MUDDY ROADS, MENNONITE TERRITORY & FOLLOWING ONE MIGHTY BIG BLADE

HOW CAN YOU TELL PHEEBS & I WERE UP IN MENNONITE COUNTRY AGAIN TODAY
Kelly had some errands to run in Goderich.  Rained in the night & the air was muggy with lots of bugs.  Flopped into my recliner with fans going & thought, 'no way am I gonna sit here all morning'.  Minutes later Pheebs & I had the windows down in the Jeep & we were off on another mystery tour.  It's always a mystery because we never really know where we are going until we are almost there…………..wherever there turns out to be.

SOON THIS LITTLE COUNTRY SCHOOL HOUSE WILL BE BUSTLING WITH BOYS IN BRITCHES & GIRLS IN LONG DRESSES
 
HOW MANY OF US CAN REMEMBER OLD SCHOOL BELLS?  I CAN………………
  
LAUNDRY DAY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

SOME OF THESE MENNONITE FARMS HAVE THE NICEST FLOWER GARDENS
Swung through Clinton's Tim Hortons for a standard small coffee & carrot muffin.  Soon as I turn in there & head towards the drive-thru Pheebs goes bonkers.  She knows where all our stops are.  From there it was out on the muddy country roads.  Muddy because of the overnight rains.  Didn't take us long to get the Jeep all grundged up.  With every pit stop we managed between the 2 of us to drag copious amounts of mud into the Jeep.  We just grinned at each other & felt very much at home.  Despite a heavy overcast we did manage to find us a few photos along the way.

 
SHEAVES OF WHEAT ARE STACKED BY PITCHFORK & CALLED STOOKS AS IN ‘STOOKS OF WHEAT’
Our North-East travels did manage to swing us back into a westerly direction after awhile & we soon began to see the big wind turbine Monsters on the distant horizon.  Figured I'd head on over that way & see what progress was being made on the towers.  Closer I got the soupier the roads became as I began to encounter heavy construction machines & trucks on the recently rain soaked roads.  Spotted a big 18 wheeler carrying one of the giant blades to a wind turbine site.  Swung in behind the little convoy of trucks until they reached their destination.  Interesting watching the big truck manoeuvre.


 
THESE COUNTRY ROADS WERE SURE MUDDY
 

THE BLADE NEARS IT’S FINAL DESTINATION IN A NEARBY FARMER’S FIELD
Spotted another wind turbine not far away with a big blade assembly hanging off the end of a crane.  They were obviously hoisting the big blade hub to the top of the tower to connect it to the nacelle.  It was about a quarter mile away in a field but I did manage to get a few photos.  Wasn't until I enlarged the photos later at home that I noticed a construction worker atop the nacelle at one end waiting for the big blade assembly to be swung into place & fitted.  Unfortunately I was running out of time & couldn't wait to see the final connection.  I did manage to get a last photo from a different angle though showing the joining almost complete.  Had to be home by 1:30.

Reason I had to be home was kind of coincidentally linked to these many wind turbines in a round about but maybe direct way.  We had a fellow coming at 1:30 to have a look at our aging & costly electric furnace & give us a quote on swapping it out for a new gas one.  Our monthly electric bill has become crippling.  The cost of electricity has gone through the roof & Ontario now has the distinction of having the most expensive electric rates in North America.  Kelly & I & millions of others here in Ontario have alarmingly watched our monthly bills sky rocket these past years & months.  We know of the gross mis-management of our electric company called Hydro One but what we hadn't realized according to this WIND ONTARIO article was how this whole wind turbine project could very well be part & parcel of our escalating rates.  I did read the article & must admit I did think about half a dozen points were exaggerated but other than that I think there is a lot of food for thought in this Wind Ontario website.  And again, politics, politics, politics:((

WASN’T UNTIL I CROPPED THE PHOTO I NOTICED THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER ATOP THE NACELLE
  
 THESE VIEWS ARE FROM WEST OF THE WIND TURBINE
 
THIS VIEW FROM THE EAST SHOWS THE TWO SEPARATE COMPONENTS NEARING CONNECTION
Sure is worrisome with this deluge of rain in our area of Congress Arizona these past few days.  What will we find when we reach our little adobe ranch house sometime in probably late October.  Will our new roof on the north end of the house have done it’s job?  Will the small leak between the living & dining room have worsened?  What about the stuff in our garden shed, did I remember to get things high up enough from the floor knowing it does have water flow in there?  We haven’t heard anything from the folks keeping an eye on our place so we’re thinking maybe no news is maybe good news.  Hope my utility trailer hasn’t floated away.  We do love our little place there but sometimes we think maybe we are just toooooo far away for toooooo long a period of time…………………….

ALL OF TODAY’S PHOTOS WERE AGAIN TAKEN FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A small town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial -- a grandmotherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"  She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy. And frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a rising big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."  The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?"  She again replied, "Why, yes I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. I used to babysit him for his parents. And he, too, has been a real disappointment to me. He's lazy, bigoted, he has a drinking problem. The man can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the shoddiest in the entire state. Yes, I know him."  At this point, the judge rapped the courtroom to silence and called both counsellors to the bench. In a very quiet voice, he said with menace, "If either of you asks her if she knows me, you'll be jailed for contempt!"

TODAY WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO MERIKAY & CRAIG & I GOT ME SOME COOKIE BUTTER:))))))))))

‘YAHOOIE LOUIE’ THANKS TO MERIKAY & CRAIG i GOT ME ANOTHER JAR OF YUMMY COOKIE BUTTER
 
YEP, AND I’VE ALREADY HAD MY FIRST BIG SCOOP TOO:)))))))))))
Cleaned a few windows, swept out the carport, blew some pine needles off the front porch, watered some sod & got myself a little campfire going on.  Everything worked out fine except for my campfire smoldering out.  Merikay & Craig from MERIKAY'S DREAMS rolled in around 11 & saved me from any more around the house chores.

SURE IS A BIG JEEP YA GOT THERE CRAIG
Had us a Big EEE tour & a yard walkabout before adjourning to our sunroom to solve us a few of the world's problems.  Covered a lot of bases with much of our talk centering around the rigs, the people & the events of the RV lifestyle.  Always stories to be told & things to learn.  Kelly had picked up some sausage, cole slaw, ice cream & a blueberry custard pie at the Mennonite market this morning.  Throw in some beans & we had ourselves a tasty lunch.  More RV interests were discussed & a few more stories told around the kitchen table.  The day slipped by fast as morning gave way to mid afternoon & all too soon Merikay & Craig were climbing into their Jeep & heading on back to their Alfa Motorhome.  Roads to be traveled tomorrow & packing up to be done tonight.  By the looks of the weather they are going to be heading out in a morning rain.  How nice it was of them to motor all the way up here to our little rural slice of Ontario just to say hello to us.  Safe traveling guys & guess what................I'm already into my jar of Cookie Butter.  Thanks moocho mucho:)))))))))
 
YEP, CRAIG LOOKS SO COMFY I THINK HE IS HERE TO STAY
I have often wished we could return to Arizona in the summer Monsoon season to see all the dry washes running with water & desert cactus in bloom.  Jerry from Benson Arizona in his latest post talks about what it is like tucked away safely inside as the rolling thunder, lightning strikes & heavy rains beat down all around them.  And he has photos of cactus blooms.  Some medical issues have slowed Jerry & Suzy's RV travels down a bit but he still manages an occasional post now & again.  All the best you guys & stay safe riding out those big Arizona Monsoons.  OUR LIFE ON WHEELS

I THINK HE WENT THAT-A-WAY KELLY
This morning Kelly finalized this coming winter's health trip insurance for our 6 months south of the border.  Of course it has gone up again as it does every year & I can easily see where at some point it is the high cost of travel insurance that finally ends many Canadian RV'ers winter travels to the South.  Kelly was told on the phone that next year will be even higher because I will be over 70 by then & my rate will 'jump substantially’.  Sometimes I wonder how we are ever going to do it but I have to quickly follow those thoughts up with our many memories of the 8 great fortunate years we have had so far.
 

 

BYE GUYS & THANKS FOR DRIVING ALL THE WAY OVER HERE TO SEE US BAYFIELD BUMS:))
ARCHIVE MEMORY::  It is now just past mid August & once again the signs of our summer slipping away are beginning to emerge. Tiny invisible Crickets have a different chirp to them, once lush green leaves are taking on a harder edged look, days are becoming noticeably shorter, & our ever present resident pond frogs are quieter now as they contemplate their long winter's hibernation. Who's going to get the best spot in the mud this year. Nights are definitely cooling down & soon an Autumn crispness will be in our daytime's air. It is my favorite time of year which approaches. The exciting freshness of Spring is long gone & summer's steamy rush is rapidly winding down. Autumn is a time for quiet reflection. Everything seems to slow as we shift to a lower gear. In just mere weeks from now kids will be back in school, the Labor Day week-end will be behind us & a few trees will begin to dress in their finest early Fall colors.   Autumn is also a time of anticipation & preparation for the long cold winter months ahead. It's a cozy time as we scurry about like little squirrels organizing ourselves & preparing to hunker down & await the chilling winds of winter.

Autumn is also a time of new learning. I've always had a theory that I think is probably true. Ever since we were kids first starting school we have become programmed to begin an educational process every September. This continues for all our early years in life & becomes embedded in our very being. And, I think it lasts forever. Even though I've been out of the school system since the early 60's I still feel that learning process beginning to kick in around mid August. Over the years I have enrolled in various night classes starting in September. Half a dozen photography related courses, a beginners computer course, Tai Chi exercise classes & probably a few others I've forgotten about. It's always a nice feeling to be learning something new & especially at a time of year when we have been programmed to do so for many years. It takes me back to my early public school days & that fresh smell of new books, erasers, new ink in the ink wells & fresh apples in our knapsacks. And purple Fall flowers always remind me of early school days as well.  Aw yes, Autumn. My favorite time of year. Think I just talked myself into brewing up a fresh cup of coffee, lighting up a cinnamon scented candle, & turning on the fireplace for a cozy stay at home musically relaxing day. 

GROANERS CORNER:((Last Sunday, the pastor of a local church began his sermon with a supposedly true story... "I was on a plane last week, flying from Chicago to California, when we ran into some very severe turbulence. As it got worse, the passengers became more and more alarmed, and finally even the flight attendants began to look concerned. Finally, one of them noticed that I had "REV." in front of my name on the passenger list came over to me and said, "Sir, this is really frightening. Do you suppose you could ... I don't know ... do something religious?"  "So I took up a collection."

WE KNEW THEY HAD AN ALPHA MOTORHOME WITH A NEW WHITE JEEP & THAT’S HOW WE FOUND THEM:))

We were in the Sunfire & on the road to London this morning shortly after 9.  Nice country drive for two thirds of the way then you get to the city.  We found the Citizenship & Immigration place in the south end of the city with no problem.  A few people milling about outside waiting for it to open at 10:30.  Seeing how this was a Government organization I figured it would be fraught with all the red tape & bureaucracy that goes with that sort of thing.  Kelly headed inside while I sat back, opened my Kindle & prepared to wait for at least an hour if not more.  Five minutes later Kelly opened the side passenger door.  I figured she had forgot something.  Nope, she was all done.  A couple simple questions & the fellow behind what was likely bullet proof class slipped Kelly her new card which will be good for 5 years.  And that was it, not one question about the mountain of paperwork Kelly had been required to bring.  They never even looked or double checked a single thing.  Oh well it was a bonus for our side & we quickly roared out of the parking lot just in case anyone had any second thoughts about asking anything more.  Who ever heard of dealing with anything Governmental in a mere 5 minutes anyway……………………….

LAST MINUTE DOUBLE & TRIPLE CHECKING OF ALL THE DOCUMENTS NOBODY LOOKED AT ANYWAY
My thoughts of immediately escaping the bonds of London's grasp were short lived however.  Kelly had spotted a new shopping mall not far from the Immigration office so in we went.  She was looking for curtains & there just happened to be a Marshalls plus a Bath & Beyond there.  And some other stores of course.  I opened my Kindle for what I thought might be a twenty minute wait while Kelly headed into Shopsville.  I ended up sitting in that parking lot for over an hour before I finally extricated myself from the car & took my cramped legs for a much needed walk.  Kelly finally found her way back to the car with curtains in hand & somehow accidentally set off the car alarm.  I had locked the care & I guess she had tried to open the door.  Luckily I was just coming across from the far end of the parking lot & managed to shut the alarm off with the control key fob.  From there we were off with a stop in London's north end at a Union Burger.  First time we had been to one of those.  Reminded us of 5 Guys with good burgs & home cut fries.  It was somewhere around 2 when we got home to a very happy & excited little doggy.

‘WOW’ DID WE EVER LIKE THE SIZE & ROOMY LAYOUT OF THIS ALFA MOTORHOME.  ALL THE WINDOWS ARE HUGE GIVING THE RIG A FEELING OF CHEERY OPENNESS  WITH ALL IT’S LIGHT & BREEZY COLORS…NICE, NICE, NICE
For the past several days we had been in touch via email with a long time fellow Blogger & her husband.  We have known these fine folks through our blogs for quite a few years now.  Almost since the time I started blogging I think.  Having finally sold their house awhile back they have hit the road full time in their Alfa Motorhome.  Starting out in California making their way through many States they emailed us a few days ago from Detroit In Michigan.  Their next major destination was Niagara Falls but decided to make a swing up around through our neck of the woods to say Hello.  Guessed who it is yet?  They found a Passport America park about a half hour drive east of Bayfield & rolled in Sunday.  Had we not had to go to London today we would have slipped over & done a hike with them today.  However, they are coming to our place Tuesday for lunch but in the meantime we drove over to see them tonight at the FAMILY PARADISE campground just North-East of Seaforth Ontario.  Luckily we spotted their big white Alpha Motorhome from the road.  How great it was to finally meet Merikay & her husband Craig from MERIKAY'S DREAM.  Liked these folks & their down home nature right off.  We arrived slightly after 6 p.m. & that was just in time to ruin their supper.  Oh Dear.  No matter they said as we all launched into RV overdrive talk.  I think all RV’ers do that when they meet.  It just goes non stop & I don’t think any of us took a breath for at least nearly an hour when Kelly & I headed on back home.  Merikay’s one of those Gals with a twinkle in her eye & a jolly nature & Craig’s one of those quick witted guys you would like to have as a best friend.  We’ll all be getting together for round 2 late Tuesday morning:))
 
THE ALFA, CRAIG, MERIKAY & THEIR JEEP
GROANER'S CORNER:((   A priest at a parochial school, wanting to point out the proper behaviour for church, was trying to elicit from the youngsters rules that their parents might give before taking them to a nice restaurant.  "Don't play with your food," one second-grader cited.  "Don't be loud," said another, and so on.  "And what rule do your parents give you before you go out to eat?" the priest inquired of one little boy.  Without batting an eye, the child replied, "Order something cheap."
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A friend of ours from another city was on her way to our house when suddenly she realized she had made a wrong turn. She stopped and asked a lady for directions.  "Go back down this road through a couple of traffic lights," she was instructed, "then stop and ask someone else."

SO ANYWAY THAT’S PART OF MY THEORY:))

Weather channel called for clearing skies overnight & to just double check that I had me a look up through the Pine trees Saturday night before going to bed.  Sure enough I could see a few twinkling stars.  Didn't take me & little Monkey Buns long to hustle ourselves out into the countryside again Sunday morning.  Picked up a coffee & carrot muffin at McDonald's in Goderich on our way through.  About 4 hours later we split a hamburger in Seaforth Ontario.  In between the muffin & the burg we just moseyed along enjoying the cool sunny morning.  A few photos here & there & a few stops to stretch our legs along the way.

A BIG BICYCLE MARATHON GOING ON THIS MORNING & I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CATCH THIS FELLOW GOING BY

Aside from the obvious reasons I have stated many times for our country drives there is another one I may not have touched on.  It's one that some folks may not understand & other folks may just smile & give their heads a little nod knowing exactly what I am talking about.  For me personally I need my alone times & I do think it's important for couples to give each other their space.  I know some couples seem to be quite content with being together 24/7 & if that works, why not.  Some folks like full timers may not have a choice & I'm sure things must get a little testy at times being together in that smaller space day after day.  These people are to be admired for their patience & perseverance & I do think it takes two exceptionally understanding people to have the stamina to do that.  It was one of the things that bothered me a bit when we considered full timing back in 2008.  I know full timing would be easier for me if I were doing it alone.  The problem we have here is me not Kelly.  She has the patience of Saint & I have the patience of a Gnat & that in a nutshell is another reason for my country drives.  I need those X number of hours a week to just get out & enjoy being by myself & I'm sure Kelly enjoys those same X hours a week not having me grumbling around the house.  Now that she is not working at Deer Park Lodge any longer she is home much more & I try to be considerate of that & give her the space she needs as well.  Pheebs & I have been slipping out 2 & sometimes 3 times a week for about 4 hours at a time & that seems to be keeping me on a somewhat even keel.  Plus it helps with this ever present restless traveling urge I seem to always carry with me.  Just have to go with whatever works I guess.  So anyway that's part of the theory behind my increased outings this summer.  Right or wrong it’s my story & I’m traveling right along with it………………………..:))

 

SOME COUNTRY ROADS ARE JUST MORE MYSTERIOUSLY GROOVIER THAN OTHERS

Well I think it was the longest period of time I ever took to read a book but I  have finally finished UFO's......Myths, Conspiracies, And Realities.  As I said before it was a tough slog getting through it.  Very detailed & it tested my shaky memory & limited vocabulary in many places.  In my opinion one of the key ingredients to enjoyable reading is having a keen short term memory, not a shaky one.  A memory which can go back through characters, plot lines & details bringing them all forth to keep the reader in the now as to where he/she is in the books story line.  It's one of those things which makes reading so uniquely interesting.  If I had to stand up & give a book report on the book I just finished all's I would be able to tell you is, yes I do believe in UFO's simply because of all the hard factual data.  And yes, the America Government is the stumbling block when it comes to other countries around the world freely sharing their UFO knowledge & databanks.  Why the UFO's are in our skies no one knows but they are there.  And remember, UFO stands for 'Unidentified Flying Object' & that is just exactly what they are & what people have been & still are seeing.  This book will dispel the common myths, fantasies, fabrications, speculations & just simple common bunk that prevails.  The proof is in the logic……………My next Kindle read begins tonight.  SHAKEY.  It is singer songwriter Neil Young’s Biography.  Kelly & I once saw Neil Young play the old CNE Stadium in Toronto.  His back up band for the concert was Booker T & the MG’s. (Green Onions early 60’s)  Think it was back in the mid 90’s when we saw him.  We swayed in our seats to his ever melodic song which was popular at the time, ‘Harvest Moon’.  Incidentally that song became ♫ OUR SONG ♫ & holds a very special place in my heart….…:))

OUR FAVORITE POND STOP ALONG THE WAY IS REALLY CHOKED WITH LILY PADS THIS YEAR

Ever wonder why it is not a good idea to put your rig's levellers down in a parking lot.  Slip on over to Barbara's latest post at ME AND MY DOG.....AND MY RV & she will show you what she saw in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  It is inconsiderate people like these who give the rest of us a bad name & it's another reason for some places to ban RV's altogether.  Be considerate & think about what your doing.  And I like the bicycle Rhonda at TURN WHEN THE ROAD DOES recently purchased.  What a great all round idea.  Pedal if you want or just cruise along on battery power.  Groovy.  And talk about a hard working retired RV couple.  Better stop by Sharon's latest post at THE ODD ESSAY.  Just no rest for the weary it seems but Sharon & Bill are happy campers as they voluntarily scamper about working away at a place & things they both enjoy.  Would you believe 45 & 60 hours a week at times……And if you would like to meet Marsha & Paul Weaver this winter just check out their travel itinerary to see if they are coming to a place near you:)) WHERE'S WEAVER

THIS PHOTO REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER BEATLE SONG…’MOOS ON THE HILL’

 

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT THE COWS & WHILE TAKING THE PHOTOS I COULD HEAR A COW BELL…LOOK CLOSELY FOR THE BELL ON THE COW AT THE RIGHT

‘Wow’ I heard my first Autumn Crickets today.  They are right on time with the seasonal mid August change.  Country side is still looking way greener than it usually does this time of year but I’m sure trees will soon be taking on a darker hard edged look before the color change begins to set in.  Really noticing the days shortening up as well.  Kelly & I are off to Citizenship & Immigration in London Ontario in the morning.  Kelly has to re-new her dual citizenship card & is armed with a mountain of required paperwork in order to do so.  She has to do that every five years in order to keep her status current.

 

  

AND IT’S ALL IN HOW ONE LOOKS AT IT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Frustrated at my attempts to find something suitable for my diminutive daughter to wear that didn't look like something for a child, I approached a rather harried-looking saleswoman.  "What do you have for a petite woman about five feet tall, around 95 to 100 pounds?" I asked.  The short, pleasantly plump clerk looked at me with a rueful smile. "Nothing but contempt," she said.

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I decided to put together one of my six-year-old son's model kits one rainy afternoon. I found one of a dinosaur and was looking over the pieces when he passed by.  "What'cha doing, Dad?" he asked.  I told him I was going to put the dinosaur together, but the instructions were missing.  "Well, Dad," he grinned, "I guess you'll just have to do it from memory."