BEAUTIFUL COOL MORNING FOR A DRIVE THROUGH AMISH/MENNONITE COUNTRY

Had to insert this short paragraph here because I made a text and photo mistake in my spacing.   

WHAT A NICE WAY TO START THE DAY WITH THESE MOODY MORNING SKIES

CORNFIELDS

SKIES BEGAN CLEARING AS WE MADE OUR WAY FROM CLINTON TO AMISH/MENNONITE COUNTRY

(This should have been my lead paragraph) A very refreshingly cool 57F was a welcome start to our semi-cloudy morning.  A nice breeze prompted me to add a little warm air to the Jeeps heater.  Even warmer air added when Pheebs had her window down.  And for a  morning walk near Auburn I had to slip on a nylon jacket over my long sleeve flannel shirt which was again over my short sleeve shirt.

WALKING ACROSS A FIELD i NOTICED THIS HORSE STOP AND LAY DOWN 

IT SURE HAD ITSELF A GOOD ROLL AROUND BEFORE GETTING UP AND CARRYING ON

Hadn't been up through Amish/Mennonite country for a while so that was our destination this morning.  A Tim Hortons coffee to go in Clinton and off we went to see what we could see.  And of course, with this beautiful morning going on leaving me energized both mentally and physically I in my exuberance took way too many photos again so will have to put the remainder of today's photos in Thursday's post.

IN AMISH/MENNONITE COUNTRY HOUSES ARE GENERALLY WHITE AND BARNS ARE RED

FOLKS WERE OUT AND ABOUT TODAY

AND WE HAVE OUR  OWN GENUINE COWBOYS RIGHT HERE IN HURON COUNTY

Skies slowly began to clear spilling morning sunshine across the countryside highlighting rows upon rows of farmer's Spring planted crops.  With the heat and humidity out of the air it was an absolutely marvelous morning to be outside.  Love the cool fresh country air:))

Saw a lot of Amish/Mennonite folks out tending to their gardens and I was able to get a few photos.  Knowing these people are sensitive to having their picture taken it is very rare I stop to take a people photo.  With the exception of a little boy pulling a wagon up a farm lane in the distance, all my photos this morning were again taken from the Jeep while on the move and represent only a few of the people I saw.  Of course, the quality of the photos suffer but at least I do not make anyone uncomfortable.  I see so many beautiful people photos that I have to refrain from taking.  I do sometimes stop when I see animals or buildings.  Or landscapes.  Very seldom do I get out of the Jeep so most everything is shot right from the driver's seat.

THIS WAS A VERY LONG STATIONERY TELEPHOTO SHOT

My day was made when I spotted a small sheep beside the road which had obviously slipped out of an enclosure on the other side of a fence.  I quickly stopped (I'm never going fast anyway) and reversed myself back down the road to the farmer's driveway.  Pulling in the farm's laneway and up to the house I gave two short toots on the horn which in turn brought a Mennonite fellow out of the barn next door.  Told him about the sheep on the road and he headed straight away down the lane to retrieve it offering many thanks to Pheebs and I.

THIS IS THE SHEEP FARM WE WERE DRIVING BY

AND THIS IS THE LITTLE FELLA ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FENCE

TRYING TO FIND IT'S WAY BACK THROUGH THE FENCE

'CAN YOU HELP ME MISTER'

Home again around 11 it was cool still cool enough for me to stay outside and putter around in the gardens.  The coolness hung in so about mid-afternoon being curious to see how they had made out with the new road culvert project in the Park Pheebs and I headed down that way for a walk.  

THE INCOMING END OF THE TWO SMALL WATER CULVERTS 

PHEEBS AND I CAME DOWN THAT FAR BANK AND EASILY CROSSED THE CULVERTED CREEK

SOON WE WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE RIGHT THROUGH THERE

THIS IS ALL THAT'S LEFT OF MY FAVORITE TREE

I STAND ON THE SPOT WHERE MY TREE ONCE STOOD IN A QUIET FOREST

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A young banker decided to get his first tailor-made suit. So he went to the finest tailor in town and got measured for a suit. A week later he went in for his first fitting. He put on the suit and he looked fabulous, he felt that in this suit he can do business.  As he was preening himself in front of the mirror he reached down to put his hands in the pockets and to his surprise, he noticed that there were no pockets. He mentioned this to the tailor who asked him, "Didn't you tell me you were a banker?" The young man answered, "Yes, I did."To this, the tailor said, "Whoever heard of a banker with his hands in his own pockets?"

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NOT MUCH HAPPENING HERE

TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO COME OUT AND PLAY IN THE RAIN

We had us a steady five-hour rainfall today which I'm sure farmers will be very happy with.  Our heat and sticky humidity finally blew out of the area by late afternoon prompting me to switch from a light short sleeve shirt to my long sleeve flannel shirt.  I like when that happens.  With the exception of a Jeep ride to Goderich and back this morning my day was spent inside staying out of the heat and keeping dry.  A long day.  Wished I could think of some interesting things to write about to hold reader's interest but there just isn't much happening here that isn't continuously repetitive.

WE HAD US A WET ONE TODAY

GODERICH SHORELINE CREWS WORKING HARD TO HAVE THE ROAD TO ROTARY COVE FINALLY OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LATE LAST YEAR

WELL, AT LEAST THESE HORSES ARE ONLY WET ON ONE SIDE

'THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THIS FRESH NEW GRASS SEED I AM ABOUT TO RECEIVE'

MY BESTEST PAL EVER

GROANER'S CORNER:))  Pete went into the doctor's office for his annual checkup, and the Doc asked if there was anything unusual he should know about. So Pete told the Doc that his suit must have shrunk over the last year, because it didn't fit when he went to get ready for a wedding recently.  The Doc said, "Suits don't shrink just sitting in a closet. You probably put on a few pounds." "That's just it, Doc, I know I haven't gained a single pound since the last time I wore it." "Well, then," said Doc, "You must have a case of Furniture Disease." "What in the world is Furniture Disease?" asked Pete. "That's when your chest starts sliding down into your drawers.".

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SOMETIMES CLOUDY DAYS ARE A BONUS:))

YE OLDE APPLE ORCHARD

There are times when clouds can save the day and today was one of them.  Although still humid it was not nearly as bad as when the Sun turns things into a steam bath.  A slightly cooler morning made for a nicer Jeep ride and short walk.  Home again I even hooked up the utility trailer and took half a trailer load to our Park's recycle area.  I wouldn't have done that had the Sun been out.  Mowed some grass, whipper snipped, and planted additional grass seed in a few bare spots.  A rainy Tuesday is forecast as well as lower temperatures and humidity.  All are welcome:))

ONE OF HURON COUNTIES ROAD CLEAN-UP CREW MEMBERS ON THE JOB THIS MORNING

BY GOLLY I THINK THEY SLAPPED A COUPLE MORE BOARDS ON THE TIM HORTONS PROJECT

CORN'S UP ABOUT A FOOT NOW

MALLARD DUCKS

With our cloud cover thankfully still in place, Pheebs and I headed back through the forest about mid-afternoon to see what the big construction machines were up to.  Lots of noise going on the closer we got to where they were working.  I was surprised to see they already had the culverts in at the creek and were in the process of building up the roadbed.  I imagine the next time Pheebs and I are around that way we will be able to walk right across the creek on the new road.   

THESE FIRST 5 PHOTOS WERE TAKEN ON OUR SATURDAY AFTERNOON WALK

THESE CULVERTS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE MONDAY MORNING

AND THIS IS WHERE THE CULVERTS WILL GO AND WHERE THE ORANGE MACHINE GOT STUCK FRIDAY

PHEEBS AND I DECIDED NOT TO JUMP OVER THE WIDENED CREEK.....NO MORE SOAKERS FOR US GUYS:))

THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN TODAY

THE CULVERTS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AND THEY ARE NOW FILLING IN WITH DIRT AND GRAVEL.....MY FAVORITE TREE ONCE STOOD ABOUT WHERE THAT FAR ORANGE MACHINE IS

THAT'S PARK OWNER KEN HUGHES DRIVING THE YELLOW LOADER MACHINE

LEADING THIS CULVERT PROJECT IS MERNER CONTRACTING

GROANER'S CORNER:(( At a remote monastery deep in the woods, the monks followed a rigid vow of silence. This vow could only be broken once a year on Christmas, by one monk, and the monk could speak only one sentence. One Christmas, Brother Thomas had his turn to speak and said, "I love the delightful mashed potatoes we have every year with the Christmas roast!" Then he sat down. Silence ensued for 365 days.The next Christmas, Brother Michael got his turn, and said, "I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I truly despise them!" Once again, silence ensued for 365 days. The following Christmas, Brother Paul rose and said, "I am fed up with this constant bickering!"

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A NEW TRAIL ON A QUIET SUNDAY MORNING

OUR RESIDENT MOURNING DOVES

Probably one of the quietest Sunday mornings on our roadways of ever.  Never saw a single vehicle between Bayfield and Goderich this morning.  Lots of bicycles on Porter Hill Line along the way though.  A short buzz down around Goderich's harbor and small main beach area which is open now.  The road out to Rotary Cove is still closed but hopefully will be re-opening June 29th.  Heading north of Goderich I decided to check out an area Pheebs and I hadn't stopped at before and stumbled across a short trail leading back under the curving Highway 21 bridge crossing the Maitland River.  Also seen another trail which we'll check out maybe next time in the area.  With humidity already building we were soon back to the Jeep and headed for home.  We did manage an afternoon walk and luckily had a slight cloud cover providing some temporary shade from the hot Sun.

AHEAD IS THE HIGHWAY 21 BRIDGE CROSSING THE MAITLAND RIVER LEADING TO GODERICH OVER THAT HILL TO THE RIGHT

THAT BUILDING ON THE HORIZON WAS ONCE HOME TO CHAMPION ROAD GRADERS

AT THE FAR END OF THIS BRIDGE BEGINS THE TOWN OF GODERICH

THIS NARROW PATH IS USED BY FISHERMEN TO GET FROM A PARKING LOT ALONGSIDE HIGHWAY 21 TO THE MAITLAND RIVER

THIS IS PHEEBS VIEW WALKING ALONG THE FISHERMAN'S TRAIL

NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE STAYED VERY CLOSE BEHIND ME THROUGH HERE

BACK ON THE MAIN TRAIL

AWWW, THERE'S THE JEEP

A FEW HAY WAGONS ON THE WAY HOME

ALWAYS NICE TO SEE MOURNING DOVES IN OUR FRONT YARD

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Bumper Stickers::

- 'Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.'

-'Born Free. . . . .Taxed to Death'

- 'Cover me. I'm changing lanes.'

- 'As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools'

- 'The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.'

- 'Laugh alone and the world thinks you're an idiot.'

- 'Conserve toilet paper, use both sides.'

- 'I get enough exercise just pushing my luck!'

- 'Sometimes I wake up grumpy; Other times I let her sleep' 

-''Montana --- At least our cows are sane!'

'I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.'

'- 'Pride is what we have. Vanity is what others have.'

- 'A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.'

- 'How Can I Miss You if You Won't Go Away?'

- 'Forget about World Peace.....Visualize Using Your Turn Signal !'

- 'He who laughs last thinks slowest'

- 'Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.'

- 'Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...'

- 'Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?'

- Auntie Em: Hate you, Hate Kansas, Taking the dog. -Dorothy.'

- 'Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.'

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