I'M SPECULATING AGAIN

So I go into Walmart to buy some socks.  Seems like I'm always buying socks at Walmart and there is a reason for that.  I always buy the cheapest socks on the rack.  I look at a single pair of socks for $9.99 then I see a whole bundle of ten pairs of socks for $1.49.  In my silly little world the decision is obvious and I leave the store with my bundle of socks.  Less than a month later I am back at Walmart buying more socks. Seems to be a never ending cycle I am caught up in for which the obvious solution forever evades me.

STORMY LOOKING SKIES OVER TOWARDS LAKE HURON THIS MORNING

It was a cruise up through Goderich for Pheebs and I to check on the harbors shoreline reconstruction project.  Machines still busy working away on the eroded sections and I noticed the large stock pile of big boulders were gone from the old CPR train station site.  I'm guessing those boulders are now in place along the shoreline somewhere.  The four machines I saw working this morning seemed to be involved with backfilling as a large 18 wheeler backed in and dumped a load of smaller rocks.  It was clear the project was well underway and not needing any of my 'Straw Boss Sidewalk Superintendent' supervising.

LOOKS LIKE GODERICH'S SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT IS IN HIGH GEAR

THE BIG PILE OF BOULDERS HAS DISAPPEARED FROM THE OLD CPR TRAIN STATION LOT

From the harbor we took a drive north of Goderich to see how the big lake side housing development was coming along at The Bluffs Of Huron.  This development is owned by a large Canada wide company called Parkbridge and it is this Parkbridge company which is rumored to have bought our Five Season's Estates Park just outside of Bayfield.  I wrote a post back on December 21rst last year where I speculated on what this all might mean to our Park's future and we the people who live here.  You can read that post at, Speculating About Our Proposed Park Sale.  At the moment speculating is all we residents at Five Seasons can do with no up to date information freely coming from either old or new owners.  If in fact our Park has been sold in the first place.  Just wish somebody in authority would step forward and be honest and tell us 'what's going on'.  Geeeezzzz, is that too much to ask!!

IF INDEED OUR PARK IS SOLD I SUSPECT THIS IS WHAT OUR CURRENT PINE FOREST COULD LOOK LIKE IN A FEW YEARS

THIS COMMON HOUSE DESIGN FAVORED BY PARKBRIDGE COMES IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FLOOR PLANS AND OPTIONS....I DON'T MIND THE HOUSE BUT DON'T LIKE THE LOCATION AND THE FACT ITS SURROUNDED BY STREETS OF SIMILAR HOUSES ALL CROWED IN TOGETHER

IF I GET OLD SOMEDAY AND CAN'T SPEND TIME OUTSIDE ANYMORE THIS CLOSE LIVING MIGHT BE OKAY.....BUT NOT YET

THAT WHOLE AREA OVER THERE IS BEING PREPPED FOR EVEN MORE HOMES

I DON'T MIND THE ACTUAL HOME IDEA BUT WOULD PREFER IT CAME WITHOUT A COMMUNITY

::An Archive Post:: February 5th, 2010 A Little Magic In The Kofa Mountains

::Al's Musical Favs:: Kiko And The Lavender Moon by Los Lobos

 PHEEBS AND I ARE SO FORTUNATE HERE IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO TO HAVE SO MANY ENDLESS  RURAL ROADS TO WANDER AROUND ON

GROANER'S CORNER:(( To impress his date, the young man took her to a very chic Italian restaurant. After sipping some fine wine, he picked up the menu and ordered. "We'll have the Giuseppe Spomdalucci," he said. "Sorry, sir," said the waiter. "That's the owner."-------------------------
- “The decision to legalize marijuana was made by a high government official.”
- How does amputation work? 
By a process of alimb-ination.
- How can a man go eight days without sleeping?  
Easily, he sleeps at night.
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Q: What do you get if you cross a leopard with a watchdog? 
A: A terrified postman!
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Q: What do you call a lion who has eaten your mother's sister?
A: An aunt-eater!
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Q: Why did the cat put the letter "M" into the fridge?
A: Because it turns "ice" into "mice"!
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A BIG SUNSHINY MORNING AND WE EVEN DID US SOME RARE VISITATING

SOOOOO NICE TO SEE BLUE SKIES EARLIER THIS MORNING

Well at least there was a touch of color on our morning's eastern horizon so that helped to get the day started off in the right direction.  And boy oh boy what a nice sunny day it turned out to be.  And there was warmth in the Sun to boot.  Cruising slowly southward with both front Jeep windows down and feeling that morning sunshine on my cheek I was convinced I would end up back home with half my face tanned.  A definite harbinger of Spring in a month or two and despite snowy cold weather moving back into our area starting tomorrow I nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed my brief time in the Sun this morning.  Pheebs too.

STARTING OUT ALONG THIS ROAD I FAILED TO THINK OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM

WASN'T UNTIL HERE ALONG THIS FROZEN ICY STRETCH THAT I THOUGHT.....'OH CRAP IF SOMEBODY COMES THE OTHER WAY IT COULD BE TRICKY FOR ONE OF US TO GET OVER'

CHECKING MY SIDE VIEW MIRROR I COULD SEE IT WOULD BE A LONG BACK-UP IF THE OTHER GUY WAS AGGRESSIVELY BIGGER THAN ME

Our good friends Cathie and Gord (Travels With Cathie and Gord) having recently moved to the Bayfield Mews here in Bayfield had invited us over this morning for coffee and to see their new digs.  Well we fell instantly in love with their place, the way it's laid out, the colors, spaciousness, and the fact that most everything is so brand spanking new.  Heating is built into the floor, etc. etc.  Said to Kelly we should go home and sell everything we have including socks and lawn chairs and find us nice little place just like they have.  They don't even have to cut their grass or shovel snow.  Wishful thinking on our part of course and I'm just not sure I'm ready for someone else to shovel snow for me yet.  Ya right!!!!  So it was home we went and back to basics it was.

ALTHOUGH MORNING'S AIR WAS CRISP THE WARMING SUN FELT SO GOOD ON MY FACE STANDING HERE.....LUCKILY NO WIND

Our Sun played hide and seek with a growing cloud cover this afternoon and it may be awhile before we see it out in full force again.  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted and it was indeed a big shot in the arm at a time when it was most needed.  In less than 6 weeks we'll be halfway through March and that was sometimes the same time we would begin our week long journey home from the Great American Southwest:))  

Still for sale right here in our Park.....2011 Tiffin Motorhome

::An Archive Post::  February 24th 2010 found us on a nice morning hike along Histories Narrow Passage Through California's Box Canyon Near Blair Valley.  This is not far from Marshall South's Ghost Mountain and this small narrow canyon still has remnants of the rock hewn dusty trail the Butterfield Overland Stage coaches once made their way precariously along on.  Don't forget to click on and enlarge the photos when you get there.

::Al's Musical Favs:: Last Tango in Paris by the Gotan Project

STRONG SUNLIGHT MEANS STRONG SHADOWS

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A young man visiting a dude ranch wanted to be "macho," so he went out walking with one of the hired hands. As they were walking through the barnyard, the visitor tried starting a conversation: "Say, look at that big bunch of cows."  The hired hand replied, "Not 'bunch,' but 'herd.' ""Heard what?"  "Herd of cows."  "Sure, I've heard of cows. There's a big bunch of 'em right over there." 

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“I want to start a business selling artificial leather. I just need to know what a nauga is and how do I get its hide?”

- My books all piled on top of me, I've only got my shelf to blame.
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THANK YOU WIARTON WILLIE FOR YOUR PROGNOSTICATION:))))

When we hear the big rumbling snowblower going by in the pre-dawn hours it's a pretty safe bet there has been a significant snowfall in the night.  And so there was and so we started another Winter's day.  But there was an up side to this day.  Snow coming down meant clouds overhead and clouds overhead meant no Sunlit shadows.  No Sunlit shadows meant Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow this morning and that means an early Spring.  Yay Team:))))  And just who is Wiarton Willie you ask??  Well he's a Groundhog of course......………..

OUR BACK YARD IS LOOKING SNOWY AGAIN

IN OUR PARK THERE IS SLIPPERY ICE UNDER THAT SNOW

HEADING FOR BAYFIELD 

With Saturday's snowfall covering our icy Park roads Kelly fell for the second time in a week while walking Pheebs.  I don't know why our icy roads can't be sanded but they never are.  It's not like there is a sand shortage in our area here along the shores of Lake Huron.  Our Park sits right on top of countless tons of sand.

Fired up the Jeep and made tracks down our driveway and out onto area roads.  Some roads plowed and some not.  With temps hoovering at the freezing mark today's snow was heavily laden with moisture.  No problem for four wheel drive but folks with single rear wheel drive might have found their rear ends sliding around a bit.  

OUR CUSTOMARY DRIVE DOWN AROUND THE BAYFIELD HARBOR

BAYFIELD'S SHORELINE BEACH IS STILL CLEAR OF ICE BERGS

SNOW CLEARING ON BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET

Headed out southeast of Bayfield on our usual route but decided not to take one particular country road because it had not been plowed.  I'm sure the Jeep could have tracked through it Okay but the sides of the road were indiscernible from the ditch and slipping a tire off to the side in this heavy slippery snow is not worth the hassle.  

IT'S ALWAYS NICE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

Turned around and headed back into Bayfield to do our good deed and make tracks around all the roads in the Bayfield cemetery. 

MAKING TRACKS 

THAT IS GRAUPEL ON THE PHEEBS NOT SNOW

Home again with snow, graupel, and a fine drizzle in the air I figured I had better not waste any time getting my paths shoveled out.  No easy task with the snow being so heavy but we got er done.  Today's snow was the perfect consistency for making a snowman.  No I did not have the urge to do that.

SHOVELING OUT MY SNOW PATHS

Two RV's temporarily on our radar at the moment.  A 2005 19' Okanagan Class B type van up in Wasaga Beach and a 2008 24' Class C near Chatham Ontario.  Neither one of them perfect for us but being around the RV world for as long as we have I have found one thing to be true.  There is no perfect RV out there anywhere for our particular needs.  Close this time, but no cigars.

BY GOLLY THERE'S SOMETHING WE DON'T OFTEN SEE IN OUR PARK....A LITTLE PERSON

THE BRIGHTER THE PANTS THE THE WHITER THE SNOW

Counted 9 Blue Jays in our front yard today and about 143,000 Squirrels.  It's quite a circus going on sometimes right outside our sunroom windows.

 

With slightly above freezing temps our snow pack slumped a bit today so with the snow not being as deep as Saturday Pheebs and I did make it out for an afternoon walk.

Took too many photos for the blog today so I have put the majority of them in an easy to see photo album entitled Winter February 2nd 2020.  The photos are pretty much in chronological order.  First couple pics at home then we head out of the Park to Bayfield.  A swing down around the harbor, through the town, and out into the countryside.  Back to Bayfield through the cemetery and home.  Afternoon walk and a few pics of my snow paths around the house.

::Al's Musical Favs::  Almost Full Moon by Enigma.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A magician was working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The audience would be different each week, so the magician allowed himself to do the same tricks over and over again.  There was only one problem: The captain's parrot saw the shows every week and began to understand what the magician did in every trick. Once he understood that, he started shouting in the middle of the show.  "Look, it's not the same hat!" "Look, he's hiding the flowers under the table!" "Hey, why are all the cards the Ace of Spades?"  The magician was furious but couldn't do anything, it was the captain's parrot after all.  One day the ship had an accident and sank. The magician found himself on a piece of wood, in the middle of the ocean, and of course the parrot was by his side.  They stared at each other with hate, but did not utter a word. This went on for several days.  After a week the parrot finally said, "Okay, I give up. What'd you do with the boat?" 
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Why did the dude only smell good on the right side? He didn't know where to buy Left Guard!
----------------------- 
Woman: Do you love me?
Man: Yes, dear. 
Woman: Would you die for me?
Man: No... mine is an undying love.
-------------------------

AH COME ON WIARTON WILLY AND PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL CUT US AN EARLY SPRING THIS YEAR WILL YA:))

With my mind tightly gripped to Groundhog Day Sunday my common sense self desperately awaits the Prognosticator's logical prediction.  I see it as my last faint hope to survive the Winter.  Actually, despite my casual complaining now and again I have done somewhat better than I thought I would these past few months.  All my fears of having to stay home this Winter have materialized of course but my overall positive reaction to these adversities has been stronger than even I expected.  Now that does not mean I am ONE with Winter, a happy camper, or becoming comfortably acclimatized to this miserable cold damp weather.  That will never happen.  I do not like Winter and that is all there is too it.  So what has been my biggest saving grace??  Well, still being able to get out every morning for a Jeep ride with Pheebs is a biggy of course and my blog keeps me busy for a number of hours each day.  Reading has been a huge help and it's quite possible my Verilux Happy Light has also played an important role.  TV has occupied some time too.  We haven't given up on finding a small RV yet either so there is potential for some feeling good excitement there as well.  Spring of course is my number one focus now and that is what I have tenaciously gripped onto.  We don't have any of that good old 'looking forward to heading home' from the Southwest excitement this year because we never experienced the simple excitement of leaving home in the first place.  But it is the way it is and there isn't a whole lot I can do about it.  So come on Wiarton Willy and Punxsutawney Phil, cut us a big beautiful early Spring this year will ya please:))

LAKE HURON'S ICY SHORE LINE

A routine morning again for Pheebs and I.  Off to Goderich, down to the harbor, snap a few photos, buy some socks, and head home again.  Began snowing heavy by mid afternoon so Boogsy and I didn't get out for an afternoon walk.  Maybe tomorrow if the snow quits and isn't too deep.  And that's it for another blog on another long and snowy cold Winter's day.

A LONE FREIGHTER INBOUND FOR THE PORT OF GODERICH

A COUPLE DOG WALKERS BRAVE A COLD WALK THROUGH THE SHORELINE RECONSTRUCTION AREA

::Al's Musical Favs:: Last Train Home by Pat Metheny

GROANER'S CORNER:((  You are driving in a car at a constant speed. On your left side is a 'drop off', (The ground is 18-20 inches below the level you are traveling on), and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping horse, which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a galloping zebra. Both the horse and zebra are also traveling at the same speed as you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation? 
Get your drunk-ass off the merry-go-round!!
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What's a horse's favourite Beatles song?  ‘Hay Chewed.'
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My friend Kimberly announced that she had started a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently. “Good!” I exclaimed. “I’m ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies and help each other out. When I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I’ll call you first.”“Great!” she replied. “I’ll ride with you.”
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