I IMMEDIATELY FELT LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER

 MALE MALLARD DUCK AND NO THIS ISN'T IN OUR FRONT YARD

With a fresh layer of overnight snow on the ground and still more coming down I debated with myself whether to do our Jeep ride this morning or wait for better weather under warmer sunny skies.  I figured it would make more sense to save gas for a nicer day.  With that logic firmly locked into my mind, Pheebs and I headed out the door, hopped into the Jeep, and away we went to Goderich.

 ON FROZEN GROUND WE BEGIN OUR QUARTER-MILE WALK ALONG THE SHORELINE

Picked up a coffee to go at McDonalds and headed down to the harbor and out to the doggy walking area at the cove.  Miraculously, there was no wind for a change so it made the 19F doable for a walk south along the frozen shoreline.  We hadn't been along there since last Fall when big machines rolled in and began restoration work on the eroding shoreline.  Tons of rocks and boulders have been put into place to prevent waves and high water levels from pulling any more of the land into the lake.  Sure felt good to get my legs walking again despite the uneven icy ground making walking a little precarious.  Back to the Jeep, I realized that I had forgotten to put the doggy steps into the Jeep.  Luckily, without any coaxing, Pheebs jumped up into the Jeep via the driver's seat and off we went to Walmart in Goderich's east end.

 FOR PHEEBS AND I THIS IS OUR FIRST WALK OF THE YEAR 

IN THE QUIET MORNING AIR I COULD HEAR THE ICE PACK MOVING

 LOOKING SOUTH ALONG THE SHORELINE WHICH LEADS TO SARNIA ONTARIO AND PORT HURON MICHIGAN

With my mind on other things I parked the Jeep and walked into Walmart without my mask on.  It wasn't until I was picking up the last item on my list (peanut butter) that I suddenly realized I didn't have my mask on.  I immediately felt like a fish out of water as I quickly made my way towards the cashier.  It did occur to me if I had walked into Walmart with a mask on and nobody else was wearing one, I would have still felt like a fish out of water.  That's alright, I've never been much of a water person anyway.  Unless of course it's a long hot shower or a lengthy sudsy soak in a tub.  Oh right, we don't have a tub:((

 HEADING NORTH ALONG THE SHORELINE BACK TO THE JEEP

JUST AS WE REACHED THE JEEP IT BEGAN SNOWING HEAVILY

 THROUGH THE SNOW THE LAKE FREIGHTER ALGOMA SAULT TAKES ON A LOAD OF SALT

Home again and knowing we have a warmer spell of weather on our doorstep I decided to leave my snow shovel in place and let Mother Nature take care of the latest snowfall on the ground.  It's only about an inch or less.  Well so far anyway.  The warm-up slowly begins Friday and is predicted to last for eight straight days with Sunday hitting 48F.  Good stuff:))

HOW NICE TO SEE A MOM PULLING HER KIDS AROUND THE FRONT YARD ON THIS FROSTY WINTER'S MORN

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An Easterner was riding with a rancher over a blistering and almost barren stretch of West Texas when a strange bird scurried in front of them.  Asked by the Easterner what the bird was, the rancher replied, "That's a bird of paradise."  The stranger from the East rode on in silence for a moment, then said, "Long way from home, isn't it?"

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Q-What do you call a typo on a headstone?

A-A grave mistake.

Q-What do you call it when you mix alcohol and American literature?

A-Tequila Mockingbird.

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I'm opening a chain of Elvis-themed steak restaurants.  It will be for people who love meat tender.

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