NO NEW WORDS TONIGHT BUT I STILL HAVE MORE OF THE SAME OLD ONES GOING ON:))

REALLY LIKED THE LOOKS OF THIS PERSON’S BACK YARD IN GODERICH THIS MORNING

Well I couldn’t think of any different words and I knew if I tried to learn a few new ones I’d forget them anyway so I’m back tonight with more of my same old words and stuff.

THOUGHT FOR SURE I WAS GOING TO HAVE MYSELF ‘A BIG RANT’ ABOUT BICYCLISTS TONIGHT BUT I COOLED OFF BY THE TIME I GOT HOME

CORN’S GOLDEN TASSLES STAND OUT AGAINST A STORMY SKY

Okay, let me see now...…..how can I start this post off by using most of my usual repetitive words.  Let's get hot and humid out of the way first.  In my world the weather is back in the dumpster again and the last couple days I've spent the majority of my time in the house close to my fans and A/C.  But here’s a couple bright spots for the coming week.  Two days with highs of 68:))  Summer's are getting hotter with humidity levels growing.  I am finding it both an increasing mental and physical challenge.  Now having said that I think being trapped inside by winter's cold is still worse than being trapped inside by summer's heat.  At least in summer, roads are safely driveable and one can get out and about and travel around without fear of snow and ice plus crippling winter storms.  No enchantingly easy forest walks in wintertime either.

OUR FRONT YARD BUTTERFLY BUSH HAS BEEN LIVING UP TO IT’S NAME LATELY

HOPING TO GET A FEW MORE BIRD FEEDERS UP BEFORE WINTER

Would you believe we never ever had air conditioning until about 7 years ago.  Never had A/C in my Stratford apartment which was the top floor of a house and I was there 4 years.  We never had A/C in the old farm house near Fullarton Ontario and we spent 7 years there.  And we never had A/C where we are now for the first 8 years we were here.  And believe it or not but we didn’t even have A/C in our Jeep Wrangler all the time we had it which was about 4 years.  Nosireeeee, nobody’s ever gonna convince me that our summer’s are not getting hotter!!!!!!

We are not late morning risers by any means but with 6:45 showing on the clock it was obvious we had both slept in.  Day's temperatures were already rising and the air was sticky.  Pheebs and I did take a spin through Goderich then slipped east out of town for a short walk.  It was already too hot and we were back to the Jeep in ten minutes.  My skin felt like someone had put a light coating of honey on me.  With the Jeep’s A/C on max we headed home.

DUE TO THE RISING HEAT AND HUMIDITY IT WAS A SHORT WALK FOR US EARLIER TODAY

FOLIAGE WAS KINDA THICK ON PARTS OF THE TRAIL BUT I THINK I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF A RHINOSAUCEROUS CHASING A HIPPOPOTAMOOSE

Hard to believe this is Labor Day week-end already.  Wasn’t it just two weeks ago we had the big May 24th week-end??  I think it was the fastest summer ever.  Halloween must be right round the corner.

Amazingly I actually ‘remembered’ to start up the Motorhome this morning to see if the Bayfield Garage efforts at getting our dash A/C working was successful.  Happy to say it was and we now have ice cubes flying out of the rig’s vents again.  With less than two weeks to our departure date the Motorhome is taking up more of our thoughts.  When loading It’s much easier thinking ahead 6 weeks rather than 6 months and that seems quite acceptable to both of us now at this latter RV stage of ours.  Whether we’ll make a dash for warmer weather in January remains to be seen.  Just wished the great American Southwest wasn’t so darn far but who knows, after freezing our tails off and sliding around on icy roads here we might just say ‘the hell with it’ and take off.  My heart has always been in the southwest, still is, and always will be.  I have yet to see another part of America where I would rather be in the winter.

RECENT RAINS HAVE SPIKED MUSHROOM GROWTH IN AREA FORESTS

I think we still have one more RV left in our future but it won’t be this year.  Maybe not even next year but knowing how our travel priorities are changing we have to be prepared to make those changes if we hope to still do a bit of RVing.  The long trips are nearly at an end for us but we are hopeful of more smaller trips in the future and that includes simple day trips.  Two and three day jaunts or maybe a couple weeks here and there.  Although not actively looking for a smaller RV at the moment we are remaining aware of what’s out there that would best suit us at some point.  Yes we’ve been down that tricky ‘downsizing’ road before and it didn’t work out very well but life is changing for us now both mentally and physically and we both unfortunately have to go with the realities of those aging changes.

YES WE ARE STILL KEEPING ABREAST WITH WHAT’S OUT THERE IN THE WAY OF SMALLER RV’S

AT GODERICH’S ROTARY COVE THIS MORNING

The Bayfield Garage didn’t call us back Friday with a price quote on the manifold repair job so guess I’ll have to pop in there Tuesday morning.  Gotta get that done before we leave or we don’t leave until it’s done.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?

Don`t think that you`re thinking. If you think that you're thinking you only think that you're thinking.

When I erase a word with a pencil, where does it go?

If a train station is where a train stops, what is a workstation?

Why is it, when a door is open it's ajar, but when a jar is open, it's not adoor?

If you jogged backward . . .would you gain weight?

Being rich don't mean so much . Just look at Henry Ford, all those millions and he never even owned a Cadillac!

Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. Wouldn’t a good response be to write . . . A Good Doctor!

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A Few Redneck Pick-up lines………….

- My Love fer you is like diarrhea, I can't hold it in.

- Do you have a library card cuz I'd like to sign you out

- You might not be the best lookin girl here, but beauty's only a light switch away.

- Yer eyes are as blue as window cleaner. 

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Henry goes to confession and says, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. Last night I was with seven different women.  "The priest says, "Take seven lemons, squeeze them into a glass and drink the juice without pausing."  "Will that cleanse me of my sins, Father?"  "No," replies the priest.  "But it'll wipe that silly grin off your face."

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WHEN I CAN THINK OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Let me see now……how can I start this post off without using all my usual annoying repetitive words and phrases like weather, I, Hot, Pheebs and I, Humid, Goderich, we headed ourselves, Jeep, me, coffee, harbor, Hullett Marsh, countryside, tired, Motorhome, energy, Clinton, cloudy, it was a short Jeep ride we had, rural, McDonalds,  took a spin down around, etc.etc.etc.  It just goes on and on doesn’t it.  I’ll be back when I can think of something different.

SAW SOME CROWS THIS MORNING

GROANER’S CORNER:(( When I was married, my wife used to call me handsome. As a matter of fact, we are now divorced but she STILL calls me handsome. Every time I have some money, she says, HANDSOME OVER.

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THANK YOU TO THE POWERS THAT BE FOR THIS COOLER AIR AND AN AFTERNOON MISSION TO PARKHILL ONTARIO

HERE’S PHEEBS WITH EYES CLOSED THOROUGHLY ENJOYING THE COOL MORNING AIR AS WE CRUISE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

Remember that light and bouncy happy whistling tune from the Andy Griffith show when Andy and Opie are walking to the fishing hole at the opening of each show?  Opening Theme  Well that’s what I felt like and whistled this morning as Pheebs and I skipped our way along a trail in the Hullett Marsh.  It was so nice to be out in the bug free cool morning air with blue skies overhead and a chorus of Crickets serenading us along the trail.

OUR FIRST STOP WAS AT THIS VIEWING STAND IN THE MARSH

ALWAYS A NICE VIEW HERE BUT EVEN NICER IN OCTOBER WITH ALL THE COLORED LEAVES

PHEEBS LIKES THE VIEW TOO

‘HEY I JUST HEARD MY NAME MENTIONED AGAIN’

LOVE HOW THE HEAVY OVERNIGHT DEW GLISTENS ON THE EARLY MORNS FOLIAGE

Again, energized both mentally and physically by this healthier weather I didn’t waste any time after getting home to tackle a little project I’d been putting off for a year or so.  I dug out our bird feeding station, dug another hole three feet away and re-set the feeder in that location.  Also dug up and re-located a few plants as well.  How nice to be back in landscape mode as I walked around making a few changes here and there and thinking ahead to other changes I have in mind.  And it’s all due to cooler temperatures and no humidity. 

 

THOUGHT WE’D TRY OUT THIS NEW TO US FOREST TRAIL

COULD TELL THIS TRAIL WAS ON THE NEWER SIDE BECAUSE OF THE FRESH BRANCH TRIMMING ON THE TREE TO THE RIGHT

THE FORESTED PART OF THE TRAIL ONLY WENT A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS  TO A MEADOW WHERE WE SOON GOT OUR FEET WET TRYING TO FOLLOW IT IN THE TALL GRASS

TOOK A SHORT DETOUR OUT OF THE WET GRASS BACK TO THE ROAD AND HEADED BACK TO THE JEEP

WASN’T TOO LONG AFTER THAT AND WE WERE HEADED FOR HOME

Richard picked me up at 3:15 this afternoon and we headed off on a mission to Parkhill Ontario .  Gayle and Richards Georgetown Motorhome was at the South End Tirecraft Truck Center there getting a few things attended to.  Coincidentally one of the those things being repaired were new manifold bolts on the driver’s side of the engine.  Same manifold problem we have at the moment.  The Motorhome wasn’t quite finished when we arrived so we cruised around Parkhill for half and hour taking in the sights.   About 5:30 the rig was ready to go so Richard backed the Motorhome out of the garage and with me in the lead with his van we set our sights for home. 

HERE’S US TWO MANIC MAGPIE CHATTERBOXES TAKING A BREATHER WHILE RICHARD IS ON HIS CELL PHONE…..THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST PHOTO EVER OF RICHARD AND I TOGETHER SINCE WE FIRST MET BACK IN 1975

RICHARD JUST TURNED 82 SO HE’S SOMEWHAT OLDER AND A LOT SMARTER THAN ME

RICHARD BACKS THE BIG GEORGETOWN OUT AND WE HEAD FOR HOME

AT LEAST I HAD SOME COMPANY ALL THE WAY BACK

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The vet paused for a moment and said, "There is one more thing we can do."  He left the room for a moment and came back carrying a large cage with a cat in it. The vet opened the cage door and the cat walked over to the dog.  The cat sniffed the dog from head to toe and walked back to the cage. "Well, that confirms it", the vet announced, "your dog is dead. "Satisfied that the vet had done everything he possibly could, the woman sighed, "How much do I owe you?" "That will be $1,330", the vet replied. "I don't believe it", screamed the woman! "What did you do that cost $1,330????"  "Well", the vet replied, "it's $30 for the office visit and $1,300 for the CAT scan."

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A ten-year-old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming knowledgeable about the Bible. But one day, she surprised her grandmother by asking, "Which virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"

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MOTORHOME GETS A NEW SET OF REAR BRAKES BUT ‘OH-NO’ NOW THERE’S ANOTHER BIG $$ PROBLEM

YEP, PHEEBS AND I TOOK OURSELVES FOR ANOTHER FOREST WALK EARLIER TODAY

Stepping outside first thing this morning put a big smile on my face.  It was a (dare I say it) ‘WONDERFUL’ 57 degrees:))

BECAUSE OF ALL THE MACHINERY RUNNING AROUND I LEFT THE RIG ON THE ROAD FOR THE NIGHT

AT THE BAYFIELD GARAGE SHORTLY AFTER EIGHT

Had parked the Motorhome on the road beside our house so I wouldn’t be blocked in by any pieces of on-going machinery first thing.  Shortly after 8 I drove it to the Bayfield Garage with Kelly and Pheebs following behind to pick me up.  I noticed some clunky screechy sounds in the rear brakes.

THE BANNOCKBURN CONSERVATION AREA WITH IT’S MANY SURROUNDING CEDAR TREES

OLD IRON BRIDGE AND WOODEN WALKWAY CROSS OVER A CREEK AND SWAMPY AREA

LOTS OF VARIOUS MUSHROOMS ON THE FOREST FLOOR

THESE OLD STEPS ARE A WELCOME HELP IN GETTING UP THE SLIPPERY MUD SLOPE

A TALL SLENDER TREE HAD FALLEN ACROSS THE PATH BREAKING THE OLD WOODEN HAND RAIL

Back home from the Bayfield Garage it was a quick turn-around as Pheebs and I headed directly for the Bannockburn Conservation Area a short distance away.  Even forewent a morning coffee again.  I wanted to get my legs going before temperatures came up so at 8:50 a.m. under cloudy skies we struck off down a medium length loop trail.  The forest was quiet with no bugs.  A most enjoyable walk with nobody on the trail but us.  And oh now nice to walk in cooler air.

DIDN’T SEE ANY INTACT WHITE PUFF BALLS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SMASHED ALONG THE TRAIL

WHAT A TREAT IT WAS WALKING WITH NO BUGS IN THE AIR

Bayfield Garage called about 4:15 saying the Motorhome was done so hopped into the Jeep and headed to the garage.  Sure enough the rig needed new rear brake pads.  The right rear brake pad had actually come of the bond.  I have no idea what that means but that’s what the itemized bill says.  Fluids were added to the A/C but forgot to check it on the way home for cold air because something else had grabbed my immediate attention and i was totally focused on that.  OH-OH!! 

THIS IS WHAT’S LEFT OF OUR RUSTY OLD BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY

Shortly after leaving the garage I heard a sound somewhere I had never heard in the Motorhome before and it seemed like some kind of an exhaust problem.  Seemed to get a bit louder the farther I went so I wheeled the rig around and headed back to the garage.  A mechanic fellow came out and with me in the drivers seat with the engine revved a bit he was able to track down the problem.  Not good:((  It’s a manifold problem and the mechanic pointed out the rusted studs holding the manifold on.  One stud was completely broke off with another one partially out.  They looked very rusty.  The sound I was hearing was the exhaust gasses escaping through the manifold.  All those studs (or maybe they were bolts) have to come out and be replaced as well as the manifold gaskets.  And that’s both sides of the Chevy 8.1 Vortec engine.  We’ll get a cost estimate on that sometime Thursday.  We have no choice but to bite the $bullet$ and get it fixed.  After-all we just spent well over $600 today for brakes, oil change, A/C and a system levels check, etc.  I’m beginning to think it might be financially wiser to stay home this winter and try to re-coup our losses:((

A LITTLE STREAM BABBLES IT’S WAY DOWN A FORESTED HILLSIDE AND I’M SURE I SAW TWO VERY SMALL FAIRIES FLITTER INTO THAT TREE TRUNK OPENING

WITH A BIT OF IMAGINATION YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE THE FACE OF AN OLD TREE HERE….ONE EYE IS VERY PROMINANT IN THE GREEN MOSS UPPER CENTER LEFT

Back home from our morning walk my cool air energy enabled me to haul another utility trailer load of yard waste to the recycling area.  It was a productive morning for a change and I’m looking forward to more of those but unfortunately I’m going to have to wait. The miserable heat and humidity is due to return this week-end and stay all next week.

PHEEBS ALWAYS KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON ME IN CASE I FALL DOWN AND GO BOOM

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Shaky went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I've got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there's somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under ... you gotta help me, I'm going crazy!" "Just put yourself in my hands for two years," said the shrink. "Come to me three times a week, and I'll cure your fears." "How much do you charge?" "A hundred dollars per visit." "I'll sleep on it," said Shaky. Six months later the doctor met Shaky on the street. "Why didn't you ever come to see me again?" asked the psychiatrist. "For a hundred buck's a visit? A bartender cured me for ten dollars." "Is that so! How?"……….. "He told me to cut the legs off the bed!"

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A racehorse owner asked his jockey why he didn't ride his mount through a hole when it opened up just before the final turn. "I tried," replied the jockey. "But it is impossible to go through a hole that is going faster than your horse."

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“I'm surprised I'm not more musically inclined because as a child my attitude was so bad that I often got my bell rung and was told I had better start singing a new tune or else.

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