I SO MUCH MISS THOSE GREAT DAYS

ON THE WAY TO PICK UP MY GOOD BUDDY RICHARD THIS MORNING

Another in a series of mighty fine late October days.  The weather 22 years ago today certainly wasn't like this.  It was the final day for us in the old farmhouse at the old Weenie Roast Ranch near Fullarton Ontario. We had lived there for over 7 years.  It was a cold and dark rain-soaked night when we left our old haunt and moved the last load of stuff to where we now live in the Bayfield Pines Community near Bayfield Ontario.  It was Halloween night 2002 and the weather had played a 'trick' on us but it sure was a 'treat' that cold, and dark night to move into our warm cozy little place right here under the tall swaying Pine trees:))  

 FIERY SUMAC LEAVES

Coffee and muffins time for Richard and me so I picked him up this morning and off we went to cruise a few roads we hadn't been on for a while.  Always nice to change up the scenery from time to time and especially so now that we still have some gorgeous Autumn colors left in the countryside. 

 WE WERE SURPRISED BY A GOLFCART LOAD OF SCARY PARK CHARACTERS THIS AFTERNOON

 THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN OUR PARK IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL:))

I BORROWED THIS PHOTO FROM ANOTHER PARK RESIDENT

Kelly and I headed down to the south end of our Park this afternoon for a walk in the hardwood forest located there.  This is an area we often walked with our dogs in the earlier years of living here.  Sometimes we would make our way down a steep hundred-foot forested embankment to the Bayfield River far below.  But, that was years ago when we were younger and could do things like that on the spur of the moment without even having to worry about anything like getting back up the embankment again.  Actually, we had a purpose for being in that forest today.  We were looking for something we didn't find.  A bench.  Oh well, it was just great to be outside doing something we so much enjoyed doing in our RVing years.  We loved looking for things like old western Ghost Towns, (Charleston) lost gravesites, (Johnny Ringo and some Confederate soldiers) historical markers, old mines, Crested Saguaro Cactus, hidden trails, natural water tanks in the Kofa Mountains, the hard-to-find Mary Kidder ranch and old Fort Rucker in the Chiricahua Mountains, and Cochise's council rocks in Arizona's Dragoon Mountains.  We found the dump site for the old army Camp Furlong in Columbus New Mexico, Marshall South's homestead atop Ghost Mountain in California's Blair valley, and his gravesite in Julian California.  The endless list goes on and on and it was always one of our favorite things to do.  Get ourselves up in the morning and head out the door early to go places and find and do things we had never seen or done before.  I so much miss those great days............   

 WE DROVE SUBIE UP INTO THE HARDWOOD FOREST

 YOU CAN SEE IT WASA VERY WINDY AFTERNOON

 AN OLD FARM GATE IN THE WOODS

HEADING BACK TO THE CAR

 MAKING OUR WAY BACK OUT OF THE FOREST

Al's Music Box:)) Ghost Riders In The Sky by Geoff Castelucci is a cowboy-styled country/western song written in 1948 by American songwriter Stan Jones.  The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies".  Stan Jones stated that he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old Native American who resided northeast of the Douglas Arizona border town, a few miles behind D Hill, north of Agua Prieta. Sonora. The Native Americans, possibly Apache, who lived within Cochise County, believed that when souls vacate their physical bodies, they reside as spirits in the sky, resembling ghost riders. He related this story to Wayne Hester, a boyhood friend (later owner of the Douglas Cable Company). As both boys were looking at the clouds, Stan shared what the old Native American had told him, looking in amazement as the cloudy shapes were identified as the "ghost riders" that years later, would be transposed into lyrics.............Here is an instrumental version of the same song played on a steel guitar.  Ghost Riders.  And of course, the version I grew up with....Frankie Laines version of Ghost Riders In The Sky.  And, because it's Halloween, here is Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt Kicker Five with The Monster Mash.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A car was involved in an accident on the street. As expected a large crowd gathered. A newspaper reporter, anxious to get his story could not get near the car.  Being a clever sort, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim."  The crowd made way for him.  Lying in front of the car was a donkey.

---------------------------------------------

[1] Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.

[2] Having one child makes you a parent; having two makes you a referee.

[3] Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!

[4] I believe we should all pay our taxes with a smile. I tried – but they wanted cash.

[5] A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.

[6] Don't feel bad. A lot of people have no talent.

[7] Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without, but whatever you do, you'll regret it later.

[8] You can't buy love, but you pay heavily for it.

[9] Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

[10] Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

[11] Marriage is give and take. You'd better give it to her or she'll take it.

[12] My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.

[13] Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

[14] Ladies first. Pretty ladies sooner.

[15] A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

[16] You're getting old when you enjoy remembering things more than doing them.

[17] It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.

[18] Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.

[19] Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.

[20] Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something

[21] They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak!

[22] Man: Is there any way for long life?
Dr: Get married.
Man: Will it help?
Dr: No, but then the thought of long life will never come.

[23] Why do couples hold hands during their wedding? It's a formality just like two boxers touching gloves before the fight begins!

[24] Wife: Darling today is our anniversary, what should we do?
Husband: Let us stand in silence for 2 minutes.

[25] There is only one perfect child in the world and every mother has it.

[26] There is only one perfect wife in the world and every neighbor has it!

==============================

                           Al's Art Gallery

BRIGHT IS GOOD

 SHORELINE ICE AT GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE

Although no blue sky today, the thin cloud cover made for a brighter day, and at this time of year, bright is good.  Not much in the way of wind either so all and all it was an acceptable 37F winter's day.  Despite not having any prescriptions to drop off or pick up, Pheebs and I headed to Goderich and back anyway.  And, that's about it for another day........

 HARBOR TUG OCEAN A. SIMARD MANEUVERING ICE FLOWS AROUND IN THE HARBOR'S NARROW CHANNEL

 I BET THAT DOGGY IS HAPPY TO WALKING ON GREEN GRASS AGAIN INSTEAD OF ICE AND SNOW

 IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE SWIMMERS ARE BACK IN THE WATER HERE AT GODERICH'S SOUTH BEACH

 AND, HOW NICE TO SEE GREEN FARMER'S FIELDS AGAIN EVEN IF IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY

Another Facebook memory from this day in 2009 when we were boondocked alongside the Charleston Road between Sierra Vista and Tombstone Arizona.  We were in a small parking area along the banks of the San Pedro River.  We Didn't Find The Ghost Town But We Had To Move Today  Incidentally, it was the next day we found the Ghost Town......Today We Found The Ruins Of Charleston Arizona.   

Al's Music Box:)) Great Balls Of Fire is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records.  It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer.  The recording used three personnel: Lewis (piano/vocals), Sidney Stokes (bass), and a session drummer, Larry Linn instead of the usual Sun backups Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) and Roland Janes (guitar). Lewis was quoted in the book 'JLL: His Own Story' by Rick Bragg, as saying "I knew Sidney Stokes but I didn't know him that well, and I don't know what happened to them people. That's the last time I ever seen 'em. That's strange isn't it?" Great Balls of Fire was released as a 45 rpm single.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Some "Senior" personal ads seen in Florida and Arizona newspapers:

FOXY LADY: Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired beauty, 80's, slim,5'4" (used to be 5-6), searching for a sharp-looking, sharp-dressing companion. Matching white shoes and belt are a plus.

MINT CONDITION: Male, 1932, high mileage, good condition, some hair, many new parts including hip, knee, cornea, and valves. Isn't in running condition, but walks well.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: Recent widow who has fourth husband looking for someone to round out a six-unit plot. Dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath not a problem.

SERENITY NOW: I am into solitude, long walks, sunrises, the ocean, yoga, and meditation. If you are the silent type, let's get together, take our hearing aids out and enjoy quiet times.

WINNING SMILE: Active grandmother with original teeth seeking a dedicated flossier to share rare steaks, corn on the cob, and caramel candy.

BEATLES OR STONES? I still like to rock, still like to cruise in my Camaro on Saturday nights, and still like to play the air guitar. If you were a groovy chick, or are now a groovy hen, let's get together and listen to my boss collection of eight-track tapes.

MEMORIES: I can usually remember Monday through Thursday. If you can remember Friday, Saturday and Sunday, let's put our two heads together.

------------------------------------------------

- Just think, in a few million years Barney will be motor oil.

Q: Why do farmers put bells on cows?

A: Their horns don't work.

- What should you give a man who has everything? A woman to show him how to work it all!

---------------------------------

===============================

SUNSHINE.....NEED I SAY MORE:)))))

From my recliner first thing this morning I could see the makings of a pink sunrise through our pine trees and it wasn't long before we had long fingery shafts of sunlight playing warmly across our living room floor into the kitchen.  A mighty fine way to start the day.

 MORNING'S SUNRISE CAST SHADOWS THROUGH OUR PINE TREES

 TURNING EAST OUT OF OUR PARK WE HEAD FOR THE SUN

 THOSE SNOWMOBILE TRACKS WILL SOON BE GONE

 HOW GREAT TO SEE FIELDS RE-APPEARING THROUGH THE MELTING SNOW AND HEY, DID YA SEE THAT BIG BLUE SKY:))

 SOAKING UP SOME MORNING SUNSHINE

An hour later, Pheebs and I headed east into the sunrise keeping an eye out for temporary Springlike conditions.  And we did find them.  Earth beginning to show through farmer's fields again as the snow continues to melt.  Rivers and streams are bulking up and breaking through their ice and snow boundaries.  It was sounds and gurgles of running water I could hear and I also thought I heard the chattering of a Northern Flicker Woodpecker in a nearby forest.  Even came across a number of trees already tapped with buckets awaiting sap to begin making maple syrup.  Seems a bit early to me but there are a number of signs suggesting an early Spring.  Thought I saw a Robin in our front yard later but it may have been a male Cardinal.  It was a shadowy fleeting glimpse.

 AREA CREEKS AND RIVERS ARE FLOWING AND GURGLING ALONG THEIR WAY AGAIN 

 PAILS COLLECTING SAP FROM THE MAPLE TREES

 THE MAPLE SYRUP SHACK IS BACK THERE IN THOSE TREES

Stopped at the Porters Hill Wild Bird Seed Co in Bayfield's Southend on our way home to pick up some more bird seed and I said to Steve the owner, "I'm going to either have to put the birds on a diet or I am going to have to get a job to pay for all the birdseed".  However, I have noticed these past few days and especially today there have been fewer birds at the feeders and that  I think is a direct result of the current milder temperatures.  Thursday is predicted to be 50F with lots of rain.  Adios snow:))

 AT THE BANNOCKBURN CONSERVATION AREA

 IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF OUR LOCAL SENIOR CITIZENS MAY HAVE LOST HIS BATMAN CAP 

 NO, THIS IS NOT A RAILROAD TRACK. IT'S AN ICE-COATED BOARDWALK SO PHEEBS AND I DIDN'T GO ANY FURTHER.....TOO TREACHEROUS

Facebook threw me another memory from our RVing days and this time it took me back 13 years ago at this time while we were boondocked at the foot of the Kofa Mountains in southern Arizona.  Castle Dome Mine Museum And Western Ghost Town  

 A VERY GENUINE CANADIAN CROP CIRCLE

 I THINK THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT BY NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME MOST IF NOT ALL OF THAT ICE AND SNOW WILL BE GONE

With my UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) hat back on I just finished a book about Lieutenant Colonel Philip J Corso an American Army officer.  The book by author Paola Harris entitled, Conversations With Colonel Corso if credible, blows more doors off all the usual UFO cover-up and denial stuff.     

QUITE A BUNDLE OF BRANCHES

GROANER'S CORNER:((  It was the first time they had flown together, and it was obvious by their silence that they didn't get along. After 30 minutes, the Captain finally spoke.  He said, "I don't like Chinese."  The First Officer replied, "Ooooh, no like Chinese? Why that?"  The Captain said, "You bombed Pearl Harbor. That's why I don't like Chinese."  The First Officer said, "Nooooo, noooo ... Chinese not bomb Pearl Harbour. That JAPANESE, not Chinese."  And the Captain answered, "Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese ... it doesn't matter. They're all alike."  Another 30 minutes of silence. Finally the First Officer said, "No like Jew."  The Captain replied, "Why not? Why don't you like Jews?"  "Jews sink Titanic."  The Captain tried to correct him, "No, no. The Jews didn't sink the Titanic, it was an iceberg."  "Iceberg, Goldberg, Rosenberg, Spielberg ... no mattah ... all same."

------------------------------------