NOW HOW THOUGHTFUL AND NICE WAS THAT

Thursday's greenery turned into Friday's whiteness with about 5" of snow coming down in the night.  It was quite a winter wonderland we awoke to this morning and instead of heading out in the Jeep first thing I ended up on the long wooden end of my snow shovel.  By the time I had my paths shoveled they were filling in again as the morning snow continued to fall.

 KELLY AND PHEEBS HEAD OUT ON THEIR SNOWY MORNING WALK

 THURSDAY MORNING

 FRIDAY MORNING

Finally cranked up the Jeep, clicked on the headlights, slipped it into four-wheel drive, and with the wipers keeping the windshield clear Pheebs and I headed out to see what we could see.  Our tracks down the road were the first ones in the new-fallen snow.  Visibility wasn't the best but I didn't plan on going too far anyway.

 HERE GO PHEEBS AND I LAYING DOWN SOME FRESH TIRE TRACKS IN THE SNOW

 OH-OH ITS KINDA BLUSTERY HERE OUT ON THE MAIN ROAD

 'JEEEEZZZZZ DAD ITS NOT LOOKING SO SWELL OUT HERE'

Just as we reached highway 21 a snowplow went by heading into Bayfield so we had a cleared road in front of us.  Being Christmas Day there wasn't any traffic anywhere so we had all the streets and roads around Bayfield to ourselves. We putted slowly along taking in Mother Nature's wonderful winter scenery marveling at all her creative wonders.

 LOOKING A LITTLE SNOWY ALONG THE BAYFIELD RIVER

 THERE WILL BE NO SKINNY DIPPING AT THE BEACH THIS MORNING

 NOBODY AROUND ON BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET THIS MORNING

For the first time we drove into the Esso/Tim Horton/Convenience Store complex.  The neon sign by the road was lit up but the lot wasn't plowed so I doubt the pumps were in operation yet.  We drove through the snow up to the front of Tim Hortons where I got out and took a couple pics through the door.  From what I could see the coffee shop was all set up and ready to go.  Only thing missing was the staff to brew up the coffee:))

 I LIKE THE COLORS

 YOU CAN SEE MY HAT REFLECTION LOOKING IN THE DOOR

 LOOKING BACK FROM TIM HORTON' FRONT DOOR

With winds picking up blowing the fluffy white snow around I figured I had better not push my luck and just get on back home while the getting was good.  Besides, I knew my paths would need to be shoveled out again and with the swarms of birds in our front yard, I knew the feeders would need replenishing again.  With this snowy weather upon us now those feathery little guys will be eating us out of house and home.

 I LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE PAINT THEIR FRONT DOOR NEAT COLORS

Due to the Covid thing going on Kelly didn't make it over to the usual Christmas bash at her daughter's place in Cambridge this year.  Wasn't a good day to be driving anywhere anyway with the way the weather was.  Best place to be was safe at home all warm and toasty.

 BACK IN OUR PARK I SEE SANTA HAD A SNOWY NIGHT

 REMEMBER THESE GUYS FROM EARLIER IN THE WEEK??

 WELL, HERE THEY ARE THIS MORNING

 LOOKS LIKE WE'RE FINALLY HOME AGAIN

 YEP, THAT'S OUR PLACE

 ROADS WERE A BIT SNOWY THIS MORNING

It was a quiet Christmas Day and that was quite fine with us.  Quiet is good in our lives now.  Too much snow for an afternoon walk in the woods so I shoveled out the path to the birdfeeders a couple more times.  Birds were happy.  Saw 4 male cardinals in the yard all at the same time.  A lot of little Juncos bouncing around on the ground picking up seeds as well.  Squirrels too.  I like helping all the little guys out:))

 MALE CARDINAL

 FEMALE CARDINAL

Last week one day, Kelly posted a picture on her Facebook that I really liked.  And so much so I told her so.  The picture spoke to me right away and I saved it to my laptop computer.  Imagine my pleasant surprise this morning when I opened a Christmas gift and there was the picture, all matted and framed.  Now how thoughtful and nice was that:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  As a little girl climbed onto Santa's lap, he asked her the usual question, "And what would you like for Christmas?"  The child stared at him open-mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped, "Didn't you get my text?"

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What do you call an old snowman?  A: Water

Q: What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?
A: A Christmas Quacker!

Q: What do you call a penguin in the Sahara desert?
A: Lost

Q: Why is the government like ancient Bethlehem?
A: It takes a miracle to find three wise men there.

Q: Why has Santa been banned from sooty chimneys?
A: Carbon footprints

Q: Which of Santa's reindeer has the best moves?
A: Dancer!

Q: What do you get if you put a bell on a skunk?
A: Jingle smells

Q: Why did nobody bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay?
A: They were two deer.

Q: What athlete is warmest in winter?
A: A long jumper!

Q: What happens to elves when they are naughty?
A: Santa gives them the sack!

Q: What do you call a deer who can’t see?
A: No eye-deer!

Q: What is the best Christmas present?
A: A broken drum, you can't beat it!

Q: How does Christmas Day end?
A: With the letter Y!

Q: What do you call Father Christmas on the beach?
A: Sandy Claus!

Q: Who delivers presents to cats?
A: Santa Paws!

Q: What says Oh Oh Oh?
A: Santa walking backwards!

Q: Why can’t Christmas trees knit?
A: Because they always drop their needles!

Q:How does Darth Vader enjoy his Christmas Turkey?
A: On the dark side!

Q: What goes Ho Ho Whoosh, Ho Ho Whoosh?
A: Santa going through a revolving door!

Q: What did the sea Say to Santa?
A: Nothing! It just waved!

Q: What do you call a dog who works for Santa?
A: Santa Paws!

Q: What do you get if Santa forgets to wear his undercrackers?
A: St Nickerless

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MERRY CHRISTMAS 2020

A very Merry Christmas to everyone from we three here at the Bayfield Bunch.  Kelly, Al and Pheebs:))

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AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT FOR THE DAY

Nothing much different about our morning Jeep ride and I only took one photo which happened to be right here in our Park.  A few Woodpecker pics this afternoon and that was about it for the day.........

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The Smith family was very proud that their ancestors had come over on the Mayflower, so they hired best-selling author Frank McCourt to look up and write a book about their family history.  Horror of horrors! They discovered that great uncle Fess had died in the electric chair for committing a murder. They were devastated. They didn't want that in the book, but they didn't want to leave him out either. McCourt said, "Leave it to me."  When the book came out, the section about Uncle Fess read like this:  "He was a man who occupied a great seat. He was attached to his position very firmly. His death came as a great shock."

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WELCOME OH GREAT ADDED MOMENTS OF LIGHT TO OUR DAY

 MANAGED TO CATCH A FEW VERY BRIEF SUN SPLASHES THIS MORNING

And so begins the lengthening of our days.  How can the addition of a mere few seconds of daylight mean so psychologically much?  Well, I don't know either but it somehow does.  Welcome oh great added moments of light to our day.  Sally forth and make our long darkened days bright once again.  And yes, Kelly and I did definitely notice the day was longer even if it was only a few seconds and cloudy.

Despite it officially being Winter now it looked more like a day in late October or March.  Our ground is bare and free of snow at the moment and I've been wearing my summer footwear this past while.  And so it was as Pheebs and headed into Bayfield this morning and out the other side down the Bronson Line.  Seeing how country roads were muddy from a slight overnight drizzle I was determined to keep the recently washed Jeep on the pavement.  Reaching the large parking lot of a Mennonite country church we stopped for a short walk.  With cold winds coming in off the lake a couple miles to the west we were soon back into the Jeep and headed for home.  A few brief sunny breaks along the way allowed for a few photos.

 THAT WINDSOCK FAR-RIGHT SUGGESTS THIS FARMER PROBABLY HAS AN AIRPLANE IN HIS DRIVING SHED COMPLETE WITH A DIRT RUNWAY OUT THERE SOMEPLACE

Once back in the house I pretty much stayed there tucked away in my warm and cozy little sunroom corner.  Well, that is until Pheebs coaxed me out the door around 3 for a walk around the Park's pond.  I'm sure we were both much the better for it despite it being a cold and dull gray day.

Five years ago today on December22nd 2015 Kelly, Pheebs, and I toured the big Palomar Observatory on Mount Palomar in California.  We also met another RV couple for the first time on that same day as well.  

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A little girl is sitting on her grandpa's lap and studying the wrinkles on his old face. She gets up the nerve to rub her fingers over the wrinkles. Then she touches her own face and looks more puzzled. Finally, the little girl asks,  "Grandpa, did God make you?"  "He sure did honey, a long time ago," replies her grandpa.  "Well, did God make me?" asks the little girl.  "Yes, He did, and that wasn't too long ago," answers her grandpa.  "Boy," says the little girl, "He's sure doing a lot better job these days isn't He?"

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I had the rudest, slowest, and nastiest cashier today so that’s the last time I use the self checkout lane!

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My Soviet-made car never worked.  It had a Lada problems. It was a Lenin. It kept Stalin. I would always have to use my feet, and Trotsky to work. Having to constantly do that was total Bolshevik!

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ONTARIO GOING INTO FULL LOCK-DOWN CHRISTMAS EVE

It was officially announced today by the Ontario Government that because of rising Covid numbers Ontario will be going into a total lock-down beginning at midnight Christmas Eve.  That lockdown will last until January 29th.  Only essential businesses will remain open.  The lockdown shouldn't affect Kelly and I too much.  We're not in the habit of socializing a lot or eating in restaurants anyway.  I'm in agreement with the masking rules so anytime I have to go where groups of people are (grocery store etc) I do my part by masking up.  I figure it's better to be part of the solution than part of the problem.  It's simply called common sense.

 I DIDN'T TAKE ANY PHOTOS TODAY BUT I HAVE A FEW PICS THAT NEVER MADE IT INTO MY BLOG THIS PAST COUPLE WEEKS...THESE SHIP PICS WERE TAKEN DEC 5TH

 THE SHIP IS BEING LOADED AT THE GODERICH GRAIN ELEVATORS

 CREW MEMBERS MONITORING THE LOADING

 POWERFUL LIGHTS ON ONE OF THE MASTS

Hadn't planned on going back to Goderich today but needing a few things we won't be able to get for a month Pheebs and I were on our way.  One of the things was another magnetic key holder in case I again lock myself out of the Jeep.  

 I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THIS FELLOW AT THE ROTARY COVE BEACH AREA PICKING UP TRASH FOR AWHILE NOW

It was a cloudy but brighter 37F day with no wind so when home again I did some leaf and pine needle raking.  By the looks of this week's weather forecast, we will probably end up with a white Christmas.

 LOOKS LIKE THIS MONDAY MORNING SANTA HAD A ROUGH WEEK-END

Well, here we are at the Winter Solstice with this being the shortest day of the year.  Brighter days ahead eh:))  We are completely clouded in so my chance of getting any photos of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction with each other are nil:((  I'll try again in 2080 when the next 'super close' conjunction happens again.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  25 Signs You're Getting Old::

1. You're asleep, but others worry that you're dead.
2. Your back goes out more than you do.
3. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
4. You buy a compass for the dash of your car/truck.
5. You are proud of your lawn mower.
6. Your best friend is dating someone half their age, and isn't breaking any laws.
7. Your arms are almost too short to read the newspaper.
8. You sing along with the elevator music.
9. You would rather go to work than stay home sick.
10. You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
12. People call at 9:00 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
13. You answer a question with, "Because I said so."
14. You send money to PBS.
15. The end of your tie doesn't come anywhere near the top of your pants.
16. You take a metal detector to the beach.
17. You know what the word "equity" means.
18. You can't remember the last time you laid on the floor to watch television.
19. Your ears are hairier than your head.
20. You talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn.
21. You get into a heated argument about pension plans.
22. You got cable for The Weather Channel.
23. You can go bowling without drinking.
24. You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.

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Before crowbars were invented......most crows drank at home by themselves.

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SUNDAY.....A BASIC REPEAT OF SATURDAY

 THE TUGBOAT OCEAN A SIMARD HEADS OUT INTO COLD CHOPPY LAKE HURON WATERS THIS MORNING

Temps climbed above freezing in the night leaving us with a slightly foggy morning.  A heavy cloud cover stayed with us all day.  Pheebs and I did a routine run to Goderich and back and that was about it.  My Sunday afternoon was a repeat of my Saturday afternoon with an added walk for Pheebs and I along our Park's pine tree trail.

 PHEEBS CHECKS OUT THE BIG MARBLE ROCK AT ROTARY COVE'S DOG WALKING AREA

 AFTERNOON WALK

Five years ago on December 21rst 2015 Pheebs and I were in California's Blair Valley west of Borrego Springs on another one of our mile-high climbs up Ghost Mountain to the ruins of the Marshal South Homestead.

 THE ROCKY CLIMB TO YAKQUITEPEC AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THOSE DISTANT LAGUNA MOUNTAINS LIES SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA

GROANER'S CORNER:((    Shortly before Christmas, a businessman was anxious to get home. The business trip had been grueling and he was not in a particularly good mood. The airport loudspeakers blared Christmas carols he was sick of hearing. He thought their decorations were tacky. The worst decoration, he thought, was the plastic mistletoe hung over the luggage scale.  Being in a grumpy mood, he said to the woman at the counter, "You know, even if I weren't married, I wouldn't kiss you."  "That's not what it's there for," said the attendant. "It's so you can kiss your luggage goodbye.

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It’s been raining for days now and my husband seems very depressed by it. He keeps standing by the window, staring.  If it continues, I’m going to have to let him in.

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