MORNING’S FOREST WALK, AFTERNOON WINDS, AND EVENING’S BLUE SKY

ANOTHER MORNING’S WALK IN THE FOREST

A fast moving heavy rain deluge went through in the night and I expected it to be markedly colder first thing this morning but imagine my surprise when the temperatures went the other way.  Even had us a nice blast of sunshine today as high gusting winds ushered in another weather front.  Checking our weather channel at 2 o'clock this afternoon I saw this....'Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.  Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon as a cold front blasts through.  The main threat is damaging wind gusts to 110 km/h or about 70mph.

FOREST FLOOR FLOWERS AND THEY HAD A WONDERFUL FRAGRANT AROMA

A LOT OF MOSS IN THE WOODS ALONG KITCHIGAMI ROAD BETWEEN BAYFIELD AND GODERICH

A RESTING BENCH FOR WEARY WALKERS

Pheebs and I made a routine run to Goderich and stopped at a nature trail for a walk on our way back home.  Due to overnight rain trails were on the muddy side so we didn't get ourselves as far as we would have liked. 

I AM GUESSING THESE FLOWERS TO BE VIOLETS

With winds gaining strength as the day went on I fired up the Motorhome and headed into Bayfield to fill up the propane tank knowing with those gusting winds we could easily lose our power at any minute.  At the time of posting this tonight our afternoon wind storm has already passed through, we never lost power, and aside from a few small pine tree limbs down we made out alright.  Inland areas around Kitchener-Waterloo were more heavily impacted with trees down and damage done to a few buildings.  Power outages as well.  Temperatures have taken a tumble, we’ve ended the day under clear blue skies and that’s about it………………………

GROANER’S CORNER:(( An armless man walked into a bar which is empty except for the bartender.  He ordered a drink and when he was served, asked the bartender if he would get the money from his wallet in his pocket, since he has no arms.  The bartender obliged him. He then asked if the bartender would tip the glass to his lips.  The bartender did this until the man finished his drink. He then asked if the bartender would get a hanky from his pocket and wipe the foam from his lips.  The bartender did it and commented it must be very difficult not to have arms and have to ask someone to do nearly everything for him.  The man said, "Yes, it is a bit embarrassing at times. By the way, where is your restroom?"  The bartender quickly replies, "The closest one is in the gas station three blocks down the street."

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

- Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they lit a fire in the craft it sank - proving once and for all that you can't have your kayak and heat it, too.

 
- Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second one, naturally, became known as the lesser of two weevils.

- “The invention of dynamite sure was ground breaking.”

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

IT WAS MY TURN TO BUY THE COFFEE AND MUFFINS

NOT TO WORRY FOLKS IT WON’T BITE YOU….IT’S ONLY ONE OF OUR FRONT YARD FROGS BUT YOU MIGHT GET A LONG STICKY TONGUE STUCK ON YOUR NOSE IF YOU SIT HERE LOOKING TOO LONG

Despite the rain infested morning it didn’t keep a couple of the areas older Senior fellas from their semi-monthly country road coffee run this morning.  Well it did keep them on paved roads instead of muddy gravel of course but other than than that it was another enjoyable 3 hours spent in non stop conversation.  It was Richard’s turn to drive so with me riding shotgun it was my turn to buy the coffee and muffins.  I am down to two muffins a month now with both muffin mornings occurring on our Thursday morning drives.  By the way, for the first time since the summer of 2006 I have finally cracked the 200 pound mark weighing myself in this morning at 197 pounds.  Already my legs are thanking me.

BACKGROUNDED BY OUR POND’S WATERFALL IT IS SO NICE TO ‘FINALLY’ SEE OUR FLOWERING SHRUBS BEGINNING TO BUD AND LEAF OUT

  

OUR FRONT YARD WIND CHIMES GARDEN

With our cold wet miserable 45F afternoon beside icy Lake Huron here I was left with little incentive to head outside.  Cranked up our furnace a tad to take the chilly dampness out of the air and settled into my recliner.  Wasn’t until after 6 o’clock when the rain had finally let up enough that we had a brief 20 minute period of sunlight.  Well that of course was enough to haul my carcass outside into the front yard where I knew I could probably find a couple pictures for tonight’s post.  There are always a few photos somewhere lurking outside someplace.

 

GROANER’S CORNER:((  It was about 15 years ago when the Pope met with the College of Cardinals to discuss a proposal from Shimon Peres, the former leader of Israel. "Your holiness," said one of the Cardinals, "Mr. Peres wants to determine whether Jews or Catholics are superior, by challenging you to a golf match." The Pope was greatly disturbed, as he had never held a golf club in his life.  "Not to worry," said the Cardinal, "we'll call America and talk to Jack Nicklaus. We'll make him a Cardinal, he can play Shimon Peres... We can't lose!" Everyone agreed it was a good idea. The call was made and, of course, Jack was honored and agreed to play.  The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to inform the Pope of his success in the match. "I came in second, your Holiness," said Nicklaus.  "Second?!!" exclaimed the surprised Pope. "You came in second to Shimon Peres?!!"  "No," said Nicklaus, "second to Rabbi Woods.”

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

HI-HO HI-HO IT’S OFF TO THE MARSH WE GO

A CANADA GOOSE COMES IN FOR A SWAMPY LANDING IN THE MARSH

Had to switch from winter PJ's to summer PJ's Tuesday night and oh how nice to be serenaded asleep by a whole host of Peeper Frogs around our front yard pond.  This morning with patio door open beside me I was gently awakened by the tree top twittering of Spring's newly arriving songbirds.  A  mighty nice way to end a day and a mighty fine way to start a day.

SIGNS OF SPRING IN THE FOREST TODAY

THERE ARE TWO FLYING HONEY BEES IN THIS PHOTO

 

With our weather map showing rain approaching from the west Pheebs and I took advantage of the early morning's sun and headed off over to the Hullett Marsh about 20 minutes away.  With roads into the Marsh open now we stopped at one of our favorite spots and got our legs going on one of the trails.  No bugs yet so it was an enjoyable hour’s walk.  We are so fortunate to have so many wildlife areas close to us.

CAN YOU SEE THE MOTHER CANADA GOOSE SITTING ON HER NEST??

AHHHHH THERE SHE IS TRYING HER BEST NOT TO BE SEEN

STILL WATERS IN THE MARSH THIS MORNING

A HONKING CREATURE FLIES THROUGH THE FOREST

TIS ONE OF TWO CANADA GEESE

THE TRANQUIL MARSH WAS FULL OF UNSEEN NATURE SOUNDS

Back home by 10 I continued with a few more yard projects until I heard the first peel of thunder out over the lake about 11:45.  Gathered up my gardening tools and 15 minutes later rains were upon us but only sporadically.  However, that pretty much finished off my day and the afternoon was mainly spent reading.

THE MARSH IS MADE UP OF PONDS WITH INTERCONNECTING WATERWAYS WHICH CAN ALL BE CONTROLLED BY HULLET MARSH AUTHORITY FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WATER LEVELS

A RATHER CURIOUS LOOKING IRRIGATION PIPE

I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER BEAVERS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS DAM OR NOT

I’M GUESSING THIS MIGHT BE A BLUE HERON’S NEST

I KNOW THE NAME OF THE ABOVE BIRD BUT AT THE TIME OF POSTING TONIGHT  MY MEMORY WON’T TELL ME WHAT IT IS….I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE BIRD ON THE LEFT IS

Thanks to Kevin from Travels with Kevin and Ruth for sending us a couple links regarding boon-docking here in Ontario.  Those links can be found in his comment on my Tuesday post.  Unfortunately the majority of places are in northern Ontario.  In a follow up comment George from Our Awesome Travels had a valid point about camping in northern Ontario when he said, “There is some boon docking spots up north like Kevin mentioned but quite a bit of the time the bugs can be really bad”.  That’s true of course for just about anywhere here in the summer and the other problem for Kelly and I is the summer humidity.  Yes we have two air conditioners in the rig but boon-docking in Mother Nature’s quietness with a noisy generator running for hours at time just defeats the whole purpose of being there.  Of course not every day is intolerably humid but there does seem to be more humid days now then there were years ago.  The American Southwest during the winter is perfect for us with no bugs and no humidity.  I guess we have just simply become spoiled over the years.

WALKING FROM A FAR DISTANCE ON THE RIGHT OUR OBJECTIVE WAS THE IRON BRIDGE ON THE LEFT

WEST END OF THE BRIDGE

LOOKING NORTH FROM THE BRIDGE ALONG A CREEK WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE MARSH

LOOKING SOUTH FROM THE BRIDGE

EAST END  OF THE BRIDGE

DOGGY WAS DOING SOME HAPPY RUNNING THIS MORNING

PHEEBS IS COMPLETELY AIRBORNE HERE

AND SHE’S A FAST RUNNER TOO

I took the photo below in Tuesday evenings fading light of what I think might be a Tufted Titmouse.  There were two of them outside our sunroom window for a few seconds.  Due to poor lighting the color is off and the blue you see on the bird was actually gray.

As I post this tonight our thermometer outside sits at 70F.  Unbeeweevable:))

KNOWING WE HAD RAIN COMING I NOTICED A BANK OF CLOUDS ROLLING IN FROM THE WEST SO IT WAS TIME TO HEAD HOME

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Religious Stuff::

- Tao: Stuff happens.

- Catholicism: If stuff happens, you deserved it.

- Protestantism: Let stuff happen to somebody else.

- Judasim: Why does stuff always happen to us?

- Islam: Stuff happens according to the will of Allah.

- Buddhism: The stuff is an illusion.

- Zen: What is the sound of stuff happening?

- Hinduism: This stuff happened before.

- Mormonism: This stuff should multiply.

- Baha'i Faith: Stuff happens in a progressive manner.

- Agnosticism: I'm not sure about this stuff.

- Atheism: That stuff about the stuff is all just made up stuff.

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

“I applied for a job as a weatherman, but my knowledge of meteorology was a little cloudy.”

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

An office exec was interviewing a flighty red head for an assistant position, and wanted to find out a little about her personality.  "If you could have a conversation with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?"  The red head replied, "I'd have to say the living one."

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