ONE WORD SUMS IT UP...'WOW'

GULLS ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER THIS MORNING WITH REFLECTIONS OF A NORTH SHORE BOATHOUSE ON THE WATER

If I thought Thursday morning was really nice I obviously hadn't met Friday morning yet.  One word sums it up, 'WOW'.  What a nice boost for everyone.  Reminded me of a mid-April Spring day.  However, it is the lull before the proverbial storm with rains beginning tonight making for the possibility of rain, freezing rain, and snow, Saturday.  And with all that there will be winds to blow it all around.

                             IT WAS ONE OF THOSE WINDOWS DOWN AND ARM OUT  KIND OF MORNINGS

On our drive into Bayfield this morning I noticed a large barge in the river loaded up with some big boulders and an orange digging machine making the transition from solid ground onto the tippy barge.  All went well and a small tug boat was soon lashed to the barge with a number of ropes.  It was interesting to watch the boat and barge combination get underway carrying two crew members.  With the orange machine operator in the machine and the other fellow in the tugboat, the two fellas worked together to get the barge and boat moving.  With the machine operator using the machines long digging arm to push away from shore and the tugboat guy applying power to the rear of the barge they managed to make a U-turn in the river and head towards the lake.  Curious to know where these boulders were being taken I watched as they made their way through the Bayfield River channel between the south and north piers.  Once clear of the piers, the barge and boat combo turned left and headed south along the shoreline about a quarter-mile offshore.  Last I saw of them they were still heading south to probably drop those big boulders off somewhere along the eroding shoreline.  I was unable to keep them in sight so I don't know how far south they went.

TRANSITIONG FROM SOLID GROUND TO THE TIPPY BARGE

SAFELY ABOART

LASHING THE BARGE AND 'CHUCKIE-JOE TUGBOAT TOGETHER

UNDERWAY

WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THE THE BARGE AND BOAT TURNED AROUND

OKAY, ALL STRAIGHTENED AROUND AND READY TO GO

THE MACHINE OPERATOR CLIMBS OUT OF THE MACHINE AND HOPS ABOARD THE TUG

MAKING THEIR WAY BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH HARBOR PIERS SCARING AWAY ALL THEFISHERMEN'S FISH

TURNING TO PORT (LEFT) AND HEADING DOWN THE LAKE

                                               A CREWMAN ON THE STERN CHECKS SOME EQUIPMENT

Pheebs and I cruised around Bayfield for a bit then headed a short distance out into the countryside where I remembered a bush lane alongside the road.  It was a perfect morning for a walk so that is exactly what we did when we reached the lane.  I'm always curious where these bush lanes lead so after parking the Jeep alongside the road we were off.  Did I mention what a beautiful gorgeous morning it was??:))  

ALWAYS NICE TO HEAD OFF DOWN A PATH WE HAVE NEVER WALKED BEFORE

I ALWAYS FEEL BETTER WHENEVER NEAR OR IN A FOREST

HMMMM, I THINK I SEE SOMETHING UP THERE ON THE RIGHT

SOMEBODY SURE HAS THEMSELVES A NICE RECREATIONAL GET-AWAY AREA

PHEEBS LIKES SCOUTING OUT NEW AREAS AS WELL

TINY CHAIRS MEAN TINY CHILDREN

TIME TO HEAD BACK TO THE JEEP

                                                                FOLLOW ME DAD I KNOW THE WAY

We were home somewhere around 10:30 and taking advantage of the exceptional weather I hauled out both the leaf rake and blower and proceeded to move a bunch of leaves around.  Refilled the birdfeeder, cleaned the rear deck eavestrough, and scuttled about doing a few other things I have already forgotten about.  

                                                                       FROSTY IS NEEDING SOME SNOW

I've been doing really well at staying away from sweets for the most part but Kelly had bought a Pecan pie and I decided to have just a sliver of a piece this morning.  I wasn't even half-way through that smattering of pie when the phone rang.  Kelly took the call and it was my diabetic nurse person calling from the Maitland Health Center in Goderich wanting to make an appointment to see me.  Now here's the question....how in the hell did she know I was trying to sneak a sliver of pecan pie!!!!!!!  Geeeezzzz eh!!  The appointment is for January 11th and I'm hoping my pecan pie slip will have worn off by then.  My weight is holding at 191 pounds.

                                                                  SEEN IN BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

And 10 years ago today we were in Bisbee Arizona:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The Captain called the Sergeant in. "Sarge, I just got a telegram. Private Jones' mother died yesterday. Better go tell him and send him in to see me."  So the Sergeant calls for his morning formation and lines up all the troops. "Listen up, men," says the Sergeant. "Johnson, report to the mess hall for KP. Smith, report to Personnel to sign some papers. The rest of you men report to the Motor Pool for maintenance. Oh by the way, Jones, your mother died, report to the commander."  Later that day the Captain called the Sergeant into his office. "Hey, Sarge, that was a pretty cold way to inform Jones his mother died. Couldn't you be a bit more tactful, next time?"  "Yes, sir," answered the Sarge. A few months later, the Captain called the Sergeant in again with, "Sarge, I just got a telegram. Private McGrath's mother died. You'd better go tell him and send him in to see me. This time be more tactful."  So the Sergeant calls for his morning formation. "Ok, men, fall in and listen up. Everybody with a mother, take two steps forward -- NOT SO FAST, McGRATH!"

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WE DIDN'T EXACTLY GET IT NAILED TO THE WALL JUST YET

                                            WE TRAVELED US SOME NICE QUIET ROADS THIS MORNING

For this time of year, it was probably one of the nicest days we could have had.  No snow on the ground, dry roads, clear air, sunshine, mid 40's temps with no wind.  It was my turn to drive today so Richard and I covered half a dozen or more gravely roads on our regular semi-monthly coffee and muffins backroad's tour.  Although we didn't exactly get 'the meaning of life' nailed to the wall just yet it was another few hours well spent and I'm sure sooner or later we will have this whole wild and crazy life thing all figured out:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((   An elderly couple was driving across the country. While the woman was behind the wheel, the couple was pulled over by the highway patrol.  Ma'am, did you know you were speeding? the officer said.  The woman, hard of hearing, turned to her husband and asked, What did he say?  He said you were speeding! the old man yelled.  The patrolman then asked, "May I see your license?"  The woman turned to her husband again, "What did he say?"  The old man yelled back, "He wants to see your license!  The woman then gave the officer her license.  I see you are from Arkansas, the patrolman said. "I spent some time there once and went on a blind date with the ugliest woman I've ever seen."  The woman turned to her husband again and asked, "What did he say?"  The old man replied, "He said he knows you!"

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LIKE MANY OTHERS MY PREDICTIONS ARE SOMETIMES RIGHT AND SOMETIMES WRONG

I'M GUESSING THIS LITTLE CHAP AS A PURPLE FINCH

While in Goderich Tuesday I washed the Jeep so of course rains came in the night and continued for a short while Wednesday morning muddying up the country roads.  It was a no-brainer.....stay on the pavement dummy.  So it was basically a short ride into Bayfield and back.  Checked out our usual spots like the harbor, main street, on-going bridge construction, and the new Tim Horton coffee shop site.  Won't ya'll be glad when that Tim Hortons coffee shop finally opens and I don't have to go on and on about it anymore.  And no more photos either!!  Yay team.  Oh the excitement of it all eh:))

LAKE HURON CONTINUES TO CHIP AWAY AT THE BEACHES PARKING LOT

I'M HOPING THAT BIG CRANE IS HERE TO BEGIN LIFTING THOSE WHITE STEEL BRIDGE GIRDERS INTO PLACE

WARM AND COZY CHRISTMAS WINDOWS IN THE BAYFIELD LIBRARY WINDOWS ALONG MAIN STREET

Had been a while since we popped into the Bayfield cemetery so we stopped in for a walk.  I hadn't thought about Christmas decorations in the cemetery but there they were on a number of stones.  It's a warm feeling to know departed loved ones are not forgotten at Christmas time.  It also left me with a sad feeling as well.

 Canada-us Border To Remain Closed Until Covid-19 Numbers Improve so says Canada's Prime Minister.

LOTS OF ACTIVITY HERE IN THESE PAST FEW DAYS

GAS PUMPS ARE IN AT THE ESSO GAS BAR

'HELLO'HELLO'?? YA, I'LL HAVE A LARGE DOUBLE DOUBLE AND HALF A DOZEN APPLE FRITTERS TO GO....'...WHAT?? WHAD'YA MEAN YOU'RE NOT OPEN YET'!!!!!!!!!!

Like many others, my predictions are sometimes right and sometimes wrong.  I was really wrong about the chaos I thought sure to happen on the very day and days following the American Presidential election over a month ago.  Had I been a betting person I would have lost money on that one.  However, I still believe there is big trouble ahead for America but just how much, where, by whom, and when, I don't know.

Just think, in another 12 days our daylight will once again begin to lengthen driving the darkness back by 2 minutes and 7 seconds each day thereafter until the third week in June.  Something to look forward to eh:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Confucius Is At It Again:: 

Confucius Say: "Man who drive like hell bound to get there." 

Confucius Say: "Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement."

Confucius Say: "Women who put detergent on top shelf, jump for Joy!"

Confucius Say: "Never argue with fool...he may be doing the same thing."

Confucius Say: "Best time to buy new mattress, at first sign of spring."

Confucius Say: "Adults are just wrinkled kids who owe money."

Confucius Say: "An old grave digger is called an Elderberry."

Confucius Say: "People who have gift of gab, not know how to wrap it up."

Confucius Say: "Time flies like arrow. Fruit flies like bananas."

Confucius Say: "A man who sits on tack gets point and will surely rise."

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THE MORE ONE READS THE MORE ONE WANTS TO KNOW

A clear cold 27F morning greeted us early and it was awhile before we edged up over the freezing mark.  No sunshine.  Goderich and back for Pheebs and I and that pretty much wraps up another early December day as far as getting out and going anywhere.

PHEEBS LISTENING FOR DEW WORMS

I am still sticking to my search for truth and common sense regarding the whole UFO phenomenon and have recently completed four additional books on the matter.  Not at all thinking of myself as any kind of a clever fellow I find I have to really concentrate on what I am reading as a lot of what I am reading is actually way over my head.  But I'm sticking with it, expanding my knowledge, keeping an open mind, and enjoying bits and pieces of information if and when they do come together for me.  Some of it is pretty bizarre and far out there and other stuff feels rock solid to me.  It's knowing what to take with a grain of salt and what to actually believe to be the truth.  And of course, therein lies the challenge.  The four books I've just completed are, The Man In Black...Author Unknown.  Some pretty bizarre theories here and especially in the last chapters.  Our Cosmic Journey by AB Forbes.  A scientific no-nonsense look at the known facts about our Universe.  If you have a mind for astronomical numbers you will like this one.  I don't have that kind of mind but I still enjoyed and learned something from this book.  From Outer Space To You by Howard Menger.  Well, like 'The Man In Black' this book is a mind stretcher and reading it with my skeptical mind I had to work hard at keeping things in perspective.  Could it happen??  Possibly, maybe, but I have no idea.  Somewhere In The Skies by Ryan Sprague.  A collection of people's UFO sightings and I believe this author's approach to the subject.  A good example of, 'where there is smoke there is fire'.  I am enjoying these books from various authors and their takes on the subject.  The more one reads the more one wants to know...........

GROANER'S CORNER:((   Donald MacDonald from Scotland went to study at an English university and was living in the hall of residence with all the other students there. After he had been there a month, his mother came to visit him (no doubt carrying reinforcements of tatties, salt herring, oatmeal and whisky).  “And how do you find the English students, Donald?” she asked.  “Mother,” he replied, “they're such terrible, noisy people. The one on that side keeps banging his head on the wall and won't stop. The one on the other side screams and screams all night.”  “Oh Donald! How do you manage to put up with these awful noisy English neighbors?”  “Mother, I do nothing. I just ignore them. I just stay here quietly, playing my bagpipes.”

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