PHEEBS GOES TO THE VET, COACH WAXING RESUMES, AND A FEW MORE FRONT YARD PHOTOS

LOOK AGAIN…………….THERE ARE TWO FROGS HERE

All three of us in the Jeep this morning heading to our Vet’s in Zurich.  It seems every year about this time Pheebs gets an infection type of soreness in her ears which causes her to shake her head a lot because of the itching.  Today they cleaned both her ears and administered some medication.  It’s a two part treatment so we take her back to the Vet next Wednesday and she has a second treatment.  Vet said she should be fine for the next five weeks and hopefully maybe even cure what it is that gets in her ears.

OUR REDBUD TREE IS IN BLOOM

LEAVES ARE BURSTING FORTH FROM OUR SUNBURST LOCUST TREE

WE HAVE LOTS OF HOSTAS EVERYWHERE

<<< ALWAYS NICE TO SEE SPRING FERNS IN THE GARDENS

Spent another hour or so waxing the Motorhome.  My efforts this time were concentrated on the driver’s side and here’s a couple more things I have learned along the way.  Don’t get the waxing part too far ahead of the polishing and buffing part and don’t try applying wax too early in the morning when the coach’s fiberglass is still damp from the night air.  Our Motorhome sits amongst shady pine trees so takes awhile to dry out properly.  If the surface is damp the wax doesn’t seem to go on properly. 

After a long slow and cold Spring our front yard is finally exploding into the summer jungle we look forward to each year.  We are entering the season now when all flora is coming into it’s best.  Everything is growing full tilt and will continue to do so through to the end of June.  When the heat and dryness of July sets in our lush green jungle will begin to age and struggle.  Aside from mid September to mid October being the nicest time of year here the month of June is the best month between mid October to late May.

LAST TIME I COUNTED WE HAD 6 FROGS AND TWO FISH IN THE POND AS WELL AS PEEPER FROGS WE RARELY SEE

TINY MOTH ON OUR SCREEN DOOR

Looks like we have some sunny days upon us for a few days so that means Pheebs and I will be out and about in the countryside again trying to scare up a few photos here and there.  If anyone reading is looking for a hobby I would most certainly suggest photography.  What a fine way to have one’s eyes opened to the beautiful wonders of nature.  And not only that but one gets to take those beautiful wonders home and preserve them for the rest of their lives.  Words are fine but like they say, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and one photo of course can also stir a thousand memories.  So why not get yourself a decent digital camera and head on out to capture yourself a world of memorably wondrous photographs and have yourself some fun along the way……..:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A 6th grade teacher posed the following problem to one of her arithmetic classes:  "A wealthy man dies and leaves ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his butler, and the rest to charity. Now, what does each get?"  After a very long silence in the classroom, one little boy raised his hand and with complete sincerity in his voice, answered, "A lawyer!"

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A man asked an American Indian what was his wife's name.  He replied, "She called Four Horse".
The man said, "That's an unusual name for your wife.  What does it mean?"  The Old Indian answered, "It old Indian Name. It mean,
NAG, NAG, NAG, NAG!"

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One night at the dinner table, Charlie’s wife commented, 'When we were first married, you took the small piece of steak and gave me the larger. Now you take the large one and leave me the smaller one.  Don't you love me anymore?'
'Nonsense, darling,' replied Charlie, 'you just cook better now.'

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SOME DAYS ARE JUST LIKE THAT I GUESS…….

Well it turned out to be a nothing kind of day as far as blog fodder goes.  Aside from breakfast with good friends Richard and Gayle at the Bayfield Berry Farm I spent much of my day dwindling away in my recliner.  Never took any photos, no Jeep ride this morning and no afternoon walk in the pine forest.  Would have been a perfect day to have worked away on the Motorhome's waxing project but I had no energy for that and even less interest in trying to scrape together a post for tonight.  Some days are just like that I guess..................

GROANER'S CORNER:((  After a long, dry sermon, the minister announced that he wished to meet with the church board after the service. The first man to arrive was a stranger.  You misunderstood my announcement. This is a meeting of the board said the minister.  I know, said the man.  If there is anyone here more bored than I am, I'd like to meet him.

WITH THE PROPER SIMONIZ TERRY-CLOTH WAXING PADS I MADE PROGRESS ON THE RIG’S WAX JOB

Our chilly overnight temperatures here along the Ontario shores of eastern Lake Huron dropped to a shivering 36F.  No problem for us here snugly warm in our house but oh those poor long week-end tent campers at the nearby Pinery and Point Farms Provincial Parks.  I remember those cold nights from many years ago when we would head off early in the season to the Pinery on week-end camping jaunts.  Oh those long ago memories of much younger days:))

‘MOM, DAD WON’T GET OUT OF HIS CHAIR AND TAKE ME FOR A JEEP RIDE’

‘OKAY DAD YOU HEARD WHAT MOM SAID’

‘OH MOM HE’S NOT LISTENING, WILL YOU PLEASE TELL HIM ONE MORE TIME’

How nice to see the makings of a fiery sunrise through our tall pine trees first thing this morning.  Always an encouraging way to start the day.  Most mornings the Sun like a magnate draws me out of the house towards it and wraps me in it's warm comforting glow.

EVEN SOME TURTLES OUT SUNNING THEMSELVES ON AN OLD LOG

FROGS TOO AND IF YOU MISSED THE FROG ABOVE HERE HE IS BELOW

ONE END OF THIS POND IS VERY SWAMPY

PHEEBS SPOTS A FISH IN THE WATER

I don't know why I always let my hair get so long but I do.  This morning it was 'chop the mop' time as Kelly once again deftly maneuvered a pair of garden shears through my mane.  As hair piled up on the kitchen floor I tried to remember the last time I had to pay for a haircut and I think it was sometime in the Spring of 1993 just before meeting Kelly for the very first time in the summer of that same year.  I have no idea what a commercial haircut would cost these days but I'm sure the price would align itself with every thing else and be very expensive.

HAIRCUT DAY AND SHE’S REALLY KNOCKING OFF A LOT OF HAIR THIS TIME

Needing to arm myself with a proper wax applicator for the Motorhome waxing project Pheebs and I headed back to Goderich this morning for a stop at the Canadian Tire Store and luckily they had a Simoniz pack of 3 applicators in stock.  Of course not wanting to rush right home again on such a beautiful sunny Spring morning we rolled out of Goderich heading east into the countryside stopping alongside a couple favorite ponds.  Snapped a few photos and then headed for home.  I was kinda wanting to get on with the rig’s waxing job before our day warmed up too much.

IF THERE WERE 5 TADPOLES ALONG THE SHORE THERE WERE 500

NOTICE HOW THIS TADPOLE IS MORPHING INTO A FROG WITH LEGS NEARLY FULLY FORMED

 

LILY PADS GROWING ON AND JUST BELOW THE POND’S SURFACE

Trying out one of the three round Simoniz wax applicators I was very pleased to see how much better it worked at applying the wax uniformly and smoothly to the Motorhomes white fiberglass side.  I basically redid about 80% of what I had already done on that side of the coach.  By 1 o'clock after a couple dozen trips up and down our 12 foot ladder my legs gave out and I had to come in and sit down for awhile.  I did come to one conclusion today though.  Once I finish this Motorhome wax job that will be it.  I will never do it again and would not attempt to hand wax something that large in the future.  That is a job I would leave to the professionals.  And I still have over half the coach to do yet.

AN EMPTY CLAM SHELL FLOATS JUST UNDER THE POND’S SURFACE

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A policeman was interrogating 3 blonde guys who were training to become detectives. To test their skills in recognizing a suspect, he shows the first blonde guy a picture for 5 seconds and then hides it. "This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?" The first blonde guy answers, "That's easy, we'll catch him fast because he only has one eye!"  The policeman says, "Well...uh...that's because the picture I showed is his side profile." Slightly flustered by this ridiculous response, he flashes the picture for 5 seconds at the second blonde guy and asks him, "This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?"  The second blonde guy smiles, flips his hair and says, "Ha! He'd be too easy to catch because he only has one ear!" The policeman angrily responds, "What's the matter with you two??  Of course only one eye and one ear are showing because it's a picture of his side profile! Is that the best answer you can come up with?"  Extremely frustrated at this point, he shows the picture to the third blonde guy and in a very testy voice asks, "This is your suspect, how would you recognize him? He quickly adds, "Think hard before giving me a stupid answer."  The blonde guy looks at the picture intently for a moment and says, "The suspect wears contact lenses."  The policeman is surprised and speechless because he really doesn't know himself if the suspect wears contacts or not. "Well, that's an interesting answer. Wait here for a few minutes while I check his file and I'll get back to you on that." He leaves the room and goes to his office, checks the suspect's file in his computer, and comes back with a beaming smile on his face. "Wow! I can't believe it. It's TRUE! The suspect does in fact wear contact lenses. Good work! How were you able to make such an astute observation?" "That's easy," the blonde guy replied. "He can't wear regular glasses because he only has one eye and one ear."

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The child comes home from his first day at school.  His Mother asks, "Well, what did you learn today?"  The kid replies, "Not enough. They want me to come back tomorrow."

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IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO NOW I RECEIVED AN ‘OMG’ EMAIL FROM A READER

FOG IN THE VALLEY THIS MORNING

Due to cold and windy overcast skies it was a real struggle first thing this morning for me to find any motivation for getting myself out of my warm comfy recliner.  Thought about staying right where I was for the day but a 45 pound little ball of fur had other ideas.  How could I ignore that sad little face with those soft pleading brown eyes sitting on my lap with her head only inches from mine staring at me.  Well it was a clear cut case of motivation staring me right in the face.  With the magic words, ‘wanna go for Jeep ride’ Pheebs bounded off my lap almost knocking me backwards into the middle of last week.  Recovering I hurried to throw on some warm duds while the furry whirlwind raced up and down the hall trying to hurry me up.   Minutes later that happily exuberant 45 pounder and I were out the door, down the steps, and into the Jeep heading North.  Cranked on the heater and it seemed the closer we came to Goderich the foggier it appeared.  Figured that was a good sign warmer air was moving into the area.  Warmer air did arrive later but it wasn’t that warm.  As I post this tonight we are sitting at 49F.

BLURRY BICYCLES IN THE MIST

A coffee run down around the Goderich harbor netted us a few photos and a short walk in the cold wind.  About an hour and a half of leaving home we were back again and just in time too because Kelly was cooking up some bacon and eggs.  That was a nice break from my usual morning fare of healthy stuff.

SAW THIS BULK CARRIER FREIGHTER NESTLING UP TO THE DOCK AT THE SIFTO SALT MINE 

I DON’T RECALL SEEING THE ALGOMA INNOVATOR IN PORT BEFORE

I SEE A WORKER ON DECK

With cooler temperatures upon us I knew it was a good time to work on the Motorhome's wax job.  Won't be long and our weather will be too hot and muggy for me working outside so figured I had better keep going while the weather is workably cool.  However I ran into some discouragement today.  The wax has been going on and buffing off just fine on the 'painted surface' around the bottom of the rig but when I started on the big white fiberglass sides of the coach I ran into a problem.  Thought everything was going fine until I stood back and looked at the white sides on an angle.  Splotchy and blotchy is the best way to describe it.  Thought it was a buffing problem but no that wasn't it.  Took me awhile to figure it out but figure it out I did.  By applying the wax by hand with a small cloth I was not getting the wax on evenly and ended up having to go back again and again to touch up all the small un-waxed spots I had missed.  I may have to bite the bullet and try using the 10 inch wax applicator cloth that came with the buffer-polisher after all or maybe I will slip up to the Canadian Tire Store and pick up a proper Simoniz wax applicator pad.  One thing is for sure, a small cloth is not the way to go on a big 45 acre white fiberglass surface!!  Guess I'm too used to waxing smaller painted metal cars over the years.  This 37 foot Motorhome is a whole different bag of hammers. 

I AM GOING TO HAVE TO RE-WAX A SIZEABLE CHUNK OF THIS WHITE FIBERGLASS SIDING FROM FRONT TO BACK

THIS IS WHERE I PLANTED THE DAFFODILS AND TULIPS A COUPLE DAYS AGO

Our gloomy skies began clearing late in the morning and by early afternoon we were under sunny blue skies with temps on the rise.  I'm sure there will be a lot of disgruntled soggy campers in the area out reveling in this afternoon's warm sunshine.  Well as long as they stay out of the cold northeast wind that is.

I’M THINKING THIS LITTLE CHAP MIGHT BE A CHIPPING SPARROW

THIS GRACKLE AND HIS BULLYING BUDDIES HAVE ALL BUT TAKEN OVER OUR BIRD FEEDING STATION

BLACK CAP CHICKADEE

BLUEJAY AND A FEMALE CARDINAL

PERCHED  IN OUR FRONT YARD SUNBURST LOCUST TREE

And it was about a year ago this time I received an ‘OMG’ email.  I had to read the email over 3 times in a row to comprehend what I was reading. and make sure it wasn’t a scam.  Soon as Kelly got up that morning I showed her the email and she felt it was on the level too.  Wow, just couldn’t believe my good fortune.  My ‘OMG’ paragraph is the third one down in the post.  Click on My OMG Moment.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An old man, a boy and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked.  As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.  Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk!  Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride.  So, they both rode the donkey.  Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.  The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey.  As they crossed a narrow bridge, they lost their grip on the donkey and he fell into the river and drowned.  The moral of the story? If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your ass good-bye……………

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A woman was chatting with her next-door neighbor."I feel really good today. I started out this morning with an act of unselfish generosity.  I gave a twenty dollar bill to a bum."  "You gave a bum twenty whole dollars? That'sa lot of money to just give away. What did your husband say about it?"  "Oh, he thought it was the proper thing to do. He said, 'Thanks.'"

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