WE HAVE A RESIDENT SPIDER AND HIS NAME IS RALPH

The morning's heavy overcast and coldish damp windy temps didn't start me off in what I would call much of an enthusiastic mood.  But how nice to see about 98% of the snow gone.  That in itself is a plus.  Pheebs and I slipped through Bayfield and out the other side stopping at a long bush lane for a walk.  In the woods, at the end of the lane is a cleared area that reminds me of someone who has made it nice for maybe their grandkids to have campfires, hikes, and play-times in the summer.  We've been to this spot a few times before and it always has a nice feel to it.   

 THE LATE NOVEMBER CAMPSITE PATIENTLY AWAITS NEXT SUMMER'S FUN AND LAUGHTER 

 TWO PICNIC TABLES....ONE FOR BIG FOLKS AND ONE FOR LITTLE FOLKS

THAT'S A LOT OF CAMPFIRE WOOD FOR NEXT YEAR

 PHEEBS CHECKS OUT A COLORFUL CHAIR SHELTER

AN ODD MARKER ON THIS TREE WITH AN ARROW POINTING TO THE LEFT

 AHHHH YES, IT'S A TRAIL MARKER POINTING TO A TRAIL

Home again I could tell there had been no squirrels on the bird station so I moved a few bird feeders around the front yard.  With the last of our driveway snow melting away overnight I finished raking up the remaining leaves.  That will save me a little work in the Spring. 

 AND HERE ARE THREE OF THE LITTLE DARLINS NOW

 I MOVED THE TWO FEEDERS ON THE LEFT TO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SPOT

 TRYING OUT AN OLD FEEDER

We have a resident spider living in our washroom.  He made his first appearance in the shower a few days ago where Kelly found him passively sitting by the drain.  My assistance was of course immediately required so I picked up an envelope with which I was able to coax the little feller onto.  Moving quickly I was able to get him across to where our washer and dryer sit because that's where I figured his home is.  Lots of darkened spaces under and behind those utilities for spiders so that is where I carefully deposited Ralph.  Yes, I had already given him a name.  The following day Ralph made his second appearance when I found him sitting quietly in the bathroom sink.  I was able to coax him onto a kleenex and once again quickly deposited him behind the drier.  For his next appearance, Ralph chose to sit on the roll of toilet paper and that is right where Kelly found him.  My assistance was once more required.  With Ralph on the toilet paper, I tried to move the roll but he panicked and raced up onto my hand which was quite alright but turning to deposit the little fellow to you know where he scrambled off my hand and fell right smack splash into the toilet.  Yes, this all really happened.  Now it was my turn to be the panicked one because Ralph's life was on the line as I saw him struggling in the cold water.  I quickly slipped my hand into the water under him and eased him up and out of there.  He had already gone into a ball and I thought maybe he had suffered a heart attack from the cold water and expired.  As I turned and took a step back towards the dryer I saw movement and his legs sprang out.  I knew he was alright so I once again quickly deposited him between the washer and dryer.  That was two days ago and we have not seen Ralph since.  I think that dunking in the cold toilet water put the shivers into him and he has decided to stay home where it is warm, dark, safe, and dry.  The next time Ralph makes an appearance Kelly says I am to put him in the washroom's dark closet where our hot water heater resides.  And also, the next time Ralph shows himself I will be sure to get a picture of him.  Oh, and of course, you know why I call Ralph a 'he' instead of a 'she'.......Ya, I thought so:))  Checking southern Ontario spiders on Google, Ralph kind of looks like an American Grass Spider or maybe a Wolf Spider.  Either way, he's a cute little fellow and I hope to make his acquaintance again:))

Ellen's Groove:)) In this video, you can see Ellen's progression at the beginning and at the end.  Progression.  In between, Ellen and her dad, Hovak, talk about a good and inexpensive bass guitar for young folks to start out with.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A husband asks: Why do you weep and snuffle over a TV program and the imaginary sadness of people you have never met?
Wife: For the same reason you scream and yell when a man you don’t know makes a touchdown.

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Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Dishes.
Dishes who?
Dishes the police! Come out with your hands up!

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I'm beginning to think my five-year-old grandson is a genius...I can't tell his paintings from that of Picasso!

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A FEW CREEKS ALONG THE WAY

Woke up this morning, went into the washroom, grabbed my clippers, and off came my sideburns.  Now, you might ask, why would I do that??  Well, I guess it was just because I could as George used to say.  I really can't think of any other logical reason.  Well, maybe it was because I got tired of looking like a scruffy mountain man.  I didn't cut off my mustache or beard because if I did that I might have ended up looking like a 9 to 5 accountant or something.  Anyway, the sideburns are once again gone until next time.  And, oh yes I'm sure there will be a next time.  

A FEW FROZEN ICE PUDDLES ON A GRAVEL ROAD

Another beautiful morning with lots of sunshine and above-freezing temperatures.  Bonus.  Pheebs and slipped on down to our country walking spot and got some paws and boots on the thawing and slightly muddy gravel road.  We didn't walk as far as usual again because I am having problems with my right leg.

 THOSE FROZEN ICE PUDDLES WERE ON OUR WALKING ROAD BEHIND PHEEBS AND UP AHEAD OF THE JEEP A BIT

 A MIGHTY FINE LATE NOVEMBER MORNING FOR A WALK

 THERE WAS A SLIGHT BIT OF HAZE IN THE AIR WHICH REMINDED ME OF LATE MARCH

Following our walk, we slipped around a couple of big country blocks snatching a few photos along the way.  We passed over a few creeks so that is why I called tonight's blog, 'A Few Creeks Along The Way'.

 A FEW CREEKS ALONG THE WAY

I have been having trouble on and off with my right leg for over a year now but these past few months it has been more on than off.  Sometimes I can walk fine with no pain and then zap there it is again and it causes me to slow right down and limp.  Pheebs and I have had to shorten up a lot of walks.  The pain shifts around between the groin, my upper leg, and my hip.  I think the only reasonable cure for it is long dry desert walks and Arizona rock scrambles during the winter months.

 A WOODED FARM LANE

With it feeling very Spring-like again today I figured I had better get myself outside and do some very Spring-like stuff.  Fired up the wheelbarrow, grabbed my leaf rake and fork, and proceeded to rake up the driveway leaves where all the snow had melted.  It was a good feeling to be outside and doing something.  I think if these nice days keep up we might be seeing some sleepy eyed crocus flowers poking their heads up and wondering what the heck is going on.

Not a squirrel has been on the bird station since I trimmed the cedar branches yesterday.  I can tell no squirrels have been on it because the birdseed is not vanishing.  The birdseed I put on Wednesday night was still there this morning.  I'm cautiously optimistic but I know better than to let cautious optimism ingrain itself in me when it comes to squirrels and birdfeeders.  A number of helpful readers had suggested I put some kind of cone structure over that top round area and I too had thought about that but to do so would also have denied the birds from using that round area as a feeding and resting platform.  Mourning Doves like to sit up there and rest.  As for feeding the squirrels, I do have five pine posts and one stump that I always leave birdseed on for them.  I only get upset with the squirrely guys when they get onto the bird's bird feeders.  Otherwise, the squirrels, chipmunks, and bunnies are all quite welcome here........But then, it was just short of 3 p.m. this afternoon while tipped back in my sunroom recliner reading that I noticed one of the black squirrels go racing across the yard and right up the big cedar tree.  I watched him frantically racing from branch to branch trying to find his launch pad which of course was no longer there.  In a seemingly frenzied state, he raced down the tree, ran to the base of the bird station, and tried to climb the pole.  He didn't know I had previously sprayed that pole with WD-40.  Needless to say, he didn't get far.  From there it was back up the cedar tree for a repeat performance from a few minutes before.  Back down the cedar tree he again went and ran out to the feeder to fuel up on a few more seeds on the ground.  From there he raced over to the small pine tree.  I knew right away what was going to happen here.  And, it did.  Up he went and immediately launched himself through the air at the feeder.  'Bam' he bounced off the blue bin lid and tumbled to the ground just like a couple days ago.  Without missing a beat he was back up the big cedar tree again racing furiously through the branches trying to find a jumping-off spot but to no avail.  I thought for sure I was going to see a flurry of black fur flying through the air.   Back down the tree he came, scruffled around for a few more seeds, then scampered off across the road and that was the last I saw of him.  No doubt about it....he will be back again tomorrow when both his and my stress levels will once again entwine to make for another interesting day.  By the way, I refer to this squirrel as 'he' all the time because we all know female squirrels would never cause this much trouble.  Am I right guys.....eh:)) 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The symphony orchestra was performing Beethoven's Ninth.  In the piece, there's a long passage, about 20 minutes, during which the bass violinists have nothing to do.  Rather than sit around that whole time looking stupid, some bassists decided to sneak offstage and go to the tavern next door for a quick one.  After slamming several beers in quick succession, one of them looked at his watch and said, "Hey! We need to get back!"  "No need to panic," said a fellow bassist. "I thought we might need some extra time, so I tied the last few pages of the conductor's score together with string. It'll take him a few minutes to get it untangled."  A few moments later they staggered back to the concert hall and took their places in the orchestra.  About this time, a member of the audience noticed the conductor seemed a bit edgy and said as much to her companion.  "Well, of course," said her companion. "Don't you see? It's the bottom of the Ninth, the score is tied, and the bassists are loaded."

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