WELL, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT

 IT WAS A SNOWY LANDSCAPE WHEN WE STEPPED OUTSIDE THIS MORNING

Our snow squalls did not materialize overnight but we did get about an inch of fluffy snow which in turn made for a wintery wonderland this morning.  Patches of blue sky and sunshine added to the scenic splendor.

 PHEEBS WAITS FOR KELLY TO COME BACK FROM CHECKING MONICA'S HOUSE

 HERE SHE COMES.....GUESS I BETTER GET OUT THERE AND BRING THAT GARBAGE CAN IN

 BY GOLLY I THINK WE LIVE IN THAT BUNCH OF TREESS OVER THERE SOMEWHERE

 YEP, THERE'S THE DRIVEWAY

 TAKING A LITTLE SPIN AROUND THE PARK

I took nearly 50 photos before Pheebs and I even got out of the Park.  About half of them are in this post and I will put the other ones in Wednesday's post.  It's so pretty in here after a snowfall with all the big pine trees.  However, I'm not sure how many of these big pines we are going to have left soon.  All Park residents received a typed notice saying that a forestry consulting company would be coming in soon to mark trees for cutting.  Hazardous trees will be marked with a green X.  Property maintenance trees will be marked with yellow dots.  Trees marked with a pink dot will be thinned out.  Tree density around and between buildings will be reduced by 20-25%.  The letter goes on to say that assessments are being made by certified Arborists and Foresters.  It also says, residents can discuss retention or removal with the property management.  Well, we'll see how that works out.

Pheebs and I slipped into Bayfield for a wee snort around town.  Kelly said on Monday she saw large trucks at the new Bayfield Bridge site loading up equipment and building materials.  They may be coming down the home stretch for a bridge opening soon.  I saw a mid-size crane in the middle of the bridge this morning.

 HEADING INTO BAYFIELD

Amazingly enough, we had another rather sunny day and yes I was outside busy with my snow shovel.  With temps coming up above freezing Wednesday that snow will become heavily laden with moisture and with Thursday's temps due to fall well below freezing that wet snow will freeze in place.  And there's no shoveling that stuff so today was shoveling day!!

 ICE ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER ISN'T QUITE ALL FROZEN OVER YET

 ICE ON BAYFIELD'S NORTH PIER MUST BE AT LEAST 20' HIGH NOW

 HOW NICE OF THESE 2 DOGGIES TO TAKE THEIR OWNER OUT FOR A QUIET WINTER'S WALK IN PIONEER PARK

 LAKE HURON'S ICY WINTER WATERS

SNOW PLOWS AND BLOWERS BUSY ON BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET

 LOCAL RESIDENTS WERE OUT AND ABOUT AS WELL

ALTHOUGH NOT A CLEAR PHOTO OF THE NEARLY FULL MOON SUNDAY NIGHT I DID GET ONE QUICK FUZZY SHOT OF IT THROUGH THE FAST MOVING CLOUD COVER

 HAD A FRIEND FROM STRATFORD NOT MESSAGED ME ON FACEBOOK ABOUT SEEING THE MOON I WOULD HAVE MISSED IT

GROANER'S CORNER:((   "Now, what are you planning to do about that excess weight you're carrying around?" the doctor asked the patient.  "I just can't seem to lose the weight," the patient said. "Must be an overactive thyroid."  "The tests show your thyroid is perfectly normal," the doctor said. "If anything is overactive, it's your fork."

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I never make the same mistake twice.
I do it like, five or six times, you know, to make sure.

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If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. 
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. 
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. 
If a child learns to feel shame, he learns to feel guilty. 
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. 
If a child lives with encouragement he learns confidence 
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.  
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. 
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. 
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. 
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

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THE STORM'S BIG SNOW DUMP MISSED US

 A WELCOME SPLASH OF COLOR ON A COLD OVERCAST JANUARY DAY

Needing a couple prescriptions filled, Pheebs and I were off to Goderich.  Roads were bare and dry and the morning air clear.  Our area along the shores of Lake Huron luckily missed the big snow dump most of the rest of southern Ontario got.  I don't mind missing snow dumps.  It was our familiar routine this morning with McDonalds, the harbor, and Walmart before heading home.  Almost a heatwave today with temps up to 29F with a wind chill factor of 16F.  

 THE LAKE FREIGHTER MANITOULIN AT GODERICH'S GRAIN ELEVATORS

 MANITOULIN'S ICE BEARD

 ICE ON ONE OF THE ANCHORS

 THIS CREWMAN KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON HIS BUDDY WHO IS OVERBOARD

 OVERBOARD AND DESCENDING TO THE DOCK BELOW ON THE END OF A LIFT ROPE

 THIS LOWERED CREWMAN IS SECURING THE SHIP'S LINES

Pheebs got into and out of the Jeep this morning without having to use the ramp.  She doesn't particularly like the ramp.  We are relieved to see her back to her good old self again, appetite and all.

 I THINK IT'S A BIG GAPING MOUTH BOULDER FISH

 I THINK THESE CANADA GEESE HAVE FOUND THE ONLY OPEN SECTION OF GRASS FOR MILES AROUND

 A TOUCH OF SUNSHINE CAUSES A SILVERY SHEEN ON THE FROZEN SNOW

 I THINK MY FAITHFUL NAVIGATOR IS FEELING A LITTLE SNOOZY

KEEPING A SLEEPY EYE ON THE GROCERIES

A snow squall warning has now been issued for our area.  It doesn't appear to be part of the big storm that just missed us though.  These squalls will likely be due to what is called 'lake effect snow' with winds picking up moisture from the lake and dumping that moisture over land in the form of snow.  I might be spending some time on the end of my snow shovel Tuesday.  That's okay because I need the exercise anyway.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A sailor meets a pirate in a bar, and take turns boasting of their adventures on the high seas. The sailor notes that the pirate has a peg-leg, hook, and an eyepatch.  The sailor asks "So, how did you end up with the peg-leg?"  The pirate replies "We were in a storm at sea, and I was swept overboard into a school of sharks. Just as my men were pulling me out a shark bit my leg off."  "Wow!" said the sailor. "What about your hook"?  "Well...", replied the pirate, "While my men and I were plundering in the middle east, I was caught stealing from a merchant and the punishment for theft in the middle east is the loss of the hand that steals"  "Incredible!" remarked the sailor. "How did you get the eyepatch"?  "A sea gull dropping fell into my eye.", replied the pirate.  "You lost your eye to a sea gull dropping?" the sailor asked incredulously.  "Well...", said the pirate, "..it was my first day with the hook."

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I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD

 IT WAS AN ICY COLD LOOKING LAKE HURON EARLIER TODAY

Under sunny skies, it was a short little skiffle into Bayfield and back for Pheebs and I this morning.  With the temperature sitting at 10F I didn't feel like going too far.  

Imagine my surprise today when I turned the key in our little Winnebago Itasca (Scooter) motorhome and it started.  I had positioned the Jeep in front of the rig and had hauled out my jumper cables in preparation to jump-start Saturday's dead battery.  Just for the heck of it, I thought I'd give Scooters ignition key a turn and by golly if the battery didn't turn over and fire up the engine.  I let the engine run for a while before turning it off.  With below-freezing temperatures forecasted for 13 out of the next 14 days, I will have to keep a closer eye on that battery. 

 FROSTY WINDOWS AGAIN THIS MORNING

I know I sound like an old broken record but how nice again this afternoon to be tipped back in my sunroom recliner reading while being warmed by January's sunshine beaming through the big windows.  Every little bit helps this time of year and I sure enjoy grabbing every little bit I can.  

 HOPING FOR A HOT CUP OF COFFEE ON A FROSTY MORNING THESE FOLKS FOUND THE COFFEE SHOP CLOSED

ONLY A FEW HARDY SOULS OUT WALKING

BAYFIELD'S ICE-CAPPED PIERS CAN BE SEEN JUTTING OUT TOP RIGHT

 I CAN ASSURE YOU I DID NOT TAKE THESE PHOTOS ANYWHERE NEAR THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

Judging from the fourteen-day weather forecast it looks like we will not be getting our hoped-for January thaw this year.  That three or four-day thaw usually occurs around about the third week in January.  Oh well, a short month from now we will be over halfway through February headed full tilt for some melting in March:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( George W. Bush, in an airport lobby, noticed a man in a long flowing white robe with a long flowing white beard and flowing white hair.  The man had a staff in one hand and some stone tablets under the other arm. George W. approached the man and inquired, "Aren't you Moses?" The man ignored George W. and stared at the ceiling.  George W. positioned himself more directly in the man's view and asked again, "Aren't you Moses?" The man continued to peruse the ceiling. George W. tugged at the man's sleeve and asked once again, "Aren't you Moses?"  The man finally responded in an irritated voice, "YES, I AM!"  George W. asked him why he was so uppity and had taken so long to answer him.  The man replied, "The last time I spoke to a Bush I ended up stuck in a desert for forty years!

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