'STRIKE ONE', 'STRIKE TWO', 'STRIKE THREE', AND THE GROCERY GAME WAS ALL OVER FOR ME THIS MORNING!!

NICE PAIR OF MALLARD DUCKS ON OUR PARK'S POND THIS AFTERNOON

So far so good for us and life is still pretty much normal just like before.  Social distancing is no problem and we've been able to get a few groceries when necessary as well as gas.  I have enough little outside projects going on at the moment to keep me occupied for awhile and luckily my old arch nemisis boredom has not been an issue for me so far.

A FEW INSPIRING SUN SPLASHES ON OUR JEEP RIDE THURSDAY MORNING

PASTORAL BARN YARD

WE HAVE A LOT OF OLDER BARNS HERE IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO AND YOU CAN SEE MANY OF THEM AT MY PHOTO ALBUM... SOME OLD BARNS, SOME NEWER ONES AND A FEW SHEDS ALONG THE WAY

OF COURSE SOME BARNS ARE NOT AS HAPPY AS OTHER BARNS

Our weather so far for March has been acceptable.  Have had some really nice days with a few winter like disappointments along the way.  Waiting patiently for a little warmth in the air.

Had half a dozen items on my grocery list so Pheebs and I headed off in the direction of Goderich this morning.  Pretty much had the roads to ourselves.  With low oil prices I figured I had better do my part and pick up some gas as well.  My way of helping John B in Alberta and Mike C from Montana to boost their Shell oil stocks.  Don't want those boys losing any more money and going hungry:))

THIS GODERICH GAL WAS HAVING QUITE A TIME WITH ALL HER GROCERIES HERE OUTSIDE 'GIANT TIGER'

LUCKILY A GOOD SAMARITAN RUSHES TO HER AID

'JUST FOLLOW THE GOOSE YOUNG MAN JUST FOLLOW THE GOOSE' MY MIND KEPT SAYING TO ME

My first stop was Walmart where I walked in took one look at the line-up and walked out again.  That was strike one!!  Next I went to Zehrs Supermarket, walked in and looked over to the cashier area.  Looked Okay so proceeded to pick up 2 green bananas, three large carrots, two toothpaste items and a 25 Watt lightbulb.  Heading for the milk and orange juice area and coming around the end of an aisle I heard a male voice telling someone to back up and stay in line.  Looking in that direction I saw a line-up of people all the way back to the bakery department.  Some carts were exploding with groceries.  Because of my zero tolerance and impatience with line-ups I immediately turned around and re-tracing my steps put the light bulb back as well as the two toothpaste items.  Next the three carrots were carefully put back along with the two bananas.  Returned the cart and I was out of there.  Strike two!!  After a drive down around the harbor area I stopped at Food Basics in Goderich's south end.  About 35 million cars in the parking lot with people clustered around the door.  Strike three I was out!!  The grocery game was over.  Pheebs and I headed home empty handed.  

A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STILL CONTINUES AT THE GODERICH ELEVATORS

AND RESTORATION WORK CARRIES ON ALONG LAKE HURONS SHORELINE SOUTH OF GODERICH'S HARBOR MOUTH

BACKFILLING ALONG THE TOP OF THE NEW BREAKWATER WALL IN FRONT OF THE BEACH STREET STATION

DRAGGING THE BUCKET BACKWARDS TO LEVEL OFF THE BACKFILL

Almost forgot.....at the gas station after filling up, the attendant carefully and rather stealthily came up alongside the Jeep with a box and the debit machine.  The box contained thin plastic gloves.  He instructed me to remove one glove and put it on my right hand.  He held the machine as I used my gloved hand to punch in the numbers.  Transaction completed I took my Michael Jackson glove off.  He asked if I wanted the paper receipt and I said no.  Wasn't going to put my new glove on again just to receive a paper receipt!!

HERE I AM IN OUR BACKYARD MARCH 26TH 2008 TRYING TO GET A CAMPFIRE GOING JUST AFTER RETURNING FROM THE SOUTHWEST....DON'T AKS ME WHY I WAS TRYING TO GET A CAMPFIRE GOING.....I WAS YOUNGER THEN 

 Under a heavy overcast Pheebs and I headed home with a short muddy stop alongside Kitchigami Road.  Again, hardly any traffic anywhere.  I think everybody was at the grocery stores loading up their shopping carts.  Looks like we might have to gnaw the bark off our pine trees, get our drinking water from the frog pond and compete with the birds, bunnies, squirrels, and chipmunks for what's left of our birdseed.  It's either that or Kelly will have to take her vast storage of patience to the grocery store with her.  I have great patience for raking leaves and stuff.

STOPPED ALONGSIDE KITCHIGAMI ROAD

SO NICE TO SEE BLUE SKIES AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON

PINE TREE REFLECTIONS IN OUR PARK'S POND

IN THE PHOTO BELOW IT LOOKS LIKE WOODPECKERS HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH THIS TREE OR MAYBE JUST ONE BIG PILEATED ONE

I'm 75 and a half now and you would think after many years being involved with Spring clean-ups I would know better than to try to get everything done all at once pushing myself for hours until my legs are numb, my hurting backs bent over, and my arms are so sore I don't even know where they are.  Well you would think that but oh no I have to half cripple myself every year about this time.  Tried taking Pheebs for a walk on rubbery legs and had to turn back, head for my recliner, and sit down to take the pressure off my brain.

MY TRUSTY GARDEN PALS HAVE STOPPED FOR A REST BESIDE THIS OLD DEAD TREE

MALE MALLARD DUCK ON OUR PARK'S POND

THIS SMALL DUCK WINGED IN OVERHEAD AND LANDED ON THE POND

NOT THE BEST PHOTO BUT WONDER IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT KIND OF SMALL DUCK THIS IS AND IN PHOTO BELOW IS A PAIR OF WELL CAMOUFLAGED CANADA GEESE

Got a song stuck in my head today.  First heard it a week ago on my Sirius Satellite Radio Ch. 53 The Chill Lounge.  Didn't like the tune because it sounded like another one of those repetitive generic young whiney voiced girl songs.  I turned the volume down.  Couple days later I heard it again But I didn't turn the volume down this time.  Earlier this week it was on again.  Hmmmm, is this simple little repetitive lyric song growing on me??  It came on again this morning and I turned up the volume with a smile on my face.  Very rare for a smile to ever escape this stone face of mine.  Couldn't really make out the lyrics to well but I liked how she pronounced the word 'coffee' in the song.  On the way home and most of this afternoon I have not been able to get that jingly little tune out of my head.  Went outside, knelt down and repeatedly banged my head on a rock.  Well that made it worse.  The rock cracked, volume in my head went way up, and somebody somehow added loud bells to the song.  So now to make things even worse I have a constant ringing in my ears.  Be very careful now about clicking on this link.  Like me you may not like the song at first but think you might give it a second listen.  Keep that up and your going to have this catchy little tune rattling around in YOUR head before you know it.  I don't recommend the rock head banging cure unless you don't mind bells in your belfry and a ringing in your ears......Okay, hear ya go, I'll Make A Cup Of Coffee For Your Head  Now, on the serious side of this song I found something out later today in regards to the lyrics.  death bed (coffee for your head)  Now I'm really confused:((

DUCKS DON'T NORMALLY STAY ON OUR PARK'S POND VERY LONG BUT I HOPE THIS PAIR DOES AND BUILDS A NEST ALNOG THE EDGE

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Three prisoners are captured in the war, and are about to be executed. They are asked what they wish to have for their last meal.  The Italian asks for Peperoni Pizza, which he is served and then taken away. The Frenchmen requests a Filet Mignon, which he is served and also taken away. The Jewish man requests a plate of strawberries.  The captors are surprised and reply, "STRAWBERRIES?"  "Yes, Strawberries."  "But they are out of season!"  "I'll wait......"
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“He built his entire itch-cream business from scratch.”
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