REVELING IN ALL THIS SUNSHINE, BLUE SKIES, AND WARMER TEMPERATURES

 A PAIR OF CANADA GEESE ON OUR PARK'S POND

Had a sore spot on my lower new denture so I was off to the Denturist in Clinton first thing this morning.  All fixed up I was home again inside of half an hour.  Picked up Pheebs and we did a short snort around a few country roads close to Bayfield.  With all these sunny days and high winds we've had the fields are drying quickly and I saw one farmer already doing some spraying.

 SOME FARMERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER HAVE BEGUN SPRAYING THEIR FIELDS

 THE BAYFIELD POLE WALKERS WERE OUT IN FORCE THIS MORNING

 FISHERMEN ARE BACK ON BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER

Home again I hooked up our garden hose and proceeded to wash the front cap window of our little Class C as well as our large living room window.  Made some progress on the metal shed clean-up and carried out and put away all the vehicle cleaning stuff for another season.  Because most of that stuff is liquid (wax & cleaners) we keep it all in our spare room over the winter months.

 ALL THE VEHICLE CLEANING STUFF IS BACK IN PLACE

I certainly am reveling in this latest spate of warmer weather.  We topped out somewhere over 60F today and the same thing for us Tuesday.  On our afternoon walk I kept to the shady side of the pine trees because the Sun's strengthening rays on the back of my dark jacket were toasting me up.  

 SURE AM LOVING ALL THESE SUNNY BLUE SKY DAYS:))

 LAMBS EAR PLANTS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THEIR STRETCH FOR THE SUN

 NICE TO SEE YOUNG PINE TREES TAKING ROOT AROUND OUR PARK'S POND

 I've noticed lately on our walks my legs won't take me far and I figure that has to do with me not using them all winter.  I was afraid that might happen if and when we couldn't travel to the southwest anymore.  I'm hoping my leg muscles will strengthen up now that I am actively outside more and able to resume our longer morning walks around the conservation areas in the area.

 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

GROANER'S CORNER:(( It doesn't hurt to take a hard look at yourself from time to time, and this should help get you started.  During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the director what the criterion was that defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.  "Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."  "Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."  "No," said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a room with or without a view?"

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Doctor: "Would you have the money if I said you needed an operation?"  Patient: "Would you say I needed an operation if you thought I didn't have the money?"

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FOR ME SPRING IS ALMOST LIKE BEING REBORN AGAIN

Just me in the Jeep this morning heading East for the little town of Seaforth Ontario.  My good buddy Jim and I met at the Tim Horton's coffee shop there.  Had been a while since we'd last got together for a chin wag.  Jim lives in Stratford.  We were in the coffee shop from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and for the most part, we were the only ones seated in there which of course was quite fine for we two old Geezers without all that usual surrounding chattering of noise in the background.  We covered all the bases today and caught up on things.  We'll do it all over again when it warms up outside in a few months and maybe next time we'll drink our coffees under a big old shady tree in a nearby Seaforth Park.  We did that last year.  You can find Jim's cleverly humorous musings at Lifetime Sentences

 THERE WERE TIMES THIS MORNING WHEN JIM AND I WERE THE ONLY CUSTOMERS IN THE WHOLE PLACE

It was undoubtedly the best weather day of the year so far with our temps bouncing off the 60F mark under clear sunny skies.  When I headed out first thing this morning it was 27F so I was dressed for cold weather complete with mitts.  Coming out of the coffee shop in early afternoon I tossed my coat in the back of the Jeep along with my mitts, rolled the front windows down, cranked up the tunes, and boogied all the way home.  What a great feeling to be driving again without a big bulky winter coat on.  And yes, I even had my arm out the window.  From way back in late October this fine Spring day was sure a long time coming.

 OUR AFTERNOON WALK TOOK US THROUGH A HARDWOOD BUSH IN OUR PARK

 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY BEFORE ME FLOWS THE BAYFIELD RIVER AND ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE CAN BE SEEN A FEW SHINY ROOFS AT THE WILDWOOD BY THE RIVER RV PARK

 SPRING IS SURE SPROUTING 

 IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THIS FOREST FLOOR WILL BE COVERED IN TRILLIUM FLOWERS

Turned our outside water on this afternoon, replaced the winter glass in our front door with summer's screen, and started on the metal shed's clean-up project.  It was so nice today we had our doors wide open.  Autumn is my favorite time of year followed by Spring.  Spring is always like being reborn again after winter's snowy cold miseries. New ideas, new outlooks, renewed energy, a healthier attitude, and the list goes on and on.  For me, Spring is the sunshine after winter's long, dark, and exhausting storm.  Bring on the flowers, buds, and blossoms:)))))))

Gene, over in the Shout-Box asked what some of our favorite reference materials were when we were traveling in the Southwest.  We had an old out of date printed copy of the 'Escapees Day's End Directory' which we found helpful as well as Harvest Host and Free Camping Sites, Campendium, and The Next Exit.  Also, Mountain Directory West and the Atlas's we used at the time were/are called Benchmark.  We had California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Colorado. Nice to hear from you again Gene and I still remember our brief walk along the trail from the morning's Borrego Springs photoshoot to the parking lot.  I think from there we all went over to Coyote Canyon and shot us up some wildflowers:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Wisecracks!!

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.

If I throw a stick, will you leave?

If I want to hear the pitter-patter of little feet, I'll put shoes on my cats.

Does your train of thought have a caboose?

Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

A PBS mind in an MTV world.

Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

Suburbia: where they tear out the trees & then name streets after them.

Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.

Not all men are annoying. Some are dead.

I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?

Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.

I plead contemporary insanity.

I meander to a different drummer.

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HOW NICE IT IS ON THIS VERY FIRST DAY OF SPRING IN THE YEAR 2021....AND MEET 'BUBBA'

SOME RUSTLING LEAVES ON THE FOREST FLOOR HAS PHEEBS UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

It was last year when our good friends Richard and Gayle's beloved Golden Lab 'Beckham' sadly passed away.  They have always had a dog for as long as I have known them which is over forty years. They have been without a best Pal for quite a while now and they were both feeling the increasing emptiness in their hearts.  Well, that is until a couple weeks ago.  This morning, we three here at the Bunch, went over to meet 'Bubba', R&G's new 4-year-old male Yellow Lab rescue dog. (and he's a very sweet fella) Needless to say, Bubba and Pheebs hit it right off.  With them both having gentle souls they are truly a pair of kindred spirits.  Richard and Gayle are so happy they were both lit up like a couple Christmas trees and I could easily see Bubba was feeling the exact same way in his new and caring home:)))))

 AND THIS IS BUBBA

 PHOTOS BY KELLY

 PHEEBS KNOWS ITS BUBBA'S HOUSE AND BUBBA HAS DIBS ON THE COUCH

 AND BY GOLLY THERE'S RICHARD HIMSELF OVER THERE

It was a big bright and warmer sunny 48F day.  And no icy winds for a change.  It was a great day for simply being outside and I made good use of my time doing so.  I tackled the clean-up job on our wooden shed.  All of our summer yard things are now out of there taking their rightful places around the front, side, and back yards.  Next clean-up will be our metal shed.  Hauled Kelly's bicycle out of storage so she's all set to rip around the Park again.  Forgot to mention that this past Thursday morning Richard spotted 2 Robins in our driveway so those were the first Robins of the year for both of us.  Yes, Spring's a-poppin alright.

ANOTHER WHEELBARROW LOAD OF YARD STUFF HEADS OUT FOR DISTRIBUTION

 LOOKS LIKE KELLY IS OVER THERE CATCHING A FEW RAYS ON OUR FRONT DECK

 COMING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH AT GETTING OUR WOODEN SHED CLEANED UP

 THIS IS OUR METAL SHED AND IT'S MY NEXT PROJECT

How nice this afternoon to be walking without clunky winter boots and a bulky coat.  Great to be back into my summer 'Merrell, running shoes.  So comfy.  With temps heading into the low 50's I'll soon be able to finally switch over my thermal underwear tops for T-Shirts.  Can cool and breezy short sleeves shirts be far behind.  Oh happy days:))  I am so much looking forward to that big switch to lighter summer clothes from heavier winter clothes.  And no mitts to wear!!  YesSiree how nice it is on this very first day of Spring in the year 2021 on this Planet we call Earth:))))))

A NICE LEISURELY AFTERNOON WALK ALONG OUR PINE TREE TRAIL

 ALL THE ICE IS FINALLY OFF THE POND AND THAT IS THE PARK'S CLUBHOUSE AT UPPER RIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A fellow nurse at my hospital received a call from an anxious patient.  "I'm diabetic and I'm afraid I've had too much sugar today." the caller said.  "Are you light-headed?" my colleague asked.  "No," the caller answered, "I'm a brunette."

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Patient: Doctor, I have a tendency to gain weight in certain places. What would you recommend?  Doctor: Stay out of those places!

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AND SO BE IT FOR ANOTHER DAY

For the last official day of Winter, it was a morning's chilly walk under clear blue skies along a forest lane south of Bayfield and an afternoon outside puttering about in our yard.  And so be it for another day.

 NOT MUCH LEFT IN THE WAY OF SHORE ICE

 A SLIVER OF ICE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE OUT WAS ALL WE SAW

 BAYFIELD'S FISHING FLEET IS GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER SEASON

 ONE OF ONLY TWO SMALL PATCHES OF SNOW WE SAW

 EARLY MORNING BEECH TREE SHADOWS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( One Day the Devil challenged the Lord to a baseball game.  Smiling the Lord proclaimed, "You don't have a chance, I've got Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and all the greatest players of all time up here."  "Yes", laughed the devil, "but I have all the Umpires!"

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