FORMER FELLOW RV’ER JOANN DUBROUILLET & FRIENDS DROPPED BY TODAY:))

With rain forecast over the next few days I figured it would be good to tidy up a few outside loose ends in the back yard & put some gardening tools away. Didn't seem to have the new campfire pit just right so ended up moving it a couple of feet all the while telling myself, "Al, if you just took a minute to do things right in the first place, you wouldn't have to do them a second time!! 
 
BEGINNING TO GET A BIT OF COLOR IN OUR TREES
JoAnn Dubrouillet, who many will remember from her & Doug’s RV Blog called 'Living Our Dream,' contacted us this morning saying she was in London Ontario & coming to Bayfield today with some friends & would we like to meet for coffee. Yep, sure would. JoAnn is visiting from Florida.  Last time we saw JoAnn was a couple winters ago in Sunsites Arizona. We met JoAnn & husband Doug (Doug passed away in August 2011) along with Jo & Fred Wishnie at Margies Cafe for breakfast one fine morning. Originally met JoAnn, Doug, & Filmore their big Standard Poodle (Filmore passed away in April 2012) in Yuma about 5 years ago & they are the one's who put Kelly & I onto the Ranch sitting job at Jeanie & Ray’s near McNeal Arizona. Had seen them one other time in Borrego Springs, California.

JOANNE, DOUG, KELLY, AL, JO & FRED WISHNIE OUTSIDE OF MARGIES CAFE IN SUNSITES, ARIZONA…DECEMBER 12TH, 2010
Met JoAnn & friends Kathy & Larry today at an easy to find prearranged spot in Bayfield about 12:15.  From there we convoyed a short distance to the Bayfield Berry Farm for lunch.  Tourist season is over in Bayfield now so we basically had the whole place to ourselves.  So nice to see JoAnn again & we have been keeping up with her traveling times on Facebook.
 
LARRY, KATHY, JOANN & KELLY AT THE BAYFIELD BERRY FARM TODAY FOR LUNCH
From the Berry Farm it was just a short drive to our place where JoAnn got to meet the fabulous Pheebs.  And, she especially wanted to see our sunroom where I put the blog together every night & have taken so many nature photos of our front yard from over the years.

 
THAT LITTLE PHEEBS SURE LIKES ALL THE ATTENTION

We also got to meet Kathy & Larry’s little 11 year old Yorkie, Maggie.  A sweety for sure & of course Pheebs liked her as well.  We did a little walk around our yard & snapped a few photos along the way.

 
   

AND, A LITTLE TOUR OF THE MOTORHOME AS WELL
On the way back to Bayfield we did a little sight seeing with JoAnn riding with me in the Jeep & Kelly in Kathy & Larry’s car.  Kind of a double tour guide if you will.   Stopped at DEER PARK LODGE where Kelly works & showed the folks a few of the cottages. 

 
TOP FLOOR OF THIS 2 STORY BUILDING IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE PENTHOUSE
  
THE HUTCH HAS THE BEST VIEW OF LAKE HURON & IS THE COTTAGE MOST PREFERRED BY FOLKS

From Deer Park we swung down around the harbor where all the sailboats are at anchor.  But, not at anchor for much longer because it is the time of year now when all boats have to come out of the water & spend the winter months on wooden stilts in various areas around the harbor.  Watched a truck haul a big sailboat up from the harbour on a trailer & skilfully back it down a short curvy road to deposit it on the hard surface of a tennis court. 

Toured around Bayfield's Sunset Park overlooking the lake & up Bayfield’s main street to Clan Gregor square where it was time to say good-bye.  They were headed for Goderich next & still had some more sight seeing to do.  Nice to have met Maggie, Kathy & Larry to day & it sure was nice to see JoAnn again.  A week from today JoAnn heads back to her home in Panama City Florida.  Don’t know if we will ever meet again so it was nice spending a few hours with these folks today.  All the best JoAnn & thanks for stopping by to say Hello:))

SAYING GOODBYE TODAY………………………
It’s always kind of sad saying goodbye to folks in the RV world because of the lifestyle’s nature.  People are on the move & quite often get togethers are pure happenstance.  And, there is another reason.  I don’t know what the average age of RV’ers is but I’m guessing it has to be 60+.  That alone adds a touch of sadness to good-byes in RV land.  The reality is simply that you may never see someone again.  Yes, we all say, ‘see ya down the road’ or ‘catch ya next time’ etc.  But, one never knows for sure anymore at this age & stage of life…………………..

NOW, HOW’S THIS FOR THE CUTEST LITTLE MAGGIE MUGGINS YOU EVER SAW:))
GROANER’S CORNER:((   Upon entering the little country store, the stranger noticed a sign saying DANGER! BEWARE OF DOG! posted on the glass door.
Inside he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor beside the cash register.
He asked the store manager,
"Is THAT the dog folks are supposed to beware of?"
"Yep, that's him," he replied.
The stranger couldn't help but be amused.
"That certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?"
"Because", the owner replied,
"before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward   
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/



 

PHEEBS TAKES CARE OF A PESKY NEIGHBOR

HAD US A REAL FINE MORNING FOR A RIDE IN THE COUNTRY

ME & MY VERY MUCH MOST BEST PAL:))

Feeling a need for change I decided to catch a break from our back yard project & just take myself for a quiet country road drive this morning. Besides, I could tell Pheebs was needing a Jeep ride. We spent a couple quiet relaxing hours meandering the back roads just leisurely soaking up the early Autumn scenery. Couple stops to stretch our legs, a few photos, & we were home shortly after noon. Transplanted a few more Hostas & made a short border thingy out of some old patio blocks. Short bike run in the afternoon & that was it.

WELL, LOOKS LIKE THAT PESKY NEIGHBOR WON’T BE BOTHERING US AGAIN

  

“DID I DO GOOD MOM, HUH HUH, DID I”

The following photos may be of interest to local readers.  This is the low overhead railway bridge just west of Clinton on the road to Bayfield.  Looks to me like they are coming down the home stretch on this project.  Road is being graded & the concrete road base is in place under the bridge.  No digging machines on site & I wouldn’t be surprised to see some paving equipment rolling in here before long.

 
 

THE CONCRETE BASE IS IN & THE ROAD IS BEING GRADED & LEVELLED

With all the yard work this past week I have sore muscles where I didn’t even think I had muscles.  But, how great it is to feel tired & sore at the end of the day.  Well, maybe not so much the sore part but at least it tells me I have been working away at something I enjoy.  If I was sore from doing something I didn’t enjoy, I would be complaining all over the place.  Nice not having to listen to myself complain:))
 
Some folks sure do have a lot of patience for fixing things.
Two fellow RVing Bloggers actually repaired their own cameras this week. RETIRED ROD installed a new 'display' screen on his Panasonic ZS7 & TOM just replaced the LCD screen on his Nikon Coolpix. I don't know how these guys do it but it has to take an awful lot of slow meticulous patience I figure. I repaired a torn piece of paper once. Put a piece of Scotch tape on it. Got it crooked:((

“RIBBIT”

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Only in North America do we use the word "politics" to describe the process so well. "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

MY SON, THE TALENTED MUSICIAN

Temperatures hung around the 60F mark today this morning & that is just about perfect outside working weather for me. With Blue Jays hollering from nearby Pine trees, Pheebs & I spent the day working away on our backyard project. Kelly generally works week-ends. At one point a fast moving rain shower rolled in off the lake & sent us scampering for higher ground. I'm sure this cooler Autumn air has played a big role in energizing my outside gardening interests once again. Give me a shovel & a pile of dirt & I'm a happy guy. Well, most of the time anyway:))

Seems like I have laid out a lot of my life here in my posts over the years but there are still a few areas I haven't touched upon. One is my Son, Sean. Maybe one day I will sit down & tell you that story. Sean has grown up to be a fine young man & talented musician. He heads up a Canadian Christian band called, THE WEAK NEED. Writes his own songs & is the band's lead singer & keyboard player. Sean also arranges & produces all the band's music in his own recording studio. A very talented & sincere fellow indeed. Below I have included 2 of Sean’s songs.  JAMES 1 & FERRIS WHEEL.  James 1 is Sean’s latest & Ferris Wheel was recorded 3 years ago.  These are only 2 of his many songs.  Had some problems with the James 1 link so hope it works.  Sean re-married a couple weeks ago & I cropped this head & shoulders pic of him from a larger photo taken by a wedding photographer.  You can see the full photo on Sean’s FACEBOOK PAGE.

IT WILL SOON BE TIME TO PUT AWAY THE SUMMER’S POND ORNAMENTS FOR ANOTHER YEAR

I did manage to move our campfire pit today but not to the area first planned.  Also relocated & replanted some Hostas.  The largest & heaviest thing I ended up planting about mid afternoon though was me in my recliner………….zzzzzzzzzzzzz

YAAAAY, MOM’S HOME MOM’S HOME:))

 

THAT BROWN STUMP HAS YET TO BE REMOVED & THE NEW CAMPFIRE PIT IS IN PLACE

Sitting here tonight mulling over some topics, it occurred to me I have been repeating myself lately.  Posting about something & then coming back a week or two later & posting about about the same thing again.  Either a sign my memory is slipping, or I’m running out of ideas & my creative thought process is slipping.  And of course it could very well be a combination of all the above…………:((

FISHERMEN AT PORT ALBERT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The things that come to those who wait will be the things left by those who got there first. And, did you know that a flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries. And, I'm sure everyone knows the shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))

- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)

- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/

stargeezerguy@gmail.com

STILL KICKING AROUND A ROUTE PLAN FOR NEXT MONTH

Had me a rain delay on the backyard project today & that was just as well. Some of these old not often used muscles of mine were needing a rest. I have enjoyed the physical tiredness this week & see it as healthy. Feels good to have a constructive project underway again.

A RAINY MORNING ON OUR STREET TODAY
Weeks are counting down to departure time & with my attention focused in the back yard these past few days I hadn't been thinking much about our upcoming travels & what we will be taking this year. I do have a 'staging area' in the carport where I have been gathering things together for loading up in a few weeks. Don't want to get myself into a pack & repack situation because it's not as easy as it used to be bending down, stretching, & loading things into bins.                                                                                                            
Still kicking around a route plan after we leave Kelly's Mom's place in Spencerport NY next month & we'll probably not know that plan for awhile yet. My Aunt Jean in Sarasota Florida, who readers will remember from her week's visit to the Ranch in south-eastern Arizona last winter, has had some medical issues & we are waiting to see if she will be well enough to travel out to Arizona again this winter. We are just playing this one by ear right now & will see how it goes.
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Our rains ended late morning & by early afternoon Pheebs & I were on the Pine trail under sunny skies. Had we tried to do any more work in the still wet yard we both would have ended up looking like a couple mud Puppies. Well, maybe in my case it would be more like a mud Yuppie.

PHEEBS IS READY & RARING TO TRAVEL
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A Russian couple walks down a street in Moscow when the man feels a drop hit his nose.
"I think it's raining," he says to his wife.
"No, that feels like snow to me, dear," she replies.
Just then, a minor communist party official walks towards them.
"Let's not fight about it," the man says. "Let's ask Comrade Rudolph whether it's officially raining or snowing."
"It's raining, of course" Comrade Rudolph says and walks on.
But the woman insists, "I know that felt like snow."
To which the man quietly says, "Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

WE WOULD ALL SET OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE

My decision this morning was to either leave our backyard bamboo grass where it was or remove it. Lazily leaning towards the first option I began putting cement patio stones vertically in place to prevent the bamboo roots from spreading laterally. About halfway through this option I opted for the second option, grabbed my axe, keeping in mind to leave my toes intact, & began chopping out the bamboo grass. No easy feat & about 10 a.m. Pheebs & I were needing a welcome break.

TO MOVE THAT KNOTTED HARD LUMP OF BAMBOO GRASS OR NOT…THAT WAS THE QUESTION

A good old errands run to Goderich gave us a nice respite from the backyard project. Usual stuff at the supermarket such as cranberry juice, bananas, a dozen eggs & a couple dozen yogurt cups. With my ever changing eating habits lately it's hard for me to keep up with myself as I search for healthier alternatives to some of my poorer eating habits .

FORTUNATELY I HAD SOME VERY STRONG HELP THIS MORNING AS PHEEBS DEPOSITS ANOTHER CLUMP OF GRASS IN THE WHEELBARROW

Reading Sue's post from BIG DAWG AND FREEWAY this morning about 'balance' I was reminded of our pre RV days. The days when our RV dreams were mere hopes & wishes. We were both stuck, mired if you will, in the everyday workaday world. The only way to get a little balance in our lives was to occasionally slip away for a camping weekend. Even a day trip to hike in the PINERY PROVINCIAL PARK an hour west of the farmhouse was a huge help. These were the days we longingly walked & talked about a future which at the time seemed so unattainable. A future of travel, new horizons, journeys to places we had never been. It was on these days & weekends our dreams gained momentum & we began laying the groundwork for a future change in our lives. We had no idea how we were going to do it, just knew that one way or the other we were going to make a change to our current lifestyle somehow.

BAMBOO GRASS ALL GONE:)))))))))))))
First change came in the form of a 17' old 1979 Dodge Centurion Class C camper. This old dear had seen better days but it was a step up from a tent & it was at last, our foot in the RV lifestyle door. This old blister gave us more of a psychological lift than anything else. Just looking out the old farmhouse window seeing an RV parked outside generated a new sense of excitement & anticipation. We did manage a few week-end trips & those getaways just solidified our dream & convinced us we were on the right track. It was a start & from that little Dodge Centurion we went on to get ourselves a Travel Trailer, another Class C, a Fifth Wheel, & finally a Motorhome.

AND OLD MEMORY FROM A YEAR AGO AS CORA & PHEEBS PATIENTLY AWAIT MY RETURN WITH A TUNA SUB FROM BAYFIELD’S SUBWAY SHOP (LITTLE CORA DIED THIS PAST MARCH)

Between rest stops & axe swings it probably took me the best part of an hour to remove the last of the bamboo grass this afternoon. Next step is to decide whether to relocate our campfire pit or not.  And, what to do with about 2 dozen clumps of bamboo grass roots. I'm sure I'll think of something.............

TO MOVE THE CAMPFIRE PIT FROM LOWER LEFT TO FAR SIDE OF THAT GREEN FLOWERBED…THAT IS NOW THE QUESTION

As many readers know, I lament from time to time about trying to keep up with everyone's blogs & travels.  After 6 years of blogging I have files of fellow Bloggers sites spread across 3 computers.  Just too numerous & confusing for my memory to remember everyone.  I linked many sites in my blog & had the best intentions of keeping up with everybody’s situations & travels but alas, so many have slipped through the cracks. Sometimes I simply lose interest in a blog but often as not my memory fails me & if I don't have somebody’s site right in front of my eyes on the sidebar it slips from memory.  It’s not until I maybe receive an email or a comment from someone that my mind is again triggered.  But, even then sometimes I have to sit for a minute or two & try to remember who folks are & how I have interacted with them in the past.

AUTUMN CROCUS

Received a comment from JC today & was sad to read the blog’s writer, Gene Teggatz had passed away this summer.  Last post in July was written by his daughter saying her Mom was going to try & carry on RVing.  I didn’t know these folks but being a fellow RVing Blogger it brings a sadness to my heart.  Despite our ups & downs & occasional personality conflicts here in Blogland, I still feel we are all part of a closely knit community & if push came to shove, we would all set our differences aside & step forward to help one another.

GROANER’S CORNER((   Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?  And, did you also know a clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.  Oh, & keep in mind……artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))

- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)

- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward   

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.

- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/

stargeezerguy@gmail.com

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A CAMERA WITH A VIEWFINDER

TODAY’S PHOTOS ARE ALL TAKEN FROM THE PIER IN GODERICH HARBOR

Our temperatures have come up, there's humidity in the air & a lot of sunlight blasting into the back yard. I did get a bit of work done on my project in the morning but too hot for this afternoon.  Popped over to Mitchell in late morning to see Uncle Harry & he's doing fine. Had that old sparkle & smile back again.

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GYPSY recently purchased a new camera, had problems with it, & took it back. One of the things she didn't like about the new camera was that it did not have a viewfinder. I couldn't agree with her more.

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If you have any kind of serious or creative interest in photography you need a camera with a viewfinder. You need to get your eyeball into the photograph you are composing. I have 2 Nikon DSLR's & 2 Canon point & shoots. Three of those cameras have viewfinders & one does not, so this is a topic I have some 'hands on' experience with. First & foremost, for serious photography interests or folks just wanting to take their photos to the next level, you really do want to get yourself a DSLR. (Digital Single Lens Reflex)  All DSLR’s have viewfinders by the way.  My older Canon Powershot A730 point & shoot has both a viewfinder & a display screen. I use the viewfinder exclusively. My other Canon Powershot A710 does not have a viewfinder & I have kicked my assparagus ever since for buying a camera with an LCD display screen only. What was I thinking!!!!!!!!

Right off the bat, without a viewfinder, one of photography's most important aspects, 'composition' is seriously compromised in several ways. How many times have we seen people holding cameras at arm's length weaving & bobbing trying to line a subject up. That's if one can even see the subject in the small display screen because of bright sunlight. And, if your subject happens to be moving....good luck.  You need a viewfinder to quickly get that camera up to your eye, instantly compose & capture your subject. Not to mention the fact of keeping that camera rock steady tucked in close to your body & not 2 feet away from you swaying in the breeze. The only picture you want your brain to be concentrating on is the actual photo you are seeing & it is that composition that needs your undivided attention.  Cameras nowadays can do many amazing things but they cannot compose the photo for you.  You need to do that yourself, & you need a viewfinder to do it right.  One does not have to see the peripheral parking lot to the left or a bunch of buildings, trees or people jumping around to the right. And, you need to see your subject clearly. Why make it more difficult on yourself by trying to look at a tiny two or three inch difficult to see screen bobbing around on the end of your arm.  Keep your eye in the view finder & your attention on your subject and you will be well on the way to improving your photos. 
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Now, I'm not knocking point & shoot cameras here at all. I'm just making a point of why I think it is important to have a camera with a viewfinder.  As with pretty much everything, there are pros & cons for both viewfinders & LCD display screens & I am just focusing on one of the point & shoot cons, composition.  Point & shoots are amazing for their technical abilities & getting better all the time. My Canon Powershot SX210IS travels in a belt pouch with me everywhere I go, & no it does not have a viewfinder.   Many times it's hard for me to tell the difference between one of my DSLR pics & one from either of my point & shoots if I'm just looking at them in my blog. But yes, don’t be fooled, when push comes to shove, there is a difference.  And, my point & shoot pics do require more work in my Picasa editing program than my DSLR pics.

‘Fortunately’ I am from the old school of photography in a day & age where we had no control over the finished product so it was important to try & get the photograph right in the first place. And, even if you did you were still at the mercy of some person in a photo lab somewhere printing your pics correctly. With photo editing programs at our disposal now it makes things much easier to fix our own, or the cameras mistakes in the editing process.  It was this digital control from start to finish that eventually brought me back into the new photography age years ago. 

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I liken using a viewfinder as opposed to a display screen this way…….Kind of like shooting at a bull's eye target with a rifle or a shotgun. With a viewfinder, it's like using a rifle's gun sight to precisely hit the bulls eye. With an LCD display screen you are using the shotgun approach by holding your camera out there & shooting in the general direction of your subject. Yes, you are going to hit something alright & you can edit that shotgun photo later by cropping your photo but you are going to start loosing quality here. After the shoot, think of it as bringing your target home & then re-arranging the buckshot holes to look like a bull’s eye bullet hole.

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Now, I am not the guy to talk to about technical stuff so I guess the bottom line coming out of me is the same as my top line...….If you have any kind of serious or creative interest in photography you need a camera with a viewfinder’.  And, that’s just for starters.  Don’t let some kid behind a camera counter overwhelm you with all the technical stuff like mega pixels, dippy flickles & zoom to the moon dazzle.  Just make sure your camera has a viewfinder, concentrate on your composition & you can think about all that techno stuff later.  And, of course, in closing, I had better add………IMHO:)) 

GROANER’S CORNER:((  When Jack London had his portrait made by the noted San Francisco photographer Arnold Genthe, London began the encounter with effusive praise for the photographic art of his friend and fellow bohemian, Genthe. "you must have a wonderful camera...It must be the best camera in the world...You must show me your camera." Genthe then used his standard studio camera to make what has since become a classic picture of Jack London. When the sitting was finished, Genthe could not contain himself: "I have read your books, Jack, and I think they are important works of art. You must have a wonderful typewriter."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))

- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)

- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward   

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.

- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/

stargeezerguy@gmail.com