MUDDY MORNING WALK AT NAFTEL’S CREEK CONSERVATION AREA

TOOK THIS PHOTO ON THE WAY HOME TODAY ALONG KITCHIGAMI ROAD….SOMETHING ABOUT IT REMINDED ME OF OLD AMERICAN CIVIL WAR PHOTOS I HAVE SEEN

Had been awhile since Pheebs and I were out walking along any forest trails so despite much cooler 34F temperatures this morning we did just that.

HEADING IN TO NAFTEL’S CREEK CONSERVATION AREA

 

TRAIL WAS VERY WET IN SPOTS

 

I LOVE THESE MYSTERIOUSY QUIET FOREST PATHS

THERE’S A PHEEBS IN THIS PHOTO

A FEW WEEKS AGO PEOPLE WERE PROBABLY CROSS COUNTRY SKIING THROUGH HERE

Of course before our walk we had done our Goderich rounds complete with a McDonalds coffee to go and half a dozen Graham Wafer crackers I had stashed under my seat.  Since giving up carrot muffins a year ago I’ve kinda slid into a wafer habit now.  Three days ago I had to haul my shop vac out and spend some time getting all the wafer crumbs out of the Jeep.  It was either that or there was no room left in the Jeep for Pheebs and I to even get in.

I LIKE  HOW THESE DARK CEDAR FORESTS CONJURE UP THOUGHTS OF FAIRIES AND GNOMES AND ELVES FOR ME….MY CHILDHOOD REVISITED EVERY TIME I WALK IN THE ENCANTED FOREST

I THINK PHEEBS JUST SAW SOME PIXIES

 

‘LOOKS’ LIKE THE TRAIL’S GETTING MUDDIER UP AHEAD DAD’

‘OKAY PHEEBS COME ON BACK AND WE’LL GO THE OTHER WAY

 

South of Goderich on highway 21 is Naftel's Creek Conservation Area where we have walked before and with all the snow gone I figured it would be Okay for a stroll.  Well it was, except for the muddy trails that is.  We went as far as we could before having to turn back because of water and mud in the low spots.  We did try another section of trail but ran into the same difficulties  A few tiny snow flakes briefly fluttered down but no matter, it was not a worry.  Very few sounds in the sleeping forest and we didn’t see or hear any little animals scurrying or scratching about.  With no wind making it’s way through the thick cedar stands I didn’t even need gloves on.  Pheebs loves these walks and was racing around all over the place like a Crazy-O.  Sure had a lot of muddy paw prints in the Jeep when we got back.

WE TRIED ANOTHER SECTION OF TRAIL BUT LOTS OF OOZY MUD THERE TOO

We are very fortunate in this area to have so many conservation areas with hiking trails and I think the reason for that is the various conservation organizations and many good hearted volunteers who devote their time and energy into forming and maintaining the trails, markers, and sign posts.  I’ve often thought of joining one of those groups and there was a time I would have, and did.  But that was another era and I’m quite content now to spend my time outdoors with my best pal Pheebs.

THERE ARE STRANGE CREATURES HERE IN THESE DARK WOODS

AND I THINK THERE MAY EVEN BE HEADHUNTERS LURKING BY THE LOOKS OF THIS GRUESOME ALIEN SKULL TACKED TO A TREE

‘BETTER BE CAREFUL DAD’

‘OH-OH’

Not much happening for the rest of the day.  Cold and damp so stayed inside.  It’s a real easy time of year for people to become sick in this type of damp cold weather.  Colds, flu, aches and pains.  Not nice and not healthy.

 

IT WAS THE YELLOW TRAIL WE HAD HOPED TO WALK AROUND THIS MORNING BUT ONLY MADE IT A QUARTER WAY DUE TO WATER AND MUD

We always found it was much healthier to be in America’s Southwestern States for the winter as opposed to being in southwestern Ontario Canada’s ice and snow.  Sunny skies, dryer air and warmer temperatures allow one to be outside and involved in far more physical activities.  We always enjoyed hiking desert and mountain trails, tracking down hard to find western ghost towns, walking through old tumble down cemeteries, ranch sitting looking after half a dozen chickens, two horses, 3 donkeys plus two dogs and a cat.  When we had our Congress house I enjoyed being outside working around the yard and cactus beds.  In addition to that we always had lots of rough and tumble Jeep rides through desert cactus as well as the thrill of twisting mountain roads.  So much more to do and so much healthier both mentally and physically.  Sure beats November, December, January, February, and March here just sitting around staring out the window.  Maybe we can’t go for as long a period as we once did but even if we can get down there for at least a couple months it will do us both a world of good.

SURE DOESN’T LOOK LIKE DECEMBER BUT IT SURE FELT LIKE IT TODAY

GROANER'S CORNER:(( When young Jose, newly arrived in the United States, made his first trip to Yankee Stadium, there were no tickets left for sale. Touched by his disappointment, a friendly ticket salesman found him a perch near the American flag. Later, Jose wrote home enthusiastically about his experience. "And the Americans, they are so friendly!" he concluded. "Before the game started, they all stood up and looked at me and sang,  'Jose, can you see?'"

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“Since I changed the color of my favorite monastic robes they have been stiff and uncomfortable. I guess old habits dye hard.”

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Christmas Carols for the Psychiatrically Challenged::

Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Queens Disoriented Are

Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angles Sing About Me

Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Busses and Trucks and trees and Fire Hydrants and......

Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Get me

Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll tell You Why

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

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GLOOMY MORNING AND BRIGHT SUNNY BLUE SKIES BY EARLY AFTERNOON FOLLOWED BY THUNDERBOOMERS, CLOUDS, AND RAIN

‘HOLY SMOKES’ WE EVEN HAD SOME SUNSHINE ON OUR STREET THIS AFTERNOON

With overnight rains and our temperatures soaring to the mid fifties today I was surprised to find about 99% of our snow gone this morning.  Still cloudy of course but what a welcome change it was to feel milder air:)) 

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE ALL THE SNOW GONE FIRST THING THIS MORNING

TWO WEEKS AGO THERE WAS CORN IN THIS FIELD AND LAST WEEK THE CORN WAS GONE…..A FEW DAYS AGO IT WAS ALL SNOW AND TODAY,  ‘MUDVILLE’

Expecting soupy country roads I was happy to find that was not the case.  At our slowly plodding speed there was no plume of spray behind us so with front windows down we were able to motor ourselves around without getting too dirty.  Well until we got stuck in the mud that is.  On Pavilion Road we have a favorite leg stretching spot in a small hard packed gravel parking lot in a field just off the road.  Pulling out of that parking lot onto the road is a slight incline and I hadn’t noticed some big tractors and combines had recently churned up the northwestern edge of the lot.  The ground was soft and we bogged down to a halt.  And nope we weren’t going anywhere, unless….…Yep, I slipped Libby into 4 wheel drive and she just walked right out of there like nobody’s business.  Yesireeeee, I love my 4 wheel drive Jeep Liberty alright:))

DIDN’T KNOW AT THIS POINT WE WERE ABOUT TO GET STUCK

WE BECAME STUCK  ABOUT WHERE THAT PARKING AREA MEETS THE ROAD

With our snow free countryside looking gray and drab I wasn’t inspired to take many photos again so Pheebs and I simply sauntered along enjoying our freedom to be out and about doing something we both enjoy doing.  And Sunday mornings are always the best because it’s rare we even encounter another vehicle on some of those backroads.  On the way home we stopped into Bayfield’s car wash and hosed all the road grime, salt, and mud off.  Looking good again.  Well at least until we get it all muddied up tomorrow I figure.  But no matter, we are due for a new coating of clean mud anyway.

‘SHHHHHH’ WOODY’S FEARFULLY HIDING ON LITTLE GOLDY BECAUSE IF SHE SEES HIM ON HER FINCH FEEDER SHE’S LIABLE TO TAKE A ROUND OUT OF HIM

BIRDFEEDERVILLE >>>>

Skies began to unexpectantly brighten shortly after noon with a few shafts of sunlight making their way through.  Wasn’t long before skies were totally clear and by 1 o’clock peering up through our pine trees I couldn't see a cloud anywhere.  Skies were blue, blue, blue.  What a HUGE mental lift that was for me.  It was unbelievable and I had to quickly grab my camera and take a number of ‘sunshine’ photos of this rare phenomena.  One doesn’t understand the absolute healing powers of sunlight until one has been trapped at length under a gray and foreboding gloomy cloud cover.  A fitting example of how it sometimes takes the bad to make one appreciate the good.

SNOWS GONE AND WE HAVE SUNLIGHT IN OUR FRONT YARD AGAIN

JUST LOOK AT ALL THAT BLUE, BLUE, BLUE, UP THERE:)))))

HOLY SMOKES AND WE EVEN HAVE SUN SHADOWS TOO

I THINK I EVEN SEE A SMILE ON THE BIG E HERE

 

HOW NICE NOT TO HAVE SNOW IN THE DRIVEWAY…..OH PLEASE TELL ME SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

AND I LOVE ALL THOSE CHEERY LITTLE SUNSPLASHES IN THE SUNROOM

LOOKING THROUGH OUR SUNNY SUNROOM WINDOW FROM OUTSIDE THIS AFTERNOON

‘However;…………by 2:30 we were completely clouded over again and an hour after that with thunder booming across our skies it became dark enough for our light activated lights to come on.  A storm advisory had been issued and we had us a few good blasts of rain.  Still stormy and raining tonight as I post this.  Still some thunder wandering about too.  But no matter, I at least had a sun fix this afternoon and despite it being short it was just enough to give me a great big ‘feeling good’ shot in the arm:)) 

BY MID AFTERNOON FAST MOVING THUNDERCLOUDS PACKING RAIN WERE UPON US

In a comment on my Saturday night post Jo asks the question, 'Is the Big EE all packed and ready to go'?  Short answer to that question is no.  After an initial burst of loading things I backed off a couple days later and figured I had better wait until after Wednesday of this coming week.  I have two medical appointments back to back Tuesday and Wednesday.  Separate issues but either one of them could throw a monkey wrench into our travel plans.  Figured there was no point in loading up anything else in case I have to turn around and unload it all again.  We'll see how Tuesday and Wednesday turn out then go from there.

I MUCH PREFER THE COLOR GREEN UNDER MY FEET THAN THE COLOR WHITE

GROANER’S CORNER:((

- Old accountants never die, they just lose their balance.
- Old actors never die, they just drop apart.
- Old archers never die, they just bow and quiver.
- Old architects never die, they just lose their structures.
- Old bankers never die, they just lose interest.
- Old basketball players never die, they just go on dribbling.
- Old beekeepers never die, they just buzz off.
- Old bookkeepers never die, they just lose their figures.
- Old bosses never die, much as you want them to.
- Old cashiers never die, they just check out.
- Old chauffeurs never die, they just lose their drive.
- Old chemists never die, they just fail to react.
- Old cleaning people never die, they just kick the bucket.
- Old cooks never die, they just get deranged.
- Old daredevils never die, they just get discouraged.
- Old deans never die, they just lose their faculties.
- Old doctors never die, they just lose their patience.
- Old electricians never die, they just lose contact.
- Old farmers never die, they just go to seed.
- Old garagemen never die, they just retire.
- Old hackers never die, they just go to bits.
- Old hardware engineers never die, they just cache in their chips.
- Old hippies never die, they just smell that way.
- Old horticulturists never die, they just go to pot.
- Old hypochondriacs never die, they just lose their grippe.
- Old investors never die, they just roll over.
- Old journalists never die, they just get de-pressed.
- Old knights in chain mail never die, they just shuffle off their metal coils.
- Old laser physicists never die, they just become incoherent.
- Old lawyers never die, they just lose their appeal.
- Old limbo dancers never die, they just go under.
- Old mathematicians never die, they just disintegrate.
- Old milkmaids never die, they just lose their whey.
- Old musicians never die, they just get played out.
- Old number theorists never die, they just get past their prime.
- Old numerical analysts never die, they just get disarrayed.
- Old owls never die, they just don't give a hoot.
- Old pacifists never die, they just go to peaces.
- Old photographers never die, they just stop developing.
- Old pilots never die, they just go to a higher plane.
- Old policemen never die, they just cop out.
- Old printers never die, they're just not the type.
- Old programmers never die, they just branch to a new address.
- Old programming wizards never die, they just recurse.
- Old quarterbacks never die, they just pass away.
- Old schools never die, they just lose their principals.
- Old sculptors never die, they just lose their marbles.
- Old seers never die, they just lose their vision.
- Old sewage workers never die, they just waste away.
- Old skateboarders never die, they just lose their bearings.
- Old sailors never die, they just get a little dingy.
- Old Soldiers never die. Young ones do.
- Old steelmakers never die, they just lose their temper.
- Old students never die, they just get degraded.
- Old tanners never die, they just go into hiding.
- Old teachers never die, they just lose their class.
- Old typists never die, they just lose their justification.
- Walt Disney didn't die. He's in suspended animation.
- Old white water rafters never die, they just get disgorged.
- Old wrestlers never die, they just lose their grip.
- There is no conclusive evidence about what happens to old skeptics, but their future is doubtful.
- Old preachers never die, they just ramble on, and on, and on, and on.
- Old ministers never die, they just get put out to pastor.

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Sometimes Santa will fall down a chimney. Then he's Santa Klutz.

Q: What is a webmaster's favorite hymn?  A: Oh, dot com all ye faithful!

Q: Did you hear that one of Santa's reindeer now works for Proctor and Gambel?   A: Its true . . . Comet cleans sinks!

Q: What's a good holiday tip?  A: Never catch snowflakes with your tongue until all the birds have gone south for the winter.

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SQUIRREL SCORE STILL STANDS AT 12 FOR AL:)) AND 11 FOR SQUIRRELY:((

NOTE THE ANIMAL TRACKS ALONG THE TOP OF THE SNOW DRIFT

Ho-Hum what can I say.  Another cold and gray drab day.   It was a drive over to the Hullett Marsh and back for Pheebs and I this morning and that was about it.   Cold and raining tonight as I post this.  Squirrel score still stands at 12-11 for AL:))

FROZEN FOREST POND

STAYING WARM

AT THE WILDLIFE VIEWING STAND IN THE HULLET MARSH

THIS FARMER MUST BE EXPECTING SOME SERIOUS SNOW

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY WE ALWAYS TRAVEL WITH WINTER GEAR…..HEAVY DUTY LINED COVERALLS AT RIGHT, SNOW SHOVEL, BLANKETS AT LEFT,  BALACLAVA TOQUE, WARM MITTS, AND IN THAT PLASTIC BIN THINGS LIKE WATER, ENERGY BARS, TOW STRAP, BOOSTER CABLES, ETC.

JUST ANOTHER COLD GRAY DAY

GROANER’S CORNER:((   The room was full of pregnant women and their partners, and the Lamaze class was in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly, along with informing the men how to give the necessary assurances at this stage of the plan. The teacher then announced, "Ladies, exercise is good for you.  Walking is especially beneficial.  And, gentlemen, it wouldn't hurt you to take the time to go walking with your partner!"  The room really got quiet.  Finally, a man in the middle of the group raised his hand.  "Yes?" replied the teacher.  "Is it alright if she carries a golf bag while we walk?"

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There were two blondes who went deep into the frozen woods searching for a Christmas tree. After hours of subzero temperatures a few close calls with hungry wolves, one blonde turned to the other and said,  "I'm chopping down the next tree I see. I don't care whether it's decorated or not!"

Q. What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?  A. It's Christmas, Eve.

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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.

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FOR SQUIRRELY AND I THE SCORE NOW STANDS AT 11-10 AND DID YOU KNOW i WAS ONCE A BULLCRAPPER

Despite loping off another cherry tree branch Thursday afternoon Kelly spotted Squirrely next climbing up our Sunburst Locust tree where incidentally I had already cut several branches off.  Picking a different branch this time Kelly watched Squirrely ignite his power assisted jet pack and rocket himself from that branch off into outer space only to make a quick re-entry coming down with no drag chute making a perfect four point touch-down landing right on top our bird feeding platform. It was a feat wrongly estimated by me to be impossible.  Undaunted, soon as Pheebs and I got back from our morning ride I hauled out my big tall eight foot step ladder and with clippers and Swede saw in hand down came 3 more branches. Al now regains the lead again at 11-10.  With the biggest and stupidest ‘na-na-na-na-na-na leering sneering grin I could muster I thrust my face into the sunroom window waiting for Squirrely to come back.  When he didn’t show up I figured he  had obviously got word of that rather hideous face in the window and decided to call it a day.  Well at least I hope so because it won’t be long and we’ll have nothing left in our front yard but a big pile of branches and a bunch of tree stumps!!

AND THIS IS ‘SQUIRRELY’

IN THIS PHOTO YOU CAN SEE MY CLIPPERS  ABOVE THE LADDER HANGING ON THE BRANCH SQUIRRELY JUMPED FROM TO THE FEEDER PLATORM AT LEFT

ANOTHER ANGLE

IT SEEMS TO BE A DAILY STRUGGLE WITH THESE SQUIRRELS

Amazingly enough we are heading into a mild spell with temperatures predicted to be in the mid 50’s by Sunday.  Looking ahead to next week I see we may go back into the the freezer again with a number of days below the freezing mark.  And of course cloudy, cloudy, cloudy.  Now it’s not just me who is bothered by all these continuous gray depressing November days but it is Kelly as well and I’m sure all that cold gray dampness played a part in reversing our decision to stay home for the winter.  Because I am the one writing the daily blog it of course seems like I am the one doing all the complaining, but just know…..it’s not all me.  Okay, Okay, mostly me then.

TOOK THIS PHOTO OF BAYFIELD’S ‘NOW LOST’  ICE ENCRUSTED LINDA HINDMAN SHIPWRECK LAST YEAR ON DECEMBER 17TH

THE ALGOMA BUFFALO TAKING ON A LOAD OF ROCK SALT IN GODERICH THIS MORNING

WE SURE HAVE A LOT OF NOVEMBER SNOW IN OUR AREA

OKAY-OKAY HERE’S ALL THAT SNOW IN PERSPECTIVE

I DON’T KNOW……MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING LEFT OVER FROM HALLOWEEN

SPOTTED A COUPLE OF FAR AWAY DEER RUNNING FOR THE FOREST TODAY

D’ya ever wonder sometimes when thinking back over your life if your memory remembers everything accurately.  Was I really there??  Did that really happen and if it did, did it happen the way I remember it??  I’m sure we all have those moments looking back when we say to ourselves, ‘I can’t believe that happened’.  Another thing I’ve noticed too is there doesn’t seem any point sometimes in telling a story from the past because chances are people are not going to believe it anyway.  I’ve run across this where I’ve kept myself buttoned up for that very reason.  It’s something I’m sensitive to and I’ll tell you why.  In my teens and very early twenties I had a problem.  I didn’t recognize it as a problem at the time but I sure do now and it took me a long time to come to grips with it. 

Growing up in a small southwestern Ontario town I wanted to fit in, be liked, be popular and be accepted and not thought of as dumb and stupid.  However as a young boy coming from what I considered to be the wrong side of the tracks and from divorced parents I felt I wasn’t as good as anybody else.  Criticism at home was difficult for me to understand and my way of dealing with that was to exaggerate things and make up stories.  My insecurities pushed me to turn myself into somebody I wasn’t and I would do that by using exaggerations, false bravado, and untrue stories.   I’m sure all my friends knew it and no doubt thought of me as a bullcrapper.  I was reminded of that a couple summer’s ago when two of my closest hometown buddies from back in those days dropped around one day and picked me up.  Jim was driving and his brother John was in the passenger seat while I road in the backseat.  It was a planned get together to re-live some old times.  We had us a great time driving around areas like Kettle Point and Port Franks reminiscing about old times and the fun we had in that area back in the early 60’s.  On the way home we were all chattering away about traveling and Jim mentioned how he had driven out to western Canada and back years ago.  Silly me from the back seat piped up with ‘I drove from Vernon British Columbia to Kitchener Ontario one time in 48 hours and fifteen minutes’.  There was an immediate silence in the front seat and I knew right away what had just happened.  ‘Oh there goes Al bullcrapping again just like he always used to’.   I knew there was nothing I could say after that so say nothing I did.  But it has bothered me ever since because I am very sensitive about that kind of thing now.  I know the dislike I have for those who exaggerate, pass themselves off as people they are not or make up stories to build themselves up.  It is the main reason why in my blog it is of prime importance never to say anything untrue, make exaggerations, deceive or mislead people into thinking something about me that is not true, or to present myself as somebody I am not. 

Yes, I do sometimes still exaggerate but it is in a hopefully humorous way.  If I say there must have been at least 63 million cows in a field or somebody passed me on a bicycle at about 800 miles per hour just know I intentionally make those exaggerations so exaggeratable that they are impossible to believe.  Even if they are coming from me.

Oh, and that forty eight hours and fifteen minutes from Vernon to Kitchener.  Well that story is about 98% true.  What I had forgot to add after thinking about it was there was another person along and she drove about 5 of those hours through northern Ontario around Sudbury while I caught some winks. 

Well there you have it, another little bothersome thought that’s been rolling around in my head for awhile that finally managed to squeak itself out into my blog.  I’m still hesitant to tell anyone too many past stories though for fear that…….well you know, you wouldn’t believe me anyway:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( I took the day off work and decided to go out golfing. I was on the second hole when I noticed a frog sitting next to the green. I thought nothing of it and was about to shoot when I heard, "Ribbit 9 Iron." I looked around and did not see anyone.Again, I hear, "Ribbit 9 Iron." I looked at the frog and decided to prove the frog wrong, put my club away, and grabed a 9 iron. Boom! I hit it 10 inches from the cup! I was shocked and said to the frog, "Wow that's amazing. You must be a lucky frog, eh?" The frog replied, "Ribbit Lucky frog." I decided to take the frog with me to the next hole. "What do you think frog?," I asked "Ribbit 3 wood." I took out a 3 wood and, Boom! Hole in one! I was befuddled and did not know what to say!By the end of the day, the I had golfed the best game of my like and asked the frog, "OK where to next?" The frog replied, "Ribbit Las Vegas." We went to Las Vegas and I said, "OK frog, now what?" The frog said, "Ribbit Roulette." Upon approaching the roulette table, I asked the frog "What do you think I should bet?" The frog replied, "Ribbit $3000, black 6."Now, this is a million-to-one shot to win, but after the golf game, I figure what the heck...Boom! Tons of cash comes sliding back across the table. I took my winnings and got the best room in the hotel.I sat the frog down and said, "Frog, I don't know how to repay you. You've won me all this money and I am forever grateful."  The frog replied, "Ribbit Kiss Me." I figure why not, since the frog had done so much for me, he deserves it. With a kiss, that frog turned into a gorgeous 18 year old woman."And that, your honor, is how the woman ended up in my room, so help me God or my name is not William Jefferson Clinton."

Happy to say at time of posting tonight I have not seen Squirrelly on the bird stataion again.  Not even once.  Could it be. could it be??:))

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What did the reindeer say before launching into his comedy routine?  This will sleigh you.

Christmas: The time when everyone gets Santamental.

How do you know Santa has to be a man? No woman is going to wear the same outfit year after year.

The judge asked the defendant what he was charged with.  "Doing my Christmas shopping early," was the reply. "That’s not illegal!. How early were you shopping?" "Before the store was open."

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