WE HAVE A RESIDENT SPIDER AND HIS NAME IS RALPH

The morning's heavy overcast and coldish damp windy temps didn't start me off in what I would call much of an enthusiastic mood.  But how nice to see about 98% of the snow gone.  That in itself is a plus.  Pheebs and I slipped through Bayfield and out the other side stopping at a long bush lane for a walk.  In the woods, at the end of the lane is a cleared area that reminds me of someone who has made it nice for maybe their grandkids to have campfires, hikes, and play-times in the summer.  We've been to this spot a few times before and it always has a nice feel to it.   

 THE LATE NOVEMBER CAMPSITE PATIENTLY AWAITS NEXT SUMMER'S FUN AND LAUGHTER 

 TWO PICNIC TABLES....ONE FOR BIG FOLKS AND ONE FOR LITTLE FOLKS

THAT'S A LOT OF CAMPFIRE WOOD FOR NEXT YEAR

 PHEEBS CHECKS OUT A COLORFUL CHAIR SHELTER

AN ODD MARKER ON THIS TREE WITH AN ARROW POINTING TO THE LEFT

 AHHHH YES, IT'S A TRAIL MARKER POINTING TO A TRAIL

Home again I could tell there had been no squirrels on the bird station so I moved a few bird feeders around the front yard.  With the last of our driveway snow melting away overnight I finished raking up the remaining leaves.  That will save me a little work in the Spring. 

 AND HERE ARE THREE OF THE LITTLE DARLINS NOW

 I MOVED THE TWO FEEDERS ON THE LEFT TO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SPOT

 TRYING OUT AN OLD FEEDER

We have a resident spider living in our washroom.  He made his first appearance in the shower a few days ago where Kelly found him passively sitting by the drain.  My assistance was of course immediately required so I picked up an envelope with which I was able to coax the little feller onto.  Moving quickly I was able to get him across to where our washer and dryer sit because that's where I figured his home is.  Lots of darkened spaces under and behind those utilities for spiders so that is where I carefully deposited Ralph.  Yes, I had already given him a name.  The following day Ralph made his second appearance when I found him sitting quietly in the bathroom sink.  I was able to coax him onto a kleenex and once again quickly deposited him behind the drier.  For his next appearance, Ralph chose to sit on the roll of toilet paper and that is right where Kelly found him.  My assistance was once more required.  With Ralph on the toilet paper, I tried to move the roll but he panicked and raced up onto my hand which was quite alright but turning to deposit the little fellow to you know where he scrambled off my hand and fell right smack splash into the toilet.  Yes, this all really happened.  Now it was my turn to be the panicked one because Ralph's life was on the line as I saw him struggling in the cold water.  I quickly slipped my hand into the water under him and eased him up and out of there.  He had already gone into a ball and I thought maybe he had suffered a heart attack from the cold water and expired.  As I turned and took a step back towards the dryer I saw movement and his legs sprang out.  I knew he was alright so I once again quickly deposited him between the washer and dryer.  That was two days ago and we have not seen Ralph since.  I think that dunking in the cold toilet water put the shivers into him and he has decided to stay home where it is warm, dark, safe, and dry.  The next time Ralph makes an appearance Kelly says I am to put him in the washroom's dark closet where our hot water heater resides.  And also, the next time Ralph shows himself I will be sure to get a picture of him.  Oh, and of course, you know why I call Ralph a 'he' instead of a 'she'.......Ya, I thought so:))  Checking southern Ontario spiders on Google, Ralph kind of looks like an American Grass Spider or maybe a Wolf Spider.  Either way, he's a cute little fellow and I hope to make his acquaintance again:))

Ellen's Groove:)) In this video, you can see Ellen's progression at the beginning and at the end.  Progression.  In between, Ellen and her dad, Hovak, talk about a good and inexpensive bass guitar for young folks to start out with.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A husband asks: Why do you weep and snuffle over a TV program and the imaginary sadness of people you have never met?
Wife: For the same reason you scream and yell when a man you don’t know makes a touchdown.

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Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Dishes.
Dishes who?
Dishes the police! Come out with your hands up!

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I'm beginning to think my five-year-old grandson is a genius...I can't tell his paintings from that of Picasso!

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