BEST WEATHER DAY EVER......AND THEN THE STORM HIT US

Probably one of the nicest late October days I have ever seen as we blew right past 70F about mid-afternoon.  Sunny with big white puffy clouds and a wonderful warm breeze.  If only, if only, it could simply stay like this my weather complaining days would be over forever.  However, we are already under a severe storm watch with tornado warnings issued as a massive cold front stretching from southeast Texas to Labrador here in Canada is steamrolling right for us.  As I type this, winds are really picking up and our radar shows the storm front rolling over Michigan and about to start across the lake. 

HEADING EAST OUT OF OUR PARK INTO THE MORNING'S SUNRISE

Pheebs and I were able to wander around this morning with no heater on and both front windows in the Jeep down.  Took us for a walk south of Varna at Kerr's Campground.  I noticed they are expanding their RV lots.  I think this is one of the most scenic hidden gem rural RV Parks in our area.  Lots of countryside walking room close by.

KERR'S CAMPGROUND POND

SAW A SMALL FLOCK OF CANADA GEESE COMING IN OVER THE TREES

THEY SOON HAD THEIR LANDING GEAR DOWN

SECONDS LATER THEY WERE SERENELY ON THE POND

IF I WAS EVER FORCED TO SPEND TIME IN AN RV CAMPGROUND IN OUR AREA I WOULD PICK THIS ONE

SOME NEW FENCING AT THE CAMPGROUND

Made the mistake of trying to winterize our Winnie-Spirit this afternoon.  I had the coach manual but the water line pictures didn't match up with the model we have.  So what else is new!!  I have zero patience for things like this and it was always one of the big reasons I liked to head south each year before we had our first major freeze-up.

NEW RV SITES GOING IN

A VERY SPACIOUS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND

HEARING A BUNCH OF SQUAWKING BEHIND ME I TURNED AND GOT THESE PHOTOS OF THE CANADA GEESE TAKING OFF

It was off to Goderich's Dynacare lab this afternoon to leave some more blood with them.  Fifty minutes from the time I got there to the time I left.  Everyone has to line up outside nowadays so I figured it was best to go on a warm day when it wasn't raining.

LUCKILY ONLY TWO PEOPLE AHEAD OF ME

A SPECTACULAR EASTERN SKY ON MY WAY HOME FROM GODERICH THIS AFTERNOON

DID YOU SEE THE TWO CLOUD LOVERS SMOOCHING?

LESS THAN TWO HOURS LATER THIS WAS THE SKY OVER TOP OUR HOUSE AS THE STORM ROLLED OVER US

The fastmoving storm hit us around 5 o'clock with wind, thunder, lightning, and rain with maybe a bit of hail mixed in.  Because of its speed, it rolled over us fast and had blown through in about 10 minutes.  Temps dropped, winds dissipated to a  dead calm and I caught a glimpse of sunshine to the west.  Richard and Gayle weren't so lucky on a trip to the Bruce Peninsula.  They lost the awning on their Motorhome.

AN OLD STUMP IN THE WOODS

A QUIET AFTERNOON WALK

A COLORFUL FOREST FLOOR

Nice warm afternoon walk with Pheebs back through the forest.  I tried to take in as much of our surrounding colors as I could because all that beautiful Autumn color will soon be gone for another year.

I WAS SURPRISED TO FIRST HEAR THEN SEE A PAIR OF ROBINS AT KERR'S CAMPGROUND THIS MORNING

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A screaming, yelling mob were tearing up the Street.  A policeman stops one runner, and asks, "What's happening?"  "A lion has escaped," he gasps.  "Which way did it go?" enquires the policeman.  "Well we're certainly not bloody well chasing it!!!!"

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Why did the bald man paint rabbits on his head?
Because from a distance they looked like hares!

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A GRAY RAINY DAY

A TOUCH OF COLOR ON A DRAB MORNING PLUS A WET BICYCLE RIDE TO SCHOOL

Well, it was just one of those gray rainy kind of days that left little to be written about.  

HEADING OUT THIS MORNING

RAINED ALL THE WAY TO GODERICH AND BACK

A RAINY DAY TO BE WORKING ON GODERICH'S SHORELINE BOARDWALK

'HEY BILL D'YA THINK WE'RE WET ENOUGH TO GO HOME YET'

BACK HOME AGAIN

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A retired man who volunteers to entertain patients in nursing homes and hospitals went to one local hospital in Brooklyn and took his portable keyboard along. He told some jokes and sang some funny songs at patients’ bedsides. When he finished he said, in farewell, “I hope you get better.” One elderly gentleman replied, “I hope you get better, too.”

ALL I NEED NOW IS SOME GET UP AND GO

It's that time of year again for moving and transplanting things around the flower gardens.  I have a shovel, I have a wheelbarrow, so all I need now is some get up and go to get out there and do the moving and shaking.  I'm generally pretty good with that kind of gardening stuff but have to admit I have noticed a slight change in myself lately.  My interest level has slipped a notch and I've had some mornings where I have even briefly considered forgoing a few Jeep rides.  I'm hoping this phase will soon pass.

WE CRUISED THROUGH BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

PHEEBS IS ALWAYS A HEAD TURNER WHEREVER WE GO

BAYFIELD'S CLAN GREGOR SQUARE

STAGHORN SUMAC AT THE EDGE OF A CORNFIELD SOUTH OF BAYFIELD

Solid cloud cover this morning but at least it wasn't raining and it was feeling a tad milder.  Pheebs and I did manage to get out and add another layer of mud to the Jeep after overnight rains left country roads smooshy.  With the bean harvest going on it's not unusual to come across small piles of beans alongside the road.  There is always some spillage when transferring the beans from the combine and wagons to large waiting trucks.  I scooped up a dozen handfuls, put them in an unused doggy dodo bag, and brought them home hoping our front yard gang might think something different to eat would be a treat.  Nope, not one critter was interested in those beans.  

IT WAS A GRAY MORNING

A LONE FISHERMAN ON BAYFIED'S SOUTH PIER

EMPTY BOAT DOCKS MARK THE END OF ANOTHER SUMMER SEASON

THE TIM HORTON COFFEE SHOP/ESSO GAS BAR AND CONVENIENCE STORE LOT HAS BEEN PAVED

LOOKS LIKE A TIGHT TURN IN THAT COFFEE DRIVE-THRU LANE

AND HERE'S AN EARLY LOOK THROUGH THE COFFEE SHOP DOOR:))

Noticed a few days ago the Dark-Eyed Juncos are back from their northern summer haunts.  We must have had a dozen of them bouncing around in our front yard today.  They will stay until Spring.

DARK-EYED JUNCO

It was late afternoon when our cloud cover finally broke and we were bathed in warm sunlight for a short while.  With November's cold gray days fast approaching these may be some of our last nice October days of the year.  A little bird told me this afternoon we might be close to 70F Friday:))

KELLY SET A FEW RED BERRIES ON A BASSWOOD LEAF

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Bob had finally made it to the last round of the $5,000,000 Question. The night before the big question, he told the M.C. that he desired a question on American History.  The big night had arrived. Bob made his way on stage in front of the studio and TV audience. He had become the talk of the week. He was the best guest this show had ever seen. The M.C. stepped up to the mic.  "Bob, you have chosen American History as your final question. You know that if you correctly answer this question, you will walk away from $5,000,000 dollars richer. Are you ready?"  Bob nodded with a cocky confidence-the crowd went nuts. He hadn't missed a question all week.  "Bob, your question on American History is a two-part question. As you know, you may answer either part first. As a rule, the second half of the question is always easier. Which part would you like to take a stab at first?"  Bob was now becoming more noticeably nervous. He couldn't believe it, but he was drawing a blank. American History was his easiest subject, but he played it safe. "I'll try the easier part first."  The M.C. nodded approvingly. "Here we go Bob. I will ask you the second half first, then the first half."  The audience silenced with gross anticipation . . .  "Bob, here is your question: And in what year did it happen??"

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