OH DEAR, AND IT'S ONLY THE SECOND DAY OF JANUARY:((

Thanks to long-time blog reader and commenter Mr. Ed for reminding me in the Shout Box about the tech help that is offered at our very own Bayfield Library.  He even sent the Library's website link.  I am a member, but I haven't been back to the library since receiving my membership nearly a year ago.  I, of course, had forgotten about that, despite a helpful lady there a year ago now, trying her best to help me understand how Kelly's iPhone worked.  I hardly knew how to turn it on and off, and I haven't made much progress since then.  I did make an appointment for next Thursday afternoon to see if I can get some kind of help with all this miss-mosh of passwords, passcodes, verification codes, slow modes, firetoads, dusty roads, heavy loads, and blah blah blah modes!!

 THREE iPHONE PICS OF A COLD AND WINDY BAYFIELD BEACH

With a grocery list in hand, Woodsy and I did set out for Goderich earlier this afternoon,  We made it about half way before turning around and heading back home.  Despite a few patches of blue sky overhead, the strong westerly winds coming in off Lake Huron were picking up the loose snow and whipping it up into white-outs across the road.  The further north we traveled, the worse it became.  A car ahead of us made the right decision to turn around, and we did the same.  We were home ten minutes later and it continued to snow on and off for the rest of the day.  Oh Dear, and it's only the second day of January:((  

 AS VISIBILITY CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER TAKING THIS PHOTO THAT WE TURNED AROUND

Al's Music Box Video Games by Lana Del Rey.

 ALTHOUGH LOOKING LIKE SOME KIND OF A LARGE MONSTER BEHIND THIS JUNCO, IT IS IN FACT A PUFFED UP MOURNING DOVE

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A cowboy, who just moved to Wyoming from Texas, walks into a bar and orders three mugs of Bud. He sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more.  The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, "You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it.  It would taste better if you bought one at a time."  The cowboy replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Arizona, the other is in Colorado. When we all left our home in Texas, we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself."  The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.  The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn.  One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss."  The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns in his eyes and he laughs.  "Oh, no, everybody's just fine," he explains, "It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking."  "Hasn't affected my brothers though."

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Gladys was the preacher's wife and accompanied her husband each Sunday to church. One particular Sunday when the sermon seemed to go on forever, many in the congregation fell asleep.  After the service, to be sociable, she walked up to a very sleepy-looking gentleman. In an attempt to revive him from his stupor, she extended her hand in greeting and said, "Hello, I'm Gladys Dunn."  To which the gentleman replied, "You're not the only one!"

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A man and woman were having marriage problems, and decided to end their union after a very short time together. After a most brief attempt to reconcile, the couple went to court to finalize their break-up. The judge asked the husband, “What has brought you to this point, where you are not able to keep this marriage together?” The husband said, “In the six weeks we've been together, we haven't been able to agree on one thing.” The wife said, “Seven weeks.”

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery

WELL HEY, I HAVE TO KEEP THOSE BUNNIES FED TOO, RIGHT??

 WE HAVE ORCHIS GROWING IN THE SUNROOM

Day one of 2026:: At least it ain't snowing, so I figure that's a good start to another New Year.  For me, it is always a great feeling to have Christmas and New Year's behind me.  The beginning of each new year is like turning a page in my book.  A page that I have been stuck on for a whole year.  Physically, there is no change when, in a wink, one slips effortlessly from one year to the next.  But mentally, it's a leap, a renewal, a boost, maybe even a positive kick in the pants for some.  For me, amongst other things, it's a serious countdown to Spring.  I look forward to the milestones along the way such as the late January thaw, February's Ground Hog Day on the 2nd, Valentine's Day on the 14th, and the fact that it is the shortest month of the year.  March brings St. Patrick's Day on the 17th, the First Day of Spring on the 21st, and hopefully some Crocus flowers around the end of the month.  All seemingly minor things, but for me, they are psychologically oriented days to look forward to in the great countdown to Spring.  They are markers for the march towards warmer weather.  But, for right now, I had better get my feet back on the ground, slip on my boots, hat, and winter coat, get myself out the door, and shovel yesterday's three-inch snowfall....  Ended up doing the whole driveway and all my paths.

BLUE JAY

MALE CARDINAL AND A JUNCO

DOWNIE WOODPECKER

 JUNCOS

Okay, so what about any hard and fast New Year's resolutions??  Well, I don't really gots any.  I learned a long time ago that for me, setting unrealistic goals only led to realistic discouragement and various levels of depression when those lofty goals were hardly ever attained.   However, it does go without saying that I will try to be more patient, more understanding, less grumpy, and more considerate.  Nothing unrealistic there eh.  Ya right, and good luck with that one Al.

MALE AND FEMALE CARDINAL

 GOLDFINCH AND A JUNCO

FEMALE DOWNIE WOODPECKER

The Subaru never moved today, and aside from some snow shoveling and a wee clean-up in the storage area of the carport, the day didn't really amount to much.  Most facilities will re-open tomorrow, so that will at least make for some options.  Say, I wonder if Rosie's Ice Cream Shoppe or the Woodland Drive-in will be open??  Oh, tis such a wishful thinker and dreamer I are at times.

Winter birds have been busy at our three front-yard bird feeders.  Woodpeckers, Juncos, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Finches, some Sparrow-like birds, and an occasional Tufted Titmouse.  At least that is what I think it is, but it is the Juncos who dominate the scene.  And of course, we have our Winter ground crew busy at work every day, cleaning up the fallen birdseed.  Half a dozen fat Black Squirrels, one Red Squirrel, one Gray Squirrel, a couple of Bunnies, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.  Okay, maybe not the last one.  I love sitting in our sunroom watching all the goings on with all these critters whether they be feathers or fur.  Woodsy was going to make carrot muffins today until she went to the fridge and found only half a carrot left out of a full bag.  Well hey, I have to keep those Bunnies fed too, right??

 MALE DOWNIE WOODPECKER

Al's Music Box:: Do You Believe In Magic by the Lovin Spoonful.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A newly ordained priest, nervous about hearing confessions, finally asks an older priest to observe how he does and give him some tips. After listening in on the second confession, the older priest suggested that the younger man fold his arms, maybe rub his chin with one hand while saying phrases like "I see" or "I understand" or "Yes, my child. Go on".  The young priest puts the suggestions into practice and later tells the older priest how much it has helped him get more information from his flock.  "You've done well," said the older man. "Isn't that much better than slapping your knee and yelling 'No way! So what happened next?'"

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A grandmother took her little grandson to the beach. They were having a good time until a huge wave came in and swept the boy out to sea. She fell down on her knees and pleaded to the heavens, "Please return my grandson, that's all I ask! PLEASE!!!" A moment later, lo and behold, a wave swelled from the ocean and deposited the wet, yet unhurt child, at her feet. She checked him over to make sure that he was okay. He was fine. But still she looked up to the heavens angrily and said, "When we came, he had a hat!!!!"

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Mindy: "I finally fixed that annoying noise in my car."Missy: "Really? How did you do it?'  Mindy: "I opened the door and pushed him out."

Boss: "Working hard here, Jimmy?"
Jimmy: "Ever since I heard you coming down the stairs, boss!"

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During a recent password audit, our I.T. discovered the little Moron was using the following password: MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento.  When they asked why such a long password, he said he was told that it had to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital.

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery