A FEW WINDOWS CLEANED TODAY AND STILL DEALING WITH RADIATION SIDE EFFECTS

Started our day under a heavy cloud cover and ended it with bright clear blue sunny skies.  Truly a beautiful time of year here but Autumn is running late this year.  Usually by this time bush lines are erupting in fiery colors and Autumn's golden glow is upon the land.  We are still very green with only selected splashes of color here and there.

Nice relaxing Jeep ride this morning and we even managed another walk along the way.  I detected a nice Autumn smell in the air.  Can't really describe or explain the smell but I've often noticed it this time of year and it always takes my mind back to when I was a young boy in my early school days.

I REALLY LIKE THIS HEDGE

Home again around 10:30 I felt a surge of energy coming on so quickly grabbed a bottle of glass cleaner, a step ladder and some paper towels.  It was time to clean a few windows and a few windows I did clean.  We are actually able to see outside once again.

BEING A DEAD END ROAD WE'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A VEHICLE WHILE WALKING HERE

Over the years I have written different times about introverts and extroverts and made it quite clear which side of the fence I am on.  I think had I not written about it readers would still have known which side I was on simply by my writings.  No doubt about it, I am an introvert and deeply so I might add.  And I'm quite content about it too.  Yes I do feel guilty sometimes at not being more outgoing and friendly but it's what makes me....me.  And having looked around at things all these years I do much prefer my side of the fence.  What spurred me to think about this whole introvert and extrovert thing again this afternoon was a well written post by my good friend Jim Hagarty.  He sums it well in his October 6th post Inward and Outward.

I FOUND MANY LITTLE FACES HERE IN THIS PATCH OF BULL RUSHES

I am still having quite a time dealing with the side effects of my prostate cancer radiation treatment a couple weeks ago.  I am constantly and uncomfortably on the run to the washroom all day and at night up to four, five, and six times.  My last of five treatments was two

weeks ago and I've read that this particular side effect I have could last for a couple months until my collaterally damaged bladder heals.  Guess I just have to be patient and not let my mind focus on the possibility of this condition lasting forever.  Thanks to readers who have emailed some suggestions.  

NOW THAT THE BEAN HARVEST IS OVER I BET THIS FARMER IS GOING TO START OFF HIS MONDAY MORNING BY PLOWING THIS FIELD 

APPLES ARE ABOUT READY TO BE PICKED

For supper tonight we had turkey with all the fixins and what a nice treat that was.  Mashed potatoes, gravy and dressing, etc.  Mashed potatoes and gravy with just about anything anything works for me every time.  Last month Kelly surprised me with my all time favorite seafood platter....fish sticks.  That Gal sure knows how to make me happy:))

Aside from an appointment in Clinton with my Urologist Doctor this coming Tuesday next week looks pretty quiet.  With no Motorhome to load up this year things are pretty subdued around here.  A year ago today we were in Spencerport New York at Kelly's Mom's house on the last leg of our return journey from Eastern Canada.  We were sure glad to get home after that trip.  Well, if the truth be known, we're always glad to get home no matter where we've been even if we've only been gone a couple hours.  Yep, there's no place like home Toto. 

JUST IN CASE YOUR LOOKING DOWN JUDY....THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

If by chance you missed my Saturday post I was able to finally publish it earlier today so if you scroll to the bottom of my blog just look for the word 'Older' and click that.  It will take you right back to my Saturday post...…………..

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man and an ostrich walk into a restaurant. The waitress asks, "What will it be?"  The man replied "a burger and a coke."  "And you?" "I'll have the same," the ostrich replies. They finish their meal and pay. "That will be $4.50," The man reached into his pocket and pulled out the exact amount. They do this every day till Friday. "The usual?" she asked. "No, today is Friday. I'll have steak and a coke."  "Me too." says the ostrich. They finish and pay. "That will be $10.95"The man reached in and pulls out the exact amount again just like all week. The waitress was dumb-founded. "How is it that you always have the exact amount?"  "Well," says the man. "I was cleaning my attic and I found a dusty old lamp. I rubbed it and a genie appeared." Wow!" said the waitress. "What did you wish for?"  "I asked that when I needed to pay for something, the exact amount would appear in my pocket." "Amazing! Most people would ask for a million dollars. But what's with the ostrich?" "Well," said the man. "I also asked for a chick with long legs."
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IF THIS POST PUBLISHES IT'S MY SATURDAY OCTOBER 5TH POST

LAKE HURON WATERS HAVE DEFINITELY GONE DOWN

Sometime in the wee hours of Saturday morning there occurred a widespread Eastlink Internet outage but they had it up and running about 8 in the morning.  When I tried to publish my Saturday night post Blogger wouldn't work.  Tried again late Sunday morning and 'walla' Blogger seemed to be back on line again.  So, here I are:))

Had ourselves a big bright sunny day and with temps in the upper 50's there was absolutely nothing for me to complain about for a change.  A morning Jeep ride up to Goderich with a forest walk on the way home filled in our Saturday morning.  Coasted through the afternoon enjoying our early October Autumn weather.  

NICE SATURDAY MORNING FOR A FOREST WALK ON KITCHIGAMI ROAD

KITCHIGAMI ROAD CUTS BETWEEN THIS CORN FIELD AND THE FOREST WHERE WE WALKED

CORN STALKS ARE ABOUT EIGHT FEET TALL AND REACHING UP I CAN'T EVEN TOUCH THE TOP OF THE STALKS

THIS CORN WILL LIKELY BE HARVESTED SOMETIME WITHIN THE MONTH

IF YOU EVER GET LOST IN A CORNFIELD THIS IS HOW IT WILL LOOK NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION YOU FACE.....NO I WASN'T LOST, I GOT CEREBRAL GPS:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( During the initial space flights, Nasa discovered that biro pens didn’t work under zero gravity conditions. To beat the problem, Nasa spent 6 years and $2 million in designing a pen for use in space. The pen would work under zero gravity conditions due to the pressurized ink inside, it would work under sub zero conditions, underwater, on glass and virtually any surface known to man. The Russians used a pencil.

TOUCHED BY A SUN SPLASH

About as gray and gloomy as our morning looked upon awakening I felt about the same and it wasn't until I was touched by a mid morning Sun splash that I began climbing out of my blue mood.   Pheebs and I were plodding along a gravely road southeast of Bayfield mulling things over when our ominous cloud cover parted just enough to let a few rays of sunshine beam down to light up not only Pheebs and I but the surrounding countryside as well.  I was touched by that Sun splash and feeling it's healing power I felt a shift in my thinking.  Energy began flowing again.  Seeing nature's beauty surrounding me I dusted off my camera, cleared my mind and enjoyed the rest of our morning Jeep ride.

CLOUDY MORNING AT BAYFIELD'S BEACH

TREES ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW MORE COLOR

It was well after 10 a.m. when Pheebs and I returned home and I let that sun splash energy lead me around the yard pointing out things needing done.  It's that time of year now when in a few weeks overnight temperatures may dip below the freezing mark.  Time to start winding things down outside.  Disconnected one outside garden hose, gathered up some lawn ornaments, trimmed back a few long stemmed plants in preparation for moving them and brought in the lawnmower and whipper snipper batteries.  Got half a dozen other little things done as well and ended the day feeling at least I had accomplished something.  That sitting around stuff doing nothing is for the birds!!

YELLOWING BEAN FIELDS

AGAINST DARK SKIES SUNSHINE LIGHTS UP AN OLD BARN

SO NICE TO SEE A FEW BRIEF PATCHES OF BLUE SKY THIS MORNING

Our day never did totally clear up and we remained again under a cover of clouds.  But no matter, the good deed although brief had been done this morning and I was able to remain on top of things for the remainder of the day.  With clearing skies late this afternoon it looks like we could be in for a sunny Saturday morning Jeep ride:))

AUTUMN CROCUS FLOWERS

WILD APPLE TREES GROW ALONGSIDE THE ROAD

The latest issue of Desert USA had another article regarding Marshall South's Ghost Mountain and of course anything about California's Marshall South story and Ghost Mountain always perks my interest.  In Google I typed Bayfield Bunch Ghost Mountain this afternoon and enjoyed stepping back in time re-reading my posts over the years when I hiked up to the Marshall South homestead.  Those were always very special times for me.  There is just something about the place that I can't quite explain.

CLIMBING GHOST MOUNTAIN TO THE MARSHALL SOUTH HOMESTEAD JANUARY 4TH 2008....BEHIND ME IS BLAIR VALLEY

OUR COUNTRYSIDE IS STILL PLENTY GREEN

 SUMAC TREES BEGINNING TO TURN A FIERY RED

HURON COUNTIES  BEAN HARVEST IS IN FULL SWING

THIS PHOTO LOOKING NORTHWEST WAS TAKEN BY THE GRAND BEND YACHT CLUB LIVE CAM AT 6:20 TONIGHT

Of course reading about Blair Valleys Ghost Mountain and it's close proximity to Borrego Springs California always tugs at my traveling heart strings and carries me off to the Great American Southwest where we have traveled for various periods of time these past 13 winters.  Of course the Southwest beckons again this year, but...……………...

CLEARING SKIES LEFT US WITH EVENING SHAFTS OF SUNLIGHT OUTSIDE OUR SUNROOM 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Long ago, when sailing ships ruled the sea, a captain and his crew were in danger of being boarded by a pirate ship. As the crew became frantic, the captain bellowed to his First Mate, "Bring me my red shirt!"  The First Mate quickly retrieved the captain's red shirt, the captain put it on and led the crew to battle the pirate ship. Although some casualties occurred among the crew, the pirates were repelled.  Later that day, the lookout screamed that there were two pirate vessels about to attack. The crew cowered in fear, but the captain, calm as ever, bellowed, "Bring me my red shirt!" And once again the battle was on.  This time, the Captain and his crew repelled both pirate ships, although this time more casualties occurred. Weary from the battles, the men sat around on deck that night recounting the day's occurrences when an ensign looked to the Captain and asked, "Sir, why did you call for your red shirt before the battles?"  The Captain, giving the ensign a look that only a captain can give, exhorted, "If I am wounded in battle, the red shirt does not show the wound, and thus, you men will continue to fight unafraid."  The men sat in silence marveling at the courage of such a man. As dawn came the next morning, the lookout screamed more pirate ships were approaching, 10 of them, all ready to attack. The men became silent and looked to the Captain, their leader, for his usual command. The Captain, calm as ever, bellowed, "Bring me my brown pants!"
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I WILL CATCH MY SECOND WIND AGAIN

With dawn breaking I heard Robin's chirping in our driveway.  Moments later Kelly and I climbed into the Jeep and headed for London's University Hospital. In our living room window Pheebs with her very saddest little face on peered forlornly out at us leaving.  It was raining and I felt Pheebs would be more comfortable at home for a few hours.  It was 7:08 and with windshield wipers swishing away and skies brightening Kelly and I were on our way.

Trouble free drive to London with light traffic.  Heavier in London's morning rush but still pretty mild compared to other morning rush hours I have been in over the years.  Dropped Kelly off at the hospital's main entrance at 8:20 and headed myself over to Masonville Mall's south parking lot.  I was the only one in the big lot. Nice.  Backed myself into a spot, hauled out my Kindle reader, reclined the seat and waited for the phone to ring which it did an hour and a half later when Kelly called saying she was ready to be picked up.  It was still raining.  And a correction here....I said Wednesday she was having an MRI but in fact it was a CTScan she had.  Quick stop at McDonalds for coffee to go and we headed for home rolling into our driveway about 11:30.  Pheebs of course was her happy little exstatic self to see us:))

With a dismally dull cold day going on outside and our warm little Vermont Casting stove toastily warming up our sunroom I again wasn't long in contentedly tipping myself back in my recliner and that was about it for the day.  I'm afraid these are not very blogworthy days for me lately but I know this slump I'm in will soon pass and I will catch my second wind again.  It seems I always do...………...

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A woman calls her mother.  'My husband and I have been fighting so much lately. I am going to come live with you again.'  Her mother replies, 'No dear, he should pay for his mistakes. I am coming to live with you.'
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Life is like a Rubik's cube...Easy to mess up, hard to solve.
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At the zoo I noticed a slice of toast in one of the enclosures.   I asked the keeper, “How did that toast get into the cage?" "It was bread in captivity,” she replied.
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IT'S ALL WORTHWHILE JUST SEEING HER SITTING THERE

Woke up to solemn gray rainy skies and the thought of staying right where I was in my recliner was strong.  Knowing it would only make for a longer day of just sitting around I loaded up Pheebs and slowly with some reluctance on my part headed out the door.  I may not be inspired by dull rainy mornings but it makes no difference to Pheebs.  She loves her morning Jeep rides regardless of weather and it makes it all worthwhile for me just seeing her sitting there happily riding beside me.

A WET MORNING

THERE WILL BE NO HARVESTING OF BEANS TODAY

Again I'm not feeling too wordy tonight but did manage a few photos this mornings.  I'm hoping my energy levels will soon be back up to par.

A FEW LEAVES DOWN

After a lot of thought we passed on the 2005 Class B+ R-VisionTravel-Lite.  It was in Bay City Michigan about a 4 hour drive west of us.  Even with the exchange on American money we still could have bought and imported that Travel Lite into Canada for way less money than the same rig would cost in Canada, but a few things stood in our way.  We would have had to drive to Bay City Michigan either Tuesday afternoon or early Wednesday morning to look at it and in my present  condition having to constantly run to the washroom I could never have comfortably made the drive there and back.  Kelly has an MRI scheduled at London's University Hospital early Thursday morning and we just didn't need any extra stress over the next few days either.  Had we liked the RV and bought it it would have meant a second trip to Bay City to bring it home.  And then there is all the paperwork for importing it across the border.  We've done it before with our little Chevy Sunseeker about 5 years ago but that was then and this is now.  We've decided to restrict our RV search to within a hundred miles of where we are here in southwestern Ontario.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Black Fella to White Fella.  
Dear white fella, there's a couple things you oughta know. 
Firstly When I am born, I'm black.
When I grow up, I'm black.
When I get sick, I'm black.
When I'm cold, I'm black.
When I go out in the sun, I'm black.  
And when I get scared, I'm black.
And when I die, yes, I'm still black.
But you white fellahs ....
When your born, your pink.
When you grow up, your white.
When you get sick, your green.
When your cold, you go blue.
When you go out in the sun, you go red. And when you get scared, your yellah.
And when you die, your purple.
And you call me colored !!!!
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Q: Why are dogs such bad dancers? 
A: They have two left feet. 

- Lord, walk beside me with your arm on my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
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A murderer, sitting in the electric chair, was about to be executed.  "Have you any last requests? asked the chaplain.  "Yes," replied the murderer. "Will you hold my hand?"
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WE DIDN'T GO FAR

A HANGING ORNAMENT ON OUR FRONT PORCH

Pheebs and I didn't go far this morning.  I was just too tired and my legs felt like cement stumps. We were back home less than an hour after we left.  Too bad because it was a beautiful sunny warm September morning.   Didn't take any photos and later today my mind couldn't seem to come up with anything to write about except to say a thunder storm raced through this afternoon pulling cooler air behind it leaving water puddles dancing in our driveway.  I enjoyed the storm from the comfort of my recliner.  So without much to say I will instead leave you with a short post written by my good buddy Jim Hagarty over at Lifetime Sentences.  His story is written during an era he and I hung out a lot together.  I do remember those days well when Jim first met the girl who was to become his wife.  Here is Jim's story....A Change in Plans

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Three brothers wanted to give their blind mom a birthday gift. The first got her a big beautiful house. The second got her a brand new luxury vehicle with a driver. The third got her a talking parrot to keep her company. When they all got together, they wanted to know which gift she liked best. She said they were all great but she thanked her third son because she liked the chicken dinner best. 
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How are men like mascara? 
Any sign of emotion and they're running!
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 Mrs. Harrison took her three-year-old daughter, Jenny, to church for the first time. After arriving, the church lights were lowered, and then the choir came down the aisle, carrying lighted candles. There was silence in the entire sanctuary until Jenny's voice was suddenly heard, loudly singing: "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you..."
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