ALL 3 OF US IN THE JEEP THIS MORNING AND ONE OF US CAME HOME SPIFFIER THAN THE OTHER TWO

Shortly after 10 this morning all 3 of us piled into the Jeep and with windshield wipers flapping we made our rainy way to Clinton Ontario.  Instead of appointments for either Kelly or I for a change it was Pheebers turn and she was headed for Snips & Clips.  Had been awhile since she had a good spiffing up and this morning was it.  Snips and Clips owner Natalie said to come back in about an hour and a half.

ARE YOU SURE WE’RE JUST STOPPING HERE FOR A HAMBURGER MOM??

With well over an hour to kill we figured it was a good time for a bacon and egg breakfast treat so off to Kates Station we headed just south of Clinton.  Good brekky of course but with more time to put in I drove Kelly around to a few stores for a little browsing afterwards.  Browsing for her that is as I stayed in the Jeep and held the fort down which was fine because there wasn’t much else to do on a grey overcast rainy morning anyway and browsing isn’t one of my favorite things to do.

WOW LOOK AT THE HUGE SNOW BANKS IN BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

THEY EVEN HAD TO BRING IN A BIG CONVEYER BELT ASSEMBLY TO GET ALL THAT SNOW OF THE STREETS

OKAY OKAY SO IT WASN’T SNOW BUT IT IS SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH SNOW AND ICE….THAT IS A HUGE PILE OF ROAD SALT FROM THE GODERICH SIFTO SALT MINE AND IT’S BEING STORED HERE IN VANASTRA ONTARIO JUST A COUPLE MILES SOUTH OF CLINTON…18 WHEELERS WERE BRINGING IN LOADS AND LOADS OF THE STUFF AS WE WATCHED

  

SPOTTED SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THESE 3 OLD TREES STANDING IN A ROW ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BIG SALT PILE

THE TREES HAVE BEEN CARVED INTO VARIOUS CRITTERS

  

KELLY ALSO DROPPED A DVD OFF AT THE OLD CLINTON LIBRARY

It was shortly after 12 when we picked up our furry little Darlin and she was so ready to be picked up too.  She was already in the front window with paws up on the sill looking out watching and waiting for us.  What a special little Sweetheart she is.  Think I’ll call her Fluffy now because that is just the way she looks.  From Clinton we all three sloshed our way back home. 

HERE’S WHAT WE SAW WHEN WE PULLED INTO THE DOG GROOMERS….PHEEBS WAS OBVIOUSLY READY AND WAITING FOR US:))  A SONG CAME TO MIND RIGHT AWAY AND IT WAS A SONG BY PATTI PAGE BACK IN 1952.  CAN YOU GUESS THE SONG…..

PATTI PAGE

Worried that my newly planted Morning Glories might get drownserated from all the steady rain I busied myself moving all the pots into the carport.  Our newly installed rain barrel is on double duty overdrive.  A lot of flooding being reported from various parts of southern and eastern Ontario and we still have another day or so of rain to go.   And they are still calling for possible snow showers in the Toronto area on Sunday.  Maybe here too.  Our thermometer today hung around the 42F mark.  And as I post this tonight it is still raining!!

IMAGINE KELLY’S SURPRISE THIS MORNING WHEN SHE LOOKED OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW AND SAW 2 CANADA GEESE ON OUR SHED ROOF ABOUT 20’ AWAY

I THINK WITH ALL THE RAIN EVEN THE GEESE WERE LOOKING FOR HIGH GROUND

Yes it's true I do experience difficulties with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)  A couple readers have commented on me possibly being affected by it and I have to agree with them.  Not officially diagnosed with S.A.D. but most symptoms certainly do apply in my case and especially the Fall and Winter symptoms described in the above link.  It's like being on an emotional roller coaster.  On rainy days it's not uncommon for me to  go plummiting to the bottom of the track while sunny days I generally rocket to the top.  It's not necessarily a hard and fast rule but the pattern is there and I can definitely see and feel the affects of my mood swings and long time readers I’m sure have noticed this as well.  On gray days my posts have a tendency to be more introspective, a tad negative even ranty and critical at times.  On the other hand when ascending or at the top of the roller coaster loop my posts lean toward the light and bouncy side with flashes of humor hear and there.  They can take on a happier positive air.  I guess it's the reason my posts are not always the same day after day and I think in the grand scheme of things that is probably an Okay thing not only for myself but readers as well.  

A FEW MORE PHOTOS FROM SUNNY WEDNESDAY SHOW HOW WET THINGS HAVE BEEN BY THE NUMBER OF MUSHROOMS IN MONICA’S LAWN

WITH COLDER WEATHER POURING INTO THE AREA LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THE TULIPS IN OUR FRONT YARD CLOSED UP EARLY

WITH ALL THIS SPRING’S RAIN THIS AZALEA IS LOOKING THE BEST IT EVER HAS

WITH A GREEN BACKGROUND OUR SAND CHERRY LEAVES ARE GIVING THE YARD A CHRISTMASY LOOK

AND WE HAD BEES IN THE AZALEA BLOSSOMS AS WELL

Not everyone is bothered by this seasonal affective disorder thing I guess but I do think a lot of us are to some degree.  Probably far more than let on I suspect.  Traveling south each winter has been a huge help to me as well as Kelly and I try hard not to think about the time when we will once again be stuck inside having to sit out those long cold and gray miserable rainy/snowy winter days.

WITH ALL INCLEMENT WEATHER UPON US AT THE MOMENT I WILL WRAP UP TONIGHT’S POST WITH A FEW LOVELY MAGNOLIA BLOSSOMS FROM OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR MONICA’S MAGNOLIA TREE ACROSS THE ROAD….TOOK THESE PICS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

GROANER’S CORNER:((   A man goes out and buys the best car available in the US or Europe, a 2017 Ultra-Super Turbo Charged thing of beauty. It is the best and most expensive car in the world, and it runs him close to a million dollars. He takes it out for a spin and, while doing so, stops for a red light. An old man on a moped, both looking about 90 years old, pulls up next to him. The old man looks over the sleek, shiny surface of the car and asks "What kind of car ya got there, sonny?". The dude tells him and adds that it cost nearly a million dollars.  "That's a lotta money!" says the old man, shocked. "Why does it cost so much?" "Cause this car can do up to 320 miles an hour!" states the cool dude proudly. The old man asks "Can I take a look inside?" "Sure" replies the owner. So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Leaning back on his moped, the old man says "That's a pretty nice car, alright!" Just then the light changes, so the guy decides to show the old man what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 320mph. Suddenly, the guy notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer Whhhoooooooooossssshhhhhh! Something whips by him! Going maybe three times as fast!
The guy wonders "what on earth could be going faster than my Ultra Super Charger" Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming toward him.
Whooooooooooosh! Goes by again! And, it almost looked like the old man on the moped! Couldn't be thinks the guy. How could a moped outrun a Turbo BeepBeep? Again, he sees a dot in his rearview mirror! WhoooooooshhhhhhhhKa-BbbbblaMMMMM! It plows into the back of his car, demolishing the rear end. The guy jumps out and discovers it is the old man! Of course, the moped and the old man are hurting for certain. The guy runs up to the old man and asks "You're hurt bad! Is there anything I can do for you?" The old man painfully replies "Yeah. Unhook my suspenders from the side-view mirror on your car will ya!!"

COLD RAINY DAYS ARE ONCE AGAIN UPON US:((

The only outing for Pheebs and I today was a short trip to Bayfield’s Foodland grocery store this morning and that was it.  No coffee, no muffin.  Our expected rains began shortly after noon and at time of publishing this tonight it hasn’t stopped.  Not a hard rain but a steady non-stop rain.  Photos are from our Wednesday morning drive through the Hay swamp.

Spent the biggest part of my day tucked into the cozy warm corner of our sunroom reading.  One might think I would spend a lot of time on the computer on these cold damp rainy days but not being a Gamer or a You Tuber person the majority of my computer time centers around my blog and if I’m not tinkering with that then I’m mostly off doing something else. 

GROANER’S CORNER:((

Hollywood Squares Great Answers from 1960's TV

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A.. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.

Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.

Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

A MORNING GLORY MUFFIN MORNING AND A DRIVE THROUGH THE HAY SWAMP

MORNING JOGGERS ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER NEAR THE HARBOR MOUTH

With a few filtering shafts of morning sunlight piercing through our tall pine trees Pheebs and I were literally falling over each other getting outside and making a dash for the Jeep this morning.  With 3 days of predicted solid rain beginning Thursday I knew we needed to absorb as much sunlight today as possible to see us through the dark cold rainy days ahead.  Would you believe they are predicting possible snow showers for Sunday.  I'm sure there are people out here who are in the same frame of mind from one day to the next whether the sun is shining or not but I am definitely not one of them.  Just as well I suppose or I would no doubt end up being a flat line boredom case.

NOTICED THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE FLOATING DOCKS ALREADY IN PLACE DOWN IN BAYFIELD’S HARBOR….LAKE HURON IS OUT THERE ON THE HORIZON

ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO WILL FIND LOTS OF SAILBOATS MOORED ALONG HERE

WORK REBUILDING THE WHARF ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER IS PROGRESSING RIGHT ALONG

With blue skies overhead and happy little birds chirping in the trees I loaded up the little Spooger Buns and we headed off into Bayfield to have us a look down around the harbor.  Noticed most of the sailboat docks are already in place and found it interesting to see how the pilings are put into place which the floating docks are later attached to.

WATCHED THIS ORANGE MACHINE MANEUVERING THE FLOATING BARGE IT’S SITTING ON INTO PLACE

HE USES THE MACHINES LONG ARM TO PUSH AND PULL THE BARGE AROUND

IT’S A LITTLE SCARY WATCHING THIS FELLOW DRIVING THAT HEAVY MACHINE AROUND ON THAT SLIGHTLY TIPSY BARGE

I WAS HOPING THAT LIME GREEN VEST THIS FELLOW IS WEARING IS A LIFE PRESERVER

WHEN THE MACHINE OPERATOR GETS THE BARGE WHERE HE WANTS IT HE POUNDS THOSE TALL POSTS DOWN INTO THE RIVER BOTTOM TO ANCHOR THE BARGE

THOSE STEEL POSTS ON THE BARGE ARE WHAT THE MACHINE PICKS UP AND POUNDS INTO THE RIVER BOTTOM FOR THE FLOATING DOCKS TO FASTEN TO

MUST ADMIT i DON’T ENVY THIS FELLERS JOB….ONE WRONG MOVE AND HE COULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER IN SECONDS

Wednesday's Morning Glory muffins were just minutes hot out of the oven at Bayfield's Charles Street Cafe and Pizzeria when Pheebs and I stopped by about 8:20 this morning.  Always great muffins and coffee here and whenever heading south out of Bayfield on one of our morning Jeep rides this is my 'go-to' place to get the day started off on the right foot.

‘OH-NO’ THE MORNING GLORY MUFFINS AREN’T ON THE COUNTER YET

I ASKED JAN AT THE CHARLES STREET CAFE’ WHAT A ‘BAYFIELD FOG’ WAS AND SHE SAID IT’S AN ‘ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA WITH A SHOT OF WHITE CHOCOLATE PLUS STEAMED MILK’  SHE DID TELL ME HOW IT’S MADE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT MY MEMORY IS LIKE

As usual we didn't really have a destination again so just kinda ambled out of town in a southeasterly direction poking along the country roads simply enjoying the marvelous weather.  A photo here a photo there.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT STORIES THIS OLD ‘CLASS A MOTORHOME’ COULD TELL….NAME ON IT SAYS ‘THE MOTHERSHIP’

THIS RIG SITS AT DJ’S AUTO PARTS AND SALVAGE EAST OF ZURICH ONTARIO

HEY I WONDER IF THAT’S MY OLD 1985 PONTIAC FIERO UP THERE ON THE ROOF

IT’S A GOOD THING I DON’T LIVE ON THE BABYLON LINE OR I’M SURE ONE OF MY READER’S WOULD SOON BE CRAWLING UP AND REPLACING THAT SIGN WITH THE ‘BABBLE-ON LINE’

A few miles west of Exeter Ontario is the Hay Swamp and that is where we found ourselves about an hour later.  With all the recent rains the swamp was truly swampy.  Always lots of photo ops here if one has an eye and an interest for it.  Usually a heavy infestation of mosquitos flying about but with recent cold weather we were actually able to stop alongside the road and get out without being set upon by hordes of the flying menace.  With bad weather ahead I took extra photos today to tide me over being stuck in the house again.

SPRING TIME IN THE HAY SWAMP WEST OF EXETER ONTARIO

DOGGY IN THE SWAMP AND IT’S THE VERY FIRST TIME OF EVER I HAVE SEEN HER WITHOUT HER USUAL HAPPY FACE ON

NICE NOT TO HAVE SWARMS OF MOSQUITOS IN THE AIR

I'm thinking it was around 10:30 when we arrived back home and rolled into our driveway.  Bruce was here finishing up an overflow pipe on our rain barrel and with that in place now it completes the whole deck and rain barrel project.  Excellent job Bruce and a big thank you.  I can’t even imagine the mess I would have out there right now had I attempted to do this project myself.  It’s always important to know one’s weaknesses.

WHEN PHEEBS ROLLS OVER ON HER BACK LIKE THIS IT MEANS SHE WANTS A TUMMY RUB…..SHE GETS ABOUT A DOZEN TUMMY RUBS A DAY

Energized by today's sunshine I didn't waste any time getting on with our back yard project.  Boy oh boy I just love playing in the dirt making and planting things.  Heavy patio stones to move and relocate and luckily my left arm continues to heal well.  I just have to be careful in how I move it.  Sore right wrist seems to have completely healed already so my moaning and groaning complaining time has been substantially reduced.

I THINK I FINALLY HAVE THE BACKYARD GATE ENTRANCEWAY FIGURED OUT

Driving along in usual thought this morning I got myself to thinking about Tuesday’s post and my mentioning how music affects me.  Here's how I have it figured out.  Music from the mid 40's to the mid 60's is happy music for me with nothing but pleasant memories.  From the mid 60's right up to late 1979 was a dark period for me and it is the music from that time frame which still to this day so emotionally affects me.  But it’s also some of my very favorite music.  Contrary to some I loved the Disco era. From late October 1979 until sometime in early 1982 I literally overnight turned my back on music and never listened to a thing, nothing.  I was newly sober in late 79 and one of the things about my sobriety was to get myself away from music for awhile.  I had a lot healing to do and a lot of old memories to keep at bay. 

It was the Dire Straights 'Sultans Of Swing' that finally broke through my self imposed non music fog and hauled me back out into the wonderful sunshine of sound again and from that day to this I've never been more than a few hours away from listening to my beloved music.

MAYAPPLES

Loved the 80's music.  So many great groups, so many great sounds.  I'm not a big fan of today's pop music but that's Okay because my listening pleasure has evolved over the years to where I much prefer the newer instrumental ambient electronic stuff now.  No words, just instruments and oh how I love what extremely creative musicians and technicians are now able to do with so many new and exciting sounds.  And it's not the music you hear over and over and over again on local radio stations.  Every day when I turn on my favorite ambient music sources I hear never heard before music.  Almost every piece of music is fresh, innovative, and best of all it's alive and it's new.  Love it, love it, love it:))

RED WING BLACKBIRD

GROANER'S CORNER:)) A kind of weird college professor asked his class a question: "If Philadelphia is 100 miles from New York and Chicago is 1060 miles from Philadelphia and Los Angles is 2177 miles from Chicago,... how old am I?"  One student in the back of the class raised his hand and when called upon said, "Professor you're 44."  The Professor said, "You're absolutely correct, but tell me, how did you arrive at the answer so quickly?"  The student said, "Well professor, I have a brother; he's 22, and he's only half nuts."

MUSIC IS MY TIME MACHINE TO THE PAST

‘ANOTHER’ miserably cold, wet and windy day.  Never even went out of the house.  Flopped myself in front of the television, threw a blanket over me and stayed there.  Our only high point to the day was watching the (pre-recorded) 3 hour ‘2017 Inductees to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame’ show.  We had our sound system cranked to the tunes of Journey, ELO, Joan Baez, Yes, and Pearl Jam.  Oh how we both love those good old Rock n Roll tunes from an era long gone by.

I’m afraid I have become somewhat emotionally hardened over the years but there still are a few things that can move my inner self to tears and shake me.  One of those things is music from many years ago.  Music has always been so ingrained in my being and I am never far at any given time from it.  Although I have trouble remembering where I was or what I did a couple days ago my memory is sharp when triggered by music from as far back as the late 40’s.  Music for me is an instant time machine to the past and for that very reason I do not always choose to go there.  Too many memories are triggered, too many feelings, too many emotions.  I had a rather topsy-turvy life and one I don’t talk about much, not even to the few friends I have.  But oh the music through those turbulent decades bring back so many memories for me.  Happy memories, sad memories.  I can feel my eyes well up at times when I remember how different my life once was.   So much different than today.  I think of all my friends and all my buddies from decades ago and wonder where they all are now and did they make it out of the crazy world we all ran around in at one time.  I think of the good times and I think of the bad times.  And then I have to turn the music off and let my inner self settle down again.  It’s an era I’m glad I experienced but not one I would ever wish to go back to.  I do miss some of the good times but know where I am now is a much safer and a much better place for me to be………………..

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two caterpillars were crawling along a leaf when a butterfly flew past overhead.  One caterpillar turned to the other one and said: "You'll never get me up in one of those things!"