TRAVEL WITH THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))

Friday, January 20, 2023

TWO THUMBS UP FOR RENEGADES

A few snowflakes in the air when Pheebs and I headed out this morning and after a few minutes there were quite a few snowflakes in the air. The lite snowfall lasted most of the morning but didn't amount to much. With temps hovering around the freezing mark the snowflakes mostly melted on the ground. Needless to say, we didn't go too far again this morning and it wasn't long after snapping a few pics along the way that we were headed home.

KIND OF A GRAY DAY

PARK RESIDENTS ALPHIE AND MIKE OUT FOR A LATE MORNING'S SNOWY WALK

THAT IS NOT TODAY'S SNOW....IT IS SNOW STILL LEFT OVER FROM OUR CHRISTMAS STORM

Our afternoon walk around the Park's pond was cut short by an icy northeast wind and aside from topping up the bird feeders, I spent most of the day inside reading.

As rare as it is for Kelly and I to go out for supper anymore, tonight was the night that out we did go. Renegades Diner, located in Bayfield's south end has a Friday special of Fish&Chips so we fired up Subie and headed into town. Had we known the fish sizes were so big we would have ordered the one-piece instead of two-piece dinners. But, big they were with lots of batter on the fish just the way I like it. Amazingly enough, I ate both pieces and I liked the fries too. Two thumbs up for Renegades Fish&Chips.

NOW THOSE ARE BIG PIECES OF FISH
GROANER'S CORNER:(( Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company, responsible for the accident, to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning FarmerJoe. "Didn't you say, 'I'm fine', at the scene of the accident?" asked the lawyer. Farmer Joe responded, "Well, I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the..." "I didn't ask for a long, drawn-out story," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'!" Farmer Joe said, "Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..." The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the highway patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now, several weeks after the accident, he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question." By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie." Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side." He continued, "I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident, a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her, he took out his gun and shot her. Then, he came across the road with his gun in his hand, looked at me, and said, 'Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?'

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Both my wife and I are bad cooks. Our cooking is so bad, that our kids have started praying after we've had dinner.

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Thursday, January 19, 2023

HOME WITHIN HALF AN HOUR

In the morning's pre-dawn darkness. I heard a vehicle slowly drive by outside. It had a number of amber lights on it so I knew it was a small road maintenance truck either salting or sanding the road. We had a freezing rain advisory overnight so precautions were being taken. The freezing rain never did happen. Later, with strong east winds roaring through the tops of our tall pine trees, Pheebs and I saddled up Libby, and off we went for a wee drizzly grey day spin into and around Bayfield. We were home within half an hour.

I finished my book....Not Tonight, Josephine: A Roadtrip Through Small-Town America. I enjoyed this book which brought me numerous chuckles when I was able to relate closely with the writer's thoughts, travels, and happenings. I always enjoy it when I read of where people have been that I have been also. And this book had a number of those same places in America's Southwest. For example, Roswell New Mexico, Tuba City, Monument Valley, and The Grand Canyon in Arizona. Mexican Hat, Zion Canyon along with Moab and the Arches in Utah. Las Vegas Nevada and Death Valley. Yellowstone and Jackson Hole in Wyoming as well as Laramie and Cheyenne. Custer's Battlefield in Montana along with Spearfish, Custer, and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Denver, Silverthorne, and Grand Junction in Colorado plus Chicago Illinois, and Detroit Michigan. The author and two separate traveling companions at two different times stopped, drove by, or missed many other places in between these few I have listed. Driving an old beat-up mini-van they named Josephine these young ragamuffin folks were barely above the level of tent camping but always seemed to have enough money to buy beer and pizza. (sounds familiar) As I said, the book brought memories of my own travels with lots of chuckles, a few wow moments, and accompanying regrets along the way. Keeping with the same theme, the next book in my queue is....Walden On Wheels: On The Open Road From Debt To Freedom by author Ken IIgunas. I started this book today.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Ten Things You Never Here In Church::

1. Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew!

2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.

3. Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.

4. I've decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.

5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.

6. Forget the denominational minimum salary. Let's pay our pastor so he can live like we do.

7. I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before!

8. Since we're all here, let's start the service early.

9. Pastor, we'd like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.

10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!

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Wednesday, January 18, 2023

SOME DAYS JUST DON'T SEEM TO MEASURE UP

'IS THE SUNSHINE COMING BACK SOON DAD?'

Kind of a grey blah-blah sort of day. No snow yet and our daytime highs are still above freezing. A Jeep ride to Goderich and back for Pheebs and I and that is about as exciting as it got. Some days just don't seem to measure up much to other days.

LAKE HURON'S COLD ICY WATERS

IN THIS PHOTO IS THE PROFILE OF LAKE SCULPTED DOGGY FACE LOOKING OUT OVER THE WATER

AND THERE IT IS ON THE LEFT

HMMMM, I THINK IT MIGHT BE A DORMANT ICE VOLCANO ALONG THE SHORELINE

IT WAS A COLD WIND BLOWING IN OFF THE LAKE

THE ALGOMA GUARDIAN STILL SITS EMPTY AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GODERICH'S HARBOR
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A lady went to the bar on a cruise ship, and ordered a Scotch, with two drops of water. The bartender gave her the drink, and she said, "I'm on this cruise to celebrate my 80th birthday, and it's today." The bartender said, "Well, since it's your birthday, this one's on me." As the lady finished her drink, a woman, to her right, said, "I'd like to buy you a drink, too." The lady said, "Thank you, how sweet of you. OK, then, Bartender, I want another Scotch, with two drops of water." "Coming up," said the bartender. As she finished that drink, a man, to her left, said, "I'd like to buy you a drink too." The lady said, "Thank you very much, my dear. Bartender, I'll have another Scotch, with two drops of water." "Coming right up," the bartender said. As he gave her the drink, this time, he said, "Ma'am, I'm dying of curiosity. Why the Scotch with only two drops of water?" The old woman giggled, and replied, "Sonny, when you're my age, you've learned how to hold your liquor. Water, however, is a whole other issue."

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Q: Why do men prefer intelligent women?
A: Opposites attract.

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Tuesday, January 17, 2023

WELL HERE WE ARE

MISTY MORNING

We had a slight mist in the air this morning with temps reaching 44F today. Walking was doable so Pheebs and I headed into Bayfield for a brisk walk around the cemetery roads.

AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE CEMETERY A PATH LEADS TO THE THE BAYFIELD INTERNATIONAL CROQUET CLUB

NOW THAT IS A NICE PATCH OF GREEN FOR THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY

No walk this afternoon due to rain and it looks like our weather is poised to deteriorate further over the next few days with rain turning to snow. I think in a couple days the landscape will be white again.

TWO FISHERMEN ON BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF POLE-WALKERS OUT FOR SOME EXERCISE

REFLECTIONS AGAIN BUT THIS TIME ON THE CALMER WATERS OF THE BAYFIELD RIVER

Well here we are over halfway through January. In one month we'll be past the middle of February already with only eleven days to go until the beginning of March. And, by the end of March we'll be seeing early crocus flowers:))

QUITE A HERD OF CANADA GEESE ON THE RIVER THIS MORNING

OUT FOR A MORNING WALK ON THE WATER

WALKING ON THE HARD WATER LEADS TO PADDLING IN THE SOFT WATER

I THINK THESE GUYS THOUGHT IT WAS SUNDAY AND DECIDED TO SLEEP IN

SIPHONING UP A REFRESHING RIVER WATER DRINK

EVEN GEESE CAN HAVE UPSIDE-DOWN DAYS:((

A better day for Kelly, but like she says, 'if only I could have a few better days all in a row. With the number of prescribed medications she has to take for her liver condition, it is difficult for her body to adjust and find a normal good feeling path through it all.

IT IS ALWAYS QUIETLY PEACEFUL IN THE CEMETERY

GROANER'S CORNER:(( While preaching about forgiving one's enemies, the preacher asked for a show of hands from those who were willing to forgive their enemies. About half of the congregation raised their hands. The minister continued his sermon and again asked for a show of hands. This time, 80 percent of his congregation raised their hands. Not giving up, the minister continued for fifteen more minutes. When he again asked for a show of hands, all members—except one—raised their hands. "Mr. Jones,” asked the minister, “are you not willing to forgive your enemies?” "I don't have any." "Mr. Jones, that is very unusual. I know you are 96 years old. Would you please come down to the front and explain to all of us how you have lived so long without making a single enemy in the world?”Mr. Jones teetered to the front and briefly explained, “It's easy. I've outlived every damn one of them.”

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"If you'll make the toast and pour the juice, sweetheart," said Tracy, the newlywed bride, "breakfast will be ready." "Good, what are we having for breakfast?" asked Dewey, the new husband. "Toast and juice," Tracy replied.

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Monday, January 16, 2023

KELLY SPENT A BIG PART OF THE DAY IN HER RECLINER

COUNTRY GRAVEL ROADS ARE FROZEN SO NO MUDDY DRIVING
It was day three and the last of our temporary blue skies and sunshine. A weather front moving in later today will return us to grey skies, rain, and snow. But, at least in these three days we were well assured that yes Toto....there is sunshine on the other side of those gloomy depressing clouds if we just wait long enough each time to see and feel its healing warmth. Not a good day for Kelly, she spent most of the day in her recliner dealing with nausea and recurring headaches. Pheebs and I did get out for a walk on our country road this morning and another Park walk this afternoon. I didn't come up with much in the way of photos today. Short on words again too........