BEN AND BRI...... A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL:))

A PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE TOOK PLACE HERE SATURDAY:))

I stepped out the door this morning about 8 & stepped right back inside again.  It was time to put on my warmer winter coat.  I'm not one of those people who doesn't mind the cold.  I do mind the cold so I generally dress myself on the warm side of doubt.

 

AUTUMN AT OUR HOUSE

Had some folks to pick & up & drop off with the company's mini-van & that took up the majority of the morning.  Leaves are beginning to color up  along the bush lines & the heavy dew on the work van's windshield suggested our first frost is not far away.  Noticed the farmers are in the fields with their combines taking off the beans now.  Corn will be next.

A quiet & cozy forested cottage by the lake in Autumn is truly a romantic setting.  It was here at DEER PARK LODGE'S 'Hutch' on Saturday where Kelly's youngest son Ben, proposed to his girlfriend Bri.  Ben & Bri have been together for over 3 years & it was nice he chose the Hutch to propose marriage on their short week-end get-away.  The Hutch is where Kelly's Mom & Dad liked to stay when they came to visit us from Spencerport NY.   I'm sure Ben's Grandpa Frank was there in spirit tending to the glowing embers in the fireplace.

  

 

BEN & BRI.........photo by KELLY:))

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Looks like Montana's Janna & Mike over at TIN TEE PEE/LOG CABIN got themselves a spiffy little Jeep Wrangler Sahara last week. It's going to fit right in with their new love of boondocking for sure.   We had been waffling back & forth on which Jeep top to take with us this winter but I think we have pretty much settled on the hard top.  After all the trouble I had this summer with trying to stretch, pull, push & finagle with the soft top it was soon apparent to me that I was never going to have the patience for all that.  I think the hard top will travel better plus gives us additional added security.  Too easy to slit a soft fiber top with a knife & reach in to grab a camera or something.  Less wind noise with the hard top as well.  If need be, I'm sure Kelly & I could remove the hard top if we really wanted to.  Only 2 windshield clamps & 6 easily accessible bolts to be undone before lifting the whole top off.  Kelly is strong like Bull!!

Seems every year we go south we have some kind of different BBQ cooking device.  A few years ago it was a Cobb Cooker, last year it was a Coleman something or other along with a gas Weber.  I think the Coleman has gone the way of the DoDo bird already & has been replaced with a BBQ Weber.  Haven't seen the Cobb around for awhile so it may have already caught the last train to Clarksville.  The charcoal powered BBQ Weber Kelly brought home this afternoon required assembly so as soon as we got it out of the box I was right at it with my trusty screwdriver like a true NASCAR mechanic assembling an 800 hundred horsepower turbo charged race car engine.  Five minutes into the job I was toast so you know who had to finish the assembly!!  

    

A little fairy must have come in the night & fixed our rig's toilet because I saw water in the bowl late Friday afternoon.  It hasn't held water since last March because the seal in the flapper mechanism needed replacing.  Turns out the little fairy was Lorne's RV here in Bayfield & he must have slipped over & fixed that sometime Friday morning when we were both working.  Kelly had called him a couple weeks ago & he said he would pop in & replace that seal next time he was in the neighborhood.   Don't ya just love when things happen smoothly like that.  I guess the next thing on the checklist will be 2 new tires for the front of the Motor Home.   By the time we're ready to head for the southwest in another month we'll probably have about $3 left in our bank account for gas to get there:((  Boy, this part time RV life is sure not for the faint of heart......or pocket book!!

     

A  FEW OF MY SOUTHWEST BIRD PALS

GROANER'S CORNER:   Shortly after a British Airways flight had reached its cruising altitude, the Captain announced:  'Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. Welcome to Flight 293, non-stop from London Heathrow to Toronto. The weather ahead is good, so we should have a smooth, uneventful flight. So sit back, relax  and... OH, MY GOD !'  Silence  followed!  Some  moments later the Captain came back on the PA;   'Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry if I scared you. While I was talking to you, a flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my  pants!'  One Newfie passenger yelled out.......'Lord tunderen jezis, you  should see the back of mine!'

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

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

BLOG BLOCK FOR A SECOND NIGHT:((

We have got us a nasty wet & cold rainy day going on here.  Aside from a short mobility van run this morning my day has been spent inside out of the weather.  A few days ago in Goderich I spotted an older sleek vintage looking green car parked in a driveway so stopped to take a few photos.  It turned out to be a Hudson Hornet & reminded my of the fellow I call Sarge who we met near McNeal, Arizona a couple winters ago.  Sarge has two lovingly restored Hudson Hornets he keeps in his garage & here's the blog with photos I did about that..... SERGEANT JOHN & HIS HUDSON HORNETS

(click the pics to enlarge)

RETIRED ROD is doing well since Friday morning surgery & has even managed to put a short post on his blog from the hospital room.

OUR MAXWELL BOY

For the second night in a row I have gone to the place in my mind where I generally store a smattering of blog topics.....and found it empty.  As a rule, if there are no current happenings there I can usually slip around the Cranium corner & pull some experiences out of the dusty old brain cell past.  Well, even that area seems to be experiencing some technical difficulties.   It may be a case of pre-trip doldrums or maybe just a lack of what I consider to be interesting blog material.  Blog ideas for me often start in the morning shower.  My brain seems to be at it's creative best when it has torrents of hot water flowing over it's head casing, but quite often by the end of the day the old sponge matter is just too tired with itself.   Not even an evening hot shower is going to kick it into gear.

A WEE ELF'S LAMP ON THE FOREST FLOOR

I guess it's just one of those night's again.  Maybe this too will pass.............

WE HAVE SOME VERY TALL BAMBOO GRASS HERE >>>>>>

GROANER'S CORNER

Last winter Bill met a woman while on vacation in the Keys and fell madly in love with her. On the last night of his vacation, the two of them went to
dinner at the Ocean View and had a serious talk about how they would continue the relationship.  "It's only fair to warn you, I'm a total golf nut," Bill said to his lady friend. "I eat, sleep and breathe golf, so if that's a problem, you'd better say so now.
"Well, if we're being honest with each other, here it goes," she replied.  "I'm a hooker."
"I see," Bill  replied, and was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "You know, it's probably because you're not keeping your wrists straight when you tee off."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

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

J.K. ROWLING.....YOUR WORDS MADE MY DAY:))

EACH ONE OF THESE BREAKWATER BOULDERS WAS BROUGHT HERE ON A FLATBED TRUCK

It has been one of those days that has left me at the end of it with not much to write about.  Some puttering in the Motor Home this morning followed by a short 2 hour drive with Town & Country's mini-van.  I'll be working both Saturday & Sunday as well.  We have had some pretty hefty RV related bills these past couple weeks with more to come so every little bit helps.  Sounds like I will be very busy Thanksgiving week-end as well with a lot of other drivers wanting the week-end off.  

        

WE'RE SLOWLY GETTING THE RIG ORGANIZED

Sounds like RETIRED ROD has come through his surgery just fine according to this message left on his site......... "This is Melissa, Rod's daughter in law. Just thought I would post an update here that Rod's surgery went well. He is out of recovery and in his room now - hopefully resting. I know he and Loyce really appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers."

              

A FEW PHOTOS AROUND THE GODERICH HARBOR  

Well, I've written 2 paragraphs in 2 hours so I guess that tells me something.  I'm not a big fan of the Oprah Winfrey show but Kelly had taped Oprah's interview with author J.K. Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter series of books.  I got caught up watching the interview tonight & was impressed with J.K. Rowling's honesty in describing the difficult times in her life.  She alluded to the fact that many people talk only about positive & successful things & too few people talk about the failures, the down times, the difficulties.  She talked about her moods & depressions.  And she talked about her determination.  A truly remarkable, very real & down to earth person.  At the end of the interview, under my breath, I said a silent 'thank you' to J.K. Rowling.  Your words made my day.

 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age, and call it 'Pumping Rust'.

You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

I've gotten that dreaded furniture disease. That's when your chest is falling into your drawers!

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

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

THE SURROUNDINGS WERE NOT FAMILIAR

I think there were 7 or 8 of us in the darkness & I had no idea who anyone was except for one fellow I may have gone to public school with.  He really didn't seem to be part of the group & his face was turned away.  The surroundings were not familiar & I had no idea where we were or what our purpose for being there was except that it seemed we were getting ready to go somewhere that was not good.  No one was speaking but there was a kind of communication.  It was all confusing.  In the distant haze I heard a small dog barking somewhere.  And then, the dog was much closer.  Without being able to determine where the barking was coming from I recognized a familiar furry voice.  In a kind of floating motion I was somehow lifted out of the group.  Blurred red lines emerged from the darkness & I was able to make out what appeared to be the numbers 214.  The small dog barked again.  My sleepy brain struggled to reach a conscious state.  Dimensions were changing.  Recognition factors began scrambling together enough to tell me it was our little Motormouse barking & the blurred red numbers were on my bed side table clock telling me it was 2:14 in the morning.  Slowly, the foggy realization came to me saying,  if you don't get your can out of bed right now, somebody is going to pee on the living room floor right in front of the patio door!!  Oh, twas quite a confused awakening I had myself this morning alright.  And quite an ungainly scramble down the hall to the living room too.

Weatherman had said we were in for another warm sunny day so figured it would be perfect for a photo tour on the motorcycle.  It wasn't to be.  Never did warm up a whole lot & much of the day was overcast.  My cold weather motorcycle days are well behind me now & that is just where they can stay.  No need to freeze my fanny off no more for no good reason!!

The day was spent puttering here & there with mainly Motor Home things.  Nothing major, just piddely little time consuming things.  Move this over here, carry that over there.  Put some glue on this & stuck this to that.  Cleaned another air vent screen, tightened a screw on a floor lamp, put some smaller bins into some bigger bins, spent half an hour looking for a piece of speaker wire that my brain refused to tell me where I had left it a week ago. I just generally chased myself around in circles determined to hang a 'productive' label on my day.

AUTUMN....IT IS A TIME OF MUSHROOMS

Kelly was quick to point out to me the 24 comments on our blog today.  It was kind of a 'told you so' pointing out too!!  We thank everyone for their understanding into Al's ever changing ways, moods & ideas.  Notice I said 'we' & not I:)) 

SUMMER'S FLOWERS ARE FADING:((

It has not been a good food week for Al.  Monday, Kelly made a cherry pie & after tasting it, didn't like it.  I thought it was totally delicious so ate the whole darn thing.  Tuesday, Kelly made a chocolate pie & after tasting it, didn't like it.  I thought it was totally delicious & am in the process of eating the whole darn thing.  Saturday, handyman Bruce is coming over to widen all our doors & reinforce our floor:((

GROANER'S CORNER:

A brunette suspects her boyfriend of  cheating on her, so she goes out and buys a gun.  She goes to his apartment  unexpectedly and when she opens the door she finds him in the arms of a  redhead.  Well, the brunette is really angry. She opens her purse to take out  the gun, and as she does so, she is overcome with grief. She takes the gun and  puts it to her head.  The boyfriend yells, "No, honey, don't do  it!!!  The brunette replies, "Shut up, you're next!"

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

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

INTERNAL PRESSURE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO BEAR!!

LAKE FREIGHTER TAKES ON A LOAD OF ROAD SALT AT GODERICH'S SALT MINE

It is only 4 days since my decision to drop our 'comments' section from the blog & already pressure has been brought to bear.  Not only is it coming from blog readers but it's coming from right here at home as well.  Kelly pointed out to me Tuesday how much all the comments meant to her & her
Mother when her Dad died a few weeks ago.  She reminded me that if I had turned off the comment section before that, those appreciated comments would not have happened.  Also received an email yesterday from my Aunt Jean in Florida who stated, "I really miss the comment corner that you removed. Hope a lot of other people feel the same, & maybe you'll put it back in someday.  It was so nice to read what people had to say about Harry's big move, & also the comments regarding Kelly's Dad passing away." 

 

PART OF THE GODERICH SALT MINE COMPLEX

And then I read RETIRED ROD'S 
blog this morning & he brought up another couple of points so here I am now, thoroughly
caught between a rock & a hard place.....again!!  Will I ever learn to stop wedging myself in there!!  What is a feller to do:((  Yes it is my blog but as it was pointed out to me, I am not the only one living here & the Bayfield Bunch constitutes more than just Al.   I was also told I am not the only one who reads the blog comments here either!!!.  Needless to say........I have taken a pounding!! 

Of course if I re-instate the comments section there will be those who will accuse me once again of doing this to attract attention to the blog & making people jump through hoops & over barrels.  And yes, I did receive an email Tuesday stating the 'hoop' aspect of that.  Let's just make one thing perfectly clear here (no, I did not get that from Obama) I have never done that, nor would I ever do that!!!!  Conclusion............. I am not a stubborn, narrow minded, unreasonable or hard headed person to get along with, therefore I will re-instate the comment section & let the cards fall where they may.  May peace & harmony reign once again in not only Blog Land, but here at home as well................10-4 darn it!!  
  

SALT IS BROUGHT UP A LARGE CONVEYOR BELT & THEN DROPPED DOWN THAT LARGE ROUND TUBE INTO THE SHIPS HOLD

And, on the lighter side.......I do not normally put slide shows, videos or You Tube stuff in my posts because it slows things down & plays havoc with readers dial up connections
& limited 5 Gig bandwidths.  But today I will add the following You Tube simply because I identify so much with the main red headed character plus it is my kind of humor:))  Also, at the end you will see two old codgers sitting in a balcony.  That is my Stratford buddy Jim & I ........in a few years of course:))  (speakers on)

I REMEMBER THIS SKIT WELL FROM THE DAYS I USED TO WATCH SESAME STREET (if you watch this, guess what tune is going to be rattling around in your head all day:))
 
Our weather turned out to be a complete reversal from Tuesday's rain.  Lots of sunshine with warmer temps had me in the Jeep about 10:30 this morning heading for the town of Goderich.  It's that time of year when vehicle license stickers have to be renewed.  Had the Motor Home & Santa Fe to do & from the time I walked through the licensing department door to the time I walked back out the door, only 5 minutes had elapsed.  Always a bonus when things go smoothly like that.  Took a drive down around the Goderich Harbor & spent an hour or so scrambling around taking a few pics.  It's a great time of year to be around the beach & breakwater areas because the noisy summer beach crowds are long gone.  Always glad to see crowds gone no matter where it is:))

I particularly liked what RETIRED ROD had to say in his post this morning when he wrote {QUOTE} "I feel as though I know you almost better than I would just sitting around a campfire.  There is something about writing our thoughts on a computer screen, that seems to mesmerize us into being almost more honest than we could be in person.  We explain our goofs, and dumb moves almost shamelessly and think nothing of it.  (I wonder if Rod was thinking of me here) Usually we get a bunch of comments, telling us not to be so hard on ourselves, and that the commenter's have done exactly the same thing.  Or encouragement and suggestions how to get out of our trouble.  So I have grown to really like blogging, and the friends it has brought me." {UNQUOTE}

THE SALT MINE EXTENDS UNDERGROUND FOR MILES BENEATH THE LAKE OUT THERE

Well said & I totally agree with Rod's thoughts.  Whether it be blogging, emailing, messaging or commenting, etc the written word has a way like no other of leveling the playing field.  It is by far my favorite form of communication.  I do not have an A type aggressive personality & when I come into head on contact with those types of people I feel very uncomfortable & characteristically will clam up & immediately work on an exit strategy.  Yet, if I were in email contact with the same person I would feel much more comfortable.  It is one of the things I like so much about blogging.  A person can sit down in the comfort of their own home, compose their thoughts without interruption, intimidation or confrontation.  Words & paragraphs can be reworked, ideas clearly expressed, & emotions controlled.  For people like myself, honesty is much easier in written form.  Emotions are easier to express & I find it much more pleasant to meet & get to know new people with my keyboard.  But, put me in a room of strangers & I am toast.  Drop me into an RV rally setting with all it's social pressures & I am more than just toast.....I am burnt toast with mud on it!! 

 

THAT LONG CONVEYER BOOM IS FOR OFF-LOADING THE SALT

So, when Rod wrote about probably getting to know people better than just sitting around a campfire, that struck a chord with me.  And it struck a another chord when he said, "there is something about writing our thoughts on a computer screen, that seems to mesmerize us into being almost more honest than we could be in person."  Well Rod, I know exactly what your talking about.........And a big 10-4 to all that too!!

A SLIGHT MIST IN THE MORNING AIR

GROANER'S CORNER:((  My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table.  I asked her, "Do you know him?"
"Yes," she sighed,  "He's my old boyfriend.... I understand he took to drinking right after we
split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn't been sober since."  "My God!" I said, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"
And that’s when the fight started Officer!!
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

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