BATTING DOWN THE HATCHES FOR THE COMING WINTER STORM

PHEEBS IN MOM'S CHAIR TODAY

Well, the big news in our area of course is the approaching winter storm.  Severe weather alerts and warnings are popping up on all the weather stations and channels.  We made sure our water jugs are full and we gathered our two propane heaters together.  One is a Buddy Heater and the other one is our Legacy Blue Flame heater that we used a lot in our earlier RVing days in the Southwest.  Pheebs and I also took Scooter into town to add some extra gas just in case we might have to move into our RV in the event of a power failure.  The RV's propane tank is full and I started the generator, propane stove, and furnace in the rig to make sure they all worked.  They did.  Instead of water in the toilet, we can use windshield washer fluid if and when necessary.  Our natural gas stove in the sunroom works without power except for the fan.

 HEADING OUT TO TAKE ON SOME EXTRA GAS IN CASE WE NEED IT DURING THE COMING STORM

       SLIPPING INTO BAYFIELD FOR SOME GAS

 'HEY DAD, ARE YA SURE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ARIZONA THIS TIME'

 WE GOT THE BUDDY HEATER WORKING BUT NOT THE BIGGER LEGACY BLUE FLAME HEATER

I finished the eighth and final book by Lucy Maud Montgomery in the Anne of Green Gables series a week and a half ago.  It was a 72-hour read that I stretched out over 3 weeks and every minute of that 72 hours was well worth it in my opinion.  I really liked Lucy Maud Montgomery's writing style and the fact the fictional story took place in the time period it did. (early 1900's)  As I read all eight books I found there was a much deeper emotional story throughout the books than I had ever imagined.  The unexpected plot twists, the many colorful characters, the wonderful scenes and descriptions the author seamlessly wove with her beautiful words and phrasings, the suspense, hopes, fears, and yes the tears.  I had been aware of the Anne of Green Gables book since boyhood but had never taken an interest in it.  Besides, I thought of it as a girl's book, written by a girl about a girl.  Like how boring could that be for a guy to read eh.  And even when Kelly and I were in Prince Edward Island a few years ago and had traveled to the very area where the book takes place, I still had no interest in the story.  So what changed?  Why the interest now at 78 years old??  Good question and a hard one for even me to answer.  I can only once again refer you back to a post I wrote on November 1rst of 2022.  My Cousin Larry and Toad Hall    

 LUCY MAUDE MONTGOMERY'S REAL HOME AND THE FICTIONAL HOME OF ANNE SHIRLEY IN THE BOOK 'ANNE OF GREEN GABLES'

 I TOOK THESE PHOTOS IN  LATE SEPTEMBER 2018

 THE BEACHES AT CAVENDISH P.E.I. WITH THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN THE NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIGHT WASHING ASHORE

Ellen's World:)) In this video, Ellen receives a brand new custom-made just for her Mayones (May-own-ess) bass guitar.  Ellen and her dad un-box and talk about the guitar and then Ellen plays it.  This video again shows the amazing progress 10-year-old Ellen is making.  Great fingerwork on the guitar's fretboard.  Ellen Plays Her New Mayones Bass Guitar.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( You know what would have happened if there had been three wise WOMEN instead of three wise MEN, don’t you?  The three wise WOMEN would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the Baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and given practical gifts.

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Nobody can call me a complete idiot because some of the parts are still missing!

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AND WITH A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF WE HEADED HOME THROUGH THE QUIET COUNTRYSIDE

 AFTER SO MANY GRAY DAYS HOW GREAT IT WAS TO SEE B LUE SKYS TODAY

How nice to have a sunny day for Kelly's first day home from the hospital.  However, it turned out to be a busy one. Pheebs and I headed out first thing for our Jeep ride which took us into Bayfield and to Bayfield's cemetery for a brisk walk around a field and an amble into a nearby forest.  With only about an inch of snow on the ground, it was easy walking.

 CANADA GEESE AND A SEAGULL ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER

 OUR WALK IN THE CEMETERY THIS MORNING

 THE FOREST FLOOR ON A WINTER'S MORN

 HEADING BACK TO THE JEEP

Home again, we switched the Jeep for the Subaru, loaded Miss Kelly up, and off we went.  Our first stop was Bayfield's post office where Kelly had a parcel to mail.  From there it was over to the carwash to get all the road salt off the Subaru and from there we headed straightaway north up highway 21 to Goderich and stopped at Walmart.  Kelly slipped inside to the Pharmacy to get a couple new prescriptions filled.  Of course with the busy Christmas season upon us,  Walmart was a zoo again and the prescription was going to take an hour to get it together.  With other stops scheduled we slipped next door to Zehr's Supermarket to pick up a few groceries and a frozen turkey.  So far, despite the crush of humanity, the day was going reasonably well, but then we went to Harveys/Swiss Chalet for a nice hopped for sit-down Swiss Chalet chicken dinner.  For starters, they were out of chicken and it would be a forty-five-minute wait, plus they were short staffed and people were lined up.  Just wanting to get out of there we settled for a Harvies burg for me and a grilled chicken wrap for Kelly.  We ate our mediocre stuff in the car:((  We have noticed how local fast-food eateries have been going downhill in our area.  All of them have signs out 'Help Wanted' and one has only their drive-thru open.  The service is poor and the food quality is suffering.   

WHAT!!! NO SWISS CHALET CHICKEN!!!!

THE PARKING LOT SNOWPLOW'S VERSION OF MOUNT WALMART 

Back to Walmart we went to pick up Kelly's new prescriptions and they weren't ready yet.  In the meantime, the stores were a zoo which meant the large con-joined parking lots were akin to a demolition derby with cars and shoppers crisscrossing everywhere.  Parking spots were rare so Pheebs and I would drop Kelly off at the store doors and then head out to do battle with the frenzied drivers and Christmas shoppers milling about in the parking lots.  Kelly insisted on going into the stores because after laying in a hospital bed for nearly four days she wanted to get some strength back into her legs.  Kelly phoned me from inside Walmart saying the prescriptions still weren't ready so I said come on out and we'll go get ourselves a much-needed Tim Hortons coffee.  Pheebs by this time was needing a pit stop, so with coffees in hand we went to the farthest corner of the Canadian Tire Store parking lot far from the maddening crowds and had ourselves a short break from the madness.  Fortified by our coffees and bolstered by half a dozen Tim Bits we soon headed back into the fray.  I dropped Kelly off at Walmart's door and once again commenced driving around dodging Mad Max drivers and frenzied shoppers.  But the end of the madness was in sight.  I stopped near Walmart's entrance and spotted Kelly in my rear-view mirror with prescriptions in hand heading for the car.  Minutes later we cleared the congested area, breathed a big huge sigh of relief, and happily headed for home through the quiet countryside.  

  PHEEBS WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS MORNING

 PHEEBS WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF ZEHRS SUPERMARKET

 PHEEBS WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF WALMART

Aside from feeling a bit weak and tired today, Kelly is doing well and was able to get a decent Tuesday night's sleep.  The next bunch of days will be days of rest for her.  We won't be going anywhere!!  Well, not anywhere where there are masses of people that's for sure!!!!

  MORNING WALK

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Signs of the times::

In the front yard of a funeral home, 'Drive carefully, we'll wait.'

On an electrician's truck, 'Let us remove your shorts.'

Outside a radiator repair shop, 'Best place in town to take a leak.'

On a maternity room door, 'Push, Push, Push.'

On a taxidermist's window, 'We really know our stuff.'

On a butcher's window, 'Let me meat your needs.'

On a fence, 'Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.'

On a muffler shop, 'No appointment necessary. We'll hear you coming.'

In a dry cleaner's emporium, 'Drop your pants here.'

On a desk in a reception room, 'We shoot every 3rd salesman, and the 2nd one just left.'

In a veterinarian's waiting room, 'Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!'

In a Beauty Shop, 'Dye now!'

In a restaurant window, 'Don't stand there and be hungry, come in and get fed up.'

In a cafeteria, 'Shoes are required to eat in the cafeteria. Socks can eat any place they want.'
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When is a knot not a knot? 

A: When it’s not.

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'YAAAAAAAY' TEAM' KELLY'S HOME:)))))

 MORNING SUNRISE COMING HOME FROM CLINTON

An early start this morning and I was out the door before the Sun was up on my way to Clinton Ontario for a bone density test.  It was the first time I had the Subaru out on a few icy snow-covered secondary roads and I was impressed with Subie's handling.  The AWD (All Wheel Drive) was just as steady, secure, and stable as our Jeep Liberty's Four Wheel Drive.  Yay Subaru:))  

 NICE TO HAVE EARLY MORNING BARE AND DRY HIGHWAYS

My bone density test went off without a hitch.  I was glad the density machine didn't do my head because my Nurse Practitioner might have received a report next week saying something like, "hey, this guy is really dense".  The bone density machine was funded by the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.  And, it was announced yesterday that Goderich's Alexandra Marine Hospital has received provincial approval and a one million dollar grant for an MRI diagnostic machine.  It will be the 49th MRI in the province of Ontario.  The MRI machine was also made possible by the Alexandra Marine General Hospital Foundation.

 I'M THE ONLY ONE IN CLINTON'S HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM

 THIS IS HOW I LIKE TO SEE HOSPITAL HALLS....'EMPTY'

 NICE TO SEE THE BONE DENSITY AND X-RAY PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR

 THE WORDS SAY 'YOU POSE WE EXPOSE':))

 SORRY ABOUT THE OUT-OF-FOCUS 'BONE DENSITY MACHINE PHOTO...I MUST HAVE HAD ONE OF MY SHAKY SENIOR MOMENTS

Here is Kelly's first email this morning...."Hopefully, they will be around soon for rounds.  My hemoglobin went up 2 points and I feel ok, so I'm counting on coming home today". Being optimistic about Kelly coming home I again left the Subaru parked in the driveway ready for a quick departure to London's University Hospital.

 MORNING'S SUN CLIMBING INTO THE CLOUDS

It was sure nice to finally see some genuine sunshine this morning.  It energized me enough to head outside, grab the snow shovel, and move a little bit of snow around.  I was outside less than ten minutes when my cell phone rang.  It was Kelly saying, "come get me I'm coming home".  'Yaaaay Team' I thought as Pheebs and I and Subie rumbled out our driveway heading for London:))  

GREAT HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS TODAY EXCEPT FOR THE SECONDARY ROADS WHICH HAD ICY PATCHES 

The front entrance at University Hospital was an absolute zoo.  I could see Kelly standing outside behind her wheelchair but I couldn't get to her at first because of the traffic congestion.  Eventually, I got close enough to stop and quickly jump out of the car, race around, get the door open, load all Kelly's stuff inside including Kelly, and move the wheelchair back to the sidewalk. I wonder what the line-up of cars behind us thought when we actually took half a dozen seconds for a big hug in the middle of the manic traffic melee. I figure they must have designed that front hospital entrance access route back in 1929 before they even built the hospital.  Back at a time when there weren't many cars on the road.

 LONDON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DEAD AHEAD

 THIS TELEPHOTO SHOT WAS THE ONLY ONE I GOT OF KELLY AT THE HOSPITAL ENTRANCE

Minutes later we were at Wendys' for coffee to go plus a burg and fries for me and a Taco Salad for Kelly.  And a bit of everything for Pheebs although she wasn't too fussy about the Taco Salad.  With bare and dry highways and no snow in the air, we pulled into our Bayfield Pines driveway about an hour later.  Kelly was sure glad to be home and Pheebs and I were sure glad to have her home.  She spent most of the rest of the afternoon resting in her living room recliner.

 HERE COMES THE GRUB

 NOW HOW'S THAT FOR A HAPPY LITTLE FACE PEERING INTO A BAG THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN HOSPITAL FOOD

An old Tavistock friend of mine dropped by this afternoon to say hello.  Gary Burton and I go back all the way to the early sixties when we both lived on the same street.  Always good to get caught up with a few of the old hometown boys.  Well, for those of us that are left.

 AND BY GOLLY KELLY EVEN SAVED ME HER THREE-DAY-OLD BUTTER TART....AND THAT'S ANOTHER 'YAAAAAY TEAM'

How nice to have Kelly home and the Bayfield Bunch back together in our usual form of what we consider normalcy.  Last Friday morning after Kelly's second emergency hospitalization Thursday night, Pheebs and I were out for our morning Jeep ride, and my mind was once again dealing with questions, answers, and feelings that most people's minds do not like to deal with until the time comes and they do have to deal with them.  Sobering thoughts...........  

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man went to apply for a job. After filling out all of his applications, he waited anxiously for the outcome.  The employer read all his applications and said, "We have an opening for people like you."  "Oh, great," he said, "What is it?"  "It's called the door!"

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“Did you hear about the lost sausage? It was the missing link.”

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Teacher: "Why are you late this morning?"

Student: "It's my alarm clock. Everyone got up except me!"

Teacher: How did the alarm clock make you the only one not to get up?"  

Student: "There are eight of us in my family and the alarm clock was only set for seven."

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