AND, DRIVING THE SUBARU IS ALWAYS A TREAT

 THE FRONT YARD AT THE PORTERS HILL WILD BIRDSEED COMPANY

Thunder, lightning, wind, and rain.  We had it all Wednesday evening and on into the night.  So much so that I thought we would lose our power so I set a flashlight within easy reach beside my chair.  I don't know when the storm blew itself out but everything was relatively calm outside when we woke up this morning.  The rain had stopped but left us with a dull overcast sky.  And, our temps had risen nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  By mid-morning we had a few patches of blue sky and some actual sunshine and by late afternoon we were under clear blue sunny skies.

 BEECH TREE LEAVES STILL RETAIN THEIR AUTUMN COLORS

 I LIKE THIS FARMER'S GETAWAY CABIN IN THE WOODS

Pheebs and I nipped around a few muddy gravel roads to the northeast and then swung back around into and down to Bayfield's south end.  I was almost out of birdseed and with the rapid gathering of birds in our front yard I didn't want to take a chance on running out of birdseed and bringing upon my head the wrath of hungry and angry birds.  Stopped at the Porters Hill Wild Birdseed Company and picked up 3 20-pound bags of birdseed which should last me to the middle of next week.  Okay, okay, maybe until late December if I'm lucky.  The worse the Winter weather is, the more seeds they eat so of course I'm hoping for a mild winter.

 BUSH LINES ARE LOOKING BARE

 AT LEAST THIS FARMER GOT 'SOME' OF HIS CORN HARVESTED

Home again I worked away at picking up broken branches from Wednesday's storm.  And yes, I raked up more downed leaves in our driveway.  Burned some garbage, topped up a couple bird feeders, and took Pheebs for a late afternoon walk around the Park's pond.

 LATE AFTERNOON SHADOWS ON THE POND

 PHEEBS HAS PICKED UP A SCENT ON THE WESTERLY BREEZE

Kelly had to slip up to Goderich for a special blood test late this morning at the Dynacare Lab.  Her/Our Nurse Practitioner had called her a couple days ago for a chat and she requested Kelly to do that test.  By Wednesday of next week, things begin ramping up for us.  Wednesday we go to Sarnia, (Al-medical) Thursday to Exeter, (Kelly-dental) and Friday to Clinton. (doggy spa) Four days later we go to London on the 21st. (Kelly-medical) and two days after that we are back in London again. (Kelly-medical)  I just keep thinking of all this as enjoyable 'day trips' because I do like getting out and going somewhere every day.  And, driving the Subaru is always a treat:))

Al's Music Box:))  Walk On By  The original version of "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, the same December 1963 session that yielded her hit "Anyone Who Had A Heart". "Walk On By" was the follow-up to that single, released in April 1964.  The song was composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Patient: I'm in a hospital! Why am I in here?  

Doctor: You've had an accident involving a train.

Patient: What happened?
Doctor: Well, I've got some good news and some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?
Patient: Well... The bad news first... 

Doctor: Your legs were injured so badly that we had to amputate both of them. 

Patient: That's terrible! What's the good news?  

Doctor: There's a guy in the next ward who made a very good offer on your shoes.

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- It is better to be healthy than wise...Being sick costs you money, but you can be dumb for free.

- Did you hear about the athlete who won the gold medal at the Olympics? He had it bronzed.

- A psychologist is selling a video that teaches you how to test your dog's IQ. Here's how it works: if you spend $12.99 for the video, your dog is smarter than you.

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A NASTY COLD WEDNESDAY AND REMEMBERING A FEW DAYS BOONDOCKING NEAR SEDONA ARIZONA

 ONE OF SEVERAL MALE CARDINALS IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON 

With a cold East wind blowing our 32F temps around, Pheebs and I headed into Bayfield where I knew we could take a walk in the cemetery somewhat sheltered from the wind.  Needless to say, it was a brief walk and we were soon home again.  It is always so nice on cold and nasty weather days to step inside and instantly become wrapped in the warmth of a cozy house.  

 STILL A FEW COLORFUL TREES NEAR THE BAYFIELD MARINA

 A FEW DOCKS AND POSTS LEFT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

 THIS IS WHERE THOSE BOAT DOCKS ARE STACKED AND STORED FOR THE WINTER

 THAT ORANGE MACHINE ON A BARGE IN THE RIVER IS PULLING THE DOCK POSTS OUT OF THE WATER WITH THE BAYFIELD BRIDGE IN THE BACKGROUND AND FISHERMEN ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE BRIDGE ALONGSIDE THE RIVER

 BAYFIELD WALKERS BUNDLED UP AGAINST THE MORNING'S COLD

 IT LOOKS LIKE THE CANOE IS STORED FOR THE WINTER

This afternoon was basically a repeat of my Tuesday afternoon inside day except that outside it got quite nasty today.  We had bouts of freezing rain at times with visible ice pellets on the deck and frozen raindrops hanging from our Sunburst Locust tree's branches.  I brought a couple of the bird feeders in to set upon our sunroom gas stove to dry out.  I sure like watching the birds through our sunroom windows.  It gives me a warm feeling inside to know that I am able to help the little fellers through nature's bad weather days.    

 WE STILL HAVE A SINGLE GRACKLE COMING TO THE FEEDER EVERY DAY AND THAT'S OKAY IF HE DOESN'T BRING 50 OF HIS BUDDIES ALONG

 THIS GOLDFINCH HAS A LEG UP ON THE FEEDER

 GOLDFINCH ON LEFT AND DARK EYED JUNCO ON RIGHT

 NOTICE THE FROZEN RAINDROPS ON THE GRACKLES BACK 

As previously stated, back in mid-summer, I was very disappointed when our 'Eastlink' Cable TV provider announced they were canceling about half a dozen channels with the History channel being one of them.  I'm not much of a TV watcher anymore, but there was one series on the History Channel that I always looked forward to in September these past four years.  I am talking about The Secret Of Skinwalker Ranch of course which to me is an interesting and fascinating slice of reality being presented by inquisitive realistic thinking people.  The first episode of Season 4 began on September 3rd and I of course missed all 9 episodes right up to last week.  And then, we stumbled upon something called Stack TV and Kelly figured out how to download it.  And with that, I have been able to watch all the Skinwalker episodes I had missed, plus last Sunday night's latest one.  It doesn't come through on our TV like before but comes in on my desktop computer which is quite alright by me.  An unexpected plus to this Stack TV was to discover that a second series called Beyond Skinwalker Ranch has also begun.  This extension of the Skinwalker cast and crew adds two additional members to the team to research and gather information from other sites with paranormal activities around the United States.  Of particular interest were two episodes that involved the Bradshaw Ranch a short distance northwest of Sedona Arizona.  That jogged my memory because Kelly, Pheebs, and I spent nearly a week boondocking south of the Bradshaw Ranch back in mid-February of 2014.  We weren't aware of the Bradshaw Ranch at the time.  Here is one of our boondocking days near Sedona and keep in mind that you can click on any photo to enlarge it.  A Hot Air Balloon Nearly Lands On Our Jeep  I know I just posted this day a couple months ago so I'll give you a few more of our Sedona days......Somewhere Near Sedona Arizona or Slipped Out Of Sedona While It Was Still Sleeping or A Rather Exciting Move or My Patience Runs Out At Montezuma's Well or Leaving The Sedona Area And Heading Home To Our Adobe Winter Digs In Congress Arizona.  Well, I guess I got a little sidetracked from my Skinwalker Ranch Stack TV info but that is not an unusual happening for me.  I don't normally go back and read my old posts very often but I made an exception today and read all of the above Sedona links from nearly ten years ago thoroughly enjoying and renewing many great old lost memories along the way.  And, reading these posts and knowing what I know and have experienced after 13 winters RVing in the great American Southwest, nobody will ever convince me that it is nicer to remain here in this freezing cold and damp unhealthy climate for the winter. 

 SPOTTED THIS BLUE GILLY-GALOO BIRD IN BAYFIELD'S PIONEER PARK

 PHEEBS FREE TREATS FROM PET VALUE CAME IN THIS BAG LAST WEEK

 DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS BATTERY-OPERATED GOLF CART IN OUR PARK IS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE OR MAYBE IT NEEDS A NEW RADIATOR EH:))))

Al's Music Box:)) Let Em In by Paul McCartney and Wings from their 1976 album, 'Wings At The Speed Of Sound'.   The song starts with the sound of a vibraphone mimicking the Friedland Westminster Chime Doorbell before the rhythm begins. The lyric namechecks several famous people, between friends and relatives of McCartney who, without a justified reason, knock on the door or ring the bell of his house and he exclaims "Let 'Em In". They include McCartney's paternal aunt Gin, his brother Michael, and Linda McCartney's brother John. Phil and Don of the EverlyBrothers are named (the duo had a hit with "Keep A Knockin'"), along with Martin Luther, who famously hung his "95 Theses" on a church door. An Uncle Ernie is also named, being the character Ringo Starr sang in the London Symphony Orchestra's recording of the Who's rock opera, Tommy.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A teacher told her young class to ask their parents for a family story with a moral at the end of it, and to return the next day to tell their stories.  In the classroom the next day, Joe gave his example first, "My dad is a farmer and we have chickens. One day we were taking lots of eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the truck when we hit a big bump in the road; the basket fell off the seat and all the eggs broke. The moral of the story is not to put all your eggs in one basket.."  "Very good," said the teacher".     Next, Mary said, "We are farmers too. We had twenty eggs waiting to hatch, but when they did we only got ten chicks. The moral of this story is not to count your chickens before they're hatched.."  "Very good," said the teacher again, very pleased with the response so far.  Next, it was Barney's turn to tell his story: "My dad told me this story about my Aunt Karen.... Aunt Karen was a flight engineer in the war and her plane got hit. She had to bail out over enemy territory and all she had was a bottle of whisky, a machine gun, and a machete."  "Go on," said the teacher, intrigued.  "Aunt Karen drank the whisky on the way down to prepare herself, then she landed right in the middle of a hundred enemy soldiers. She killed seventy of them with the machine gun until she ran out of bullets. Then she killed twenty more with the machete till the blade broke. And then she killed the last ten with her bare hands."  "Good heavens," said the horrified teacher, "What did your father say was the moral of that frightening story?"  Mary answered, "Stay away from Aunt Karen when she's been drinking!!!!"

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Q: What did the teddy bear say when it was offered some birthday cake?
A: No thanks, I'm stuffed.

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A man realized he needed to purchase a hearing aid, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. "How much do they cost?" he asked the salesman.  "Anything from $2 to $2,000."  "Can I see the $2 model?" said the customer.  The salesman put the device around the man's neck, and said: "You just stick this button in your ear and run this little string down into your pocket."  "How does it work?" asked the customer.  "For $2, it doesn't work," said the salesman. "But when people see it on you, they'll talk louder."

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AND I HAVE BEEN HARD AT IT

 BLUE JAY

Slate-gray skies were the order of the day as Pheebs and I ventured out of our Park in a southeast direction.  A few sprinkles of rain on the windshield as we stopped briefly at the Linwood Conservation Area on Pavilion Road.  My hip wouldn't let me walk very far.  We were back home before 11 a.m.

 IT WAS AN OKAY MORNING TO BE OUT AND ABOUT

 THE LAND IS STILL TOO WET IN SPOTS FOR THE CORN HARVEST

 US GUYS

 WE DROVE BY BIG BARKY'S HOUSE AND BIG BARKY CAME ROARING OUT AND CHASED US DOWN THE ROAD

 A LONG DISTANCE COUNTRY VIEW OF LAKE HURON

Skies remained a rainy gray for the rest of the day and our temps were hard-pressed to reach 40F.  Possible freezing rain is predicted for Wednesday afternoon.  Well, if nothing else, it's at least great book-reading weather and I have been hard at it.  I downloaded 'The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales' by Jacob Grimm about a month ago but I didn't get too far in the tales.  Of the first six I read, four of them were just as the title suggests...'grim'!!  The heck with that I thought.  Luckily, it was a free download as many of my books are.  I'll try a few more tales at a later date.  Next, I tried 'When Are You Going Back: A Memoir of the Sea' by Harry Nicholson.  I found the author almost too descriptive and I didn't have the patience to stick with his story.  Maybe it's just my impatience to 'get on with things' so I will retry this book again at a later date too.  Next, it was 'Life After Life and Medical Mysteries' by Dr. Francesco Chirico.  Another in a series of eye-opening books regarding Near Death Experiences.  Switching gears, I am currently reading 'If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation' by Jean Muenchrath.  This story takes place in California's snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Mount Whitney and Lone Pine are mentioned and that brought back memories of our four-day RV stay in the Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine at the foot of Mount Whitney.  Here's one of my favorite days in Lone Pine's Alabama Hills.  In Search Of Randolph Scott's Campfire.  I like it when I'm reading something and places we have been are mentioned.  I would love to someday return to Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills.        

 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH

 DARK-EYED JUNCO

I AM READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP MR. DEMILLE 

Al's Music Box:)) Four Strong Winds is a song by Ian and Sylvia which was written by Ian Tyson in 1962.  Ian and Sylvia were later married in 1964.  Ian Tyson noted that he composed the song in about 20 minutes in his then-manager Albert Grossman's New York apartment.  Tyson would recall "Four Strong Winds" as the first song he ever wrote, and credits Bob Dylan with giving new impetus to Ian and Sylvia's career by inspiring the duo to follow his lead in writing "original folk songs".  Ian Tyson said,  Bob blazed the trail into the wilderness, into unknown territory. Specifically, Tyson would recall meeting up with Dylan in the autumn of 1962 at the Greenwich Village Bar , 'Kettle Of Fish'.  Tyson recalled seeing this kind of little grubby kid in there who said "I got this new song".  It was Bobby Dylan - he sang me 'Blowin' In The Wind' which he had just written.  I thought, I can do that" so the next day I wrote 'Four Strong Winds'." 

 PHEEBS WATCHES A CORN FIELD PASSING BY

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Greeting cards you will not see at Hallmark::

'Looking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder:....'What was I thinking?'

'I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love.........After having met you, I've changed my mind.'

'I must admit, you brought Religion into my life.  I never believed in Hell until I met you.'

'As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am that you're not here to ruin it for me.

''You look great for your age....... Almost Lifelike!'

'I knew the day would come when you would leave me for my best friend, so here's his leash, water bowl, and chew toys.

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I think it's disgaceful that, after 50 years, people don't know know who Neil Armstrong is, or the type of trumpet he played. 

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Finally, the good-natured boss was compelled to call Smith into his office.  "It has not escaped my attention," he pointed out, "that every time there's a home game at the stadium, you have to take your aunt to the doctor."  "You know you're right, sir," exclaimed Smith, "I didn't realize it. You don't suppose she's faking, do you?"

-Don't be mad at lazy people....they didn't do anything.
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ESPECIALLY IN THE PEANUT BUTTER DEPARTMENT

A drizzly gray Monday morning greeted us as Pheebs and I slipped out around a few country roads.  A brisk wind tried its best to beat down our 52F temps.  Despite the drab-looking day, we were able to find a few flashes of color here and there.

THERE IS STILL COLOR IN THE FORESTS

Kelly slipped up to Goderich and back earlier today.  She is trying to keep herself busy to distract her attention from the Pruritus itching.

Topped up the bird feeders, and raked up a few more leaves between rain showers and thunder rolling through the overhead cloud cover. I did some reading, ate some peanut butter, had some scruffles with the Pheebs, watered some indoor plants, edited some photos, did some more reading, and ate some more peanut butter.  A rather productive day I'd say.   Especially, in the peanut butter department.     

A

Al's Music Box:)) You Send Me by Sam Cooke was a 1957 single release. The classic version of "You Send Me" was cut in Los Angeles in June 1957 and was issued as a single with another track from the same session: a version of "Summertime",  Although "Summertime" was the intended A-side, disc jockeys favored "You Send Me". Since its release, the song has become a landmark record of the soul genre, which Cooke helped create. It was named as one of the 500 most important rock and roll recordings by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A husband and wife had a big argument. Frustrated and fed up, the wife called up her mom and said, "We fought again, I can't do this anymore. I am coming to live with you." Mom said, "No darling, he must pay for his mistake. I am coming to live with you."

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A man went into a restaurant and asked for crab. When the waiter brought it, the man objected, "Just a minute, that crab only has one claw!"  "Yes, said the waiter, it was in a fight."  "Well," said the man, "Bring me the winner!"

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