GOOSE SHENANIGANS & A SMALL DINOSAURIC LOOKING CREATURE IN THE HULLETT MARSH THIS MORNING

REFLECTIONS IN A MARSH

Nice morning so Pheebs & I grabbed a Horton's coffee plus a carrot muffin & headed ourselves a short distance over to the Hullett Marsh.  Nobody around so we had us a nice quiet walk along a berm between a couple marshy ponds.  The mornings air was filled with nature sounds.  No bugs this time of year but in a few weeks the air here will be filled with mosquitoes.  Best part of our northern swampy areas is no gators or poisonous snakes.  To me that is always a big plus & especially when walking with a dog.  However we did see a Dinosauric looking critter slowly moving across a mud flat.

A YOUNG SNAPPING TURTLE MOVES TOWARDS THE WATER’S EDGE

THROUGH DEBRIS LADEN SWAMP OOZE IT DETERMINEDLY LUMBERS ON

FINALLY SLIPS INTO A PATCH OF OPEN WATER

 

OFF TO FIND A TASTY SNACK OF DEAD STUFF I PRESUME 
Spent some time cleaning my motorcycle this afternoon followed by a short little toot around the countryside & that pretty much was it for my day.  I'll just leave you with some photos tonight from our walk in the Hullett Marsh this morning.  These are only a few photos of things Pheebs & I saw.  I’ll save the rest for my next slow photo day.

HEARD SOME HONKING & SPLASHING OFF TO MY RIGHT

HOLY SMOKES IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT SOME GOOSE SHENANIGANS GOING ON OVER THERE

GETTING A LITTLE INTENSE I’D SAY

SETTLING DOWN I HOPE
And thanks to our Blogland Bird Lady JUDY plus a few other folks in our Shout Box for identifying a bird I didn’t recognize in our front yard a couple days ago.  Turns out it is an Eastern Towhee as seen in the photo below.  And a female at that according to Nita in our Shout Box.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Trying to do my share for the environment, I set up a trash basket at my church and posted above it this suggestion: "Empty water bottles here."
I should have been a little more specific, because when I went to check it later, I didn't find any bottles in it. But it was full of water.

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While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage.  The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign ..... Energy efficient vehicle.  Runs on oats and grass.  Caution: Do not step on exhaust.

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- 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.

WELL BY GOLLY IF I DIDN’T HEAR A LAUGH ACTUALLY COME OUT OF MYSELF THIS AFTERNOON

FINALLY GOT THE BIKE FIRED UP THIS AFTERNOON FOR ANOTHER SEASON:))

We could have had the stone chip in the Big EEE's windshield fixed right here in our own driveway this morning but I opted to take the rig right to Speedy Glass in Goderich.  I’ll take any excuse for a drive in the country on a nice sunny morning.  Speedy Glass is the same company who in July of 2011 came right to our house & repaired a stone chip in our then 2003 Damon Challenger.  Nice chap by the name of Murray did the job that time.  This morning it was another fellow by the name of Mike who did the repair on the windshield in under an hour.  Just enough time to let me have a rare ‘sit down’ breakfast at McDonald’s next door.  Again, a job well done & I can hardly see where the stone chip is anymore.  To see how that excellent mobile windshield repair went at our house on the Damon back in 2011 just click on Damon Windshield Repair 2011.

NOSE FIRST INTO GODERICH’S SPEEDY GLASS THIS MORNING

 

THAT’S MURRAY ON THE LEFT & MIKE ON THE RIGHT…THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE GUYS:)) 

I was very fortunate today in that I woke up this morning with an abundance of patience on my side which in turn stood me in good stead for the entire day & enabled me to accomplish a bunch of little puttering tasks with a minimum of aggravation.  Days like this are rare now at this older age & when they do come along I sure do appreciate my ability to accomplish things in a calm state of mind.  Never had to turn the air blue nor throw my hat on the ground & jump on it.  Each obstacle I encountered I was able to patiently surmount.  Oh it was a rare day indeed…………………………

EVEN WITH ALL MY CAMERA GEAR ABOARD THERE IS STILL LOTS OF ROOM IN LIBBY’S STORAGE AREA BEHIND THE BACK SEAT…NICE:))
It's not often I am able to get a laugh out of myself but about 2:25 this afternoon just as I cracked my 2002 Honda Shadow Aero 1100cc motorcycle into second gear & cranked the throttle wide open I heard a surprised laugh come out of me followed by a big 'WOW'.  Yessiree it was that first blast of crisp Spring air in the face again as I let the bike's torque try to separate my helmet from my head.  With a tightening grip on the handlebars & a big cheesy grin on my face I barrelled east straightaway into the wind. With bright blue skies & big fleecy white clouds overhead it sure was a nice feeling just cruising down Bayfield River Road feeling that open road freedom known only to those ‘first ride of the season’ bikers.  It was 2015's first run of the year & the bike ran great with no 'over the winter' problems.  Bike is sure needing a big Spring clean-up though.  Well come to think of it I could probably use a big Spring clean-up myself………………

NO THIS ISN’T THE BIKE I GOT ALL MUDDY YEARS AGO, THIS IS MY CURRENT HONDA SHADOW AERO JUST OUT OF WINTER STORAGE
I have kept a record for the past 20 years of the date I put my motorcycle into storage & where it is stored.  I record the mileage as well & jot down the date each Spring I get the bike back out of storage & on the road again.  Today's May 1rst date is the latest I have ever fired up the bike for the year.  Earliest I ever hauled the bike out of storage was for a few hours one time in January of maybe 1999 or the year 2000.  We were in the old rented Fullarton farm house at the time when we had a ‘very brief’ spell of unusually warm weather.  I remember walking out to the old barn one day & putting the battery back in the bike.  Fired it up & drove my 750 Yamaha Virago down the muddy barn bank, up an even muddier driveway & headed off down a mud & gravel laden country road like Jack the Bear.  What a muddy mess I was & you shoulda seen the poor bike.  Oh some of the crazy things we did in our younger years eh.  Think I was about 56 at the time.

DEER PARK LODGE, BAYFIELD

With temperatures finally on the rise again I may get some vehicles cleaned up Saturday.  Maybe even take little Bugs for a ride in the Libbygator.  She just goes absolutely Bonkers if & when she thinks she is going somewhere whether it be in the Jeep, the Sunfire, or the Big EEE but I know it is the Jeep rides she loves the most.  Now if I could just get me a sidecar & a pair of doggy goggles for the motorcycle.

BAYFIELD’S PIONEER PARK

GROANER'S CORNER:((  I was a manager at a toy store. A few years back during the height of the Furby craze I overheard one of my cashiers say to a customer, "We haven't had any for a while, and I doubt we'll be getting any soon."  I quickly assured the customer that we would have a shipment in next week After she left, I read the cashier the riot act. "Never tell a customer that we're out of anything. Tell them we'll have it next week. Now, was she looking for a Furby?"  "No ..."  "Well, what was it she said she wanted?"  "Rain."

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The band at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, was required to play for all generals who arrived on base. One morning, when the commanding officer heard on the radio that a General Frost was expected just after noon, he sent the band scrambling to the flight line with instruments.  One of the musicians had also heard the radio announcement. He took the C.O. aside for a whispered conference. When they returned, the officer told us the performance was cancelled.  There was no arriving general. We had almost played for the weather forecast.

THE LADY PULLS OUT A WAD OF CANADIAN TIRE MONEY BIG ENOUGH TO CHOKE A HORSE

BAYFIELD RIVER ALONGSIDE THE BAYFIELD PIER AT TWILIGHT

When we had the Jeep Wrangler in for it's pre-safety check last week a pinion seal was noticed leaking in the front differential or something.  Although not part of the safety check certificate requirement we did not feel right selling the Jeep knowing there was a problem like that with it.  This morning we dropped Jeepers off at the Bayfield Garage & bit the bullet to the tune of $93 to have that leaking seal replaced.  Not so good for us but a bonus for the Jeep's new owner whoever that turns out to be.

SPOTTED IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON & I DON’T KNOW IT’S NAME

 

 

I’M NOT SURE IF I HAVE SEEN THIS LITTLE FELLOW AROUND BEFORE BUT HE SEEMED TO BE HANGING AROUND WITH THE DARK EYED JUNCOS
Been a few years since we've gone out & had ourselves breakfast anywhere here in Bayfield but after picking up the Jeep later in the morning we decided to try out a place that has changed management a few times & we had heard good things about the latest owners.  Sure enough those good things were true & we both had us a big mess of bacon & eggs at a fine civilized price of $6.99 each.  Especially liked the restaurant's own real tasty potato fixins.  Two thumbs up for Renegades Diner in Bayfield. 

BAYFIELD’S FISHING FLEET

  

It was one month ago today we arrived home from the Southwest & it was today I finally got out there in the rig & vacuumed the floors.  If & when some warmer weather arrives someday I'll get me some windows cleaned up & some bins cleaned out.  And the outside is needing a good shining up too.  Just a few more things to stroke off my 'to do' list when I get to them.  And we do all have those lists don't we.............................

JUST AN OLD BUZZARD TREE
Our cold damp overcast morning finally gave way to clearing skies this afternoon but I was too comfortable & toasty warm tucked into my cushy recliner to venture outside.  Besides, the outside air was still cold.  Relaxed & entertained myself by watching a few documentaries on Roku. 

LILY PADS ARE BEGINNING TO EMERGE FROM MUDDY POND BOTTOMS

Wrote up a 'Jeep Wrangler For Sale' ad a few days ago & took a few additional pics of the Jeep this morning which Kelly was able to get into the Auto Trader, Kijiji, & Craig's list.  We'll see if we can stir up any interested buyers.  Not easy for me letting Jeepers go but I just have to stay focused on why we decided on a different vehicle.  A/C, ease of entry & exit for my legs, roomier back seat & much needed storage space.  Back seat power window ventilation for Pheebe.  Bigger tires make for a smoother ride although I think the Wranglers seats are more comfortable than the Jeep Liberators.  48,000 kms as opposed to 184,000 kms is a big plus too.  When I stand at the window looking out at the Wrangler & Liberty in our driveway it is the Wrangler my eyes go to with it's tough squat Bulldog look.  The Liberty is more aerodynamically designed but it's that 'attitude' look of the Wrangler that grabs me.  Yes I'm going to miss little Jeepers alright but it's time to adapt to changing needs & move on.

OUR LOCAL COUNTRYSIDE IS BECOMING QUITE AROMATIC THESE PAST FEW WEEKS
Oh but here's something I am not going to miss about driving a Jeep Wrangler.  The wave!!  Wrangler drivers like Motorcycles riders have this wave they often greet each other with.  Personally I'm not a waver & yet not wanting to appear rude I always wave back if another Wrangler driver waves at me first but I never initiate a wave.  Do you realize how fast your reflexes have to be as 2 Wranglers approach each other on a highway at a combined speed of 120 mph.  My total concentration is on the driver's windshield as we hurtle towards each other.  My eyes are glued on the other driver as he closes in.  Then I'm watching, watching, & watching for the slightest movement of the driver’s hand which could signal a coming Wrangler wave.  My reflexes are so fast the other drivers hand has barely lifted off the steering wheel & I've already got a big Howdy Doody wave going on as he goes blasting by.  My personality is such that if I miss returning a big Wrangler wave I feel bad about that.  But if there is no movement of the other driver's hand then there is no movement of my hand & we both blow by each other with our noses in the air.  Nope I'm not going to miss that little bit of gamesmanship at all.  Really want to know what I think about all that hand waving stuff??  Check out my HOWDY DOODY post from a few years back:))

THAT DARN LAKE HURON ICE IS STILL HANGING ON IN SPOTS
At our Canadian Tire Stores here in Canada they have a thing when purchases are made where they hand out what we Canucks refer to as Canadian Tire money.  Kind of looks like real paper money in a way & comes in dominations of 5 cents, 10 cents, 50 cents, & maybe even a dollar.  Not sure about the dollar one because I've probably never purchased enough at one time to get a dollar coupon back.  A lot of people including myself save up this Canadian Tire money & when we have maybe 5 or 10 dollars worth we'll use it to buy something.  Of course the clerk always has to count out the stack of Canadian Tire money your using & that can take half a minute or two if you have a lot of 5 cent coupons!!  Wednesday morning at the Canadian Tire store in Goderich & got behind a lady who had just purchased herself a brand new bicycle.  The clerk rang it up & it came to somewhere around a hundred dollars.  With a beaming smile big as a Cheshire Cat the lady pulls out a wad of Canadian Tire money big enough to choke a horse & plops it down on the counter.  Of course I’m standing right behind her holding onto a 750 pound bag of birdseed.  With only one cashier on Wednesday morning do you know how long it took her to count that lady’s $77.45 stack of Canadian Tire money.........I do & my arms are stretched so far down now my hands drag on the floor!!!!  Birds are happy though……….

Off to Goderich first thing in the morning to get a stone chip in the Big EEE's windshield fixed.  Could take a couple hours so I don't think the Pheebs will be going with me.  I don't plan on telling her where I'm going because I'm sure the little Smarty Pants knows McDonalds is right next door to the Speedy Glass place & she would never let me out of the house without her.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A well-known proverb states that an optimistic would say a glass is half full, while a pessimist would say it is half empty. What would people of different professions and walks of life say?
The BANKER would say that the glass has just under 50% of its net worth in liquid assets.
The GOVERNMENT would say that the glass is fuller than if the opposition party were in power.
The OPPOSITION would say that it is irrelevant because the present administration has changed the way such volume statistics are collected.
The ECONOMIST would say that, in real terms, the glass is 25% fuller than at the same time last year.
The PHILOSOPHER would say that, if the glass was in the forest and no one was there to see it, would it be half anything?
The PSYCHIATRIST would ask, "What did your mother say about the glass?"
The PHYSICIST would say that the volume of this cylinder is divided into two equal parts; one a colorless, odorless liquid, the other a colorless, odorless gas. Thus the cylinder is neither full nor empty. Rather, each half of the cylinder is full, one with a gas, one with a liquid.
The ENGINEER would say the glass is twice as large as it needs to be.
The SEASONED DRINKER would say that the glass doesn't have enough ice in it.

PHEEBS & I DISCOVER A NEW TRAIL & FRUSTRATING MEMORY PROBLEMS

DAFFODILS ALONG A MORNING TRAIL

With most early mornings still hovering just above the freezing mark I am still wearing my lined winter pants on our morning walks.  It's usually closer to noon before I am able to climb back into my blue jeans for the remainder of the day.  It's the disadvantage of living beside a large cold ice infested lake in Spring time.

NO IDEA WHAT VINTAGE THIS OLD RUSTED AWAY VEHICLE IS

 

TRAIL LEADS THROUGH STANDS OF CEDARS  & SUGAR BUSH MAPLES TO THE MAITLAND RIVER

Pheebs & I found us a new trail to hike this morning.  Had heard of this trail about 20 minutes from our house & have been by it a dozen or more times but just never stopped to check it out until today.  Because I didn’t take a photo of the trail head sign I cannot remember the trails name so am going to guess at the ‘Maitland Trail’. 

Even for no leaves on our trees yet this was still a picturesque hike for us.  Stands of Cedar trees, open meadows, hills, & a sizeable river being fed by small Spring run-off streams.  We didn’t cover the whole trail complex but in the distance we walked there were a few surprises.  Came across the site of an old early homesteaders cabin.  Only an indentation in the ground where the cabin once stood but at the site was a plaque telling in detail of the pioneering family who once lived there in the wilds of the forest back in an era of early civilization in this area.  We have often come across this type of thing in the southwest during our travels but not so much right here in our own area of Southwestern Ontario.  I think the reason for that is simply the land has changed so much here with the advent of farming over the past century.  Also old buildings & wood structures last much longer in the moderate dry deserts of the Southwest as opposed to the harsh winters & wetter conditions here in our area.  Nevertheless it was a nice find this morning & we will definitely be back to this trail as soon as all the trees are leafed out & the weather is warmer.

SETTLERS CABIN STOOD JUST BEHIND & TO THE RIGHT OF THAT PLAQUE WHERE THERE IS AN INDENTATION IN THE GROUND

In the last few years I must admit I have not been doing well in keeping up with all my fellow Blogger’s posts as well as I once did & I realized tonight as I browsed down my ‘Fellow Bloggers’ sidebar I’m forgetting who some of the folks are on my long list.  It seems if I don’t keep up with people’s travels on an almost daily basis I lose the advantage of repetition & people drop off my radar.  I read a blog title & at times my mind struggles to remember who these people are.  I don’t know if other folks have this problem or it’s just my age related deteriorating memory.  I might get an email from someone & think to myself, I’ll answer that as soon as I finish what I’m doing here & poof that email never enters my mind again unless I accidentally see it or Kelly reminds me of it.  I frustratingly stood by our frog pond this afternoon with the water pump in hand not knowing where to plug it in.  My mind would not tell me where the electrical receptacle was on the side of the house & it was only several hours later when hooking up a garden hose that I accidentally spotted the receptacle nearby.  I’ve been hooking up this pond pump for about 10 years now every Spring & yet today I couldn’t remember where the electrical outlet was.  In the past few weeks on 3 separate occasions while out driving on very familiar stretches of road I had memory lapses of about 10 seconds each not knowing where I was.  Do these things happen to anyone else out here?? I am sure not impressed with this aging process thingy & it scares me at times…………………………….

GROANER’S CORNER:((   "What do you love most about me," a husband asked his wife, "my great athletic ability or my quick intellect?"  "What I love most about you," responded the wife, "is your enormous sense of humor."

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A mid-west farmer was describing his lifestyle to a touring group of city folks. "One of the benefits of this profession," he explained, "is that we have built-in weather predictions."
"What do you mean by that?" asked one inquisitive visitor.  "When the cows are standing," the farmer explained, "it means no rain is likely for the next twenty-four hours. When they're lying down, it means it's going to rain."  "On our bus trip," another visitor piped in, "I saw half the herd standing and the other half lying down. What does this mean?"  The farmer flashed a smile and answered, "That means half of them are wrong."

BEEN HOME NEARLY A MONTH NOW & I’M DOING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR

SOME DAYS ARE JUST MORE SNOOZIER THAN OTHERS AROUND OUR HOUSE

No. 1 - I’m thinking it was in Colorado somewhere a month ago on our journey home that I heard a sharp snap on our rig’s windshield as a passing truck went by.  Later noticed a stone chip high up on the driver’s side.  No. 2 – Started up the rig’s generator a couple days ago, it ran for about 15 seconds then shut down.  That is designed to happen if an RV’s gas tank is down to a quarter.  Prevents a generator from running an RV’s gas tank dry.  Checked our gas tank & it was just below half.  Oh-Oh.  No. 3 – Had forgot to plug the Big EEE into electricity & noticed our solar batteries were critically low after a number of cold cloudy days.  Generator was out of gas so the only way to get those batteries charged up right quick was to fire up the rig’s engine.  Well if I have to run the engine we might as well go somewhere, right?  Aha, I had a legitimate excuse thinly disguised as a few good reasons so I took the numbers 1,2, & 3 excusons & turned them into one big good darn reason for Pheebs & I to get in a few road miles this morning & head ourselves off to Goderich.

STONE CHIP CAN BE SEEN TOP CENTER

First stop was the gas station where we threw a fifty dollar bill into the gas tank bringing the tank up to slightly over half.  Next stop across the road was ‘Speedy Glass’ to have them check out the ding in the rigs driver side windshield.  Said it was fixable & to bring it back Friday morning at 8:30 a.m.  Bonus, another chance to drive the rig somewhere:))  Right beside Speedy Glass is McDonalds so I hopped over there for a coffee & carrot muffin to go.  Pheebs & I split the muffin on the way home & got us a big mess of muffin crumbs everywhere.  No problem because the rig is due for one big clean-up anyway.  Weather has just been to crappy for us to get out & get the interior all ‘spic n span’ again since arriving home from the Southwest.  At home later I hit the generator button & the gennie fired right up & kept running so it’s good to know that our gas tank has to be nearly half full for that generator to have enough fuel to work.

OUR 5 SEASONS ESTATES PARK IS LOCATED IN THAT FOREST ON THE LEFT

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TURNING INTO OUR PARK…THAT NEW WHITE HOUSE WITH A 2 CAR GARAGE ON THE RIGHT IS FOR SALE IF ANYONE’S INTERESTED…AT THE END OF THE ROAD YOU CAN SEE A PINE FOREST ON THE HORIZON & THIS IS WHERE WE WALK MOST EVERY MORNING

Hooked up a couple garden hoses & cleaned a lot of sludge out of our front yard frog pond.  Topped the water up & tomorrow I’ll hook up the pump & get the pond’s waterfall going for another season.  Sure is lots to do each Spring but it keeps me busy & busy is a good thing for an idle mind.  Hauled a big utility trailer load of pine needles to our recycle area with the Libbygator this morning so it’s nice to know everything works well there.  Got the Liberty’s manual out this afternoon & figured out how to shift the automatic transmission into 4 wheel drive etc.  Had never done that with an automatic before.  Basically it’s the same procedure as the Wrangler except instead of using a clutch pedal for neutral one pulls the automatic gearshift into the neutral position before re-engaging the gears.  Next I gotta read up on the procedure for towing ‘4 wheels down’.    

TOPPING UP THE WATER LEVEL IN OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND…THIS KIND OF POND IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IN CONGRESS BUT MAYBE ONLY HAVE THE SIZE

It’s been nearly a month since we have been home from the Southwest now & I’m doing pretty good so far.  Haven’t been bugged by that usual hitch-itch wanderlust thingy yet.  Usually after being in any one place for longer than 2 weeks I get pretty antsy about moving on to see & do something different somewhere.  Actually sometimes the more I think about it I’d say a little more stay at home contentment would be welcome for a change.  Sure would make my days less gnarly if I wasn’t always thinking of places I would rather be other than the place where I actually am.  Summer travels are really not in the cards for us anymore.  We had thought of a trip to British Columbia or Canada’s east coast where Kelly has never been but the harsh reality is simply the costs involved of doing those trips.  Keep in mind with the expense of a house here in Bayfield & another one in Congress Arizona funds have a tendency to get stretched a little thin at times & we are forced to prioritize.  And priority one is to never have to spend another winter in Canada!!  We do hope to do a few shorter trips this summer but unfortunately we will not be doing any long ones like we once thought we could.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  An expert on whales was telling friends about some of the unusual findings he had made. "For instance," he said, "some whales can communicate at a distance of 300 miles."  "What on earth would one whale say to another 300 miles away?" asked a sarcastic member of the group.  "I'm not absolutely sure," answered the expert, "but it sounds something like this: 'Heeeeeeey! Can you hear me nowwww!?!'

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- 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.

MONDAY’S POST

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs, cackling, & telling me, "You're next."  They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.