PHEEBS AND I DROVE RIGHT SMACK DAB INTO A BLOWING SNOW STORM THIS MORNING

Needing to pick up some new prescriptions at the Walmart pharmacy Pheebs and I headed for Goderich…..and ran right smack into a blowing snow storm.  Hadn’t been snowing in Bayfield when we left and the roads were dry and bare.  Living on the eastern shores of a large body of water we have a weather anomaly here we call lake effect snow.  Westerly winds coming across Lake Huron’s open waters pick up moisture turning it into the white stuff.  Narrow bands which we call streamers come ashore driving inland sometimes as far as 50 or 60 miles.  It was one of those streamers coming in that Pheebs and I drove right into.

STARTING OUT FOR GODERICH THIS MORNING ROADS WERE BARE AND DRY WITH ONLY A FEW SNOW FLAKES IN THE AIR

OH-OH I CAN SEE VISIBILITY IS DIMINISHING AHEAD

TOO COLD FOR FOG SO THAT IS SNOW IN THE AIR OUT THERE

LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ABOUT TO DRIVE OURSELVES INTO A SNOWSTORM ALRIGHT

Roads quickly became snow covered and I could feel the rear wheel drive Liberty’s rear end dance around a bit.  Figured it was a good time to try out our 4 wheel drive on a slippery road surface.  Wow what a difference it made.  Believe it or not but this morning was the first time I had ever driven on a slippery road surface with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.  I was very impressed at how the overall handling instantly improved.  And of course we still have our rugged mountain tires on as well.

LESS THAN A MILE SEPARATED THE ABOVE PHOTO FROM THE ONE ABOVE IT

IT WAS ABOUT HERE I ENGAGED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE

I AM HEADING NORTH WITH THE WINDS BLOWING FROM THE WEST LEFT TO RIGHT

Blowing snow was heavy enough at times to cause momentary ‘white outs’.  A white out occurs when blowing snow becomes so thick one cannot see the road or the edges of the road.  Not unusual for people to drive right off the road into the ditch because they lost sight of the road edges. With 3 rail crossings along the way I had to stop, roll my windows down and listen for any train whistles before crossing.

TURNING WEST ON A CROSSROAD INTO THE WIND MADE FOR A SHORT STRETCH OF BETTER VISIBILITY

TURNED RIGHT AT THIS STOP SIGN AND DROVE RIGHT BACK INTO THE BLOWING SNOW

We made it to Walmart Okay and I slipped in and picked up my stuff.  Only have a dozen cars in the parking lot and only saw 2 other customers in the store besides myself.  That alone tells you how bad it was right in Goderich itself.  Thought I’d slip down around the harbor to see if I could find some nice Lake Huron snow photos.  Luckily reality clicked in when my mind tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘hey, if you can only see a couple hundred feet ahead of you in town what do you expect to see at the water’s edge where the wind and snow will be the heaviest Dummy!!  Oh, Okay guess we had better make our way back to Bayfield so we turned around and headed for home. 

THE TOWN OF GODERICH ITSELF OFFERED NO RELIEF FROM THE STORM

THE CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN AND THE LAKE I GOT THE WORSE IT BECAME

SIDEWALK SNOWPLOWS WERE OUT

SO WERE MANUAL SNOW PLOWS

Through years of experience driving in winter conditions I prefer to stay off highways in snowstorms simply because highways are extremely unsafe.  Storm conditions are bad enough but throw in a bunch of panicked motorists slipping and sliding around all over the place and it’s a sure fire recipe for accidents.  I saw two prime examples of that on our way back to Bayfield.  First was a bright red pick-up truck coming the opposite way about 50 mph and the second was also a pick-up truck who because of his excessive speed nearly rear ended me just as I made my way out of one of the white outs.  Although I didn’t see either driver it would be a safe bet to say they were both young males and both at that ‘invincible’ stage of their lives.  And I can say that from experience because I have been there.

FROM GODERICH BACK TO BAYFIELD IT WAS BLOWING SNOW ALL THE WAY

SNOW IS BLOWING ACROSS THE ROAD FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

HEADING EAST ON A SHORT CROSSROAD

Anyway we made it back to Bayfield alright and even though Pheebs eyes were as big as saucers she did like plowing around in the snow once we were home.

BY GOLLY THERE’S THE ENTRANCE TO OUR PARK UP THERE ON THE LEFT

THAT’S OUR PLACE SOMEWHERE IN THERE TO THE LEFT

THERE HAD BEEN NO SNOW HERE WHEN WE LEFT THIS MORNING

It was way back in early November when after years of being a bit of a news hound I abruptly turned my back on all the TV news channels and walked away in disgust.  I have not watched any kind of TV news since.  I gave up newspaper news nearly 2 decades ago and radio news even longer than that.  Reading news on a computer holds no interest for me either.  We've been home 5 days now and neither one of us has bothered to turn on any kind of TV news.  Enough was finally enough.

SOMETIMES IT WAS BLOWING SNOW OUTSIDE AND SOMETIMES IT WAS SUNSHINE

I have been aware for quite some time now of the gradual changes taking place in my aging mind.  Things that were so important to me years ago now seem almost meaningless.  Some interests have swung in new directions while others have disappeared completely.  I am aware my mind's world is slowly shrinking as I have a tendency to choose the easier softer roads ahead rather than the more difficult and challenging pathways I would often take pleasure in working my way through years ago.  In other words my world appears to be shrinking.  I write about this because I know there are others out here at this very same stage and I share their thoughts and feelings.

SOMETIMES IT WAS SNOW FLURRIES IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON AND SOMETIMES IT WAS DAPPLES OF SUNLIGHT

DESPITE PUTTING BIRD SEED OUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ONE SINGLE BIRD YET BUT I DID HEAR A CARDINAL AND A COUPLE ROBINS IN OUR BACK YARD THURSDAY AFTERNOON

It was quite a computer task I had going for myself this afternoon but I managed to somehow slowly muddle my way through it.  Multi-tasking has never been one of my strong points and I’m even less stronger at it now than ever.  That was evident today as I tried organizing a bunch of photos between 3 computers and an external hard drive.  It was about the middle of February when I transitioned from my old Toshiba lap top to my new Dell laptop and that split my February photos up.  My goal this afternoon was to move those two sets of separate photos to my external hard drive and merge them together along with a few photos from our main desk top computer.  It sorta all went Okay I guess.  At least I didn’t end up with any chunks of my hair lying on the floor…………

OLDER TOSHIBA ON LEFT, DESK TOP IN CENTER AND NEW DELL ON THE RIGHT….OH AND THAT’S A TV IN THERE TOO BUT I WAS SMART ENOUGH NOT TO TURN IT ON AND REALLY DISTRACTINGLY FRY MYSELF

IT WILL BE A LITTLE WHILE YET BEFORE WE SEE BIRDIES SPLASHING AROUND IN THAT BIRDBATH

NOTICE THE CENTIGRADE THERMOMETER IS ABOUT 7 DEGREES BELOW FREEZING

And just another short friendly reminder to readers again that due to being hacked twice accepting ‘Friend Requests’ on Facebook I do not accept requests from anyone anymore.  I’m not a big Facebook user to begin with so please do not send me any of those ‘game requests' thingys either.  I only use Facebook to drop my daily blog post in & that’s it I'm oughta there!!

THOUGHT WE HAD A LITTLE ESKIMO IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS MORNING

NOPE IT’S JUST KELLY AND PHEEBS BACK FROM A VERY COLD WINDY WALK

GROANER’S CORNER:((  If God Had Voice Mail::

Thank you for calling heaven.
I am sorry, all of our angels and saints are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.
If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1.
Jesus, press 2.
The Holy Spirit, press 3.
If you would like to hear King David sing a Psalm while you are holding, press 4.
To find a loved one who has been assigned to Heaven, press 5, then enter his or her social security number followed by the pound sign. (If you get a negative response, please hang up and try area code 666.)For reservations in heaven, please enter J-O-H-N 3:16
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, life on other planets, and where Noah's Ark is, please wait until you arrive.
If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your local pastor.

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Hear about the little Moron who bought an AM radio? It took him a month to figure out he could play it at night too.

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No Respect!!

- "I worked in a pet store once and people kept asking how big I'd get."
- "I remember the time I was kidnaped and they sent back a piece of my finger to my father. He said he wanted more proof."
- "My uncle's dying wish was to have me sitting on his lap. He was in the electric chair."
- "Once when I was lost.. I saw a policeman and asked him to help me find my parents. I said to him...Do you think we'll ever find them.? He said..I don't know kid.. there are so many places they can hide."
- "I remember I was so depressed I was going to jump out a window on the tenth floor... so they sent a priest up to talk to me. He said.. On your mark..."
- "On Halloween..the parents send their kids out looking like me. Last year.. one kid tried to rip my face off! Now it's different.. when I answer the door the kids hand me candy."
- "My wife made me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday."

EVEN WITH TEMPERATURES HOOVERING JUST ABOVE FREEZING IT WAS STILL GOOD TO BE OUTSIDE GETTING A FEW THINGS DONE

ORVILLE YOU JUST GET ON HOME NOW AND NEVER MIND CHATTING UP THE GIRLS ON THE BEACH!!

Maybe not the warmest of days but with temperatures a couple degrees above freezing, an occasional splash of pale sunlight and no wind I figured it would be fine for getting a few things done outside………..and it was. 

CREEKS AND RIVERS ARE RUNNING BUT THIS SHALLOW POND IN THE SHADOW OF A FOREST STILL HAS ICE ON IT’S SURFACE

SOME MELTING AROUND THE EDGES

When I unloaded my Wednesday photos from the camera I have my telephoto lens on I found some photos I had forgot about.  I took the Pronghorn photos the evening before and the mountain photos the morning we left Arizona’s  Las Cienegas National Conservation Area just a little over a week ago.  Below are those photos.

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE

SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS

Dressed warm this morning I wasn't long in getting a lawn rake into my hands and started raking up the front yard for a bit.  Interspersed that with the leaf blower and cleaned off and began setting up our front porch.  With the Jeep I hauled the utility trailer out of the carport and parked it in it's outside summer spot.  Again with the leaf blower I blew all the leaves and pine needs out of our carport and got things squared away in there.  Next came the Jeep's interior and boy what a mess that was as I kicked the vacuum cleaner into overdrive.  The whole Jeeps finally looking good again both inside and out.  Somewhere in those morning activities I managed to wash the dishes as well.

AFTER ALL THAT SOUTHWEST DUSTY DESERT DRIVING THE JEEP SURE WAS IN NEED OF A BIG CLEAN-UP

Kelly's Pontiac Sunfire hadn't been on the road since late last October so she took it for a run to Goderich and caught herself up on a bunch of favorite stores she hadn't been in for nearly 5 months.  Things are finally settling back into place for us as we slowly familiarize ourselves with our good old 'back home' routines.

SOON THE ICE IN THIS POND WILL BE REPLACED BY HAPPY CROAKING FROGS SITTING ON BIG GREEN LILY PADS

It was about noon when I finally packed in my outside activities and came inside to fry me up some chicken soup and boil me a couple hot dogs.  Washed that all down with a big overflowing bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.  When it comes to eatin real good I knows how to do er:))

Comfortably crashed in my cushy recliner with soothing ambient music on the stereo and a few warming rays of sunlight on our carpeted living room floor in front of me I basked in the fact we had made it home safely a few days ago.  The long arduous trek home from the southwest each year always seems to be the toughest and least enjoyable part of our whole winter away and takes way more out of us than our journey in the Fall going the other way.  When heading for the southwest the hardest part of the trip is right at the beginning with all the big cities and heavy traffic east of the Mississippi.  Once out onto the Plaines west of the Mississippi big cities are fewer and father between.  Traffic greatly diminishes and the whole journey becomes much more pleasant.  Coming home each year the opposite is true and I think that has a lot to do with it.  I can't even begin to imagine the stress involved for fellow RV Snow Birds traveling that busy city to city I-75 corridor between here and Florida.  Crazy!!

So what are our plans for the upcoming summer??  Well, the same plans we have every summer I guess which is, no plans.  We're not much for traveling in the heat and humidity of summer and being a peak traveling time with crowded highways and campgrounds we are quite content to stay put right here in our laid back country community location on the cooling shores of beautiful Lake Huron.  No traffic chaos, no big megalopolis cities, not even a traffic light in Bayfield.  Sandy beaches, snug harbors, sailboats, and gorgeous Lake Huron sunsets are only about a mile from where we live.  Quiet country drives or walks are at our doorstep with an abundance of birds wherever we go.  Horses, cows, Mennonite buggies, wild turkeys and deer in the surrounding forests. Relaxing country roads border a patchwork quilt of colorful farm fields in a true rural setting for as far as the eye can see at times.  And nearby quaint artsy little towns.  Yes indeed it sure is good to be home.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A woman goes into an antique shop and says to the owner, "When I was in here last week I saw a big mug with a flat head that holds a lot of beer. I'd like to buy it."
"Sorry," replied the owner, "but I can't sell you that."  "Why not?" asked the customer.
"Because that's my husband."

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The teacher was describing the dolphin and its habits. And, children, "she said impressively, "a single dolphin will have two thousand offspring."
"Goodness!" gasped a little girl in the back row. "And how about married ones?"

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Men are like a pack of Cards:
A "heart" to love them
A "diamond" to marry them
A "club" to smack them and
A "spade" to bury the body...