SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS SOME DAYS ARE STONES

STORMY WATERS ON BAYFIELD'S BEACH

John Denver had a song years back called, 'Some Days Are Diamonds,' & the first few lines of the chorus goes... 'Some days are diamonds, some days are stones. Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone.  Sometimes the cold wind blows a chill in my bones. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones.'

A WET WALK ON THE PIER

Depending on our circumstances, our personalities, & our attitudes, it is generally possible to control what kinds of days we are going to have.....or want to have.  We are all responsible for our own feelings & depression is the power of negative thinking.  Some days are diamonds, some days are stones!!

BAYFIELD ALWAYS HAS A BUSY SUMMER HARBOR

It was a nice sunny morning in the neighborhood until the thunder boomers rolled in over the lake this afternoon.   I actually had a 3 hour mobility van run Tuesday with another one scheduled for Thursday morning.  Nice to be out & about doing something useful.  One of the main drivers has a month of holidays coming up shortly so I am hoping to have some constructively busy & positive days ahead of me.

FISHING BOATS ARE IN WITH THEIR CATCH OF THE DAY

Deciding what kind of car to tow behind a Motor Home can be a daunting task.  So many vehicles to chose from.  Four wheels down, tow dollies, automatic or standard transmissions, makes & models!!  For us the decision was easy, 4 wheels down & standard transmission.  Kelly & I are both old stick shift drivers from way back so that made the decision easier.  No transmission coolers, etc.  Honda CRV's were our first choice but good used one's were rare as hen's teeth & super expensive to boot.  Decided on a used 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe & have never looked back.  Only 3 things to remember before towing....1. Key on Acc---2. Emergency brake off---3. Gearshift in neutral.  That's all there is to it.  Great cars.  If your thinking of buying a Ford Escape though you might want to check out ROD'S blog first.  He is in the market for a new tow vehicle & has been doing some detailed research!!

WINDY DAYS ALONG THE SHORELINE

Kelly has been following the adventures of Pepper & her Mother traveling around the country in their Class B van.  They do get themselves into some tight spots occasionally so I have added them to our 'Blogs We Follow.'  They are, LITTLE HOUSE ON WHEELS.

A BAYFIELD VIEWPOINT OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON

AND BAYFIELD'S PIER IS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

GROANER'S CORNER:((  "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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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

JUST ANOTHER DAY

We had a heavy soaking rain in the night & today has turned out beautiful with sunny spring skies.  Other than taking the motorcycle for a run this afternoon it was just another day.

GROANER'S CORNER:((    Once there was a retired pirate so he decides to live with his brother.
The pirate walks up to his brothers house and knocks on the door and his brother answers the door and says, "Oh my gosh , what happened to your hand!?! "
The pirate said, "I lost it in a sword fight , but now I have a hook."
Then the brother said, "What about your leg?"
The pirate said, "A cannonball hit it , but now I have a peg leg ."
Then the brother said, "Well , what about your eye?"
The pirate said, "I got some dust in it ."
The brother said, "How could you lose your eye by just getting some dust in it?"
Then the pirate said, "It was my first day with my hook!!

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.

KEEPING TABS ON HAPPY RV FOLKS

Overcast days with a gentle rains can sometimes make for great photos.  Bright colors, especially yellows will stand out vibrantly against duller backgrounds.  No stark sunlight with contrasting deep shadows to contend with so photos appear softer with the overall even lighting.  Flowers can really stand out.  So, next time you have a gentle rain falling, grab your camera & raincoat before heading out the door.

<<<< YELLOW PRIMROSE

Not a lot of folks have more than one RV but Ivan does.  You might want to slip over to his site & have a look at his comparisons between the truck camper he took to Alaska last summer & the 5th wheel he just returned from the southwest with few days ago.   He had miserable stormy winter weather hot on his heels the last few days heading home & it chased him all the way right up into Canada.  IVAN & ROADTRIP 2010

SAND CHERRY BLOSSOMS

And check out two very happy RV'ers in Benson Arizona as they finally wrap up renovations to their Casita at the Saguaro SKP Co-Op Park there.  JERRY & SUZY are looking forward to spending many quiet cozy hours at their favorite computer work stations.  By contrast,  LAURIE & ODEL are holding on to their hats as nearby Mississippi tornadoes & heavy rains rock them in their Motor Home.  Laurie was on Facebook today saying it is the hardest & longest sustained rain she has ever seen.  Meanwhile, MIKE up there at the North Ranch SKP Park near Congress Arizona is so excited about their new sticks & bricks digs that he's just about beside himself.  Also noticed on Facebook today that MOTTY & PATTI have been traveling along Route 66 in Oklahoma & have now made it into Texas.  Motty has taken some nice pics along 66.  Lots of happy campers out there:))

  THE RAINS ARE GREENING UP OUR FRONT YARD

Over the years I have probably had about a dozen different photo accounts on the go at any one time.  Bubbleshare, Flickr, Smug Mug, Picasa, Photo Bucket, Webshots, & others that I can't remember.  And not remembering is not the best thing.  About 4 years ago I had downloaded the Flickr program, dumped a bunch of photos in it & then moved on to other things forgetting I had the program. 

PRIMROSE

A few weeks ago when I decided to enter 4 photos in the Bayfield Calendar contest I noticed they were using the Flickr program to host the entries.  No problem I thought, so dug out my old Flickr program & uploaded my 4 photos into the contest.  I didn't give any thought to all the photos I had loaded in there a few years ago so while browsing the recent Calendar entries on the Bayfield Flickr site this morning I happened to click on a link associated with my 4 photos.  Well, the link not only took the viewer to my 4 Calendar entries but it also took them to reams of other photos I had taken. 

KELLY & HER 'GRANDS'

In 2008 I had done a whole series of mundane photos of our house interior, exterior, & grounds for insurance purposes.  Anyway, to make a long story short I had to go through all those photos & change the privacy settings to make them, 'not for public viewing.'  So, all you photo bugs out there with multiple photo programs floating around in Cyberspace, you might want to go back & check out your settings & preferences.  And, about the Bayfield Calendar photo contest.  The contest closed April 22nd so I guess the judges are still deciding on winners for the upcoming calendar.

POND WALKER

And a shout out to TRENT & TERESA.  Thanks for the nice compliment guys & your checks in the mail:))  Glad your enjoying SOMA FM & Groove Salad.  Ambient  music, it's the only to fly....................10-4

DON'T BUG ME!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((   During a recent visit to my doctor, I asked him, "How do you determine whether or not a retiree should be put in an old age home?"
"Well", he said, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the retiree and ask him or her to empty the bathtub".  "Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
"No" he said. "A normal person would pull the plug.  Do you want a bed near the window?"

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

THUNDER BOOMERS ROLLED IN BRINGING WELCOME RAIN:))

  OUR DIGS IN THE SLIGHTLY FOGGY PINES 

Thunder Boomers rolled in about mid morning bringing with them a touch of lightning & a nice dump of much needed rain.  My newly planted cedar trees were especially happy.

<<< AMERICAN GOLD FINCH

Kelly slipped into work for an hour & then headed off to London for some of that browsing & shopping stuff.  The offer was on the table for me to go along but I graciously declined.  Why would I leave a quiet pine forest for the chaos of a large city shopping mall.  Nope, don't make no sense to me neither.

                              COWBIRD >>>>

I should probably get into the habit of changing the blog's header photo more often because every time I go to do it I can never remember how I did it previously.  I wait too long between changes & the brain's memory cells fail to retain the mental instructions.  I have a set of written instructions here on how to do it but it seems I always have to start over & figure it out from scratch anyway.  I have 3 different size monitors here & that blog header pic fits within the frame differently on each screen.  I based the size on our smallest laptop which fits the frame perfectly.  Hopefully it is not too big for whatever size monitor you are viewing it on.

A HEAVY MORNING DEW

And, before I forget for the third day in a row, the Bayfield Bunch welcomes new blog followers, 'happytrailsga.'  Nice to have you along folks & I hope my blog driving doesn't scare you away too soon.

Thought I would try out Twitter a bunch of months ago.  Tried to keep my attitude positive as I stuck with it for a couple months trying to make some logical sense out of what seemed to me a rather senseless program.  Clearly aimed at the younger generation & their obsessive need to continuously yak at each other about totally nothing.  I would put Twitter on the same level as texting when it comes to that yak obsession & can understand how those kinds of things in the hands of kids become totally out of control.  Sad to think so much of the world's valuable & irreplaceable energies & resources are used up by kids on electronic devices with nothing better to do that twit & text their friends with stuff like, "Well, I'm going over to Bills."  "Ok, just went out the door."  "Um like I just went down the steps man." "Oh I am so buzzed Dude."  "Just got into my Dad's cool car."  Bonus man, Snoop Dogs on the radio playing my totally awesome song Bro."  "Major volume vibes guys, can ya hear me now"..... LOL LOL LOL" "R-U-C-ing me yet man." Oooo, cool phone colors Geeker."  Arrrrrgggghhh!!!!

A LITTLE TOUCH OF RED IN THE GREEN FOREST

And it was 3 years ago this month we brought our 'new to us' rig home.  Thanks Ron...........   FOUR SEASONS PERFORMANCE

GROANER'S CORNER:((  There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his
congregation: "I have good news and bad news.  The good news is, we have
enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's
still out there in your pockets."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

OH GOODY GOODY GUM DROPS, NOW I CAN START COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WEATHER BEING TOO HOT

AMID THE SAILBOATS

How sweet it was to see the thermometer at 57F this morning at 7 a.m. as opposed to it's 30 & 31F readings the past few mornings.  Nice to feel that touch of humidity in the air & feel the warm morning sun peeking through the tall pine trees.  Any day now I will able to switch my semi annual complaining from, 'too cold' to 'too hot!!'  I knew it would be warmer today because the frogs were really chirping it up around the pond last night.  I still have not seen a single hopping green amphibian yet this year but when I cleaned the pond pump today there was evidence on the plastic water pipe of small egg clusters.  Could be snails.

The pair of geese on the larger pond across the road have abandoned their nest again for the third year in a row so we probably will not see any little furry goose guys paddling around in the water.  We think maybe a raccoon raids the nest & grabs the eggs.  Checkers woke me up last night around midnight barking at a raccoon that had come up on our deck & tipped over a container of birdseed.

OUR RED BREASTED GROSBEAKS ARE BACK

I drove the Santa Fe into Clinton last night for the final first aid class.  I noticed right away a big difference in the car's handling since the ball joints were replaced & new rubber put on all the way around.  Sometimes when things deteriorate slowly you don't notice it & gradually compensate for the deterioration.  Big, big, difference in handling.

The first aid class from 7 to 10 dealt with fractures, dislocations, slings, 1rst-2nd & 3rd degree burns, impaled objects, heat stroke, frost bite, splints, poisons, extruded eyeballs, & lots of other grizzly gruesome things.  Bottom line.......stay in bed every day, don't do anything or go anywhere to avoid all injuries.

Planted 3 more Emerald cedar trees out front today.  In hindsight, I wished we had just bought about a hundred cedars when we first moved here & totally ringed our property with greenery because now 7 years later we would have had a nice tall solid cedar barrier all around us.  Cardinals love thick cedars.....& so do I!!

AZALEAS

My Facebook comments last night were not directed at anyone specifically & were certainly not intended to offend anyone.  Just my thoughts on Facebook in general.  Lots of mighty fine folks out there but a lot of that stuff is not my cup of tea.  It's just that I have a habit of, 'getting things off my chest once & awhile!!'  Different strokes for different folks as the saying goes & not to worry Chef, I still got ya in the mix here:))

SPRING FLOWERS ALONG THE ROADSIDE

Another question about Nikon & Canon cameras a couple days ago.  I'm sure thousands of dyed in the wool brand loyal Canon & Nikon enthusiasts will disagree with me but I don't think any one company is better than the other.  Both have quality cameras with varying degrees of great quality in their many different product lines.  The only reason I chose Nikon a few years back was that I had always wanted a Nikon camera years ago in the 35mm days.  They were just about the top of the line camera at that time.  Since then Canon has made great strides & both companies are now equally competitive.  But, here's a few things that I have noticed over the past few years that might make me consider the Canon line of cameras in the future.

OUR FRONT PORCH AWAITS ANOTHER SUMMER

Whenever watching the news or nature specials I always pay particular attention to what camera's are being used.  I am seeing more Canons than Nikons.  The Astronomy folks use mostly Canon cameras & I think sports photographers favor the Canon line as well.  Also, if your looking to buy new or used lenses & cameras there seems to be far more Canon equipment out there to chose from than Nikon & I think the prices may be better too.  I don't have any stats or facts to back any of this up....just my opinion.

A SPRING DANDELION

GROANER'S CORNER:((  My wife's jealousy is getting ridiculous. The other day she looked at my calendar and wanted to know who May was.

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

JUST MY 'FACEBOOK' OPINION OF COURSE!!

A FROSTY MORNING THISTLE

Second half of our two part first aid course tonight so blog will be short.  Of course I said that a couple days ago about Tuesday's blog & then it just seemed to trudge on forever.

DEER PARK LODGE GROUNDS

Kelly headed off to Cambridge this morning to see some of her Grandkids that she hadn't seen before we headed west last October.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FRONT YARD BIRDS 

Same old, same old, here today with the continuing clean up & that was about it.

 

I THINK THIS LITTLE FELLOW IN OUR YARD THIS MORNING WAS AN EASTERN TOWHEE

Was saddend this morning to read about fellow RV Blogger RANDY & PAM'S young daughter-in-law Meghan passing away from cancer.  This was Meghan's blogsite....THE BEE'S KNEES.  I remember Randy sending out something about Meghan on Facebook a few times recently but I unfortunately never took the time to read it.

I have had Facebook for a bunch of years now & have become very resistant to all it's games, add on's, & numerous requests for this, that, & the other thing.  I don't join any groups, sign any petitions, buy any farms or cattle or whatever they do on all those silly Farmsville or Yoville, or Hooterville places, or whatever Ville lands on my desktop.  I'm not into joining political or religious groups or save the Alaskan Hippos groups.  I don't care if Rhinosaucerouses can't lay eggs & I don't have to have bouquets of flowers sent to me because it was my sister's uncle's great grandfather's birthday 6 weeks ago.  No, I am not an instant winner of anything & yes, I do believe I am from the planet Cyberschnozz.  So ,when any of this stuff pops up on my Facebook page I quickly dispatch it.  Sometimes something comes along that is real & of importance but out of habit I send it on it's way with barely a look see & that is how I probably missed the message Randy was sending out about his daughter-in-law recently. 

I think Facebook is a great communication tool & if used maturely & responsibly it is a definite plus for friends & families to stay in touch.  Notice I used the word, 'maturely.'  In my opinion it's too bad it is so chalked full of, & stuffed with, soooo much silly stuff but I guess Facebook's prime target market is all the teeny boppers out there so it is to be expected.  Guess that's where the maturity issue comes in.  Just my opinion of course & besides......I don't call myself an old Cursmudgeon just for nothing you know!!

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GROANER'S CORNER:((  The average woman would rather have beauty than brains because the average man can see better than he can think.

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.