THERE NEVER WAS TOO MUCH DISTANCE BETWEEN GEORGE AND HIS WEBBER BBQ

 A BLUSTERY WINTER'S MORN JEEP RIDE

High winds and blowing snow kept it up through the night and all of today as well.  Pheebs and I ventured out into the countryside but only went around a couple concession roads and headed for home.  Roads and visibility were doable but why bother.  I snapped a few pics along the way for tonight's blog.  Temps were 19F with a windchill factor of only one degree above zero:((

 HEADING EAST WITH THE WIND

Bundled up warm, I did venture outside later to move a bit of snow around.  It's not that we have a lot of snow but I wanted to shovel my paths out, plus the front and rear decks off, and around the birdfeeders.  We signed up last Fall to have a fellow here in our Park plow our driveway and he did that late Saturday afternoon.  It's a big help because with my hip the way it is I didn't want to have to shovel the whole driveway out like I have done other years.

 HEADING HOME AGAINST THE WIND WAS A LITTLE MORE  OF A CHALLENGING

 MY CO-PILOT KEEPS A WARY WEATHER EYE

 SAFELY BACK AT OUR PARK

At this time every year in Quartzsite, Arizona there is the largest RV rally in North America.  Kelly and I have been to maybe five of them but  there was someone else who was faithfully there for many of his RVing years.  You could find him in the big tent, browsing through all the vendors, Silly Al's Pizza, or taking his towing hitch in for servicing.  I am of course talking about a fellow RV and daily Blogger who was everybody's friend, George Yates.  George passed away on January 15th, 2020 and he blogged right up into his final weeks.  George and Suzie could always be found boondocked not far from the festivities.  If you had driven by or dropped in you would probably have found Suzie under her wide-brimmed floppy hat sitting outside under their rig's awning reading while George would have probably been tinkering with something and for sure there wouldn't have been too much distance between George and his Webber BBQ.  George was the driving force behind 'Bloggerfest' for a few years as well.  For many RV folks, Quartzsite at this time of the year just isn't the same without George and Suzie there.  We first met them when they dropped into our boondocking site near Bouse, Arizona years ago and the last time we saw them I think was at Peg Leg Smiths near Borrego Springs, California.  Anyone who had ever met George will never forget his big smile, the always large straw hats and fisherman vest he wore every day.  He genuinely made you feel welcome and you could find his big smile in any crowd.  George's blog was always positive no matter what.  Even 'wonderful' as he would often say.  And he wrote it that way 'because he could'.  I think George left a daily comment on every blog he ever read, mine included.  I, like many others miss that and miss seeing his daily blog popping up on our sidebars.  George's passing left a sad vacuum in Blogland and if there is a heaven I'm sure George is there and was out for another 'walkabout' this morning at his favorite boondocking site in the sky.  All the best George, we all remember you, and thank you for being a positive light in so many people's lives, including mine.  

 GEORGE AT OUR HOUSE IN CONGRESS, ARIZONA

 KELLY, SUZI, PHEEBS, AND GEORGE ARE ALL IN THIS PHOTO AT THE FOOT OF THE WEAVER MOUNTAINS NEAR CONGRESS, ARIZONA

 IT LOOKS LIKE GEORGE AND I ARE COMPARING WAISTLINES HERE AT OUR HOUSE NEAR BAYFIELD ONTARIO

 AT BLOGGERFEST 2 IN QUARTZSITE THIS IS HOW WILL REMEMBER GEORGE

Al's Music Box:)) Black Coffee by k.d. lang is on her 1988 solo debut album, 'Shadowland' which was released in 1988. The album included her collaboration with Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, and Brenda Lee, on the "Honky Tonk Angels' Medley" that was produced by Owen Bradley who produced Patsy Cline's best-known work.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A group of four-year-olds were being questioned by their teacher in a Sunday School class. Looking across at those bright little faces, the teacher asked this question: "Does anyone know what today is?" A little girl held up her hand and said, "Yes, today is Palm Sunday." "That's fantastic!" the teacher said. "Now does anyone know what next Sunday is?" The sam little girl lifted her hand. "Yes," she said, "next Sunday is Easter Sunday."The teacher was all smiles. "Oh, very good. Now...does anyone know what makes next Sunday Easter?"On a roll the same little girl responded, "Yes, next Sunday is Easter because Jesus rose from the grave." Before the impressed teacher could congratulate her, however, the girl added, "but if He sees His shadow, He has to go back in for seven weeks."-

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What do you call the soft tissue between a shark's teeth?   The slow swimmer.

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A young woman, pursuing a graduate degree in art history, was going to Italy to study the country's greatest works of art.  Since there was no one to look after her grandmother while she was away, she took the old lady with her.  At the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, she pointed to the painting on the ceiling. 'Grandma, it took Michelangelo a full four years to get that ceiling painted.'  'Oh my, 'the grandmother says.
'He and I must have the same landlord.'

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I BETCHA BIG BARKY WAS IN BIG TROUBLE WHEN HE GOT HOME

 THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE OUTSIDE OUR LIVING ROOM WINDOW FIRST THING THIS MORNING

 OUR FRONT PORCH

Somehow, between thunder and rain, the big winter storm missed us in the night but caught up with us this morning with a moderate snowfall and high winds blowing the snow around.  A Jeep ride into Bayfield and back with a few drive-by photos along the way and that was about it.  Oh, we went by 'Big Barky's house but I didn't see Big Barky come flying out the lane to bark at us......well, not until about an eighth of a mile down the country road when there he was running along by my driver's door.  We were only going about 20 mph and he kept running in front of us so I had to slow down and stop several times.  Every time I edged forward he ran right in front of the Jeep as if he was trying to herd us back up the road to his place.  I soon saw a car coming up fast behind us so I pulled over and stopped.  The car pulled up behind me and Big Barky's Mom came racing out of the car to get him.  In the meantime, Big Barky had run around to the passenger side of the Jeep and jumped up to give Pheebs a big smooch.  I did catch a blurry photo a split second after they touched noses.  Big Barky's Mom got him by the collar, and quickly led him back to her car.  I betcha Big Barky was in big trouble when he got home.  And that folks, was the excitement for the day...................   

 THE ONLY PEOPLE WE SAW OUT ON THIS COLD BLUSTERY  MORNING WERE BAYFIELD FOLKS WALKING THEIR DOGS

 LITTLE DID I KNOW WHEN I TOOK THIS SNOWY ROAD PHOTO THAT BIG BARKY WAS IN HOT PURSUIT

 I MISSED THEIR NOSES TOUCHING BY A SPLIT SECOND

 AND THERE'S BIG BARKY'S MOM TAKING HIM BACK TO THE CAR

Al's Music Box:)) Rhythm Of The Rain is a song performed by The Cascades, released in November 1962. It was written by Cascades band member John Claude Gummoe.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Top 10 Signs You Are Too Old to Be Trick or Treating::

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.
9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.
8. You ask for high fiber candy only.
7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.
6. People say, 'Great Keith Richards mask!' and you're not wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, 'Trick or...' and can't remember the rest.
4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.
3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.
2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.
1. You avoid going to houses where your ex-wives live.

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You know your getting old...When your son's hair is turning gray.

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AND THEN 'POOF' IT WAS GONE

 ERECTED IN 1847 THIS GODERICH LIGHTHOUSE IS THE LONGEST STANDING LIGHTHOUSE ON LAKE HURON'S CANADIAN SHORELINE

An orangy pink sunrise through our pine trees lasted only a few minutes and then 'poof' it was gone and we returned immediately to our standard gray day.  With prescriptions to drop off and prescriptions to pick up at the Walmart Pharmacy, Pheebs and I headed off to Goderich with a few extra stops in mind.  That done, we were home again before noon.  Too windy and freezing cold to set foot out the door again except to top up the birdfeeders.  At the time of posting this tonight the impending winter storm is at our doorstep and it's raining.  When temps drop tonight and that rain turns to snow I fully expect I will be on the end of my snow shovel in the morning. 

 THE ALGOMA INTREPID HAS HER UNLOADING BOOM ARM SWUNG WAY OUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE SALT MINE'S BLUE LOADING BOOM TO POUR SALT DOWN INTO THE SHIP'S HOLD

ONLY SAW TWO  LONE PEOPLE OUT  WALKING ALONG THE BEACH BRAVING THIS MORNING'S STRONG  ICY COLD EAST WINDS

Al's Music Box:)) I Remember You  Australian singer Frank Ifield recorded this song in a yodeling country-music style on 27 May 1962.  It was a popular song published in 1941. The music was written by Victor Schertzinger, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was originally recorded by Jimmy Dorsey in 1941.  In that year, Mercer began an affair with 19-year-old Judy Garland, while she was engaged to composer David Rose. Garland ended her involvement when she married Rose. In later years, Garland and Mercer rekindled their affair. Mercer stated that his song "I Remember You" was the most direct expression of his feelings for Garland.

 SPOTTED THIS BURST OF COLOR IN WALMART'S PARKING LOT

GROANER'S CORNERBoy Scouts from the city were on a camping trip. The mosquitoes were so fierce, the boys had to hide under their blankets to avoid being bitten. Then one of them saw some lightning bugs and said to his friend,  "We might as well give up. They are coming after us with flashlights.":((

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How do you identify a bald eagle?  All his feathers are combed over to one side.

“A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children.”

I don't have a swear jar because I don't make enough money to keep up with my mouth.

“Just be good and kind to your children. Not only are they the future of the world, they’re the ones who can sign you into a home.”

If they didn't expect you to dance in the grocery store aisles then why do they play music!!

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I DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO DO THAT, BUT I DID THAT ANYWAY

It was under a cold cloudy sky with a fritter of snow in the air that Richard picked me up this morning.  After tracking down a couple cups of coffee and two carrot muffins at McDonalds in Goderich, we headed out on area roads to see what we could see and what worldly problems needed our immediate attention.  Our travels took us twice through the tiny burg of  Homesville and once through Ben Miller with a slight ricochet later off the north end of Bayfield.  Another few hours well spent.

With these cold, wet, and snowy gray days upon us now the sullen landscape hasn't left me with a lot of photo enthusiasm so again today I have had to rely on our front yard birds, squirrels, and a few Christmas decorations for color.  But hey, the first week of January is already behind us and next month at this time we will nearly be halfway through the shortest month of the year.  And, in late March we will be seeing the first beginnings of Crocus flowers pushing up through the melting snow:))))

With temps a few degrees above freezing, it was a wee smattering of wet snowflakes we had coming down at times this afternoon. (we have a winter storm warning for Friday)  I topped up the birdfeeders and moved a few pounds of wet slushy snow around.  I didn't really need to do that but I did that anyway.  I needed the exercise.  The rest of my day was spent in my sunroom recliner reading.  I am coming down the homestretch of my latest book, 'Two Years Before The Mast'.  It has been a long read and a long arduous two-year voyage from Boston Massachusetts, down around Cape Horn and up along the California coast taking in the ports of San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.  And then back to Boston again.  One of the nice things about factual books like this is the link of old and new technology.  This story took place in the early 1800s but with each physical place mentioned in their long sea journey, I can sit here in the comfort of my recliner and follow along on my Google Maps.  If the author is describing sailing along the California coast between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles I can zoom in and see the actual coastline they were sailing past.  I use Google Maps a lot of the time when I'm reading books with geographic locations and descriptions.  For example, if I were reading about the Battle of Gettysburg I could fly right down over the fields, forests, and rocks, where the battles took place.  Google Maps sure add a nice touch to reading:))

Facebook threw me a memory for today which led to a few other memories around the same time......It Just Felt Like A Chiricahua Mountain Kind Of Day and A Surprising Visit From The Montana Folks and Destination.....Parker Canyon Lake Arizona

Al's Music Box:)) Pretty Woman  is a song recorded by Roy Orbison and written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It was released as a single in August 1964.  The title was inspired by Orbison's wife, Claudette, interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough cash, his co-writer Bill Dees interjected, "A pretty woman never needs any money."

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Here are some gift ideas for those special men in your life!  Buying gifts for men is not nearly as complicated as it is for women. Follow these rules and you should have no problems.

Rule #1: When in doubt – buy him a cordless drill. It does not matter if he already has one. I have a friend who owns 17 and he has yet to complain. As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills. No one knows why.

Rule #2: If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the word ratchet or socket in it. Men love saying those two words. “Hey George, can I borrow your ratchet?” “OK. Bye-the-way, are you through with my 3/8-inch socket yet?” Again, no one knows why.

Rule #3: If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car. A 99-cent ice scraper, a small bottle of deicer or something to hang from his rear view mirror. Men love gifts for their cars. No one knows why.

Rule #4: Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes. I was told that if God had wanted men to wear bathrobes, he wouldn't have invented Jockey shorts.

Rule #5: You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out. If you have a lot of money buy your man a big- screen TV with the little picture in the corner. Watch him go wild as he flips, and flips, and flips.

Rule #6: Do not buy a man any of those fancy liqueurs. If you do, it will sit in a cupboard for 23 years. Real men drink whiskey or beer.

Rule #7: Do not buy any man industrial-sized canisters of after- shave or deodorant. I'm told they do not stink – they are earthy.

Rule #8: Buy men label makers. Almost as good as cordless drills. Within a couple of weeks there will be labels absolutely everywhere. “Socks. Shorts. Cups. Saucers. Door. Lock. Sink.” You get the idea. No one knows why.

Rule #9: Never buy a man anything that says “some assembly required” on the box. It will ruin his Special Day and he will always have parts left over.

Rule #10: Good places to shop for men include Northwest Iron Works, Parr Lumber, Home Depot, John Deere, Valley RV Center, and Les Schwab Tire. (NAPA Auto Parts and Sears Clearance Centers are also excellent men's stores. It doesn't matter if he doesn't know what it is. “From NAPA Auto, eh? Must be something I need. Hey! Isn't this a starter for a '68 Ford Fairlane? Wow! Thanks.”)

Rule #11: Men enjoy danger. That's why they never cook – but they will barbecue. Get him a monster barbecue with a 100-pound propane tank. Tell him the gas line leaks. “Oh the thrill! The challenge! Who wants a hamburger?”

Rule #12: Tickets to a football game are a smart gift. However, he will not appreciate tickets to “A Retrospective of 19th Century Quilts.” everyone knows why.

Rule #13: Men love chainsaws. Never, ever, buy a man you love a chainsaw. If you don't know why – please refer to Rule #8 and what happens when he gets a label maker.

Rule #14: It's hard to beat a really good wheelbarrow or an aluminum extension ladder. Never buy a real man a stepladder. It must be an extension ladder. No one knows why.

Rule #15: Rope. Men love rope. It takes us back to our cowboy origins, or at least The Boy Scouts. Nothing says love like a hundred feet of 3/8″ manila rope. No one knows why.

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I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HOBBLE OVER TO THE DOOR

 A PLUMP LITTLE DARK-EYED JUNCO TODAY

Tuesday mornings we usually hear the garbage truck coming along the road first thing in the morning but this was Wednesday and the garbage truck had already been through yesterday.  So, why and what was that sound of a big truck slowly approaching.  Still in our PJ's with laptops in our laps, Kelly peeked out the window and saw a big white truck at our driveway.  'OMG' it must be the truck from London with Kelly's new chair on board.  Being quicker than me, Kelly raced off to her bedroom to change.  Me, well I had no choice but to hobble over to the door and greet the two burly delivery guys in my PJ's.  Good thing they weren't lady delivery drivers or I might have been charged with indecent inconsideration:((   

 KELLY IN HER NEW CHAIR

Al's Music Box:)) Wondering Where The Lions Are is a song written and performed by Bruce Cockburn. The track is from his 1979 album, 'Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws'.  It was Cockburn's only Top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it peaked at No. 92 in Australia. While also a Top 40 hit in Cockburn's native Canada, it was not his biggest hit in that country, where seven of his subsequent singles reached higher chart positions. It was, however, named the 29th greatest Canadian song of all time in the 2005 CBC Radio series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.

 A TOUCH OF COLOR IN OUR PARK THIS MORNING

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man is recovering from surgery when the Surgical Nurse appears and asks him how he is feeling.  "I'm O. K. but I didn't like the four-letter word the doctor used in surgery," he answered.  "What did he say," asked the nurse.  "Oops!"

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- Stressed is just desserts spelled backward.

- Don't get me candy for Valentine's Day.  I want a 10-piece chicken wings combo.

- The only scenario where you really need a landline today is when you’re trying to find your smartphone.

- The perfect man doesn’t swear, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t get angry, doesn’t drink. He also doesn’t exist.

- The road to success is always under construction.

- “Never criticize your spouse’s faults; if it weren’t for them, your mate might have found someone better than you.”

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