MORNING WALK

RAINDROPS ON A BRANCH

PHEEBS AND I HEADED OFF THIS MORNING FOR A WALK IN GODERICH’S EAST END BEHIND THE CEMETERY

NO GREEN BUDS ON THOSE GRAY HARD WOOD TREES YET

MAITLAND RIVER

WE HEAD OFF ALONG A DARKENED SUN FILTERED FOREST TRAIL

SIGNS OF SPRING ON THIS MORNING’S FOREST FLOOR

 

CAME ACROSS A NARROW MUDDY ROAD AND FOLLOWED IT

STUMBLED ACROSS AN ODD LOOKING PLACE IN THE FOREST

I WOULD SAY IT’S A HANG OUT FOR LOCAL TEEN-AGERS

A  HEAVILY WOODED OLD GROWTH FOREST ONCE STOOD HERE UNTIL A 2011 TORNADO TORE THREW THIS AREA AND TOTALLY DESTROYED IT

CAME ACROSS A POND

EVEN HAD A SHIPWRECK IN IT

MIST COMING OFF A PLOWED FIELD….WHEN WARM SPRING SUNSHINE HEATS UP DARK BARE EARTH THE RESULTING RADIATED AIR MINGLES WITH COLDER MORNING AIR CAUSING A GROUND HUGGING MIST

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A rookie police officer was assigned to ride in a cruiser with an experienced partner. A call came over the car's radio telling them to disperse some people who were loitering.  The officers drove to the street and observed a small crowd standing on a corner. The rookie rolled down his window and said, 'Let's get off the corner.'  No one moved, so he barked again, 'Let's get off the corner!' Intimidated, the group of people began to leave, casting puzzled glances in his direction. Proud of his first official act, the young policeman turned to his partner and asked, 'Well, how did I do?'
'Pretty good,' replied the veteran, 'especially since this is a bus stop.'

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COLD AND WET

Had us a cold rainy day.  Figured it was a good time to spend a few hours organizing and cleaning our sheds and carport so that's what I did.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  “When it comes to dancing, no one can just ‘waltz’ in and learn instantly. Sometimes it takes a ‘quick-step’, or sometimes you need to ‘hustle’ around. But eventually anyone can get the ‘swing’ of it.”

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NICE DAY FOR A DRIVE TO LONDON AND BACK

APRIL 2010 FILE PHOTO…..OUR PARK’S POND

I had better clear up a couple mistakes I made in Monday's post.  First, it was not a liver endoscopy biopsy Kelly had a month ago it was a lymph node endoscopy biopsy and her next appointment in London is not May 1rst it's May 7th.  At this rate I should submit a job application to the National Enquirer!!

APRIL 2010 FILE PHOTO…..CAMPFIRE IN OUR BACK YARD

Despite predictions of rain we made it all the way to London and back today with not a drop of water on the windshield.  A cloudy overcast and light traffic made for good driving and we were even able to kick up a bit of country road dust on the way home.

PHEEBS PATIENTLY AWAITS KELLY’S RETURN FROM MASONVILLE MALL’S A&W WITH A COUPLE TEEN BURGERS TODAY

Kelly's appointment today had to do with the results of her lymph node endoscopy biopsy a month ago.  Her biopsy Doctor's assistant didn't really tell her anything she didn't already know about the biopsy results.  We'll see if her other Doctor at London's University Hospital can add anything to the report in a couple weeks.  We were back home again about 2 p.m. 

NOT SURE IF THIS QUALIFIES FOR A BARN BLOCK QUILT OR NOT BUT HERE IT IS ANYWAY

Turned out to be a lazy afternoon and I didn't get around to taking many photos so I may as well wrap it up here instead of blathering on like I usually do..............

APRIL 2010 FILE PHOTO…..OUTER GODERICH HARBOR LOOKING NORTH ACROSS LAKE HURON

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Unable to attend the funeral after his Uncle Charlie died, a man who lived far away called his Blonde brother and told him, 'Do something nice for Uncle Charlie and send me the bill.'
Later, he got a bill for $200.00, which he paid. The next month, he got another bill for $200.00, which he also paid, figuring it was some incidental expense.  But when the $200.00 bills kept arriving every month, he finally called his brother again to find out what was going on.  'Well,' said the Blonde brother, 'you said to do something nice for Uncle Charlie.  So I rented him a tuxedo.'

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“Beware of lumberjacks bearing dull tools. They usually have an axe to grind!”

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Passenger to Airline Ticket Agent: I want my brown suitcase sent to Los Angeles, my green suitcase sent to Kansas City, and my tan suitcase sent to New Orleans.  Ticket Agent: I'm sorry, sir; this flight is to Nashville. We can't do that. Passenger: Why not ? You did it last time.

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FINALLY GOT THE MOTORHOME WASHED ON OUR VERY FIRST MIGHTY FINE SPRING DAY:))

NICE TO SEE ALL THE ICE AND SNOW GONE FROM THE SHORELINE OF LAKE HURON

This is Monday’s post and I have no idea why all my photos suddenly vanished Tuesday morning!!  Okay now that’s odd…….the pictures are back:))

Okay so here's now we know it is Spring at our house.  Doors and windows open, 3 of summer’s cooling fans brought in from the shed, Al's in short sleeves, Kelly's sitting on our sunny warm deck reading, pond pumps running, power washer is fired up and the whole Motorhome is now washed and summer cushions are on their respective porch chairs for another season.  I’m thinking we might have actually had temperatures pushing 70F today.  It was 83 in the sunroom so for sure we had to get a fan going in there to cool things down a bit.

NICE TO HEAR THE SOUND OF RUNNING WATER IN OUR FRONT YARD AGAIN

Sunday I felt like the slow moving Tortoise and today I felt like the energetic Hare as I slipped around and managed to get half a dozen things accomplished.  Aching muscles tonight of course but it's a good ache knowing I was able to scratch more things off my list rather than resting in my recliner getting nothing done.  Not only a good day for body muscles but a good day for my brain muscle as well.

LOOKING SOUTH ALONG LAKE HURON’S SHORELINE FROM ROTARY COVE

WARMER WEATHER IS BRINGING OUT MORE WALKERS TO THE BEACH’S BOARDWALK

I’M THINKING THIS GAGGLE OF SMALL BOATS ARE OUT THERE FISHING

Pheebs and I had ourselves a nice sunny walk along Lake Huron shores this morning and how nice to hear returning Red Wing Blackbirds in the trees.  We were in Goderich at the south end of Rotary Cove and how great it felt not to be whipped by freezing cold wintery winds for a change. 

ALONG PARTS OF THE SHORELINE PIECES OF CONCRETE FROM OLD BUILDINGS AND ROADS ARE DUMPED ALONG THE SHORE TO CREATE A BREAKWATER

 

NOTICE THE CONCRETE PORCH AND STEPS USED TO SECURE THE BANK AND BREAK UP THE INCOMING WAVE ACTION AND NO I DO NOT THINK LAKE HURON HERSELF PLACED THAT WEATHERED BRICK ON THIS TREE

NOPE NOT A SUNKEN SHIP JUST MORE CHUNKS OF CEMENT ACTING AS A BUFFER BETWEEN LAND AND WATER

HERE’S A LADY WINDING UP TO THROW A STICK INTO THE WATER

<<< AND THERE GOES THE REASON FOR THROWING THE STICK INTO THE WATER

Two big freighters in port with one loading grain at the Goderich Elevators and the other loading salt at the Sifto Salt Mine.  The Federal Margaree docked last week at the Elevators and the Algoma Buffalo at the salt dock might just be a first timer into the port of Goderich.  The Algoma Buffalo has been involved in a couple Great Lakes incidents. 

THE ALGOMA BUFFALO

LOADING ‘DUSTY’ GRAIN INTO ONE OF THE FEDERAL MARGAREE’S HOLDS

THE SHIP’S CAPTAIN HAS A GOOD VIEW FORWARD

HATCHCOVERS ON MANY FREITHERS WEIGH TONS AND REQUIRE CRANES TO LIFT THEM AND EACH CRANE HAS A LIFT OPERATOR HIGH UP ON THE CRANE AT THE BASE OF THE BOOM ARM

Too bad real estate prices and taxes are sooooo high in Goderich.   I think this scenic lakeside town would be a nice place for Seniors to live.  It has all the amenities, easy to get around, plus it has a really nice beach and harbor area.

OUR RESIDENT FROG

We were back home shortly after 10 and with warmer weather upon us I was invigorated to tackle the big job of washing our Motorhome.  I was happy our power washer fired right up without any problems and I soon had water flying everywhere as tackled the job at hand.  Front end first then drivers side with the rear cap next then finished up the long passenger side.  Always nice to see a shiny vehicle but the wash job is only the beginning.  Lots of black streaks to be removed, glass to be cleaned, paint touch-ups, rubbing compound to take care of all the latest desert pin striping and if I have any energy left I know the rig would benefit from a good coating of wax.  I have to get the ladder at the back fixed as well so I can get up onto the roof to see how things are up there.  Solar panels will be needing a good cleaning for sure.

A PERFECT DAY FOR WASHING THE MOTORHOME WITH IT BEING NOT TOO HOT AND NOT TOO COLD

SO GLAD TO FINALLY GET ALL THE SALT AND ROAD GRIME OFF THE COACH AND MUST ADMIT WHILE WASHING IT I WAS FEELING A LITTLE ‘HITCH ITCH’

We’re off for a quick trip to London’s St. Joseph’s Hospital (Pheebs too) in the morning where Kelly has an 11 o’clock appointment with the Doctor who did her liver endoscopy biopsy a month ago.  On May 1rst she has another appointment at London’s University Hospital with her regular liver Doctor.  I don’t think either of these Doctors are home grown Canadian lads with names like Hussein and Tariyaki………………

GROANER'S CORNER:((  You Have Two Cows:::

DEMOCRAT: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office that put a tax on your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money, buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous. Barbara Streisand sings for you.
REPUBLICAN: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So? ......It's not your fault he didn't stay in school. Never-the-less, ultimately you take pity on your neighbor and see that his children have milk, while you encourage him to accept responsibility for his situation and to work hard to acquire his own cows.
SOCIALIST: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
COMMUNIST: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour.
CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the second one. You force the 2 cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.
FRENCH CORPORATION: You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch. Life is good.
JAPANESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.
GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You reengineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately, they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
ITALIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows but you don't know where they are. While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman. You break for lunch. Life is good.
RUSSIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You have some vodka. You count them and learn you have five cows. You have some more vodka. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 12 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka. The Mafia shows up and takes over how ever many cows you really have.
POLISH CORPORATION: You have two bulls. Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.
FLORIDA CORPORATION: You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best looking one. Some of the people who like the brown one best vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which is the best-looking one.
NEW YORK CORPORATION: You have fifteen million cows. You have to choose which one will be the leader of the herd, so you pick some fat cow from Arkansas.

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