ANOTHER DECK DAY WITH SOME YARDWORK THROWN IN TO KEEP ME FROM SEIZING UP

WITH A FEW PIECES OF FURNITURE THE DECK IS STARTING TO COME INTO IT’S OWN

Found a few outside chairs and a wrought iron table to set on the new deck to give it a bit of hominess.  Un-hooked the utility trailer from the Jeep and Pheebs and I headed off to Goderich to pick up a few things and wash the Jeep.  No carrot muffin this morning.  In fact no carrots, celery, lettuce, or apples in my morning shake either.  Also, what I had for supper tonight will be the last solid food I’m allowed to have until sometime around noon Tuesday.  Only certain fluids Monday.  Tuesday morning I check into the Alexandra Marine Hospital in Goderich for a procedure I like many other folks have been avoiding for years.  ‘Eeeee Gads and ‘Holy Garden Hose Batman’!!

A FEW REFLECTIONS IN THE GODERICH HARBOR THIS MORNING

A BIG OLD RUSTY ANCHOR ON THIS LAKE FREIGHTER TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT AT THE SIFTO SALT MINE

AND HERE’S A RARE SITE IN OUR GODERICH-BAYFIELD AREA…..PEOPLE ON HORSEBACK

A short walk in the doggy area at the south end of Goderich’s Rotary Cove and Pheebs and I were on our way back to Bayfield.  Bruce was already busy working on the deck’s gate.  Other than holding a few boards here and there I kept myself moving with yard work.  It’s when I stand still for any short length of time that my lower back and legs hurt the most.  If I can get myself to sit down for 10 minutes it’s a big help.  Frog pond pump is up and running and we have water tumbling down the rocks of our little waterfall.  Raked up more pine needles and tried to keep myself moving despite the aches and pains.  Moved the Motorhome ahead with the intention of washing it but ran out of energy so hope to get that done sometime Monday.  I got it coated in salt again a couple weeks ago when I had to take it into Bayfield for propane.

DUE TO MORE COLD DAMP AND RAINY WEATHER HEADED OUR WAY I AM HOPING TO GET THE RIG CLEANED UP ‘AGAIN’ BEFORE THE CRAPPY WEATHER GETS HERE

OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW BY NOW WHO THAT HAPPY SMILING FACE BELONGS TO

SURE HELPS TO HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB…..WHEN I BUILT THE ORIGINAL DECK TO THE LEFT ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO I THINK I DID IT WITH A HAMMER AND A SCREWDRIVER

THAT’S ME ‘PEDRO JUAN JOSE ESCONDIDO’ HANGING ONTO THAT RAILING TRYING NOT TO FALL OVER IN A HEAP

Bruce wrapped things up around 5 o’clock and will be back later this coming week to finish up the last of the lattice work.  I was sure way out of whack a few days ago when I said the deck was  already about 80% done at that time.  I should have said it was 50% done.  I had forgot about the gate installation and all the lattice work.

I SOMETIMES WONDER IF BRUCE AT ONE TIME WORKED AS A CLOWN FOR THE BARMUM AND BAILEY CIRCUS SOMEWHERE

NOT ONCE TODAY DID I HEAR HIM SAY ‘I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP’

SPOTTED THIS RED BELLIED WOODPECKER OUTSIDE OUR SUNROOM WINDOW EARLIER THIS EVENING

When Bruce’s work is done mine will begin.  I have to figure out a new ground scheme for the area directly behind and to one side of the new deck.  Flowerbeds will have to be relocated, rocks and patio stones moved and grass has to be dug up.  Now all that is something I can do and do look forward to doing it:))

I PLAN TO CHANGE THAT WHOLE AREA SOMEHOW

IT WAS TIME FOR SOME BACKYARD CHANGES ANYWAY

STILL A BIT OF LATTICE WORK TO FINISH UP

OUR OLD GATE IS SECURELY IN PLACE AND WE MIGHT CONSIDER PAINTING IT IN SOME WILD SOUTHWEST COLORS

FLOWERING CLEMATIS VINES SHOULD SOON BE CLIMBING UP THAT LATTICE WORK AND I PLAN TO PLANT A FLOWER BOX OF MORNING GLORIES ALONG THERE AS WELL

<<< THIS OLD WEATHERED UMBBELLA MAY OR MAY NOT STAY

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The Redneck Oil Change Checklist::
1. Go to O'Reilly auto parts and write a check for $50 dollars for oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and scented tree.
2. Discover that the used oil container is full. Instead of taking it back to O'Reilly to recycle, dump in hole in back yard.
3. Open a beer and drink it.
4. Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
5. Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
6. In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
7. Place drain pan under engine.
8. Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
9. Give up and use crescent wrench.
10. Unscrew drain plug.
11. Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil; get hot oil on you in process.
12. Clean up.
13. Have another beer while oil is draining.
14. Look for oil filter wrench.
15. Give up; poke oil filter with screwdriver and twist it off.
16. Beer.
17. Buddy shows up; finish case with him. Finish oil change tomorrow.
18. Next day, drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car.
19. Throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18.
20. Beer. No, drank it all yesterday.
21. Walk to 7-11; buy beer.
22. Install new oil filter making sure to apply thin coat of clean oil to gasket first.
23. Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
24. Remember drain plug from step 11.
25. Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
26. Hurry to replace drain plug before the whole quart of fresh oil drains onto floor.
27. Slip with wrench and bang knuckles on frame.
28. Bang head on floor board in reaction.
29. Begin cussing fit.
30. Throw wrench.
31. Cuss and complain.
32. Clean up; apply Band-Aid to knuckle.
33. Beer.
34. Beer.
35. Dump in additional 4 quarts of oil.
36. Beer.
37. Lower car from jack stands
38. Accidentally crush one of the jack stands
39. Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during step 23.
40. Test drive car
41. Get pulled over; arrested for driving under the influence.
42. Car gets impounded.
43. Make bail; get car from impound yard.
Money Spent:
$50 parts
$12 beer
$75 replacement set of jack stands; hey the colors have to match!
$1000 Bail
$200 Impound and towing fee
Total: $1337

A SHORT MORNING DRIVE, MORE PROGRESS ON THE DECK AND JUST PLUM TIRED IT IS I AM

WELCOMING SIGNS OF SPRING

With mornings first rays of sunlight  poking through tall pine trees I knew Pheebs and I had better get on out there and soak us up as much of that magic stuff as we could.  We had Libby’s wheels rolling before 8 a.m.

ALONG LAKE HURON’S SHORELINE WHERE LAND MEETS WATHER A LONG NARROW CLOUD BANK ATTESTS TO THE DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE BETWEEN THE TWO

IT’S A STRANGE SHADOW LIBBY CASTS IN THE MORNING’S LIGHT

It wasn’t a long drive we took ourselves on but we did soak up as much April 1rst countryside as we could.  Knowing Bruce was coming around 10 to work on the deck we had ourselves back home by 9:30.

OUT AROUND THE HULLETT MARSH

WE LOVE OUR RURAL FARMLANDS HERE IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Bruce is a steady worker and I wish I had half as much energy and patience as he does.  Deck and railings are all but done and Sunday morning he will be back to work on installing a gate and some lattice work around the deck’s bottom. 

ON NO I HOPE BRUCE DOESN’T SEND ME INTO TOWN TO GET A BOARD STRETCHER

We wrapped things up around 5 o’clock and what a relief it was to come inside and sit down in the cozy warmth of our house.  Pancakes with real maple syrup and sausages for supper really hit the spot.  And how nice to finally crumble into my recliner and give my legs and back a rest.

I THINK SOMEBODY GOT A HOLD OF MY CAMERA AGAIN

OKAY SO RIGHT UP THERE YOU USE A RHINO WRENCH TO NAIL THE DIGGLE HOOCH TO THAT BOARD-O-MAGATOR HANGING FROM THE HOOFENBEAR ARCH AND………………….

  

‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M TELLING YA’? ….. “NO, WHAT’S A HOOFENBEAR’??

NOTICE THE DENT IN THE FRONT OF MY HAT…..I GOT THAT WHEN I TWICE WALKED INTO THAT BROWN 2X4 RAILING

I CAN HEAR BRUCE TALKING BUT I’M TOO INTENT ON REEKING HAVOC ON THAT 2X4 TO HEAR ANYTHING HE’S SAYING!!

With my legs and back hurting again it was a long day.  I think this steady cold and damp is overpowering even my prescription arthritis medicine.  Tired tonight folks and just need to go lay down for awhile.

THE SAME BUNCH OF CROCUS’S IN OUR BACK YARD CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AGAIN WHEN I SAW A SMALL HONEY BEE BUSILY BUZZING ABOUT

I HADN’T NOTICED THE TINY YELLOW FLOWER THERE A COUPLE DAYS AGO

GROANER’S CORNER:((

1. "Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and
remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines."
2. "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation, and, in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with you with our compliments."
3. "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."
4. And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Delta airlines is pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
5. Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate.

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How many mystery writers does it take to change a light bulb?  Two, one to put it almost all the way in and the other to give it a surprising twist at the end.

ANOTHER CLOUDY DAMP DAY BUT PHEEBS AND I DID MANAGE TO GO PICK US UP SOME LUMBER

Second verse same as the first.  Well almost except we didn’t get the all day rain today we had Thursday.  Found it hard to interest myself in going somewhere this morning but go somewhere we did.  Needed a few additional pieces of lumber for the deck and a couple of those pieces were 12 footers so I finally talked myself into going outside and hooking up the utility trailer.  Pheebs and I were off once again to Langford Lumber in Clinton.  No coffee and muffins though as we loaded up our lumber and headed straight away back home again.  With Saturday calling for partially sunny skies Bruce and I had determined Saturday would be the best time to finish up the deck project.

With it being very damp outside today I pretty much stayed inside reading and eating too much.  My cameras never moved and at times I myself seemed to move even less.  Lots of outside things to do but no enthusiasm to get outside and do them.  Tonight’s photos are from my 2016 files.

Happy to say since resuming my Arthrotec arthritis medicine my legs and lower back are once again feeling much better.  I have an appointment with my Nurse Practitioner this coming Wednesday so we’ll see what we can do to keep me mobile.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( An overweight business associate of mine decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.   One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake. We all scolded him, but his smile remained cherubic.   "This is a very special coffeecake," he explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, `Lord, if you want me to have one of those delicious coffeecakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery.'  "And sure enough," he continued, "after the eighth time around the block, there it was!"

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After a long, dry sermon, the minister announced that he wished to meet with the church board after the service. The first man to arrive was a stranger. You misunderstood my announcement. This is a meeting of the board, said the minister.
I know, said the man.  If there is anyone here more bored than I am, I’d like to meet him.