AMIDST ALL THE VIRUS TURMOIL PHEEBS AND I HAD US A NICE RELAXING DRIVE THROUGH AMISH MENNONITE COUNTRY THIS MORNING

'Wow' noticed a definite drop in vehicle traffic on area roads this morning and imagine my surprise when I figured there would be a long line up at Tim Hortons coffee shop now that they are doing drive-thru only.  Approaching Tim Hortons I didn't see a single vehicle and thought they were totally closed.  Turning in I saw 3 cars which I assume might have been staff.  Nobody in the drive-thru lane but I stopped at the speaker board anyway and was happy to hear a voice asking what I would like.  "Small decalf coffee with cream please" I said.  "That's a dollar sixty, drive on up" she said.  With my coffee safe in my cup holder I exited Tim Hortons then pulled over to the side of the road and sanitized myself.

AN ALMOST EMPTY TIM HORTONS LOT ON A MORNING WEEK DAY IS TRULY RARE

AN EMPTY DRIVE-THRU LANE...WHAT!!

NOT MUCH TRAFFIC ON AREA ROADWAYS

THE COVID VIRUS ISN'T SLOWING THIS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DOWN

Rolling east out of Clinton I caught the first country road left and headed North.  The number of vehicles I saw I could count on one hand so it was a very peaceful drive through the countryside.  Not much in the way of sunshine but at least clouds were thin enough to let some diffused lighting through making for evenly lit photos.

A BELATED HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY I'D SAY

I COULD SMELL THIS MANURE SPREADER BEFORE I SAW HIM

THESE RURAL FARMS WILL SOON BE BUSY WITH THE COMING OF SPRING

STILL PATCHES OF SNOW LYING AROUND

IT'S DEFINITELY MAPLE SYRUP TIME 

THIS HEAT MASTER IS AN OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACE

Had it in my mind to head on up through Amish Mennonite country so that is the direction our wanderings took us.  Driving up through that area I couldn't help but wonder how much these quiet living folks knew of what's going on the world right now with the Covid-19 virus going around.  Wondered if they knew how close this impending storm was to their protected but vulnerable rural community.  No radios, no TV, no newspapers.  Are non Amish Mennonite neighbors keeping them informed.  Passed by 3 different A-M schools and only saw chimney smoke at one of them.  Don't know if the kids are in school or not.

WHEN ONE SEES BUGGY TRACKS IN THE GRAVEL ONE KNOWS HE'S IN AMISH MENNONITE COUNTRY

YESIREEEE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT ROAD ALRIGHT

THESE QUIET FOLKS LIKE WHITE HOUSES AND RED BARNS

AND THEY KNOW HOW TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF A MAPLE TREE FOR MAPLE SYRUP AND DID YOU NOTICE ALL PAILS ARE ABOUT HALF FULL

SPRING CLEAN-UP

Saw lots of buggy tracks and horse buns on the road so the folks are obviously out and about.  Could also smell wood smoke in the air on this cold morning.  I recognized a summer sausage in the air as well so I think some farms were smoking meat and making sausage.  Stopped at Lake Wawanosh in the heart of Amish Mennonite country and found it still frozen over.   Won't be any fishing, canoeing, or kayaking going on there for a few weeks yet.

FOLKS WON'T BE CANOEING ON LAKE WAWANOSH FOR AWHILE YET

THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THIS SCHOOLHOUSE CHIMNEY

A FRIENDLY WAVE WHICH I RETURNED

AN OLD COUNTRY CEMETERY

STILL FOLLOWING THE BUGGY TRACKS

LOOKS TO BE SOME WOODWORKING GOING ON HERE

PHEEBS LIKES CHECKING OUT FARMS FOR COWS

Despite predictions of 40F temps today we were a long time getting there with this mornings icy east wind driving the wind chill factor below the freezing mark.  I still start most every day dressed in my lined winter pants and winter jacket then change into lighter clothes as the day progresses.

NOTICE HOW THESE TWO FARM FAMILIES HAVE JOINED THEIR HOUSES

THIS FELLOW IS HOLDING UP A WIND BREAK IN FRONT OF HIS FACE

REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WAS SMALL AND MY MOTHER WOULD HANG OUT THE LAUNDRY

I wonder how many Canadian RV folks will make it back to the sunny south next Winter.  Too early to think about that??  Maybe so.  Sure glad we sold our Congress Arizona house when we did a few years ago.  One of the reality worries we had was not being able to cross the border into the States.  Whether blocked by political decisions, medical or financial concerns the worry was real.  It wasn't our only deciding factor but it was one of them.  We really enjoyed the 4 years we had our little ranch style house and we've had no regrets in selling it.  Like I said, we're just glad we sold it when we did and don't have to worry about it......especially now.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  One night a teenage girl brought her new boyfriend home to meet her parents, and they were appalled by his appearance: leather jacket, motorcycle boots, tattoos and pierced nose. Later, the parents pulled their daughter aside and confessed their concern. "Dear," said the mother diplomatically, "he doesn't seem very nice." "Oh please, Mom," replied the daughter, "if he wasn't nice, why would he be doing 500 hours of community service?"
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OLD RADIOS never die, they just stop receiving
OLD RAILROADERS never die, they just derail
OLD RAIN PUDDLES never die, they just dry up
OLD SAILORS never die, they just get a little "DINGHY" 

OLD SALESMEN never die, they just go out of commission

OLD SCHOOLS never die, they just lose their principals

OLD SCOTS never die, but they can be kilt

OLD SCULPTORS never die, they just lose their marbles

OLD SEAMSTRESSES never die, they just come to the point 

OLD SEERS never die, they just lose their vision

OLD SEWAGE WORKERS never die, they just waste away

OLD SHEETROCKERS (dry wallers) never die, they just hang around

OLD SHOES MAKERS never die, they just lose their sole

OLD SKIERS never die, but they go downhill fast 

OLD SAILORS never die, they just lose their porpoise

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