KNOWLEDGE HAS A HABIT OF DOING THAT TO ONE'S MIND

 A SATIN LIKE THIN COATING OF ICE ON THE SNOW

Well, it's quite a challenge finding a few acceptable photos on these dull and drab January days but it's all part of my three long-time enjoyable hobbies.  Travel, Photography, and Writing.  And I think it is now safe to say I have added a fourth hobby as well, Reading.  They all go hand in hand and although long-distance traveling has been curtailed (temporarily I hope) I do consider our morning country road drives a form of traveling each day.

 WEDNESDAY MORNING AT BAYFIELD'S BEACH

Conditions are still very icy for walking but main roads and country roads are ice-free.  Temps at least came up over the freezing mark as Pheebs and I ventured out into the dreary gray countryside.  

 THERE IS A PLATFORM BUILT ON TOP OF THAT HAY WAGON FOR SOME REASON

 I'M GUESSING THIS OLDER CAR IS A STUDABAKER

Home again by 10:30 I settled into my sunroom recliner with my Kindle.  Sure have been doing a lot of reading these past number of months and my mind is definitely feeling better for it.  Knowledge has a habit of doing that to one's mind.  We had some welcome sunshine this afternoon and with Old Sol being low in the southern sky at this time of year it shines right into our sunroom at such an angle that its rays completely wash over my recliner.  Needless to say, it sure feels nice when I am sitting there all stretched out bathed in sunshine.  Those warming rays do wonders for me and waste no time at all in sending me off to nature's dreamland for a while.  My very much most favoritist time of the whole day:))

 FROM LAST WEEKS PHOTOS A MALE CARDINAL ABOVE AND A FEMALE CARDINAL BELOW

And it was that same well-meaning sunshine that later had Pheebs and I out the door for a doable afternoon walk after our 36F temps had softened up our dangerous icy walking surfaces.  Just think, we are almost half-way through January already:))))

 PHEEBS LOVES HER AFTERNOON WALKS

 YEP, THOSE ARE MY BOOT PRINTS ON THE RIGHT

 ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS VERY SLIPPERY IT ISN'T TOO BAD BECAUSE THE ICE HAS SOFTENED

On this day 12 years ago I wrote a post about Traveling With Our Best Pals.  In that post I also mentioned how we arrived at our name, 'Travel With The Bayfield Bunch'.      

 SUCH A LITTLE SWEETY PIE SHE IS:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( You Might Be A Redneck If::

You live close enough to town to get garbage service, but don't use it because they won't come down your driveway to get it.

The fellows on the big garbage moving equipment recognize your wife.... and wave to her.

Your wife picks thru your garbage cans looking for any bait that may have grown in them since the last time you went.

You have ever removed the 3-9 zoom scope from your deer rifle to use at a KISS concert.

You have more than 2 used pampers rolling around in the back of your truck.

When you put your hunting boots on you only get them on the right feet 50% of the time.

Your idea of a neighborhood watch program is tuning into "America's Most Wanted".

You own more than two clappers.

You go to Wal-Mart to people watch.

You recycle enough Copenhagen lids to buy Christmas presents.

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WITH ALL THE TURMOIL TAKING PLACE SOUTH OF THE BORDER

It is not often I drive the main highways and by-ways but this morning I didn't have a choice.  Freezing drizzle came in the night and continued through most of the morning.  With exception of the main salted and sanded highways, all roads were mere skating rinks.  Had to pick up a few things in Goderich so in 4-wheel drive Pheebs and I slowly made our way over to the Bluewater highway and turned north.  Didn't have any problems making it to Goderich but I did notice the streets in town were icy so I had to be mindful of that.  We did make it out to Rotary Cove but with the icy cold wind and freezing rain making everything so slippery we didn't even get out of the Jeep.  Snapped a few pics and we pointed the Jeep's nose for home.

With all the turmoil taking place south of the border some readers may be wondering why I have not voiced my opinions about it.  I have been known to do that in the past.  There is much I could say, and there is much I want to say but I made a decision a while back to keep a lid on my anger and frustration and not let it seep into my blog.  I do not want to make my blog a political platform because that is not what my blog is about.  There are way more than enough political platforms out here bombarding the airwaves without me adding my gasoline to the already out of control raging fire.  I will continue to direct my anger, frustrations, disappointments, and outrage inwards and keep my blog on the light side of straight and narrow.  Readers have made it clear to me over the years that in these maddening times my blog is a bit of respite for them.  Light banter, some humor, informative links, and pleasant photos.  I don't always live up to that but I do always return to that each time I do have a slip-up.  I think in these terrible times of chaos which is probably about to get a whole lot worse, my readers need an even bigger break and if I can use my blog to help with that break then that is my goal.  I may not always succeed, but despite being surrounded by opposing political views, I will try my best not to let myself or my blog be dragged down into the muck and mire.  So with that being said, I give you this................  

The Death Of Common Sense'::  Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
• Why the early bird gets the worm;
• Life isn't always fair; and
• Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 6 stepbrothers;

• I Know My Rights
• I Want It Now
• Someone Else Is To Blame
• I'm A Victim
• Nobody Is Going To Tell Me What To Do
• Lies Are Now An Accepted Norm By Millions

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone............... 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man called the airport for flight information. "How long is your flight from Los Angeles to Denver?” he asked. "Just a minute," the pleasant agent replied. "Thank You" he said and hung up.

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Why are some fish at the bottom of the ocean?
Because they dropped out of school!

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Three vampires walk into a bar. The bartender looks at him suspiciously but decides to serve them anyway. "What’ll be, boys?"
The first vampire says "Blood. Give me blood."
The second vampire says "I too wish for blood!"
The third vampire says "Give me plasma."
The Bartender smiles and says "Got it. Two bloods, and a blood-light."

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A CONFUSING START TO THE DAY FOR PHEEBS

It was a confusing start to the day for Pheebs this morning.  Instead of putting on my hat, coat, and boots and heading out the door, she saw Dad walk down the hall into the sunroom and flop himself into his recliner.  What!!  She followed me of course and sat beside my chair staring at me with the most puzzled look on her face.  And yes, for you non-dog people, dogs do have many recognizable facial expressions showing clearly their emotions just like humans.  The reason for me being in my chair with a phone in hand was that I was simply waiting for a 9 a.m. phone call from my diabetes nurse person.  I told Pheebs we would be heading out right after the phone call but she seemed to have a little problem understanding that at first.

 A CRUST OF ICE ALONGSIDE THIS SMALL CREEK

My phone call came on time and I was right away going over blood test results with Tanya, the diabetes lady.  We went over my blood pressure and diabetic numbers as well and she was very pleased with everything so I guess I'm doing better than I sometimes complain about.  Complaining sometimes comes second nature to me but I must admit I have been getting better at dealing with things lately.  Hey, its been at least a month or more since I last went through one of my depressive grumbling moods here on the blog.  You may not have noticed, but I have.  Anyway, Tanya said I'm good for now and we'll go over things again in 6 months.

 IF THIS FELLA PLANS ON GOING ANYWHERE HE HAD BETTER TAKE THE WHEELS OFF AND PUT ON SOME SKIS

 WHAT!!

 OH, SO THAT'S WHAT IT WAS

It was another dull, damp, and dreary morning as Pheebs and made our way through the countryside East of Bayfield.  At least the roads were good, it wasn't snowing, wasn't raining, and it wasn't windy.  With temps hovering around the freezing mark there was a slight blue haze in the air as temps mixed with colder snow on the ground.  We usually see this kind of haze in March but not so much in January.

 A SLIGHT BLUE HAZE IN THE AIR

We stopped at the Bannockburn Conservation Area but it was way too icy on the boardwalk to go anywhere.  I didn't want to slip on the ice and smash my camera.  Even the parking lot was a mass of solid uneven ice.  With the Jeep'd drive wheel spinning I had to put it in 4-wheel drive to gain enough traction to get out of the icy parking lot.

 THIS PARKING LOT WAS SHEER UNEVEN ICE

 THERE IS SOMETHING ODD IN THIS PHOTO AND NO ITS NOT THE PHEEBS

 YEP, IT WAS A TIN OF UNOPENED DANISH DELIGHT BUTTER COOKIES AND NO I DID NOT OPEN IT AND EAT THEM ALL....MAYBE 6 MONTHS AGO BUT NOT ANYMORE...I LEFT THEM RIGHT THERE

 THAT BOARDWALK AND SURROUNDING SNOW WAS ICEY SO THERE WAS NO WALK FOR US

 UNDETERRED, PHEEBS MANAGED TO CHECK OUT A FEW DOZEN NEW SMELLS

 HAD TO SLIP INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND EASE OURSELVES OUT OF THERE

 HEADING HOME

Home again I was right away busy filling up the birdfeeders.  Between the birds and squirrels, I think we will soon be in the birdseed poor house.  But no matter, it just feels great to be in a position to help all the little fellers out through these cold winter months. 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  I was browsing in a souvenir shop when the man next to me struck up a conversation.  Just as he was telling me that his wife was getting carried away with her shopping, a brief power shortage caused the lights to flicker overhead.  "Ah," he sighed that must be her checking out now."

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I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places.  He told me to quit going to those places.

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COULDN'T SEEM TO COME UP WITH TOO MANY WORDS TONIGHT

Well, I am really stuck for words tonight.  No reason really except to say it was just a quiet winter's Sunday on this cold January day in the year 2021.

 A THIN LAYER OF ICE ON BAYFIELD'S RIVER

 NOW, I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT PARENTING BUT SEEING THIS SMALL CHILD SO CLOSE TO THE EDGE JUST SCARED THE BE-JEEEBERS OUT OF ME THIS MORNING

 GLAD TO SEE ALL THE ICE HAS FINALLY MELTED OFF THE COUNTRY ROADS

 FOR THIS TIME OF JANUARY WE SURE DO NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF SNOW WE USUALLY HAVE

 THAT AQUA-BLUE LINE ON THE HORIZON IS LAKE HURON

 A MIXTURE OF WIND POWER AND ELECTRICITY

 NOW, IS THIS CALLED USING ONES HORN TO ITCH A SCRATCH OR SCRATCH AN ITCH

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Son: "Gee pop, there's a man at the circus who jumps on a horse's back, slips underneath, catches hold of its tail and finishes up on the horse's neck!"  Dad: "That's easy... I did all that the first time I ever rode a horse."

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My daughter told me she saw a deer on the way to school.  Me: “How do you know it was going to school?”

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“The other day I held the door open for a clown. I thought it was a nice jester.”

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A minister in Florida lamented that it was difficult to get his message across to his local congregation:  "It's so beautiful here in the winter," he said, "that heaven doesn't interest them that much."  "And it's so hot here in the summer that hell doesn't really scare them either." 

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