KELLY SPENT MOST OF THE DAY IN BED AND IN HER RECLINER

 SORRY FOLKS, I DIDN'T GET AROUND TO TAKING ANY PHOTOS TODAY

While Kelly relaxed in her recliner, Pheebs and I took a quick drive around half the Park earlier this morning and checked our mailbox which was empty of course because Canada Post is on strike.  We came right back home again.  The Subaru never even got warmed up.  It is unlikely that Pheebs and I will go out at all tomorrow.  At 43F it was a cold, gray, and very windy day.  The weather forecast is calling for snow on Friday and continuing for the next 7 or 8 days after that.  They are calling it a Snowmageddon heading our way.  Beam us up Scotty, get us out of here!!!!

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Pheebs has a soft rubber toy that when squeezed, makes a loud squawking sound.  She doesn't play with it anymore and has graciously agreed to let Kelly have it.  With Kelly and I often at different ends of our unit it is hard for me to hear her weakened voice if she should need assistance, especially during the night.  So, this is where Pheeb's squawker toy comes in.  Kelly keeps it close at hand and only has to give it a quick squeeze to send a resounding 'Squawk' echoing down the hallway and jolting me out of my sleep to quickly come to her aid. So far, she hasn't had to use the squawker except for a test -'Squawk' late this afternoon.  Kelly spent most of the day in her bed.  She is still very weak.

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Finished my book Walking Home by author Rick Rogers a few days ago and it was another book I enjoyed as I followed this fellow's sometimes stumbling and sometimes bumbling trek from south to north along the Pacific Crest Trail.  He writes with a sense of humor and I liked how he interacted and took an interest in other hikers he met along the trail.  His honesty appealed to me as well.  Kelly and I intersected this trail one time in Warner Springs, California when In Search Of The Great Stone Eagle

Kelly posted these words and picture to her Facebook page yesterday::

As many of you know I have fought liver disease for 10 years. After just being discharged again from the hospital after a very tough episode I have decided to lay down my sword. Even warriors get tired. I'll be cared for by palliative care. "The worse the passage the more welcome the port"

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Al's Music Box:)) Silhouettes is a song made famous by the doo-wop group the Rays in 1957, peaking at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In May 1957, songwriter Bob Crewe saw a couple embracing through a window shade as he passed on a train. He quickly set about turning that image into a song. Frank Slay, who owned the small Philadelphia record label XYZ with Crewe, added lyrics, and they soon had a complete song ready to record.  The story has frequently been reported that Slay heard the Rays audition for Cameo-Parkway Records, for which he worked, and immediately decided that they were the perfect group for "Silhouettes". However, Slay and Crewe were actually already familiar with the group, as "Silhouettes" was their third single with them.  Neil Arena of the original Mello-Kings maintains that Slay and Crewe had first written the song for their group, but since they were away on tour and unable to record it when Crewe offered it to Herald Records boss Al Silver, the writers opted for the Rays instead.  The song received a break when popular Philadelphia disc jockey Hy Lit fell asleep with a stack of newly released records on his record player. "Silhouettes" happened to be the last to play, and so it repeated until he woke up. He began to play the song on his show.  It became popular enough that Cameo-Parkway picked it up for national distribution, and it eventually reached number 3 on both the R&B Best Sellers chart and Billboard Top 100, while also hitting the top five on both the sales and airplay charts. It was the group's only top 40 hit.

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GROANER'S CORNER:(( A little girl asked her mother: "How did the human race appear?"  The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve; they had children; and so was all mankind made."  Two days later the girl asked her father the same question.  The father answered,  "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."  The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?" The mother answered,  "Well, Dear, it is very simple.  I told you about my side of the family, and your father told you about his."

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What do you call it when you mix alcohol and American Literature?  Tequila Mockingbird.

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Harry and his neighbor Joe often borrowed things from each other. One day, Harry asked to borrow Joe's ladder.  Joe said, "Sorry Harry, I've lent it to my son." Remembering a saying that his grandma often used to tell him, Harry said, "Joe, you should never lend anything to your children because you'll never get it back."  Joe replied, "Don't worry, it's not my ladder - it's my dad's."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings

Al's Art Gallery

NASTY WINTER STORM AND WHAT THE HECK DOES 'SNOT ROCKETING MY BOOGERS' MEAN??

 A BLUSTERY FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON

We started the day with a nice sunrise but it wasn't to last.  With a freezing cold and icy east wind, Pheebs and I never ventured outside of the Jeep and it was a short ride we had.  I was really stuck for photos this morning so Pheebs picked up the camera and took a picture of me for a change.  I don't particularly like my picture taken or sticking my mug in the blog, but she made me do it.  Yes really.  Brace yourself!!  

 WE STARTED OUT WITH CLEAR SKIES THIS MORNING

 THESE HORSES HAVE DONNED THEIR WARM WINTER BLANKETS

 NO, THIS IS NOT A SHOWBOAT IT'S A SNOWBOAT

JUST CALL ME SCRUFFY

Finished my book, Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing by Anita Moorjani.  For the most part, I really enjoyed this book and it certainly gives one many things to think about.  The only problem I had with it was wading through a lot of the author's repetition in the last third of the book.  But, that's just me........I started a new book today called, The Last Englisman by Keith Foskett or 'Fozzie' as he is known on the trail.  This is about a fellow hiking the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border in California to the Canadian border in Washington State.  In what I read this morning he mentioned a couple places Kelly and I have been to.  Julian and Warner Springs California.  The trail actually crosses the road in Warner Springs and also runs right by a place that has a unique stone feature which you can see and read about in a post I wrote on November 25th, 2013 entitled In Search Of The Great Stone Eagle Near Warner Springs California.  In speaking of a fellow hiker the author explains a method hikers commonly use for blowing their noses... He says, "after a few days, tired of carrying an endless supply of tissues, a fellow female hiker started employing the method most of us used: holding one nostril shut with a finger and blowing hard to remove any debris from the other, and then repeating the other side.  Americans refer to this as 'snot rocketing my boogers'.  Needless to say, I thought this was a rather descriptive and colorful explanation:))

 THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE DARK-EYED JUNCOS IN OUR YARD

 DID YOU NOTICE THE LONE MALE CARDINAL?

 A JUNCO AND MALE CARDINAL ON THE LEFT WITH A FEMALE CARDINAL ON THE RIGHT

 'OH-OH' I GOT A PROBLEM!!  THIS BLACK SQUIRREL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE BIRD STATION!!

The leading edge of today's winter storm rolled in suddenly about 2:10 this afternoon bringing with it icy cold wind gusts and blowing snow.  (freezing rain to follow)  Our 28F temps had a wind chill factor of 15F  Although the storm came up from the south, the snow blew in on us from the east.  Figure that one out eh.  Our front yard was frantic with birds and squirrels furiously stuffing themselves with as much bird seed as they could.  I was kept busy keeping all the feeders topped up.

 ICY SNOW BLOWING UP AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF OUR SUNROOM'S PATIO DOOR

 BY LATE AFTERNOON IT WAS PRETTY NASTY OUT THERE

Al's Music Corner:: Laughter In The Rain by Neil Sedaka.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A wandering monk walked barefoot everywhere he went, to the point that the soles of his feet eventually became quite thick and leathery. And because he ate very little, he gradually became very frail. Several days often passed between opportunities to brush his teeth, so he usually had bad breath. Therefore, throughout the region, he came to be known as the super-calloused fragile mystic plagued with halitosis.

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"Doctor, Doctor, You've got to help me - I just can't stop my hands from shaking!"
"Do you drink a lot?"
"Not really - I spill most of it!"

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IF YOU HAVE THE TIME.....WE HAVE THE MEMORIES:))

 THIS JOLLY FAMILY JUST NEEDS SOME SNOW

It was a cloudy and cold rainy November day with Christmas just a month away.  On a drive into Bayfield and back this morning Pheebs and I did notice some paving equipment ready to go at the new Bayfield Bridge.  A dentist appointment for Kelly this afternoon in Exeter Ontario while Pheebs and I stayed home and held down the fort.  Other than all of the above excitement it was a quiet day.  Sometimes I almost just like it that way.

 NO SUNBATHERS ON BAYFIELD'S BEACH TODAY

 I THINK I MIGHT SEE A SWATCH OF PAVEMENT OVER THERE

A GOOD DAY FOR THE ROOFERS TO HAVE TIME OFF 

Over our RVing years, we have spent a number of American Thanksgivings in the United States so I took myself for a trip down memory lane today to have a look at them.  2007: South Rim Of The Grand Canyon Arizona.  2008:  Dog Canyon Hike and the White Sands National Monument New Mexico  2009: Making Faces at the Chickens...Bisbee Arizona and the following day we had A Fine Thanksgiving With A Fine Bunch Of Local Folks in McNeal Arizona.  2010: Cold Outside So We Stayed Inside...(don't let the lazy title fool you) 2011: Desert Sunrise on Darby Well Road near Ajo Arizona. 2012: Hamburgers, Lemon Tarts, And A Surprise Ceramic Rooster at our winter home in Congress Arizona.  2013: In Search Of The Great Stone Eagle Near Warner Springs California...Borrego Springs California.  2014: Kelly Improves Through The Day at our Congress Arizona abode. (keep in mind while reading any of these posts or any of my posts you can always go ahead or back simply by clicking the words 'Older Post' or 'Newer Post' at the bottom of the post) 2015: Blogger's Block And Flying Bird Photos in Congress Arizona.  2016: Nice Day For A Desert Walk With Pheebs Congress Arizona.  2017: Awwww Nuts!! 2016 was our last Thanksgiving in America.  But, if anyone has bothered to read even some of the above posts you can see why we love the great American Southwest so much.  It will always be remembered by Kelly and I as our second home away from home.  If only, if only.................

 I FIGURE THIS FARMER NORTHEAST OF BAYFIELD IS RAISING A FLOCK OF ROADRUNNERS AND THAT IS WHY HE HAS SO MANY SPEED LIMIT SIGNS IN THE BARNYARD

GROANER'S CORNER:(( An Irishman is walking along the beach one day, and he sees a bottle laying in the sand. He picks it up and starts to brush it off, and out pops a genie.  The genie says, "Since you have freed me from the bottle, I will grant you three wishes."  The Irishman thinks for a moment and says, "I'm feeling a might thirsty, I think I'll be wishing for a pint of stout."  POOF! There is a pint of stout in his hand. He drinks it down, and starts to throw the bottle, when the genie says, "I'd look at that bottle again before I threw it if I were you." So he looks at the bottle, and it is magicaly filling back up with stout. The genie told him, "That is a magic bottle, and it will always fill back up after you finish it." The genie then asked, "What other two wishes can I grant for you?"  The Irishman looks at the bottle in his hand and says, "I'll be taking two more of these."

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Read more on page: http://www.jokesoftheday.net/   

OH TO BOUNCE AND JOSTLE ALONG THOSE ENDLESS DESERT JEEP ROADS AGAIN

 AN OLD STONE WALL

It was shortly after 10 p.m. Friday night when Pheebs and I rolled out the driveway.  Minutes later we were at our starry night sky place in the countryside.  The smoky haze high in the atmosphere was gone and the night sky was clearly visible again.  I didn't take any photos and just simply enjoyed standing out under the canopy of sparkling diamonds overhead.  Low in the southwest sky hung lazily a cheese-colored half Moon.  Planets Saturn and Jupiter were visible in the southeast sky as well.  And oh how I love listening to the Crickets in the night air.  They are in the ditches alongside the road as well as the bean and cornfields.  Occasionally I will see a small dark object whisk by low over our heads.  Bats methinks.  Didn't see any satellites in the night sky but saw the blinking lights of 3 high-flying jets.  I love being outside at night in the cool crisp air under a host of bright shimmering stars and constellations.  It's a whole different and beautifully quiet world out there.    

 IT WAS A MIGHTY FINE SATURDAY MORNING FOR A SLOW DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

Cooler air came in overnight knocking out the heat and miserable humidity so it was a much better day today.  Lots of sunshine and cool breezes.  Needed a few things in Goderich so Pheebs and I were up there and back this morning after our morning walk.  Mowed some grass.

 BY 10 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING THERE WERE ALREADY A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT WALKING ALONG GODERICH'S BOARDWALK 

A PENNY FOR HER THOUGHTS

 I THINK THIS GROUP OF BEACHGOERS MAY HAVE COME FROM AS FAR AWAY AS TORONTO

 A NICE SOLID LOOKING BUICK FROM YESTERYEAR

 ONLY SHIP IN PORT WAS THE ALGOMA INNOVATOR

Below is picture of my musically talented son Sean and his lovely wife Kim.

I haven't been too adventurous in my eating habits this past week.  Kelly left a lot of meatloaf in the fridge so I've been fixing up single slice meatloaf sandwiches and dunking them in ketchup.  Peanut butter is my mainstay and tonight I rustled myself up some mashed potatoes with gravy, turkey with dressing, and corn.  Five minutes in the microwave and my Swanson Hungry Man turkey dinner was done.  It was too much for me to eat so I had to share with my best Pal.  As I've said before, I do not have a big appetite anymore and big meals are thankfully a thing of the past for me.  I'm quite happy with that because it is a big help in keeping my weight down. 

 A LOT OF BEANFIELDS THIS YEAR

Had a nice offer from a couple in Idaho to look after their hens for a couple weeks in October while they took some holidays.  However, with the border situation and medical uncertainties, I don't know if we'll ever get to the States again.  Oh, how I would love to see my favorite southwest mountains just one more time. (well okay, 10 more times)  To walk Arizona's beautifully green Sonoran desert among the towering Saguaros and listen to the wind whispering through their long uplifted arms.  To see the dark night sky with stars from mountain top to mountain top, and to gaze 20 and 30 miles across wide-sweeping endless scenic valleys.  To smell the desert after a rain and to awake to those glorious sunrises each morning and end the days under those oh so magnificent sunsets.  To bounce and jostle along all those endless Jeep roads and trails exploring old mines, abandoned townsites, and all those lost memories and mysteries only a desert can hide.  To hear the distant Coyotes, the Cactus Wrens, and the Curved Bill Thrashers.  And the weebling little giggles of Gamble's Quails.  To see those long stretches of open highway with not a vehicle in sight either ahead or behind for as far as one can see.  The serene solitude of boondocking with nobody in sight and no human sounds anywhere.  Those winding mountain roads and sweeping panoramic cliff-top vistas playing out for dozens of miles below.  The rock scrambles, the morning desert walks, and occasional campfires.  Going places we've never been, and seeing things we've never seen.  Oh how I miss our winter months in the great American Southwest:(( 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Three priests died and came up to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter looked up the priests and informed them there had been a mistake; they were not supposed to die for another 10 years or so.  The priests were upset about this and asked St. Peter what could be done. St. Peter said that he would send them back to earth in any form they wanted until the problem was fixed.  St Peter asks the first priest, " What do you want to become?" and the first priest replies," I always wanted to be an eagle and see all of God's creation from above."  "Done." St. Peter snaps his fingers and the first priest disappears.  St. Peter asks the second priest, "What do you want to become?" and the second priest replies, "I always wanted to be a dolphin and see all of God's creation from under the sea."  "Done." St Peter snaps his fingers and the second priest disappears like the first.  St. Peter asks the third priest, "What do you want to become?"" and the third priest shyly says, "Well... my wish is kind of sinful."  "No matter. You can choose any form you want." St. Peter says and the third priest replies, "Well, I always wanted to be  a...stud, you know?"  St .Peter replies, "I don't see a problem with that." St. Peter snaps his fingers and the third priest disappears.  Later, Jesus asked St. Peter, " I heard there was a problem with three priests being here before their time. Where are they?"  St. Peter explained, "One is soaring high above the Grand Canyon. The second is swimming in the North Atlantic. The third is on the left rear wheel of a Chevy Blazer."

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"You should meet my husband. He makes a living with his pen."  "Oh, so he's a writer?"  "No, he raises pigs."

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