OH THE GALL OF THAT FAT LITTLE RAT FACED CRITTER!!

 SUMMER'S FUN STORED IN A SHED FOR THE WINTER AWAITING NEXT YEAR'S SUNSHINE AND WARM TEMPERATURES AGAIN

Rather than saying it was a bit warmer today, I'll simply say, it wasn't as cold as it has been for the past few days.  Under cloudy skies, Pheebs and I slipped into Bayfield and headed for the cemetery where I knew we could walk somewhat sheltered from the morning's icy wind.  Following that, we slipped over to the carwash and gave the Jeep a good five-minute pressurized hosing down, especially around the wheel wells and underneath where corrosive road salt does the most damage.  After that, we drove along Bayfield's main street, slipped down around the harbor, and headed home.

 THE CEMETERY WITH ITS BIG TREES IS VERY SHELTERED FROM THE WIND

Some readers are still having various on-and-off problems accessing our blog and we don't know if it's a Blogger issue or something to do with Google.  It seems to be a random ongoing thing.  We haven't changed any settings so I'm afraid we can't be of much help.

 NO HARDY COFFEE AFICIONADOS  SITTING OUT FRONT OF BAYFIELD'S SHOPBIKE COFFEE ROASTERS COFFEE SHOP THIS MORNING

 THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET CONTINUES

 UP UNTIL TODAY, THE BAYFIELD RIVER WAS BUSILY FREEZING ITSELF OVER

 I THINK THESE SEAGULLS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE STIFF WATER

 A THIN LAYER OF ICE ON THE RIVER

Later,  while sitting at the sunroom desktop computer this afternoon I noticed a movement in the small pine tree near the bird station.  Sure enough, I watched as a black squirrel launched himself from the pine tree, sailed through the air, knocked the blue plastic bin lid aside, and landed on the feeder.  'A-ha' I thought, 'I got your number buddy!!  Out to the shed I went, picked out four wood screws, grabbed my drill, and headed for the front yard.  Minutes later I had that plastic lid screwed securely to the piece of wood making it a solid barrier.  I was sure that lid could now withstand a speeding locomotive as well as a frantic squirrel.  With that, I went back into the house and waited.  Twenty minutes later I saw the squirrel scurry up the pine tree, hesitate, then fling himself into space heading for the bird feeder.  'Bam'!!  He bounced off the plastic wall and dropped to the ground where he scampered back to the pine tree and tried again.  'Bam'!!  Down he went again but ten minutes later he tried for the third time.  'Bam'!!  Down he went again and scampered off.  It was about this time a small sly smug leering grin began to appear on my face.  But, it didn't last long.  Minutes later, not to be outdone, the rascally squirrel went roaring up the tall cedar tree behind the feeder and did his high wire act by again launching himself into the air and sky-diving down upon the bird station from the top.  And dag nab it if he didn't land himself on a small flat space beside the garbage can.  Leaving my smug leering grin behind, I too was in a roaring mood as I went flying out the door with my arms flailing like a wildly wonky windmill in a hefty force-ten hurricane.  Before the squirrel jumped off the feeder he turned to look at me and I for sure saw a very distinct smug leering little grin on his face. Touche' I bet he thought.  Oh, the gall of that fat little rat-faced critter!! I repositioned the garbage can and added a water-filled plastic bottle to the open space and then went back inside again to await the squirrel's next move!!  At the time of posting this tonight, the squirrel has not mounted another high-flying aerial cedar tree attack on the feeder.  But, there is no sly smug leering grin on my face this time.  The battle resumes at daybreak..............

It was around 1 p.m. when the sun finally made an appearance and it wasn't long after that that I saw the first signs of some 'drip-drip' melting going on.  It was 37F, the snow underfoot was crunchy, and some overhanging snow actually slid off our steel roof.  Oh my, I thought to myself, 'Spring can't be too far away now eh'.  And Facebook sent a memory today saying 15 years ago on this day we were at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We had just been to both Bryce and Zion Canyons the week before that.  Oh, how time flies......

I THINK THE JEEP'S HALF-OPENED WINDOW GOT IN THE WAY OF THIS SHOT AT THE BOTTOM LEFT

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Kathy began a job as an elementary school counselor and she was eager to help.  One day, during recess, Kathy noticed a young girl standing by herself on one side of the playing field while the rest of the kids were playing a game of soccer.  A while later, Kathy walked over to the young girl and offered, "Would you like me to be your friend?"  The girl looked at Kathy suspiciously, then said hesitantly, "Okay, I guess so..."  "Why are you standing here all alone?" asked Kathy.  "Because," the little girl said with great exasperation, "I'm the goalie!"

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I just want you to know that if I win the Powerball tonight, it won't change me.  It will change my phone number, my email address, my mailing address...

  

PHEEBS AND I PLOWED THROUGH A FEW SNOWDRIFTS THIS MORNING

Oh, how nice it was to see a patch of early morning sunlight briefly make its way through the tall pine trees to alight on our living floor.  Even nicer, later on, was to see patches of blue sky through the overhead cloud cover.  With temperatures at 24F made worse by a wind chill factor of 9F, Pheebs and I headed out in search of a few country road photos.

 IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THESE PATCHES OF BLUE SKY ON OUR JEEP RIDE THIS MORNING

SNOW BLOWING ACROSS THE ROAD LIKE THIS IS CALLED 'GROUND DRIFTING'

 A LUCKY QUICK SHOT UP THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD

 WHILE I'M TAKING THIS SHOT OUT MY WINDOW, PHEEBS BELOW IS LOOKING OUT THE OTHER WINDOW

With strong westerly winds whipping across the open waters of Lake Huron, north/south roads were beginning to drift with snowy build-ups.  The snowplows had been out but the roads had begun drifting back in again.  With the snowy white landscape on either side of the road, it is hard to estimate the depth of the drifts.  We did plow into one which did its best to pull us off the road into the ditch but going slow like we usually do, the Jeep was able to muscle its way through.  Somebody else coming along at a higher speed and not paying attention might not be so lucky.

 THIS IS THE PATCH OF SNOW WE PLOWED THROUGH A COUPLE OF SECONDS AFTER I TOOK THIS PHOTO....NOTICE THE OTHER LANE HAS BEEN SNOWPLOWED

 LATER ON AN UNMAINTAINED ROAD WE CAME ACROSS THIS SNOW DRIFT AND STOPPED

 I CHECKED WITH PHEEBS TO SEE IF WE SHOULD TRY GOING AROUND TO THE RIGHT OF IT AND SHE SAID, 'GO FOR IT DAD'

 AND GO FOR IT WE DID....THE DRIFT WAS NO PROBLEM FOR THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE JEEP LIBERTY

 THIS SECTION OF KITCHIGAMI ROAD IS NOT MAINTAINED IN THE WINTER

THIS IS WHERE I TOOK THE SNOWY CREEK PHOTOS

 IF I WAS A CANADA GOOSE I WOULD HAVE FLOWN SOUTH A MONTH AGO

Of course, there was a squirrel on our bird station this morning when I looked out.  I shooed him off and waited for him to return so I could see how he was getting on the feeder but he never came back, just like yesterday.  I did stick a blue plastic bin lid in beside the board I had screwed on just in case he was jumping from the pine tree.  I also had to take down one of two hanging bird feeders this afternoon when one of the squirrels finally figured out how to get to that one.  Our remaining hanging bird feeder is squirrel proof so no problem there.  To save myself a lot of frustration I may have to get another squirrel-proof feeder just like the one I already have.

 I STUCK THAT BLUE PLASTIC BIN LID THERE IN CASE THE SQUIRREL IS JUMPING FROM THE PINE TREE ON THAT SIDE

 IT'S ONLY NOVEMBER AND ALREADY WE'VE GOT A BIG PILE OF SNOW ON BOTH THE HOUSE AND CARPORT ROOFS

Kelly fixed up a big yummy Sunday dinner today with all the fixins.  Chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, stuffing, and gravy.  And, as always, she did a super great job:)) 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A drunken man who smelled like beer sat down on a subway seat next to a priest. The man's tie was stained; his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half-empty bottle of whiskey was sticking out of his torn coat pocket.  He opened his newspaper and began reading. After a few minutes, the man turned to the priest and asked, "Say, Father, what causes arthritis?"  The priest replied, "My Son, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol and a contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes, and lack of bathing."  The drunk muttered his response, "Well, I'll be damned," then returned to his paper.  The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. "I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"  The drunk answered, "I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does."

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After he died, I couldn't even look at another man for almost 20 years.  But now that I'm out of prison, I can honestly say it was worth it.

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I COULD TELL THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS CONTEMPLATION GOING ON

 LAKE HURON WATERS AT BAYFIELD'S BEACH

It's probably been nearly ten years since I last had a job to go to and I am quite alright with that.  I don't miss those early morning starts and the responsibilities jobs carry with them.  There really isn't anything about working that I miss.  I much prefer every day waking up, making my own decisions, and knowing I am in charge of what I do today instead of somebody else being in charge and making decisions for what I do today.  These thoughts came to me this morning as I snugly awoke in my comfy recliner.  Dawn came slowly revealing outside our living room window another dull and overcast November day.  Hardly a leaf could I see on the grey branches of our trees as an icy cold morning wind tossed the tree tops about.  The 26F temperature had a wind chill factor of 13F.  Not a nice morning to be outside but outside we did go.  Even after all these years since I last worked I still cannot start the day by sitting in the house.  There is something inside me that has to get outside, climb into a vehicle and go someplace.  It doesn't have to be far or with a purposeful destination.  I just simply have to get out and go somewhere.  I cannot fathom starting a day by sitting around the house doing nothing.  Those kinds of days may one day come soon enough and force me to do that, but until that day comes, I'm a gettin up and goin somewhere while I still can:))  

All three of us in the Jeep this morning heading into Bayfield.  No, we weren't going to the Christmas Parade.  Kelly had books to pick up at the library.  From there it was off to Foodland followed by a third stop at Farm Little where Kelly picked up a rump roast, a chicken, and some ground beef.  Leaving there, we swung down around Bayfield's beach before heading home.  And the best thing about coming home on cold blustery days like this is opening the door and walking into a nice snugly warm house:))

 DOWNTOWN BAYFIELD IS ALL GEARED UP FOR THE SANTA CLAUSE PARADE

 COFFEE, HOT CHOCOLATE, JUICE, TATER TOTS, AND MORE ARE READY TO FO FOR CHILLY PARADEGOERS

BAYFIELD'S FOODLAND

FARM LITTLE AT BAYFIELD'S EASTERN LIMITS ON MILL ROAD

 LOOKING AROUND FOR PHOTOS WHILE WAITING FOR KELLY I SPOTTED AN OLD GRAY BUILDING THROUGH THE TREES

 HERE COMES KELLY NOW AND IT LOOKS LIKE SHE MIGHT BE SINGING A CHRISTMAS CAROL

As soon as we pulled into the driveway I saw there was a squirrel on the bird station, but I wasn't surprised.  I had a feeling the piece of wood I had screwed onto the feeder Friday might not be quite big enough and a squirrel could maybe jump from the pine tree, cling to the board's top, then climb over onto the feeder.  If that was the case I figured I would have to get out my 'board stretcher' and make the board bigger.  I kept a very close eye on the feeder for the rest of the day and despite nearly half a dozen squirrels tearing around the front yard I did not see a squirrel on the feeder or even make an attempt to get on the feeder.  Although at times, I could tell there was some serious contemplation going on.

 THIS FRUSTRATED SQUIRREL IS SITTING ON THE STUB OF A BRANCH I HAD CUT OFF FRIDAY

 HE SAT THERE FOR A LONG TIME STARING AT THE BIRD STATION HE COULDN'T REACH ANYMORE

 HERE ARE FOUR OF ABOUT HALF A DOZEN SQUIRRELS THAT HANG OUT IN OUR YARD

THOSE LITTLE CHAPS ARE DARK-EYED JUNCOS AND WE HAD ABOUT THIRTY OF THEM OUT THERE AT ONE POINT

 I'M 'GUESSING' THIS PLUMP LITTLE FELLOW AT A PURPLE FINCH

At the time of posting this tonight, it is 27F with a wind chill factor of 12F.  At least it isn't snowing.  Looks like this cold spell will snap by Wednesday with some sunshine and above-freezing temperatures for a week or so after that.  Can we all spell H.E.A.T.-W.A.V.E.:)))))       

GROANER'S CORNER:((   An actor had been out of work for years because he always forgot his lines. One day he got a phone call from a director who wanted him for an important part in a play. All the actor had to say was, “Hark! I hear the cannon roar!"  Opening night arrived, and while he waited in the wings, the actor muttered to himself, “Hark! I hear the cannon roar! Hark! I hear the cannon roar!" The time for the entrance finally came. As the actor made his appearance onstage, he heard a loud BOOOOM! He turned around and said, “What the heck was that?”

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You know you've reached middle age...
When you're cautioned to slow down by your doctor, instead of by the police.

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The Priest was preparing a man for his long day's journey into night. Whispering firmly, the Priest said, "Denounce the devil! Let him know how little you think of him!"  The dying man said nothing.  The priest repeated his order.  Still, the man said nothing.  The priest asked, "Why do you refuse to denounce the devil and his evil?"  The dying man said, "Until I know for sure where I'm heading, I don't think I ought to aggravate anybody."

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