUNLIGHT ON KELLY’S FACE…..AND PHEEBS TOO

After sitting around the house all day Thursday and with this morning's spirit lifting sunshine it was a no brainer for Pheebs and I as to what us guys would be up to first thing.  We were soon down around Bayfield's harbor for a look see before cruising up Bayfield’s main street and heading out south of town to see if we could find anything of interest to take a few photos of. 

LAKE HURON IS STILL FROZEN FOR ABOUT A MILE OR SO OFFSHORE

BAYFIELD’S SMALL BEACH AREA

LOOKS LIKE A BROWN HUMPBACK WHALE OUT THERE JUST OFF BAYFIELD’S PIER:))

THAT SOLID LOOKING  RIVER ICE WILL SOON BREAK UP AND BE PUSHED BY THE FLOWING RIVER OUT INTO THE LAKE

THIS FISHING BOAT SPENT THE WINTER HIGH AND DRY NEAR THE FISHING DOCK

TO THE RIGHT IS THE ROAD LEADING DOWN TO THE HARBOR

THE BAYFIELD RIVER IS NOT FROZEN OVER FROM THIS POINT INLAND

OVERLOOKING  LAKE HURON  FROM THE PIONEER PARK BLUFFS

NICE TO SEE FOLKS OUT WALKING ON THIS SUNNY BUT CRISP SATURDAY MORNING

MORNING STROLL ON THE PIER

OPEN WATER ABOUT HALF A MILE OR SO OUT

IN ANOTHER 4 TO 6 WEEKS TOURISTS AND LOCAL FOLKS WILL BE WANDERING ALONG BAYFIELDS MAIN STREET CHECKING OUT ALL THE LITTLE ARTSY SHOPS…..BY THE WAY IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO BAYFIELD YOU REALLY NEED TO COME AND HAVE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF:))

I have been ‘muffin free’ for nearly 3 months so figured that was a good incentive for me to try and keep it that way.  There is really no need for me to have a carrot muffin every time Pheebs and I head out on our Jeep rides in the morning.  It’s just been a bad habit I got myself into.  Figured the best way for me to work on my muffin habit is to not go where the muffins are so with that thought present in mind I brewed up my own coffee at home before heading out.  Of course the other positive thing about this new way of doing things for me is the cost.  It didn’t take my totally unmathematical brain sponge long to figure out the savings from $$$$$ spent every month on a coffee and muffins.  Yes, I am a slow learner at times………….

COLORFUL BIRD HOUSES ON DISPLAY

ICE AND SNOW WAS QUICKLY MELTING OFF COUNTRY ROADS WHETHER PAVED OR GRAVEL

CREEKS ARE BEGINNING TO GURGLE WITH MELTING SNOW

ON MY WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BLUE COUNTRY SKY

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT ALL THE NEAT SMELLS IN A PARTIALLY UNCOVERED PLOWED FIELD

<<< CRITTER TRACKS IN THE SNOW

With Libby's heater on and Pheebs window down we ambled our way along Huron Counties partially snow covered rural roads.  Gray lifeless looking stretches of forest broke up great expanses of snow covered fields wandering off to disappear over distant blue sky horizons.  Ahhhhh, tis good to feel alive on mornings like these even if it's still Wintertime.  There was no wind and when out of the Jeep the Sun was so warm I took off my coat.  We had us a nice slow relaxing drive and I thought to myself what a contrast it was from a week ago Saturday morning when we were slugging our way from Montgomery Alabama to Louisville Kentucky with Nashville thrown in between as a major aggravation.

IT WAS THE SNOW ON TOP OF THESE BIG EXHUAST FANS THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION

I’M THINKING THIS MIGHT BE A PIG BARN

MELTING SNOW ALONGSIDE A COUNTRY ROAD

IN THE HAMLET OF BLAKE ONTARIO

Stopped at Bayfield’s car wash on the way back and gave Libby a much needed bath.  A lot of road salt on her again.  A vacant lot on the North side of the carwash is where Tim Hortons new coffee shop is to built but i was a little disappointed work had not started on that yet. 

WAITING MY TURN AT THE CAR WASH

NOPE SURE DON’T LOOK LIKE TIM HORTONS HAS STARTED ON THEIR NEW BAYFIELD COFFEE SHOP YET

I THINK THERE’S MORE SNOW RIGHT HERE IN OUR VERY OWN PARK THAN ANYWHERE ELSE

MIGHT BE A LITTLE EARLY TO COME HOME YET CC AND DIXIE

We were home somewhere well short of noon and with my batteries fully charged from this morning’s drive under bright sunny skies I was soon right at it with the snow shovel and leaf blower.  Leaf blower?!?!.  Yep, blew all the leaves out of the carport then all the birdseed husks and shells off our front porch.  Moved a bunch of snow around, got a load of laundry done, (oh isn’t it great having your own washer and dryer right at home) a load of paper products burnt up in the burning barrel, front porch summer furniture out, shed doors open to the Sun, ran up the rig’s generator and engine for a bit, etc. etc.  Oh how I love it when I have those welcome bursts of energy and set about accomplishing things.  A day without accomplishing anything useful is always the absolute worst for me!!

YEP, WE SURE LOVE ALL OUR ‘STUFF’ ALRIGHT:))

 

WE STILL HAVE A FEW FRONT PORCH CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS TO TAKE DOWN

 

THAT BIG SMILE SAYS IT ALL

 

HERE I AM WITH MY LEAF BLOWER BLOWING ALL THE WINTER SNOW AWAY

ICE AND SNOW MELTING OFF THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR ROOF

LOTS OF DRIP-DRIP-DRIPPING GOING ON TODAY

With the Sun’s rays beaming in our south facing sunroom windows I actually had to open the sliding patio door to let in some cool air.  I could see and hear the dripping of ice and snow melting.  What a great feeling that always is at this time of year.

OUR SNOWY FORESTS HAVE A BEAUTY ALL THEIR OWN

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A farmer got pulled over by a state trooper for speeding, and the trooper started to lecture the farmer about his speed, and in general began to throw his weight around to try to make the farmer uncomfortable. Finally, the trooper got around to writing out the ticket, and as he was doing that he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head.  The farmer said, 'Having some problems with circle flies there, are ya?' The trooper stopped writing the ticket and said, 'Well yeah, if that's what they are, but I never heard of circle flies.'  So the farmer says, 'Well, circle flies are common on farms. See, they're called circle flies because they're almost always found circling around the back end of a horse.'  The trooper says, 'Oh,' and goes back to writing the ticket. Then after a minute he stops and says, 'Hey...wait a minute, are you trying to call me a horse's ass?'  The farmer says, 'Oh no, officer. I have too much respect for law enforcement and police officers to even think about calling you a horse's ass.'  The trooper says, 'Well, that's a good thing,' and goes back to writing the ticket.   After a long pause, the farmer says, 'Hard to fool them flies though...'

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It doesn't hurt to take a hard look at yourself from time to time, and this should help get you started.
During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the director what the criterion was that defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.  "Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."  "Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
"No," said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a room with or without a view?"

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