SPRING-WINTER-SPRING-WINTER-SPRING WINTER….GEEEZZZZZ WHICH IS IT??????

IT WAS SNOWING HEAVILY THIS MORNING WHEN PHEEBS AND I HEADED OUT

If it wasn’t for the ever changing weather hereabouts I probably wouldn’t have much to write about again today.  Snow came in the night and turned our landscape white again.  Try as I did to keep myself in the house with a little doggy watching my every move i made it wasn’t long before those pleading eyes got to me so out the door into the snowy weather we went.  Roads were only lightly snow covered and the closer we got to Goderich the less snow there was.   

OUR ROADS HERE IN THE PARK ARE ALL SNOW COVERED AGAIN

OFF WE GO

THE SNOWFALL LET UP ON THE WAY TO GODERICH

Our usual route down around the harbor netted us a few more cloudy day icicle pictures and that was about it.  Pheebs even got her paws a wee bit wet in the lake today.  But not me, no sireeeee.

WINDS AND WAVES OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS HAVE BUILT UP ANOTHER SUPPLY OF ICICLES ALONG ROTARY COVE’S BREAKWATER

THE BULK CARRIER CUYAHOGA LOADS UP ON SALT AT GODERICH’S SIFTO SALT MINE 

JUST ABOUT HOME AGAIN

BY EARLY AFTERNOON ALL THIS SNOW WAS PRETTY MUCH MELTED BUT BY LATER AFTERNOON THE GROUND WAS TOTALLY COVERED IN WHITE AGAIN

Our afternoon was a real dog’s breakfast of weather.  Large picture postcard snowflakes drifting lazily to the ground one minute and wind gusts swirling a snow storm around our house the next.  Add to that sunshine, patches of blue sky, then big wind whipped snowflakes again.  At one point most of our morning snow melted then by late afternoon we had a winter wonderland going on again.  Crazy stuff, must be early Spring:))

PUFFED UP AGAINST THURSDAY EVENINGS COLD WIND

WE WOKE UP TO LOTS OF SNOW AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING

FEMALE CARDINAL

MOST OF THESE BIRDS ARE DARK EYED JUNCOS WHO ARE IN THIEIR ELEMENT IN THIS COLD SNOWY WEATHER

 

THAT’S A BIG OLD CROW ACROSS THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT

I ONLY KNOW THIS LITTLE FELLOW AS A SPARROW

BY EARLY AFTERNOON A LOT OF SNOW HAD MELTED AND PHEEBS AND I HEADED OUT FOR A WALK ON THE PINE TREE TRAIL…..THE SUN EVEN CAME OUT FOR A BIT

 

PAPA GOOSE STAND GUARD ON THE BANK WHILE MAMA GOOSE KEEPS A LOW PROFILE IN THE WATER…..STILL SNOWY ALONG THE SHADED TRAIL BELOW

BY EARLY AFTERNOON ALL THE SNOW HAD MELTED OFF THE BRANCHES

 

DOWNIE WOODPECKER

GOLDFINCH

 

HEY THERE GOES RICHARD AND BECKAM

AND THEN WOULDN’T YOU KNOW IT……THE SNOW CAME DOWN HEAVIER THAN EVER AGAIN!!

I THINK THAT IS A RARE BOHEMIAN THREE WINGED ORANGE LEAF BIRD:))

And a word of thanks again to reader’s for your kind words regarding my bird photos. I know there is always lots of room for improvement in my photo efforts but I’m just happy folks find enjoyment in them as they are because I sure enjoy taking them right here outside our sunroom window.  I have thought many times of trying to gather up all my bird pics into a photo album but for some reason I haven’t been able to discipline myself to do that………………

GROANER’S CORNER:((   After delivering a speech at an elementary school, president George Bush lets the kids ask a few questions. One little boy, Joe raises his hand and asks, “How come you invaded Iraq without the support of the United Nations?”  Just as the president begins to answer, the recess bell rings and he says they’ll continue afterward.  Twenty five minutes later the kids come back to class.
“Where were we?” says the president. “Oh, yes… do you kids have any questions?”  Another boy raises his hand and says, “I have three questions: First, why did you invade Iraq without support from the U.N.? Second, why did the recess bell go off 30 minutes early? And third, where is my buddy Joe?”

----------------------

A recruit who wasn't really meant to be a soldier went out to the rifle range for the first time. He missed every target and most of the hills behind them.  Despondent, he said to the sergeant, "I think I'll just go and shoot myself."  The sergeant replied, "Better take a couple dozen extra bullets with ya!"

=============================

A BURGUNDY COLORED VAN PICKED ME UP THIS MORNING AND WHISKED ME AWAY

The burgundy van with dark tinted windows rolled slowly around the corner and pulled into our driveway.  I exited the house, walked to the van, opened the passenger door and got in.  Yep, Richard and I were off on another one of our Thursday morning coffee tours.  It was our second one of the year.

Oh how nice to see water dripping off our roof again as today’s sunshine melted yesterday’s snow.  Spring is sure taking it’s time again this year but we’re happy for every little inch of progress it makes.

A FEW STRUGGLING SIGNS OF SPRING

I have had Facebook for a bunch of years now & have become very resistant to all it's games, add on's, & numerous requests for this, that, & the other thing.  I don't join any groups, sign any petitions, buy any farms or cattle, I don’t share or forward anything or do whatever they do on all those silly Farmsville, Fruitcrush, Wonky Birds, Yoville, or Hooterville places, or whatever Ville lands on my desktop.  I'm not into joining political or religious groups or save the Alaskan Hippos groups.  I don't care if Rhinosaucerouses can't lay eggs & I don't have to have bouquets of flowers sent to me because it was my sister's uncle's great grandfather's nude birthday 6 weeks ago.  No, I am not an instant winner of anything & no, I do not believe I am from the planet Cyberschnozz.  So ,when any of this stuff pops up on my Facebook page I quickly dispatch it.  That is whenever I happen to look at my Facebook page.  I’m not FB junkie and it’s not my favorite thing.  Sometimes something might come along that is real & of importance but it seems my internet mind has become irreversibly numbed to the realities of reality itself.  I do have to thank Facebook though for totally verifying the indisputable fact we humanoids are undoubtedly the most gullible creatures on the Planet and perhaps the whole entire Universe itself.  Of course it’s not just Facebook that makes me think that………………………

   

THESE ARE THE LAST OF WEDNESDAY’S BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE PHOTOS

GROANER’S CORNER:(( "I had the toughest time of my life. First, I got angina pectoris and then arteriosclerosis. Just as I was recovering from these, I got tuberculosis, double pneumonia and phthisis. Then they gave me hypodermics. Appendicitis was followed by tonsillectomy.   These gave way to aphasia and hypertrophic cirrhosis. I completely lost my memory for a while. I know I had diabetes and acute ingestion, besides gastritis, rheumatism, lumbago and neuritis.   I don't know how I pulled through it.... It was the hardest spelling test I've ever had."

---------------------------------

Trying to control her frizzy and dry hair, Kay treated her scalp with olive oil before washing it. Worried that the oil might leave an odor she washed her hair several times with strong soap.  That night when Kay went to bed, she leaned over to her husband and asked, "Do I smell like olive oil?"  "Why ?" he asked, pulling back. "Do I smell like Popeye?"

=======================

OLD MAN WINTER RETURNED JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE US ANOTHER KICK IN THE PANTS TODAY

DESPITE SNOW FALLING FROM THE SKY  I CAN PLAINLY SEE SPRING IS IN THE AIR:))
Rains backed off during the night and I saw our first flecks of snow at 7:35 Wednesday morning.  Not to be discouraged I also noticed in the 14 day weather forecast a couple days late next week with temperatures slightly over 50F.  Of course weather is always subject to quick change this time of year and especially this Spring with Old Man Winter still trying desperately to hang on.  We did hear on the news today highway 21 was closed around Kincardine, some schools were closed and some let kids go home early.  Also heard about many people  out of power up around the Hanover area and super bad winds in Toronto.  It’s not unusual for us to have this kind of weather at this time of year………………

OUR VERY OWN EASTER BUNNY IS STILL HERE
 

High winds and snow picked up making for a nasty morning so resigned myself to being house-bound.  Of course that resignation only lasted about an hour before Pheebs and I were out the door and headed into Bayfield for a little drive around town.  I had even brewed up a coffee to take along.

TAKING A SHORT DRIVE INTO BAYFIELD

LOOKING VERY BLEAK AND STORMY AS WE APPROACH THE HARBOR MOUTH

OVERNIGHT WINDS HAVE WHIPPED UP LAKE HURON

I THINK EVEN THE DUCKS WERE GETTING SEASICK ON THE CHOPPY WATERS OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

I COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF GIANT WIND CHIMES ACROSS THE RIVER THEN REALIZED IT WAS THE WIND BLOWING ALL THE ROPES, LINES, AND LANYARDS  WITH THEIR METAL FASTENERS AGAINST THE MASTS OF DRYDOCKED SAILBOATS
Didn’t figure there was much sense on venturing on out into the countryside.  Gravel roads were muddy, visibility was limited, and with freezing cold winds upon us there would be no stopping anywhere for either a leg stretch or a walk so we concentrated our short drive around Bayfield itself.

THIS IS WHAT EARLY SPRING LOOKED LIKE AT OUR HOUSE TODAY

Although Bayfield’s core and harbor area remain much the same as I remember it from years ago the occurring changes can be found if one looks for them.  Many of the quaint old aging cottages are slowly being either upgraded, remodeled, or completely replaced by fine looking homes which blend right in with Bayfield’s ambience.  There are no mega-malls or garrish high rises here and downtown Bayfield for the most part retains shades of it’s old fishing village charm.  It is on the southwest outskirts of town where one sees changes taking place in the form of a few new sub divisions.  

I DON’T KNOW HOW THOSE HOUSE BUILDERS ARE STANDING THE FREEZING COLD WINDS RIPPING THROUGH THERE

A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF JOINED HOUSES GOING UP

STARTING TO LOOK A LITTLE CHRISTMASY AGAIN IN BAYFIELD


Pheebs and I were back home within an hour of leaving and the rest of my day was spent mainly reading in the corner of our cozy sunroom.  At times visibility was perfectly clear outside while other times roaring wind gusts whipped blowing snow into a frenzy.  It was a good day to be inside all comfy and warm.

It was one year ago this morning I spent a few hours in the Goderich Alexandria Marine Hospital undergoing a procedure that few people care to talk about.  I hadn't talked about it either........until after the procedure was over.  Here is my post for that day in hopes it may allay some preconceived fears and help others facing the same procedure…. Colonoscopy

KELLY JUST TOOK OUR OUTSIDE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DOWN A COUPLE DAYS AGO
GROANER’S CORNER:(( A wife started doing her make up as soon as she woke up.  Her husband asked the reason.  She replied, “I have locked my Smart phone with a facial recognition program and it’s not recognizing me without makeup.”
---------------------
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
--------------------
A young lady came home from a date looking rather sad. She told her mother, "Arthur proposed to me an hour ago."  "Then why are you so sad?" her mother asked.  "Because he also told me he was an atheist. Mom, he doesn't even believe there's a hell."  Her mother replied, "Marry him anyway. Between the two of us, we'll show him how wrong he is."
=============================