MAY WE ALL SOON BASK IN WARMER AIR AND SUNSHINE

ICE DUNES AT BAYFIELD'S BEACH

Well, here it is March 1st already, and what a sunny, bright day it is too.  And, just think, a month from right now will be April Fools Day.  And, it was only a short month ago that we were on the eve of the Groundhog, hopefully not seeing its shadow.  Oh, how wonderful now to be closing in on more sunny days and warmer temperatures.  Soon, our yard will be filled with excited chirping birds reveling in the coming of Spring.  We Northeners are so fortunate in having the harsh travails of Winter heighten our subdued and numbed senses to the wondrous flowers and Spring blooms soon to be at last upon us.  May we all soon bask in warmer air and sunshine :))))

AND, HERE'S A SURE SIGN OF EARLY SPRING...THE SAP IS RUNNING, AND THIS TRUCK IN THE FOREST ACROSS FROM OUR PARK IS PUMPING THE MAPLE TREE SAP INTO A LARGE WHITE TANK

 THIS IS WHERE THE SAP FROM THE BLUE LINES IS GATHERED AND THEN PUMPED INTO THE TRUCK'S HOLDING TANK

 RATHER THAN SAP PAILS ON THE TREES, THESE PLASTIC LINES AND SPIGOTS GATHER THE SAP AND SEND IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS LOADED INTO THE TRUCK

 A SAP LINE PLUGGED INTO TH MAPLE TREE

It was a cold but sunny morning drive into Bayfield and back this morning. (15F)  A few early signs of Spring were visible here and there.  Checking the forecast, I predict that a week from now, the Bayfield River will be flowing, half of the lake ice will be gone, farmer's fields will be nearly free of snow, and creeks and rivers might be topping their banks.  We'll still have snow on the ground here in our shaded Park, but it will be greatly diminished.  Our Park's roads will be muddy, and with temps not quite up to par we will not have our E-bikes out for another month and a half or so.  But, at least we are counting the days as the warm Sun climbs higher into the sky each day.   Actually, the Sun doesn't climb at all, or even move, and it is the Earth that is moving and rotating, giving the false impression that the Sun is climbing.  Crazy stuff, huh:)) Okay, so while we are at it......Is the Moon really that big when you see it close to the horizon?  No, it is not.  It is an optical illusion because the Moon never changes in size.  It appears bigger because of its relation to the Earth's land mass in its foreground. 

 ON THIS VERY COLD DAY, IT WAS NICE TO SEE A FEW SHOPS OPEN ALONG BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET

 A BRISK 16F SUNDAY MORNING WALK ALONG MAIN STREET 

 A THIN COATING OF ICE ON LAKE HURON'S COLD BLUE WATERS THIS MORNING

 LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Al's Music Box:: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart by The Bee Gees.

 THESE SWIRLY DUNES ARE MADE UP OF ICE, SNOW, AND SAND

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Popular Sayings, modified by the Internet a Few Years Ago::

- Home is where you hang your @
- The E-mail of the species is more deadly than the mail.
- A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.
- You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.
- Great groups from little icons grow.
- Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.
- C: is the root of all directories.
- Don't put all your hypes in one homepage.
- Pentium-wise; pen and paper foolish.
- The modem is the message.
- Too many clicks spoil the browse.
- The geek shall inherit the earth.
- A chat has nine lives.
- Don't byte off more than you can view.
- Fax is stranger than fiction.
- What boots up must come down.
- Windows will never cease.
- In Gates we trust.
- Virtual reality is its own reward.
- Modulation in all things.
- A user and his leisure time are soon parted.
- Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.
- There's no place like http://www.home.com
- Know what to expect before you connect.
- Oh, what a tangled Web site we weave when first we practice.
- Speed thrills.

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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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CAT DIARY, 7 entries::
DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

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DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.
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DAY 762 - Slept all day so that I could annoy my captors with sleep depriving, incessant pleas for food at ungodly hours of the night.
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DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan.
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DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only
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DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer." More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergiesC." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
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DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The Bird on the other hand has got to be an informant. He has mastered their frightful tongue. (something akin to mole speak) and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured.
But I can wait; it is only a matter of time.

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Al's Doggy World

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Al's Art Gallery

OUR FRIENDSHIP HAD SPANNED THE BEST PART OF 50 YEARS

Mainly out of curiosity, I sometimes look back through my blog posts to see what or how I was doing maybe six months or a year ago on any certain day.  Maybe even a decade ago.  It was with sadness that I checked back a year ago today and saw that it was the last time my best buddy Richard and I, unbeknownst to either one of us at the time, shared our last coffee and muffin country road drive together.  Richard passed away two weeks later on March 14th. When Richard stepped out of my car and walked to the Canadian Tire Store's automotive door on this day a year ago, that was the last time I ever saw him.  Our friendship had spanned the best part of 50 years.  Here is my post from our final few hours together.... Our Last Coffee Run.  

GROANER'S CORNER:(( An elderly couple was driving across the country. While the woman was behind the wheel, the couple was pulled over by the highway patrol. Ma'am, did you know you were speeding? the officer said. The woman, hard of hearing, turned to her husband and asked, What did he say? He said you were speeding! the old man yelled. The patrolman then asked, "May I see your license?" The woman turned to her husband again, "What did he say?" The old man yelled back, "He wants to see your license!" The woman then gave the officer her license. I see you are from Arkansas, the patrolman said. "I spent some time there once and went on a blind date with the ugliest woman I've ever seen." The woman turned to her husband again and asked, "What did he say?" The old man replied, "He said he knows you!"

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There were four country churches in a small Texas town: The Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church and the Catholic Church. Each church was overrun with pesky squirrels. One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels. After much prayer and consideration they determined that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will.

In the Baptist Church the squirrels had taken up habitation in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistery and drown the squirrels in it. The squirrels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week.
The Methodist Church got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creation. So, they humanely trapped the Squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back.
But -- The Catholic Church came up with the best and most effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.

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Al's Doggy World

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Al's Art Gallery