A FIGHT BREAKS OUT IN OUR DRIVEWAY

A MALE BALTIMORE ORIOLE TAKES FLIGHT IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS MORNING 

I could see a partial crescent moon low on the horizon peeking through the Pine trees late Friday night & that gave me hope for a sunny Saturday morning.   And a sunny morning it was for a couple hours.  Just long enough for Cora (Motormouse) & I to get out for a walk around our morning trail.

Been walking that same trail for eight & half years now so there are lots of pleasant doggy memories along the way.  Trillium flowers carpet the forest floor & the trees are alive with a chorus of song birds.   It is the first time I have been out for a morning walk in a couple weeks & it was so nice to have the little Mouse trotting along beside me.

   
MORNING WALK IN THE TRILLIUM FOREST

Needed a few groceries & had planned on taking the bike to Goderich.  Before I could get started a bank of clouds rolled in blocking the sun & that dropped the temperature.  Lathering on layers of clothing to stay warm on a motorcycle just doesn’t cut it for me anymore so the Kid & I jumped in the toasty warm Jeep & headed for town.   First stop was McDonalds for a coffee & a snack for us guys.
Gas gauge in the Jeep wasn’t even down to a quarter & it still cost me $62 to fill it up.  Hate to think what it would take to fill up the Motor Home these days.  It sure hangs a gray cloud over many of us here in the RV world for current & future travels.

Made it through the first 24 hours without so much as one squirrel on the new feeding station.   However, I’m sure I saw two black Squirrels carrying my step ladder out of the carport a few minutes ago.

NOW, THESE KINDS OF SQUIRRELS I DON'T MIND:))

The Bayfield Bunch extends a warm welcome to our newest blog Follower, TEXAS YELLOW ROSE.  Thanks for dropping by:))

After going to bed Friday night Cora came in to my room, jumped up on my bed & snuggled up on my pillow with her little face ever so softly touching mine.  And that is how we both fell asleep.  She is a very precious little girl.

KELLY SENT THESE PICS FROM OUR OTHER LAPTOP TODAY
Following is a series of photos I took this morning in our driveway.  Two male Baltimore Orioles were having themselves quite a scrap.  Because of the poor lighting & fast action of the birds the photos are a bit blurred & I didn’t have time to make any adjustments to the camera settings.  This 17 picture sequence lasted about 30 seconds & I am happy to say both Orioles kissed & made up before flying off up into the tall Pine trees.  I suspect they were fighting over a lady friend because after all, it is Spring you know:))  Click on 'VIEW ALBUM' & then look for & click on 'SLIDE SHOW.'  Scroll your mouse to the bottom to bring up the slide show control bar & click on the > to start the slide show rolling.  Wished Live Writer would come up with a better way of doing this.  (I'm using the older version on XP right now.)

View Full Album

 
Our sunshine returned early this afternoon & the skies are totally clear now.  So clear in fact that the 6 o’clock weather report has just issued a frost warning over night.  This Spring weather with it’s cold air & warm sunshine sure reminds me of the high desert winters in southeastern Arizona.  On the sunny side of the rig most days we could tan in the warming rays of the sun but on the shady side of the rig we had to bundle up against wintery cold air.
       
I have all the bins on the passenger side of the Motor home emptied, vacuumed & washed so will maybe start on the driver’s side tomorrow if the weather holds up.  If we have some warmer air present I’ll likely take the bike for a ride too.  For some reason I like touring around with the Motorcycle on quiet Sunday mornings.  And speaking of Motorcycles, here’s something odd I have noticed over the last 4 or 5 years.  Seems every time we come home in the Spring & I go to put my Motorcycle jacket on……it has shrunk again.  Now, how can a leather jacket shrink every winter?  How does that happen anyway!!  

TRILLIUM
GROANER’S CORNER:))   How well I remember the time I fell over in the sand and rocked myself to sleep trying to get up.  And then to add insult to injury I was eventually awakened by a lifeguard who asked me to move back because the tide was waiting to come in.  Sometimes I have to stay off sidewalks because I leave footprints in the concrete & one time last summer when I went swimming at Bayfield’s Beach the water level in Grand Bend rose two feet & swamped 9 boats!!!!
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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL

MOTORMOUSE & I BROUGHT MAX'S ASHES HOME TODAY

A ROBIN BUILT THIS NEST IN OUR CARPORT ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO & EVERY SPRING IT IS OCCUPIED.  I WONDER IF IT IS THE SAME MOTHER ROBIN EACH YEAR 

I have noticed more this Spring more than any other how the weather forecasters have consistently been getting things all wrong in their forecasts.  I was so looking forward to a second day of sunshine but awoke to cloudy sky’s & rain……AGAIN!!!!  Very disappointing so I was in no hurry to get myself outside.
 

 

BAYFIELD'S SAILBOATS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE SUMMER WATERS 

The Zurich Vet Clinic phoned to say Max’s ashes were there so little Motormouse & I made the dreary rain soaked drive over to Zurich & brought Max home.  Very sad but I was comforted to place him next to Checkers.  In my mind, the two big guys are side by side again.
 

Only saw one farmer out trying to get some plowing done & another spreading liquid fertilizer over the past couple days.  Normally the farmers would be on the land by now planting crops.  Because of the wet Spring the farm folks are about 3 weeks behind & of course that will result in lower yields this year.
  
If your interested in some good old & newer wild west history in & around Virginia City Nevada be sure to check out JOE & NANCY'S blog for lots of info & pics.  JERRY & SUZY are still scrambling around LONE PINE California & you can see they have some fine photos of the area.  SUE & MO are busy having a great time exploring along the Oregon coast.  And check out Sue’s description of a little KAYAK DUNK in  Oregon’s Winchuck River:))

LAST MAY I REDID OUR FIRE PIT AREA 
It was so nice to see the sun break through the clouds this afternoon.  So nice in fact that it inspired me to try setting up another bird feeder station.  This time instead of hanging the feeder from a branch I dug a hole in our yard & stuck a big pole in it.  With some scrap pieces of wood I put together what I hope will be something to deter the Squirrels.  I know it doesn’t look so great but let’s just say it is a prototype.  If it remains Squirrel free over the next few days I will paint the wood, line & level things up & screw it all together. 

WELL, I KNOW IT AIN'T REAL PURDY BUT AS LONG AS IT WORKS IN KEEPING THE SQUIRRELS AT BAY 
And what’s for supper tonight??  Why, porridge of course:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  How to Make Puppy Pie

Take one puppy, roll and play until lightly pampered, then add the following ingredients.....

1 cup patience....

1 cup understanding....

1 pinch correction....

1 cup hard work....

2 cups praise and 1 1/2 cups fun...

Blend well.

Heat with warmth of your heart until raised or until

puppy has doubled in size.

Mix with owner until consistency is such that owner

and puppy are one.

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.

FINALLY.....A FEELING GOOD DAY:))

A LITTLE PATCH OF RED IN THE SWAMP THIS MORNING...RED WINGED BLACKBIRD

Can't tell you enough what a great feeling it was to see that early morning sun punching it's way through the Pine trees.  Opened the patio door beside my chair a few inches & listened to the chorus of awakening birds.  It was a nice way to start the day.

EVEN SOME LOCAL FARMS HAVE THEIR OWN CANOES:)) 

Decided it was a good morning to take the Motor Home for a run.  It has been sitting motionless for 6 weeks now so once a month I like to take it for a spin just to get the cobwebs out of the gears.  Unbeknownst to me I had left the refrigerator & oven hood lights on for a couple days so when I hit the ignition switch I heard a tired groan.  First time in 4 years the rig failed to start with just a slight touch of the key.

JUST OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR 

Rolled the Jeep into position, hooked up the jumper cables & 'VROOOOOM' we were back in business.  The little Motormouse was watching me out of the living room window & it was quite obvious she was wanting to go for a ride as well, so I carried the little Mouse out to the rig & off we went.  It wasn't one of our longer rides but it was just nice to be back in the Motor Home saddle again:))

 

I'M MISSING MY MOM'S LAP TO SIT ON

I had built a wood deck on the back of our place about 7 years ago when I was feeling a little more confident about my carpentry skills.  The steps were never anything to write home about because I had made them out of some old boards that were lying around.  This morning that problem was corrected when a couple handymen friends of ours from the Park put a new set of steps on for us.

On my way to visit my Uncle Harry this morning I stopped at the large HULLETT MARSH area not far from where we live.  I used to do a lot of  hiking here back in the mid 80's.  It is abundant with life & I was able to crack off a few photos from the Jeep window along the road.  Took myself for a short walk & revisited some great old hiking memories.  What a beautiful overall morning it was with the awakening spring sounds of many birds in the Marsh.  Made a mental note to myself about coming back & spending more time here.

MALE AMERICAN WIGEON 

My Uncle Harry is doing pretty good for being nearly 95 & it was nice to find him in good spirits.  He is still able to get around with the help of his walker.  Had ourselves a nice chat & I was able to make an eye appointment for him while I was there.

On my way home I stopped at a local drive in summer eatery place & swallowed me down a sizeable hamburger.  That stayed with me for the rest of the day & I didn't even have to go to all the work of making myself one of those 'Hungry Man TV Dinners' for supper.  Fixing up any kind of food stuff is not my thing unless it's a peanut butter & honey sandwich or a bowl of cereal.

  

A GAME OF CHECKERS CAN EVEN BE HAD WHILE WAITING FOR A HAMBURGER & CHECK OUT THIS CHAIR MADE ENTIRELY OF OLD DOWNHILL SKIS  

All & all I would say it was my first good day in a couple weeks.  That peaceful drive through the rural countryside today & the little walk around Hullett Marsh was just the kind of Spring Tonic & welcome therapy I was needing.  Looking forward to tomorrow.

MOMMA GOOSE SITS QUIETLY ATOP HER NEST IN THE HULLETT MARSH 

Had an email from Kelly about her Mother which in part said, "She has definitely turned a corner and is on the mend.   Not sleeping 100% yet and still working on her appetite.  She is still using the walker and they may try to get her onto a cane next week.  Am really glad she is physically better and even realizing how good it is not to have her constant knee pain from before the operation."

WE HAVE MANY OLD STONE HOUSE'S IN OUR RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD 

So, that is good news from Spencerport indeed & with a little bit of luck Kelly may be home some time next week.  The little Motormouse has been doing a lot of watching out the window for here:))

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH >>>

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A few one liners & bumper stickers.................

"99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name"

"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine."

"Sometimes I wake up grumpy; Other times I let her sleep"

"The gene pool could use a little chlorine."

"I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain just to be a vegetarian."

"It's lonely at the top, but you eat better."

"Forget about World Peace.....Visualize Using Your Turn Signal!"

"Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot."

"He who laughs last thinks slowest"

"Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?"

"Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes."

"Consciousness: that annoying time between naps."

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.