COLD, WET, AND WINDY:((

A COUPLE DOVES FLUFFED UP AGAINST THE COLD AND DAMP

With a storm watch advisory out for our area this morning I knew Pheebs and I had to get on the road early if we were going to get out at all.  Needed a few things at the grocery store anyway so with a big icy cold wind blowing we decided not to go far and slipped into Bayfield for a short drive-around.  I had made a decaf coffee to go before we left plus we still had one of Bartliff’s carrot muffins left.  Aside from bumping into Kelly in Bayfield’s Foodland store Pheebs and I didn’t stay out long and soon made tracks for home.

THIS MORNING’S STORM APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTH

I GUESS ONLY FISHERMEN KNOW WHY THEY GET UP EARLY AND GO OUT IN THE FREEZING COLD TO STAND FOR HOURS BY A BODY OF WATER IN HOPES OF CATCHING A FISH

STILL SAND COVERED ICE ALONG BAYFIELD’S SHORELINE

The coming storm looked really bad on the Exeter radar site showing heavy rain, freezing rain and possible snow.  It was nearly upon us and coming right up Lake Huron from the south.  Well I don’t know what happened to it’s ferocity but the big bad looking storm didn’t amount to much more than a cold wind and a bit of rain.  I guess it fizzled when it was supposed to have have frazzled.  At the time of publishing this tonight we are on the zero mark and it’s raining.  Yuk and double Yuk:((

WORK CONTINUES ALONG BAYFIELD’S FISHERMAN’S WHARF…..I’M REALLY CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING THERE

AT LEAST THE GUY IN THE CAB MIGHT HAVE A HEATER

NO HEATER FOR THIS GUY ON THE ROLLER

I think I slept a wee chunk of the afternoon away and that was about it for our day here. 

THAT’S QUITE A SIZABLE BREAKFAST THIS MALE CARDINAL HAS IN FRONT OF HIM

’OH I AM SO EMBARRASSED WHEN DARREN DUNKS HIS TAIL FEATHERS IN THE WATER LIKE THAT’

‘OH GET A LIFE MARSHA’

Up until 3 weeks ago I had been on the same Arthritis medicine for the past 18 years or so and for me it has been a miracle drug enabling my legs to perform for the most part pain free.  However due to stomach concerns about it's long term use it was decided by my former and current Nurse Practitioner to get me off that drug onto something newer and safer.  Tried that a couple years ago but only lasted a week or so before I had to go back to my Arthrotec.  Three weeks ago I switched over to another arthritis drug called Naproxen.  The pain and stiffness in my lower back and legs has been increasing on a daily basis ever since so in desperation Thursday night I stopped the Naproxen and took one of my Arthrotec pills.   Within a couple hours I was up and walking around with far less pain in my back and legs.  I don't know what magic ingredient is in that Arthrotec medicine but it sure works for me and it has always been very fast acting. 

Pssssssst, it was Kelly’s birthday today:)

BAYFIELD CERTAINLY IS A SCENIC LITTLE PLACE

GROANER’S CORNER:((

Patient 1: 'Why did you run away from the operation table?'
Patient 2: 'The nurse was repeatedly saying 'don't get nervous', 'don't be afraid', 'be strong', 'this is a small operation only', things like that.'
Patient 1: 'So what was wrong in that? Why were you so afraid?'
Patient 2: 'She was talking to the surgeon!'

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Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living in Devon, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a chemists. Jacob suggests they go in.  Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: “Are you the owner?”
The chemist answers, “Yes.”  Jacob: “We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?”
Chemist: “Of course we do.”

Jacob: “Medicine for rheumatism?”
Chemist: “Definitely.”

Jacob: “Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, and Alzheimer's?”
Chemist: “Yes, a large variety. The works.”

Jacob: “What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?”
Chemist: “Absolutely.”

Jacob: “Everything for heartburn and indigestion?”
Chemist: “We sure do.”

Jacob: “You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?”
Chemist: “All speeds and sizes.”

Jacob: “In that case, we'd like to use this store for our wedding presents list.”

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Saying there are no aliens in the universe is like scooping a cup of water out of the ocean and saying there is no fish.

A GOOD DAY WITH ABOUT 80% OF OUR DECK PROJECT COMPLETE

TODAYS SUNSHINE OPENED UP ALL THE CROCUS PETALS

Usually the first few lines of my opening paragraph each day come easy but tonight I sit pondering my keyboard.  Don’t want to start another post off with a weather report.  By the way it was sunny all day and I think we got up into the low 40’s somewhere.  Cloudy tomorrow followed by two days of rain and then another cloudy day after that.  Darn, I did it again!!

ALWAYS NICE TO SEE DOVES IN OUR FRONT YARD

A COMMON GRACKLE

Bruce rolled in at 10 this morning and 5 minutes after that our backyard porch deck extension was underway.  Not a whole lot I can say about how our day went except to say Bruce did all the working while I did all the standing around watching for whatever I could do to help out.  I can be quite a little hindrance you know.

AND SO IT BEGINS

THE VERY FIRST BOARD IS IN PLACE

I’M A DARN GOOD BOARD HOLDER UPPER

Somewhere around noon Kelly called us in for some hot bean soup and grilled cheese sandwiches followed by coffee.  Thought that was right nice of her.

THE RESIDENT ‘STRAW BOSS’ CHECKS OUT THE DECK’S PROGRESS

HERE’S PHEEBS RIGHT IN THERE HELPING BRUCE

By 3 o’clock Bruce had all the frame work done and it was time to put the deck boards on.  That was the best part for me because I had something to do.  Something to do I could do that is. 

KELLY HAD HER BLACKBERRY IN ACTION AGAIN TODAY…..AND I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW BRUCE AND I ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES

We ended up two deck boards short so I will have to make another trip to Clinton but that’s Okay because we needed a few other pieces of lumber anyway for the deck railings and gate posts.  The deck at the moment is about 80% done but it may be a few days before we get back to it again.  With bad weather coming our way it may even be next week sometime.  I think it might have been around 4:30 when we finally got things cleaned up and called it a day.

When I look at the original back porch deck complete with roof it’s hard for me to believe or even comprehend I built that deck all by myself about 15 years ago and the only logical explanation I have as to how I did that plus one of our sheds is simply that I must have been in possession of far more brain cells back in those day than I am currently carrying around and operating with today.  It’s the only sensibly reasonable conclusion I can come up with.  How and where I lost all those brain cells I really don’t know.  But lost them I did.  And of course there are those out there who will say I never had them in the first darn place!!

THAT ROOF SUPPORT POST AT THE LEFT WILL BE RELOCATED

THE BACKYARD GATE WILL GO IN UP THERE TO THE LEFT BETWEEN THE DECK AND THE CARPORT…..BRUCE HAS IT ALL FIGURE OUT OF COURSE AND THE ONLY THING I WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT CORRECTLY TODAY WAS THAT I HAPPENED TO HAVE MY SHOES ON THE RIGHT FEET FOR A CHANGE

YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE SHORT A COUPLE DECK PLANKS THERE ON THE RIGHT…..BRUCE SAID THAT WAS BETTER THAN BEING THREE BRICKS SHORT OF A LOAD

Between my lower back and my legs hurting now for awhile I don’t know which one of those two culprits is giving me the most grief.  I blame it on arthritis and this colder damp air but who knows………… 

PHEEBS ENJOYING TODAY’S SUNSHINE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEPSING A CLOSE EYE ON US

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A child comes home from his first day at school. His mother asks, "Well, what did you learn today?" The kid replies, "Not enough. They want me to come back tomorrow."

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A Father is asked by his friend, "Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?"  "Yes, he wants to be a garbage collector," he replies.  To this his friend responds "Strange ambition to have for a career."  "Well, he thinks that garbage collectors only work on Tuesdays!"

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A man goes into a drug store and asks the pharmacist if he can give him something for the hiccups. The pharmacist promptly reaches out and slaps the man's face. "What the heck did you do that for?!!" the man screams. "Well, you don't have the hiccups anymore, do you?" The man says, "No I don't, but my wife out in the car still does!"

OUR DECK PROJECT IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY:))

HEY MISTER IS IT SPRING OUT THERE YET AND CAN I COME OUT TO PLAY??

With no wind or rain in the air and needing to pick up my 3 pounds of deck screws and missing 2x6x8 missing deck support plank Pheebs and I were off to Clinton first thing this morning......and sailed right past the hardware store.  Our missing the hardware store was intentional though.  Didn't want to be cruising around country roads with a big plank sticking out the back of the Jeep so our intention was to first have us a little Jeep ride then pick up the hardware stuff on the way home.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CREEKS FLOWING THROUGH HURON COUNTIES HULLETT MARSH 

Picked up our usual fare at Hortons and off we went under cloudy skies to look for some photos.  Well wait a minute….it wasn’t exactly our usual fare.  Stopped first at Bartliffs Restaurant & Bakery for some carrot muffins and then it was only a coffee I picked up at Tim Hortons. 

CROCUS

Cloudy days are not ideal for finding colorful photos so the bland gray leafless countryside was not too inspiring.  Oh well it was warm in the Jeep and we had us some great relaxing instrumental ambient music going so we just doddled along enjoying each other's company.  Us guys sure are the very much most best Pals:))

A ROBIN COMES IN FOR A LANDING

It was going on 11 by the time we made it back to Clinton and stopped into Langford Lumber for our missing stuff.  They had my 3 pounds of deck screws in a box at the counter and my missing board sat patiently out back waiting for me.  Minutes later we had the whole 8 foot plank inside the Jeep and headed the 8 short miles for home.

‘I CAN’T BELIEVE DAD WENT AND STUCK THIS WHOLE BIG DARN BOARD IN HERE

 

‘I’M GETTING STRESSED OUT DAD AND I WANT THIS THING OUGHTA HERE!!!!

I HOPE MOM COMES OUT AND SAVES ME FROM DAD’S BIG SCARY BOARD MONSTER

One of the reasons I always enjoy our annual Spring yard clean-up is the satisfaction of taking winter’s mess and cleaning it up.  I have almost always found that making something constructively nice out of a mess generally gives me a nice sense of accomplishment.  Today I mucked out the frog pond, re-planted half a dozen ferns, loaded some old rotten stumps into the utility trailer, and dug a short narrow trench to bury a section of garden hose.  Had myself a nice relaxed tired on by the time I came into the house and that ‘good feeling’ stuck with me for the rest of the day:)) 

SPRING CLEAN-UP FOR THE FROG POND TODAY

FERNS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW SOME GREEN

PUTTING A SHORT SECTION OF A GARDEN HOSE UNDERGROUND

Our first burst of sunshine occurred at precisely 1:02 this afternoon.  The second sun splash hit us at 1:33 p.m and by 3 p.m. patches of blue were beginning to appear overhead.  Bruce dropped by and left a few tools in the carport.  He’ll be back at 10 in the morning and we will begin the back porch deck project.  Power tools will be involved……..wish me luck!!

OH-OH LOOKS LIKE SOME SERIOUS TOOLS HERE…..I HAD BETTER DIG OUT MY SAFETY BOOTS AND HARD HAT AND STRAP ME ON A FLAK JACKET

Spotted my first Spring Crocus this afternoon.  Having planted a bunch of things late last Summer I am very curious to see what comes up where now.  Because I can’t remember most of what I put into the ground 7 months ago I may very well be in for a few nice surprises.  Aren't these aging minds of ours just the most wonderful things eh…………….. 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A fellow tries to cross the Mexican border on a bicycle with two big bags balanced on his shoulders. The guard asks, 'What's in the bags?'
The fellow says, 'Sand!'  The guard wants to examine them. The fellow gets off the bike, places the bags on the ground, opens them up, and the guard inspects... only to find sand. The fellow packs the sand, places the bags on his shoulders, and pedals the bike across the border. Two weeks later, the same situation is repeated... 'What have you there?'  'Sand'  'We want to examine.'  Same results... nothing but sand and the fellow is on his way again.  Every two weeks for six months the inspections continue. Finally, one week the fellow didn't show up. However, the guard sees him downtown and says to the fellow, 'Buddy, you had us crazy. We sort of knew you were smuggling something. I won't say anything - what were you smuggling?' The fellow says, 'Bicycles.'

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“For years, the fad dieter ate everything with prickly pears - he now eats everything with sorghums.”

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They say we learn from our mistakes which is why I make as many as possible.  I will soon be a genius.

MORNING LUMBER RUN AND LETS HAVE US A PEEK AT MERIKAY’S MUFFINS

How nice to feel warmer air when I stepped out with Pheebs into the early morning darkness.  Overnight rains still dripped from trees while a fine mist hung in the air.  No wind.

Not long after first light I was outside with pen and paper in hand.  Let me see now, 4 deck blocks, 7 eight foot pressure treated 2x6x8’s and enough 1x6x12 deck boards to cover a 6x12.  And don't forget the hardware and screws that go along with that.  Luckily I have enough 4x4's on hand to do the deck posts.

AIRPLANE IN THE MIST

I still had our utility trailer hooked up from taking a load of pine needles to the recycling area Sunday so little Spoogers and I hopped into Libby and headed for Home Hardware's Langford Lumber in Clinton.  It was a pretty foggy drive all the way there and back again.  And wouldn’t you know it…..I forgot to pick up the deck screws.  I also noticed I was short 1 2x6x8 after I got home.  That’s what I get for not double checking the count after the lumber was loaded into the utility trailer.  There were 6 instead of 7.  I’ll pick up the screws and 7th board next time Pheebs and I roll by the hardware store.  And we all know that won’t be very long. 

LOADED UP AND READY TO HEAD FOR HOME….LITTLE DID I KNOW I WAS SHORT ONE BOARD AND HAD FORGOT TO PICK UP THE DECK SCREWS

Been nearly 6 weeks since I got my new Dell solid state laptop and I am still liking most everything about it.  Boots up in about 10 seconds, is light as a feather, and I have not had any bugs or glitches with it.  No moving parts in this computer so no noisy fan or heat problems.  Nice.  Only thing I don't like is the location of the small 'Start' button on the thin edge of the right side.  Would have preferred the power plug inlet on the right side of the computer instead of the left but aside from those two little things I am totally happy and satisfied with my new Dell:))

THAT TEMPORARILY PLACED  2X6X8 SHOWS THE WIDTH O THE DECK EXTENSION

Puttered myself around outside for a bit prepping the deck extension site.  Rains held off most all day but without a speck of sunshine the air remained damp and nothing dried up.

RE-LOCATED SOME PEA STONE GRAVEL, DUG OUT A CORNER GATE POST, AND REMOVED A DOZEN SMALL PATIO STONES

MOVED THE PEA STONE GRAVEL FROM WHERE THE DECK IS GOING OVER TO THE LEFT WHERE THE NEW ENTANCE WIL BE

Hey if you haven't seen Merikay's glorious muffins yet here's a good chance to slip on over to Jojoba Hills California and have yourself a peak at what she's got:))  Merikay's Glorious Muffins In The Morning

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A man went to the police station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before. "You'll get your chance in court," said the desk sergeant.  "No, no, no!" insisted the man. "I want to know how he got into the house without waking my wife. I've been trying to do that for years!"

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I'd live life in the fast lane but I am married to a speed bump.

- A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand!

- A clean kitchen is the sign of a wasted life.

- Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

- Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.