AND, WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE, I EVEN WENT FOR A BIKE RIDE...''WHAT'!!

I SAW THIS LITTLE BUNNY UNDER A CEDAR RAIL FENCE IN BAYFIELD THIS MORNING MUNCHING ON SOME CEDAR BRANCHES

Checking my mind's rear-view mirror first thing this morning, I saw it right away.  Yes, there it was behind me and fading fast into history, right where all Januarys belong!! Glancing at my thermometer, I saw that we were starting February out with the temperature sitting right at 0F.  Let's hope we can end it 28 days from now somewhere at least above freezing.  Another nice orange sunrise through the pine trees this morning.

 THIS MORNING'S SUNRISE FILTERS THROUGH THE FROZEN TREE BRANCHES OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW

 IF YOU LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO, YOU WILL SEE CRITTERS HERE IN THESE SNOW CLUSTERS

 A TOUCH OF SUNLIGHT ON A TWIST OF SNOW AROUND THE REAR DECK'S RAILING

SUNSHINE EVEN MADE IT'S WAY INTO OUR KITCHENN THIS MORNING TO ALIGHT ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER

 NICE TO SEE CLEAR BLUE SKY BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND CARPORT

 A FINE LOOKING MORNING IN OUR PARK AS WELL

It was a nice morning for a drive, so I slipped into Bayfield, gassed up the car, and took a little drive around town.  Snapped a few pics here and there and headed home.  Although too cold for doing much of anything outside, the Sun did energize me enough to work on a few small projects inside.  And, without leaving the house, I even went for a bike ride.  What??

 AND TO THINK PEOPLE WILL BE SWIMMING HERE AT BAYFIELD'S BEACH IN ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS OR SO

THESE HEAVY BOULDERS HAVE BEEN PLACED RIGHT ON BAYFIELD'S BEACH

 BAFFIELD'S SOUTH PIER IS ALL BUT COVERED OVER WITH ICE AND SNOW

 ICE FISHERMEN ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER

 SUNDAY MORNING WALKERS IN PIONEER PARK STOP TO GAZE OUT OVER THE FROZEN LAKE

NOT EVEN A HINT OF OPEN WATER OUT THERE

 HERE'S THAT LITTLE BUNNY UNDER THE CEDAR RAIL FENCE IN BAYFIELD

With this Winter's inactivity taking a physical toll on both Woodsy and I, we had talked a few times about what to do.  We had thought about the Y.M.C.A. in Goderich, but that's expensive and neither one of us is interested in a regimented exercise program with a bunch of people.  So, we settled on something else.  I had seen an exercise bike for sale near Goderich and mentioned it to Woodsy.  She said for the price they wanted for that used bike, we might as well buy a new one.  So, after reading up on exercise bikes, I finally decided on one and ordered it from Amazon.  It is a Monsuny Exercise Bike 2025 and it was here within two days.  It must have been quite an ordeal in a crowded delivery van for the driver to slug around the heavy box that the unassembled bike came on.  Seeing it on the porch early Saturday afternoon, I had to drag the box into the house because I couldn't lift it.  Upon opening the box, I could see it was very well packed.  Everything had been well thought out to house all the pieces.  The bike ad had said, 'easy to assemble'.  For me, that is always a big red flag.  In my world, nothing is easy to assemble, and I dread all those instructions.  But, here it was, and here I was, so let the games begin. I very carefully and methodically took out all the parts and placed them carefully on the floor.  It is extremely important for me to take my time, be organized, and remain calm.  If not, the bike and all its parts could be swiftly exiting the building through the living room window!!  For a change, I followed the directions closely, and aside from a few expected small hang-ups, including getting the pedals on, I finally had the bike assembled.  It took me four hours, but that included one coffee break, seven trips to the fridge for snacks, half a dozen washroom breaks, a telephone call from Woodsy, two self-directed pep talks, and one prolonged gnashing of teeth over the pedals.  Anyway, it was finally done, and I climbed aboard and took myself for that spin I mentioned at the end of my first paragraph.  I right away liked the bike because it is completely noiseless, feels good to sit on, has a monitor, and a place to hold a cell phone.  I like the backrest and the two handbars on either side of the seat. The bike folds up and can be easily moved because of its two wheels, which I at first put on backwards.  I'll wait until Lorraine is here to figure out the monitor stuff, but in the meantime, I put my cellphone in the stand and set it for five minutes.  The tension gizmo on the bike goes from 1-16 so I've started off at 8 in 5-minute increments.  My first session late Saturday afternoon almost burned my legs off, (I am such a Wus), but I'm feeling much better today and have decided that is the setting and time period I will start off with.  When Lorraine (Woodsy) gets here, she will probably set it to 16 and boogie for an hour.  Afterall, walking and bicycling are two of her main things, and she has muscles of steel.  But, don't tell her I said that, or I will be in some very major trouble!!

 THIS WAS A HEAVY BOX

 THE PARTS WERE PACKED WELL

 OKAY, LET THE GAMES GEGIN

 WHEN I SAW THE FIRST PAGE OF INSTRUCTIONS I WAS ASCARED, VERY ASCARED

 WELL, DESPITE MYSELF, I'M ACTUALLY GETTING SOMEWHERE

 I EVEN HAD TO BRING IN THE BIG GUNS AT ONE POINT

 AT LAST IT WAS DONE

THIS MORNING I MOVED THE BIKE FROM THE LIVING ROOM TO THE SUNROOM

THE BIKE'S MONITOR

 UNTIL WOODSY FIGURES OUT THE MONITOR, I'LL JUST USE THE TIMER ON MY CELL PHONE 

The day ended under gloriously sunny skies and our temps rocketed up to 20F.  Shorts and T-shirts weather I'd almost say.

 HEY, I EVEN HAD A CAMPFIRE GOING IN OUR SNOWY BACKYARD THIS AFTERNOON

Al's Music Box:: Moonlight In Vermont by Margaret Whiting.

 SHOVELING THE DRIVEWAY IN A SNOWSTORM A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Sometime after Sidney died, his widow, Tillie, was finally able to speak about what a thoughtful and wonderful man her late husband had been. "Sidney thought of everything," she told them. "Just before he died, Sidney called me to his bedside. He handed me three envelopes. `Tillie,' he told me, 'I have put all my last wishes in these three envelopes. After I am dead, please open them and do exactly as I have instructed. Then I can rest in peace." "What was in the envelopes?" her friends asked. "The first envelope contained $5,000 with a note, 'Please use this money to buy a nice casket.' So I bought a beautiful mahogany casket with such a comfortable lining that I know Sidney is resting very comfortably. "The second envelope contained $10,000 with a note, 'Please use this for a nice funeral.' I arranged a very dignified funeral for Sidney and bought all his favorite foods for everyone attending." "And the third envelope?" asked her friends. "The third envelope contained $25,000 with a note, 'Please use this to buy a nice stone.' Holding her hand in the air and showing off her ten-carat diamond ring, Tillie said, "So, how do you like my stone?"

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- “I lift weights only on Saturday and Sunday because Monday to Friday are weak days.”

Jack: "Do you know how long fish should be cooked?"
Jill: "Probably the same as short fish."

- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets.

- "I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

- "If absence makes the heart grow fonder=, said a minister, a lot of folks must love our church.

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Meanings::

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