I'M PREDICTING A THREE WEEK SNOW STORM STARTING AT 9 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING

PARK'S POND TODAY

And why would I make a three week snow storm prediction beginning Friday morning at 9 a.m.??  Well, being the logical thinker I am it's because I'm having the Jeeps winter tires taken off and summer tires put on at 8 a.m.
Big bright sunny skies with 40F+ temps today.  No complaints.  Our snow pack is going down.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on!
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FOUR HOUR COFFEE BLOW-OUT WITH MY GOOD BUDDY JIM TODAY

I know there is a way to start a post off without having to mention the weather but so far today I have not been quite able to figure out a way to do that.  Okay so why fight it.  Sunny morning and cloudy afternoon.  Feels cold and saw a few snow flakes in our mid day afternoon air.  There that's out of the way.

BLUE AND WHITE ALWAYS SEEM TO GO WELL TOGETHER

WORKS IS GOING FULL TILT ON BAYFIELD'S TEMPORARY BAILEY BRIDGE

THIS BRIDGE WILL BE DISMANTLED AFTER THE MAIN BRIDGE IS BUILT

THEY ARE POURING CONCRETE ABUTMENT SUPPORTS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER

A short drive into Bayfield this morning, a few pics, a short walk and we were home again.  Fifteen minutes later I was on my way once more all by myself this time to Seaforth Ontario to meet my good buddy Jim at a Tim Hortons coffee shop for a brew.  Had been a couple months since our last 3 hour coffee blow-out so today we made it a 4 hour session.  Jim and I have been doing these coffee marathons for a good part of the last 40 years or so.  Always something to talk about, always opinions to express, and always old memories to share.  You can find Jim's fine writing at Lifetime Sentences.  He always has something clever going on over there to interest just about anyone anywhere with his keen sense of humor and inquisitive slant on life.  Hey Seaforthite Ron Riley was that you who waved at me today at the coffee shop:))

A SHORT WALK IN THE BAYFIELD CEMETERY UNDER BLUE SKIES

GROANER'S CORNER:(( I ordered a Chinese takeaway from a local place, just been to pick it up and as I was driving home, I heard the bags rustling and moving!! I thought what on Earth is that. Has something got in the bag? I thought I could see a little pair of eyes peering out at me. I was driving so I leaned forward, picked up the bag, put it on the passenger seat and there it was again, more rustling and little eyes looking out from behind the prawn crackers. I thought it’s got to be a rat or a mouse or something, so I carefully pulled the bag down and there it was... A Peking Duck!!  
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Teacher: Are you good in history?
Little Johnny: Yes and no. 
Teacher: What does that mean?
Little Johnny: Yes, I’m no good in history.
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Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. . He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?". . The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." . There is a silence, then a shot is heard. . Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?" .
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MELTING SNOW HAS CREEKS AND RIVERS RISING

IT WAS NICE LISTENING TO THE SOUNDS OF BURBLING WATER THIS MORNING

Although not as an inspiring day as Monday, Tuesday's overcast at least held temps above freezing and at this time of year that of course is a good thing.  It was off to the Bannockburn Conservation Area for a short walk this morning.  Boardwalk and trail were icy and not the best for walking.  We were back home before ten.

IT WAS FROZEN SNOW AND ICE ON BANNOCKBURN'S BOARDWALK THIS MORNING

MELTING SNOW HAS CREEKS AND RIVERS RISING

IN LESS THAN A WEEK ALL THIS SNOW SHOULD BE GONE

Spent most of the afternoon sitting in my sunroom recliner reading.  Outside it was overcast and a bit drizzly.  Finished another great book today.  Tail-End Charlie by James E Brown.  I so enjoy these books telling of an era in our history that I have always seemed so attached to for as long as I can remember.  Even as a young boy I was drawn to this time in history and the people who lived it.  The soldiers, the sailors, and especially the airmen.   Over and over I read about these fine adventuress and daring young  men in their flying machines.  Their innocent childhoods, schooling,  future dreams, love of flying, their sudden and rapid forced change from boys to men in the skies over Europe and the southern Pacific, and their lives following the greatest adventure of their lives.  Sadness, joy, fear, and hope.    Stories of real people living, loving, dying, and surviving in a completely different era we will never see again.  For me, I find these stories of reality heart warming and inspirational as well as fascinating and educational.

MAPLE SYRUP SAP PAILS

I SURE HOPE THIS FELLA'S GOT SOME GOOD SNOW TIRES ON THAT THING

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The shipwrecked mariner had spent several recent years on a deserted island. One morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a smaller vessel pulling out toward him.  When the boat grounded on the beach, the officer in charge handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and told him, "The captain said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued."
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Why did the cat want to join the Red Cross?  
He wanted to be a first aid kit!
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Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned at Sunday school. "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. "When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. "Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved." "Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked. "Well, no. But if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"
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A MILD OVERCAST MORNING IN GODERICH LEADS TO AND EVEN MILDER SUNNY AFTERNOON IN BAYFIELD:))

THE TUGBOAT OCEAN A SIMARD WORKS AT BREAKING UP ICE AT GODERICH'S HARBOR MOUTH

Sounds of dripping water can be a good or bad thing and it all depends on the source of that dripping water.  Dripping water from plumbing, not so good but dripping water from melting snow, now that's good.  And it was good dripping sounds I heard about 6 a.m. when I let Pheebs out onto our rear deck.  Glanced at the thermometer and we were at 40F.  Bye bye snow not sorry to see ya go.

NICE TO SEE FIELDS SHOWING THROUGH THE SNOW AGAIN

DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY TRAINS ALONG THIS SEMI-ACTIVE RAIL LINE BETWEEN STRATFORD AND GODERICH FOR AWHILE

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M TRYING TO TAKE PHOTOS OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW A LITTLE DOGGIE NOSE GETS IN THE WAY

Had a prescription to renew at Walmart and some glasses cleaner to pick up at Huron Optical so it was off to Goderich again Pheebs and I went.  Roads were bare and wet with a slight bit of fog in the air under overcast skies.  A few down around the harbor photos, picked up my stuff and we were on our way home again.  Hopefully by the end of the week with these current temps most snow will be gone and we can maybe hit a few walking trails again.

THE ALGOMA CONVEYER TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT AT THE GODERICH SALT MINE

STILL LOTS OF ICE IN GODERICH'S HARBOR

WITH MILDER TEMPERATURES UPON US THE HARBOR ICE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF BREAKING UP

OCEAN A SIMARD ON LEFT WITH THE ALGOMA CONVEYER ON RIGHT

ANOTHER FREIGHTER THE ALGOMA INNOVATOR IS DOCKED AT THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE SALT MINE

Spotted a 2006 Ford 26' Class C RV in Timmins Ontario we might have been interested in looking at if it had been in our immediate area instead of 510 miles away.  We'll keep looking.

LOOKING AT THE HARBOR AND SHIPS FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION NOW

IT WAS WHILE TAKING THIS PHOTO I NOTICED THE ALGOMA CONVEYER ON THE RIGHT BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD

THE FREIGHTER IS UNDERWAY AND PASSING BY IT'S SISTER SHIP DOCKED AT THE SALT MINE

I DIDN'T HEAR EITHER OF THE TWO SHIP'S CAPTAINS 'TOOT' AT EACH OTHER GOING BY

THAT CHANNEL OF OPEN WATER BEHIND THESE TWO SHIPS IS ACTUALLY THE MAITLAND RIVER EMPTYING INTO LAKE HURON FROM OFF TO THE RIGHT

THE OCEAN A SIMARD TUG BOAT LEADS THE WAY CLEARING A CHANNEL THROUGH THE ICE

FROM THIS THIRD LOCATION YOU CAN SEE THE ALGOMA CONVEYER WELL ON IT'S WAY TO HER NEXT DESTINATION AS THE OCEAN A SIMARD SLIPS BACK INTO PORT ON THE RIGHT AND IT'S THAT BIG LONG BLUE CONVEYER BELT SHUTE THAT LOADS SALT INTO SHIP'S HOLDS

Sunshine broke through our morning's heavy cloud cover at 12:48 this afternoon adding it's warming rays to today's warmer temps.  The snow pack is going down fast and what a great feeling it was to be outside this afternoon in 41F temps and sunshine.  Sure was nice feeling good about things again.  And especially so after last weeks wind driven 25F winter storm days.  

PHEEBS AND I HAD US SHORT BUT NICE SUNNY AFTERNOON TRUDGE THROUGH THE SNOW IN OUR PARK

GROANER'S CORNER:(( “The mirror maker felt like it was time to retire from his work, he just couldn’t see himself doing it anymore.”
- You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone? That's common sense leaving your body.
- Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their Mothers. Now they drink like their Fathers.
- I don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" get's thrown around in the courtroom.
- I didn't make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.
- Dear paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers; if you find one, what's your plan?
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