A BIKE RIDE TO CHASE AWAY THE MONDAY BLUES

Needed a little wind between my ears this morning to chase away the Monday blues so spent a couple hours on the Motorcycle wandering the back roads of our rural countryside.  I consider myself very fortunate to have myself an option like that.  Before I took the bike out, Motor & I Jeeped ourselves up to Goderich for groceries.  Oh, & to split a Burrito at McDonalds too:))  By the way, I am still off peanut butter & holding tough!!

SPLISH SPLASH I WAS TAKING A BATH
Awhile back I had posted about how long it generally takes me to put my daily blog together.  The time varies but the photo below is an example of what can really suck up the time on me.  You may remember that I previously mentioned about the dust I have on the sensor of my Nikon D40 camera.  This dust is very noticeable on lighter backgrounds such as sky or water.  I generally use my D40 for telephoto shots & if I happen to take a bunch of photos with this camera I have to spend time retouching all the dust spots on each & every picture.  Dust on a lens or internal mirror is an easy fix but dust on a sensor is an expensive fix with the camera having to go back to Nikon for cleaning.  I did try to clean the sensor myself a couple years ago but only ended up making the problem a whole lot worse.  Maybe I shouldn't have tried that outside in the middle of an Arizona dust storm:((  


In the photo above, with the use of Picasa's 'Crop & 'Retouch' tools I was able to improve the photo a bit.  I added a hint of 'Color Temperature', increased the 'Contrast' a smidge & added a touch of 'Highlights'. I finished it with one hit of 'Graduated Tint' & a tiny bit of 'Sharpening.'  The original photo is nothing special to begin with but it does give you an idea of what you can do with your free Picasa photo editing program.

In Sunday's post I was talking about Google Earth & being able to type in wherever you want to go.  That is true but I should have added that not all destinations have been mapped yet.  Our Bayfield area is one of those & if you check out this area the terrain is very blurry with very little detail once you get below 800 feet whereas the Woodstock area to our southeast has been mapped more thoroughly.  Hopefully, the area you decide to fly to has already been clearly mapped.

A FLYING BLUR OF BLUE FEATHERS
The terrible Arizona fires continue out of control.  Whitney Malone who was in Kelly's Yoga Class a couple winters ago while we were ranch sitting in McNeil Arizona said today on Facebook..."Spent all weekend rescuing frantic horses, dogs, cats, birds, peacocks, pigs, chickens, you name it. Back today. There were so many people that waited til the last minute that rescue workers could no longer get in to save hundreds of animals.  $ donations are needed for food and medical attention for all these animals."

THIS IS THE NARROW SAN PEDRO RIVER EAST OF SIERRA VISTA...IF THE FIRE CONTINUES OUT OF CONTROL & BURNS EASTWARD, FIREFIGHTERS WILL MAKE A STAND AT THIS RIVER....MAX IS LOOKING IN THE DIRECTION OF SIERRA VISTA 
You can feel the anguish, the fear & sheer frustration of Debra Argosy as she helplessly watches her friends, her neighborhood & her world falling apart around her as the Monument fire edges closer & takes control of her life & environment.  You can read Debra's heartfelt post at, I HATE---SO WHAT. 

THE FIRE IS CONSUMING THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS STRAIGHT AHEAD & THE TOWN OF SIERRA VISTA IS JUST OUT OF THE FRAME TO THE RIGHT
Well, here in our southwestern Ontario time zone, Summer will officially arrive at 1:16 p.m. on Tuesday June 21rst.  With any kind of luck we will be somewhere in the West by the time we roll into our next official seasonal change in October:))
 
I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE MAY FIND OURSELVES ONCE AGAIN IN COLORADO'S ROCKY MOUNTAINS THIS FALL
GROANER'S CORNER:((   Doctors were told to contribute to the construction
of a new wing at the hospital. So, what did they have to say & do about that?
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-The allergists voted to scratch it.
-The dermatologists preferred no rash moves.
-The gastroenterologists had a gut feeling
about it.
-The neurologists thought the administration
had a lot of nerve.
-The obstetricians stated they were laboring
under a misconception.
-The ophthalmologists considered the idea
short-sighted.
-The orthopedists issued a joint resolution.
-The pathologists yelled, “over my dead body!”
-The pediatricians said, “grow up.”
-The proctologists said, “we are in arrears.”
-The psychiatrists thought it was madness.
-The surgeons decided to wash their hands
of the whole thing.
-The radiologists could see right through it.
-The internists thought it was a hard pill to
swallow.
-The plastic surgeons said, “this puts a whole
new face on the matter.”
-The podiatrists thought it was a big step forward.
-The urologists felt the scheme wouldn’t hold water.
-The cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no. ---------------------------------------------------------------
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.

THE 'HAPPY WANDERERS' LOST THEIR 5TH WHEEL IN A FIRE TODAY

A FEW SAILBOATS & THEIR CREATIVE NAMES AS I WALKED ALONG THE DOCK THIS WEEKEND
Here is a sad RV story that could happen to any RV'er at any time.  Today, full timers Ed & Marilyn from THE HAPPY WANDERERS lost their 5th wheel in a fire near St. Joseph MO.  They did manage to save their truck.  I imagine those folks could be using a whole lot of support right about now.

THIS CATAMARAN LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A STAR TREK MOVIE

I could have put a sign at the end of the driveway this morning saying, AL’s Car Wash. Temps were a little cooler & that energized me enough to get out the hose & bucket & set to work washing the Jeep. I’m sure the Jeep felt a little insulted to have some of the prestige's mud washed off but I was kind of in a shiny sparkly mood I guess. I was careful to leave my little patch of California’s Blair Canyon mud on the front end near the driver’s side headlight. While I had the hose out I figured I might as well have a go at the Motor Home too so managed to get the whole bottom half washed. Kelly returned home after a few hours at work & I figured, awwww shucks what the heck, & washed the Santa Fe as well.

 

I ALWAYS FEEL SOOOOOOO GUILTY WHENEVER I GO ANYWHERE NOW IN THE JEEP & HAVE TO LEAVE THAT SAD LITTLE FACE IN THE WINDOW...TAKE ME DAD, TAKE ME...
I sometimes turn on CNN for a few minutes in the morning if for no other reason than to get myself caught up on all the bad stuff that is happening in the world. You can imagine my surprise when the ‘Arizona fires’ was the second story after the lead story complete with videos & an interview with Senator John McCain on the probable source of the Monument Fire. I had a look at CNN’s 4 o’clock news & again more coverage of the devastating fires complete with a CNN reporter on the ground in Sierra Vista with a live report. Kelly was laughing saying they must have read my post last night. 
 

 
And this quote from the Sierra Vista Herald today: "Conditions are so bad in Arizona that the head of the U.S. Forest Service paid the area a visit today, declaring the Monument Fire the highest-priority fire in the country."
An ‘Anonymous’ reader left this comment on yesterday’s post…."The fire in Arizona is simply nature taking its course and there isn’t any loss of human life associated with it. The news media appears to be giving this fire the attention it merits. (referring to my Saturday post about little coverage...AL) You appear to have a special interest in this area but that doesn’t mean everyone else does or should. What exactly would more news coverage accomplish anyway?”....... Well, Mr Anonymous commenter person, there is much I could say here about your comment but I will let the commenter's who came after you say it best, if you care to go back & read their thoughts in my Saturday post. I hope you will rethink what you said & understand the seriousness of the fire situation regardless of where it is. I suggest you read this….MONUMENT FIRE.
 

MORNING SAIL BOAT CHORES BEFORE HEADING OUT ONTO LAKE HURON FOR THE DAY 
And, one last thought about Anonymous commenter's. Are they really always Anonymous or could they be people we may actually know sometimes. Just a thought.

LOOKS LIKE MOM HAS THE KIDS OUT FOR A MORNING PADDLE

The Bayfield Bunch welcomes a new blog Follower today.  Looks like MARK & CHRIS'S PHAETON PLACE has some mighty fine professional photography happening over there.  Nice looking stuff guys & welcome aboard.

I THINK THESE TWO SQUABBLERS ARE FINALLY BECOMING PALS

A few blogs ago I mentioned about maps bringing back many memories. I think the ultimate map trip down memory lane is Google Earth which you may actually have on your computer right in front of you. Using my Google Earth machine I spent nearly an hour last night cruising around my old home town of Tavistock Ontario & surrounding area without ever leaving my recliner.

A BLACK SQUIRREL CALCULATES HIS JUMPING DISTANCE TO THE TOP OF THE BIRD STATION BUT THINKS BETTER OF IT....TO DATE I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE SQUIRREL ON THE NEW STATION BUT I DID SEE A BIG RACCOON IN OUR BACK YARD LAST NIGHT!! 
Typing Tavistock into Google Earth flew me straight to the village. I circled around over the town at various altitudes looking for old familiar spots. I could zoom down to a street corner & remember things that happened there. Friends houses brought back many faces & good times. I flew out west of town along an old abandoned railway line to a forest where we once built a double decker tree house. The bush & trees are still there but the tree house is long gone. An old railroad trestle we used to call the Red Bridge stands alone amidst farmer’s fields where railway lines used to run. I could see our old swimming hole just north of the bridge.

THIS WAS MY MOTHER'S HOUSE IN TAVISTOCK ONTARIO WHERE I SPENT MY TEENAGE YEARS (THE ORIGINAL GOOGLE STREET VIEW IMAGE IS MUCH CLEARER THAN THIS COPY)

Back in Tavistock I was able to zoom down to street level & drive right up my old street, stop in front of my Mother’s house & with one control I could do a 390 degree swing round seeing not only up & down the street but both sides of the street. I was able to sit there on the road & see our house. Our front living room window, white columned posts on the porch supporting a large balcony. I could see my bedroom window, our side porch where I always parked my bicycle. There’s the bumpy lawn I always hated mowing. The steps where my Grandfather liked to smoke his pipe. I could see the Ivy covering the side of the house & in my mind's eye I could see all of us sitting on the front porch on warm sunny Sunday afternoons oh so many years ago.  My Mother, my step Dad, my Grandfather, my Uncle, our crippled little dog named Tiny Tim.....& me.  So, if you haven’t been back to your old home town for awhile, climb aboard your Google Earth machine, type in where you want to go & time travel yourself back home for some good old long ago home town memories. Set aside some time for doing this because your trip down memory lane may be a long one once you get there.  It always is for me.........................:))

I KINDA LIKED THE DARK GREEN HULL ON THIS SAILBOAT ACROSS THE BAYFIELD RIVER 

GROANER’S CORNER:((

My wife's from the Midwest. Very nice people there. Very wholesome. They use words like 'Cripes'. 'For Cripe's sake.' Who would that be -- Jesus Cripe's? The son of 'Gosh' of the church of 'Holy Moly'? I'm not making fun of it. You think I wanna burn in 'Heck'?

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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.

A NICE WEEKEND FOR BAYFIELD'S 'SAIL & CANVAS'

Finally, a perfect weather weekend for Bayfield’s annual Sail & Canvas weekend They sure have had their fair share of bad weather for this event over the past few years.  I did manage to grab a few sailboat photos from atop the cliffs at Pioneer Park but didn’t stop in town for any pics. I’ll do that another time when things are a little quieter in this former little fishing village.

    
The humidity in the air caused a bit of haze out over the lake today so the horizon was not discernable. An optimal photographic day for sailboats would be temps a bit cooler with big white fluffy clouds in a blue sky. Not enough wind today to get the boats healed over cutting through the waves with wide bow waves & frothy wakes. Not many colored sails on the boats either but I did manage to grab a few photos anyway. 

For any of you creative arts & crafts people out there I thought you might be interested in seeing a fellow blogger’s site documenting her step by step procedure in creating wall mountable animal heads. May I add here that no real animals were harmed or lost their actual heads in this process:))  A lot of time, effort & materials goes into Merikay's work. She is on her 4th post now but if you click on this MERIKAY link it will take you to her first post where she begins the process & you can follow along on her blog from there. She is currently working on 6 heads that will later be shipped to a customer in London Ontario Canada.

    

If you ever wondered how cute a little Biscuit dog can be then just check out RETIRED ROD'S blog today. Jim & Dee, the TUMBLEWEED folks, made it across the border into Canada OK & are currently spending some time & checking out the sights with Sandra & Gordon from the NOT SO NIGHTLY NEWS near Ottawa. Ever been on the road to hell!! JIM, SANDIE, SCOOTER & SKITTLEZ just spent some time there…..& lost a few parts along the way.

Been awhile since I had myself a little rant so here goes. Sure seems to me Arizona certainly does not get it’s fair share of news coverage. Along with the 3 major fires burning now a fourth fire has started. CNN made casual mention of it this morning calling it the Antelope fire but didn’t even mention in what part of Arizona it was. They then quickly switched to coverage of a smaller fire in Georgia which is closer to their home base of Atlanta of course. On tonight’s ABC news a small 35 acre brush fire in Texas made the news but no coverage of the thousands & thousands of acres burning in Arizona right now!! Had any of these Arizona fires been burning in California’s glitzy Hollywood Hills I’m sure the major news channels would be all over it.

   

Countless wildlife has already been lost in the Arizona fires with thousands & thousands of acres being consumed & reduced to ash daily. People have lost their homes, areas are being evacuated & the city of Sierra Vista is threatened. We know 2 of these fire areas well & people living in & near them. Many are Blogging, Facebooking & Twittering about how serious these fires are & many are helping by volunteering their time, vehicles & trailers to help save horses & cattle in the path of the flames. Only casual mention is made of all this by the major news channels like CNN. They are more interested in their tunnel vision reporting on Weinergate & anything else that can be sensationalized to boost their ratings.
  
Whitney from Gleason Arizona posted this on Facebook today….”Friends, the fires here just keep getting more and more out of control with NO hope of putting them out. The Chiricaua Mountain Fire started on Mother's Day and burns hotter everyday. Temps are in the 100's and 40-50 mph winds. Please Pray for the firefighters, homeowners, people already evacuated, rescue workers, animals.” We who know & love the beautiful land there & feel your pain Whitney.
   
Reader Richard R from Windsor Ontario sent me an email with some renovation ideas for the bird station. I have already removed that big mossmagator board at the front but think I will leave the roof flat so the birds can walk around & perch on it. The metal skirt on the post is a good idea but metal work is well beyond my non existent tin smith skills. And a word of thanks as well to all the other folks who have sent in ideas & comments on how to deal with those pesky Squirrels & Coons. The battle continues………………………

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 

A carpenter was giving evidence about an accident he had witnessed. The lawyer for the defendant was trying to discredit him and asked him how far away he was from the accident.

The carpenter replied, "Twenty-seven feet, six and one-half inches."

"What? How come you are so sure of that distance?" asked the lawyer.

"Well, I knew sooner or later some dam fool idiot would ask me so I measured it!" replied the carpenter.

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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.