THAT DARNED OLD HITCH ITCH IS BUGGING ME AGAIN!!

 

OUR AZALEA'S ARE BLOOMING

Randy over at the ROADRUNNER CHRONICLES had a good post Saturday about his thoughts on their first year of full time RVing.  It's a good read for full timers or those just transitioning into the lifestyle or thinking about it.  Although we are Snow birders I could identify with just about everything he said.

HEY, YOU THERE IN THE SUN ROOM!!

After reading Randy's post this morning it got those darned old hitch itch gears to turning in my head again.  That's a fine thing if your in a position to scratch that itch & just hitch up & roll on.  If your not, it can be a real darn pain in the asparagus!!

 

WEIGELA

We were very serious a couple years ago about the full time lifestyle & I would still very much like to have a go at that but it's a big decision & it's a two people decision.  If both parties are not on the same wave length it just isn't going to happen.   It's true, we have a very nice cozy, safe, & secure little place here in Bayfield but we have been here nearly 7 years now & for me staying in one place that long is a huge stretch.  Yes, it's nice to have a home to come home to but to sit still in one spot for 6 months of the year now that we have been traveling is extremely hard for me to do.  It would probably help if we could do a few short trips in the summer but with Kelly's work situation we just can't do that. 

SOLOMON SEAL

These past few years have shown me an alternative & much livelier lifestyle than this more customary & routine stay at home living.  There is still so much to see & do out there & luckily for us we are still healthy enough to do it.....so far!!  But whether we'll take that big step some day remains to be seen.   Most RV folks will understand what I'm saying here & most sticks & bricks people will not.  There, now I feel more like my good old Cursmudgeony self again.  D'ya suppose this dull gray rainy day had anything to do with my thinking.....Naw, say it isn't so, I love da rainy days!!

ONE OF OUR RESIDENT FRONT YARD PEANUT VENDORS

I had better clear something up about the photo of that yellow Jeep Wrangler I had in the blog a couple days ago.  At the time I put that photo in we were very close to making a decision on trading in our 99 Dodge mini-van on that Wrangler & I figured we had it in the bag.  However, after much thought & discussions about pros & cons we finally decided this morning that it just was not the right thing for us to do at this time.  We have too many unknown variables in the mix at the moment but I still see a Jeep Wrangler in our future somewhere down the road, but just not right now:(( 

I know a lot of people aren't into bird's & flower pictures all the time but unfortunately that's just about all I have right now until something more exciting decides to happen in front of my camera lens............................

GROANER'S CORNER  It's that time of year for us to take our annual senior citizen test. 
Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles. As we grow older, it's important to keep mentally alert. If you don't use it, you lose it!  Take the test presented here to determine if you're losing it or not.

OK, relax, clear your mind and begin.
1. What do you put in a toaster?

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Answer: 'bread.' If you said 'toast' give up now and do something else.. 
Try not to hurt yourself.

If you said, bread, go to Question 2.

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2.  Say 'silk' five times. Now spell 'silk.' What do cows drink?

Answer: Cows drink water. If you said 'milk,' don't attempt the next question. Your brain is over-stressed and may even overheat. Content yourself with reading a more appropriate literature such as Auto World.

However, if you said 'water', proceed to question 3.

3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from? 
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Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said 'green bricks,' why are you still reading these??? 
If you said 'glass,' go on to Question 4.

 
4 Without using a  calculator - You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales . In London , 17 people get on the bus.
In Reading , 6 people get off the bus and 9 people get on.  In Swindon , 2 people get off and 4 get on.  In Cardiff , 11 people get off and 16 people get on.  In Swansea , 3 people get off and 5 people get on.  In Carmathen, 6 people get off and 3 get on.  You then arrive at Milford Haven ..  Without scrolling back to review, how old is the bus driver?

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Answer: Oh, for crying out loud! 
Don't you remember your own age?  It was YOU driving the bus!!

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

HOW AM I EVER GOING TO RETAIN MY GRUMPINESS IF THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME!!

Think we have some rain headed our way & that is a good thing.  About 4 days back to back of any kind of weather is just about enough so I welcome the weather change.  Yep, atmospheric pressure variety is definitely the weather spice of life.

A CARPET OF PERIWINKLE BESIDE OUR HOUSE

Had a short mobility van run this morning from one little town to another & that was about it for today.  Lots of farmer's on the field's with their big planting machines this time of year so the dust was just a flying in the county.  This whole southern Ontario area we live in is mainly agriculture with lots of farms & fields of green.

                 

THE DARKER VAN IS THE ONE I GENERALLY DRIVE

                

OH OH, RADAR AHEAD.....NOPE, JUST A DUMMY CAR.  SEEN IN HENSALL, ONTARIO

Ever wonder what a real life oil man & fellow RVer does north of the Arctic Circle when he's not on the road with his rig?  Check out JOHN & BRENDA'S INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE. 

If missing out on not having sweet potatoes fries at Fuddruckers wasn't bad enough, ROD & LOYCE arrived back at their rig in Des Moines Iowa to find water cascading out their rig's door & down the road.  Definitely not a couple of happy campers there!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An RVer in a motorhome got hopelessly bogged down in an unexpected muddy hole along a dirt road. After a few minutes, a passing farmer drove by on his tractor and offered to pull him out for only $20. After the motorhome was back on dry ground, the RVer said to the farmer, "At those prices, I bet you're pulling vehicles out of this mud day and night."
"Nope," replied the farmer. "Night is when I haul water to fill up the hole again."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

NICE DAY FOR A WORKING DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY

 

WELCOME TO THE BAYFIELD BUNCH'S PLACE

Another nice mobility van drive today over to University Hospital in London, Ontario.  The hospital is in the north end of the city so didn't have to get into any downtown traffic madness.  Had a 2 hour wait & then it was back out into the quiet & scenic countryside & back home.  Sure am glad we don't live in, or anywhere near any kind of a city!!!!

OUR IRIS FLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM

A comment question from JANNA AT TIN TEEPEE/LOG CABIN about last night's blog photo of our little Motormouse on the porch wearing a long blue lead.  Both Checker's & the Motormouse are very crafty girls & like to wander off.  We always have to watch them closely when they are outside of their fenced in back yard.  They are both explorers & know we are easily distracted when people are around.  You get to talking & forget about the dogs.  Both Checkers & Motormouse know this & will slip away every time.  A couple weeks ago we got distracted doing some gardening & before we knew it we couldn't find the little Motor.  She had walked all the way over to the mail room to greet people picking up their mail.  Checkers has always been a happy wanderer & will do the same if we don't keep a close eye on her.

IT'S THE MOTORMOUSE CATCHING A FEW RAYS THROUGH THE SUN ROOM'S SKYLIGHT

Had another comment question from SAM & DONNA -5TH WHEEL VAGABONDS which asks, "Al how do you handle the Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde transformation when you climb in the van."  This is in reference to my blog A PLEASANT WEATHER & WORKING DAY.  In it I was talking about my job of transporting elderly Seniors & stated, "Of course they don't know me as a cranky old Cursmudgeon though. To them I am one of those bouncy, good natured & friendly young guys." 

To start with I have often heard people say that whenever they are around young people it makes them feel young as well.  I am the total opposite to that.  It is when I am around young people that I feel old & when around older folks I feel younger.

Now, about the Jekyll/Hyde  thingy.  Yes, it's true, I am basically a Cursmudgeon alright in these latter years, but on my mobility van job the transformation out of my Cursmudgeon character happens automatically & willingly as soon as I enter a nursing home facility, hospital, or a Seniors home & meet the person I am transporting.  I seem to get an extra little bounce in my walk & am easily able to talk with these people.  All of these folks are in need of help & that is why I am there.  It is my job to safely transport these wheelchair folks to & from their destinations & quite often that means right into the hospitals, medical centers, dentist offices, etc.  Up the elevators & down the halls looking for waiting rooms & Doctor's offices.  And I am always talking & kibitzing along the way trying to make them feel comfortable & at ease.  Years ago doing travelogues at Seniors facilities I used to get the very same feeling.

I feel very good about that so I am comfortable & able to relax & bring out that humorous young good natured friendly guy that still lives inside somewhere.......somewhere within the shadow of the Cursmudgeon!!  Don't want to get too deep here but sometime in a future blog maybe I will expand on my Jekyll/Hyde & Cursmudgeon theories.  It could get a bit lengthy though.................. And, while on the topic of Seniors I would just like to thank everyone for all your kind comments about my Uncle Harry in last night's blog.  Very much appreciated.  Thank You:))

JUDY & EMMA are in the process of moving into their new home.  'New to them' Motor Home that is.  Lots of excitement going on over there as they transfer things from their older Motor Home into the newer one.  Nice looking rig for sure:))

THIS LITTLE SIGN WAS MADE BY OUR FRIEND 'BUTCH' WHO HANGS OUT IN THE DESERT NEAR BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Our weather just continues to get nicer & as I sit here at the computer looking out over our front yard I am always amazed at how such a barren & bleak yard-scape during winter & early spring can explode into a veritable jungle of green foliage & colorful flowers.

 

JUST OUTSIDE THE SUN ROOM WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME

My gardening style has changed over the years.  Gone are the manicured large lawns, the perfectly trimmed shrubs & razor edged flower beds with everything precisely measured out & planted like you see so often in suburbia.  Nothing wrong with that kind of landscaping where everything is crisp & neat as a pin.  Did that for a bunch of years & It's just not what I care for anymore.  Now I let the foliage grow in together giving the yard a more natural woodsy look.  Kind of a junglescape flavor.  In fact, I thought I saw a saber tooth Zebra near one of the Azalea bushes last week.

Much more critter friendly too with squirrels, chipmunks, bees, butterflies, & lots of birds flittering about.  And I like the privacy all the foliage provides because we do have a few prying eyes in our Park!!  Well, doesn't every neighborhood!!

HEY, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS PICTURE OF A JEEP WRANGLER DOING IN THE BLOG.....Hmmmmmmm!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  And it's real darn scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker too.

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.