FOR ME SPRING IS ALMOST LIKE BEING REBORN AGAIN

Just me in the Jeep this morning heading East for the little town of Seaforth Ontario.  My good buddy Jim and I met at the Tim Horton's coffee shop there.  Had been a while since we'd last got together for a chin wag.  Jim lives in Stratford.  We were in the coffee shop from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and for the most part, we were the only ones seated in there which of course was quite fine for we two old Geezers without all that usual surrounding chattering of noise in the background.  We covered all the bases today and caught up on things.  We'll do it all over again when it warms up outside in a few months and maybe next time we'll drink our coffees under a big old shady tree in a nearby Seaforth Park.  We did that last year.  You can find Jim's cleverly humorous musings at Lifetime Sentences

 THERE WERE TIMES THIS MORNING WHEN JIM AND I WERE THE ONLY CUSTOMERS IN THE WHOLE PLACE

It was undoubtedly the best weather day of the year so far with our temps bouncing off the 60F mark under clear sunny skies.  When I headed out first thing this morning it was 27F so I was dressed for cold weather complete with mitts.  Coming out of the coffee shop in early afternoon I tossed my coat in the back of the Jeep along with my mitts, rolled the front windows down, cranked up the tunes, and boogied all the way home.  What a great feeling to be driving again without a big bulky winter coat on.  And yes, I even had my arm out the window.  From way back in late October this fine Spring day was sure a long time coming.

 OUR AFTERNOON WALK TOOK US THROUGH A HARDWOOD BUSH IN OUR PARK

 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY BEFORE ME FLOWS THE BAYFIELD RIVER AND ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE CAN BE SEEN A FEW SHINY ROOFS AT THE WILDWOOD BY THE RIVER RV PARK

 SPRING IS SURE SPROUTING 

 IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THIS FOREST FLOOR WILL BE COVERED IN TRILLIUM FLOWERS

Turned our outside water on this afternoon, replaced the winter glass in our front door with summer's screen, and started on the metal shed's clean-up project.  It was so nice today we had our doors wide open.  Autumn is my favorite time of year followed by Spring.  Spring is always like being reborn again after winter's snowy cold miseries. New ideas, new outlooks, renewed energy, a healthier attitude, and the list goes on and on.  For me, Spring is the sunshine after winter's long, dark, and exhausting storm.  Bring on the flowers, buds, and blossoms:)))))))

Gene, over in the Shout-Box asked what some of our favorite reference materials were when we were traveling in the Southwest.  We had an old out of date printed copy of the 'Escapees Day's End Directory' which we found helpful as well as Harvest Host and Free Camping Sites, Campendium, and The Next Exit.  Also, Mountain Directory West and the Atlas's we used at the time were/are called Benchmark.  We had California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Colorado. Nice to hear from you again Gene and I still remember our brief walk along the trail from the morning's Borrego Springs photoshoot to the parking lot.  I think from there we all went over to Coyote Canyon and shot us up some wildflowers:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Wisecracks!!

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.

If I throw a stick, will you leave?

If I want to hear the pitter-patter of little feet, I'll put shoes on my cats.

Does your train of thought have a caboose?

Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

A PBS mind in an MTV world.

Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

Suburbia: where they tear out the trees & then name streets after them.

Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.

Not all men are annoying. Some are dead.

I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?

Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.

I plead contemporary insanity.

I meander to a different drummer.

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