BOY OH BOY DID OUR DRIVEWAY EVER SMELL GOOD THIS MORNING

JUST A RANDOM SAMPLE OF PHOTOS TAKEN OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS

Washing the Jeep in our driveway this morning I became aware of the nicest of smells.  Seemed to me someone somewhere baking something very scrumptious nearby.  Dare I head into the house in anticipation those fresh baking smells might be wafting out of Kelly’s oven.  Well in I went & sure enough there on the counter sat a baking tin with a dozen freshly baked bran muffins right out of our very own oven itself.  Can't remember ever eating more than one muffin at a time but I wasn't long in wolfing down two of the 'best ever' bran muffins I've ever tasted.  And bran isn't even my most favortist.

AN OLDER COUPLE ENJOY SOME QUIET MID MORNING TIME AT GODERICH’S COVE BEACH

It was the noisy clatter of heavy rain on our metal roof that roused me out of a deep sleep around 5 a.m.  A much anticipated cold front had finally arrived blowing out our hot & humid weather.  Well at least for awhile anyway & with that cooler air this morning I was energized not only to wash the Jeep but to wax a large section of the Big EEE's front end.  Fired up the genny for a bit & cleaned some bin doors on the rig as well. 

Nice to feel some travel urges beginning to stir.  Been tossing around some ideas on how to make the rig's interior more comfortable.  It's all very nice of course but as most RV'ers know the furniture that comes standard with many RV's is definitely not always the best practical furniture for one's maximum comfort.

PHEEBS & i STOP FOR A BITE TO EAT AT AN EATERY IN SEAFORTH ONTARIO

LIKE HOW THIS PLACE HAS SO NICELY DECORATED THINGS WITH COLORFUL FLOWERS

Talked over some travel plans Wednesday regarding our route to the South-west in a couple months.  First thoughts a few months ago were to head straight to Congress from Bayfield.  We're now looking at a couple options.  Due to problems with our rig & Kelly's health last year we had to cut our trip short mid way & fast tracked our way to Arizona from southern Saskatchewan.  A brief stop in Custer South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore & we were back on the road heading quickly south again.  We said at the time maybe this year we could return to South Dakota via the U.S. route & take in additional highlights around Custer missed last year.  We had also planned to take in Utah's Capital Reef National Park a year ago as well but had to by-pass that too.  We may put Capital Reef back into this year's travel plans.  Just some early thoughts at the moment & as readers know our travel plans have a habit of changing even as we're rolling down the road.  Sometimes we don't know where we're going until after we have actually ended up somewhere.

AND A FEW MORE BARNS FOR MY COLLECTION

LIKED THE SIGN

Haven't had any dizziness for 5 or 6 days now & bending over has not been a problem.  Have not had a feeling of wooziness either.  Been taking things slow & am still comfortably sleeping in my recliner.  I actually get a much better sleep in my recliner than my bed.  No rolling around.  Have not tried laying down flat yet & am in no hurry to do so until I feel comfortable enough to do so.

SOME OF OUR COUNTRY ROADS CUT RIGHT THROUGH PICTURESQUE SWAMPS

  

Had to slip into Clinton this morning with a slow leak in the Jeeps driver side rear tire.  Didn’t take Pheebs because I had no idea how long I’d be waiting.  Turns out they took me right in.  Nothing serious but it still relieved us of another twenty five dollar bill.  We thought there were 4 new tires on the Jeep when we bought it back in the Spring but the tire guys said only the 2 front tires were new.  Said the passenger side rear needed replacing.  Said it would be $215+tax for a tire.  I picked myself up off the floor & slunk off home.

Have noticed for awhile now a problem with our sidebar's 'Blog Followers/Friend Connect list.  We have had about a half dozen new Followers over the past few months but every time I click on one of the them all the thumbnail pictures disappear.  That is why I haven't welcomed each & every one to our site like I have been in the habit of doing over the years.  I generally like to add each persons link in my welcome.  However this no longer seems to work but despite that I would like to welcome Sondra, Larry, Manoel, Havanadan, Deb, Hong Long, Budhi & Cyndi.  Thanks for dropping by folks.

 

Long time readers know every once in a long while I generally go though a short writing slump.  Sometimes a day, occasionally two & maybe once or twice over the years a 3 day slump although I don't recall a 3 day slump since becoming a daily Blogger a number of years ago.  Every once & awhile my interest temporarily slips & my mind goes blank.  In case anyone was wondering I do enjoy writing & taking photos every day & have no plans of giving my hobby up any time soon.  As long as there are readers I'm hoping there will always be a writer & vice versa:)) 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6 pieces.  He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces."

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I was on vacation, playing the slot machines. It was my first time in a casino, and I wasn't sure how the machines operated.  "Excuse me," I said to a casino employee. "How does this work?"  The worker showed me how to insert a bill, hit the spin button, and operate the release handle.  "And where does the money come out?" I asked.  He smiled and motioned to a far wall before saying, "Usually at the ATM."

MAYBE TOMORROW

SEEN ALONG LAKE HURON SHORES THIS AFTERNOON

Everything is fine & I’m feeling good.  Just couldn’t get myself interested in writing anything tonight or taking many photos today.  Maybe tomorrow…………………

SCOUTING OUT A LAKE FRONT PROPERTY NORTH OF GODERICH FOR SOME FRIENDS TODAY

GROANER’S CORNER:((  You know you live in a small town when...

...The "road hog" in front of you on Main Street is a farmer's combine.

...The local phone book has only one yellow page.

...Third Street is on the edge of town.

...You leave your jacket on the back of the chair in the cafe, and when you go back the next day, it's still there, on the same chair.

...You don't signal turns because everyone knows where you're going, anyway.

...No social events can be scheduled when the school gym floor is being varnished.

...You call a wrong number and they supply you with the correct one.

...Everyone knows all the news before it's published; they just read the hometown paper to see whether the publisher got it right.

KIND OF A NOT MUCH MONDAY

Needed to pick up some prescriptions at Walmart in Goderich & knowing we were in for another stifling hot day Pheebs & I were out the door shortly after 8 a.m.  Pharmacy not open till 9 so we headed ourselves down to the harbor to put in some time.  Drove along the beach & noticed even more Inukshuks than just a few days ago.  Stopped at the dog walking area for a walk then headed for Walmart at 9 to pick up my stuff.  Not feeling just a hundred percent & with the day's heat & humidity building we made our way back to Bayfield stopping to take a few photos along the way.  Thank heavens we have a Jeep with A/C now.  Six o’clock news tonight said the humidex record was broken today.  So much for my mid August annual cooling down prediction & pleasant like early Autumn weather rolling in.  What a kick in the pants this is!!!!

DOG WALKING AREA LOOKING SOUTH…..LAKE IS OFF TO THE RIGHT

DOG WALKING AREA LOOKING NORTH & BY GOLLY HERE COMES A DOGGIE RUNNING NOW:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The small town's sheriff was also its veterinarian. One night the phone rang and his wife answered.  An agitated voice inquired, "Is your husband there?"
"Do you require his services as a sheriff or as a vet?"
"Both. We can't get our dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar in it."

ROLLING THROUGH OUR SUNDAY MORNING COUNTRYSIDE IN THE BIG EEE

To the soothing melodic sounds of Will Ackerman's acoustic guitar the Bayfield Bunch rolled through southern Ontario's scenic countryside this morning aboard the Big EEE.  It was time for the rig’s monthly exercise run.  Kelly, Pheebs & I headed ourselves north up to Goderich on a mighty fine summer Sunday morning.  McDonald's were advertising Angus burgers so we pulled into the Speedy Auto Glass parking lot next door.  Pheebs & I held the Fort while Kelly walked over & came back with a couple burgs.  Probably well over 4 months since we last sat down at our rig's table for something to eat.  Burgs were Okay but at $6.99 apiece it's not something we will go back for again.  No matter, it was just nice for all of us to be in the Motorhome going somewhere together again:))

NICE MORNING FOR A WEE CRUISE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

DOGGIE WAITS PATIENTLY FOR THE BURGER LADY TO RETURN

AND BY GOLLY HERE SHE COMES NOW

Kelly noticed a heat alert had been issued for our Bayfield area today so needless to say we stayed inside & stayed cool.  I was needing a do nothing relaxing day anyway so it worked out well.

Finished my book THE MURROW BOYS today & must say I thoroughly enjoyed this step back into a past era of early journalism Edward R. Murrow style.  Interesting, educational, & above all a look into the reality of our times then & now.  I’ve always had an interest in journalism but never had the education, the smarts, or the confidence to pursue it years ago.  Life just kept getting in my way.

 

Hadn't mentioned this in my Saturday night post but at the time of publishing my post I was not feeling well again due to some dizziness & nausea.  Tonight (Sunday) I am feeling fine again & here's what happened.  Figured me mentioning this might help somebody else.  Having been unable to sleep in my bed for over a week I decided Friday night to give it a try again since feeling so good after my successful Vertigo EPLEY maneuver performed by my Nurse Practitioner last Thursday.  Using a special pillow to help with my sleep I still found myself rolling from side to side & on one of those rolls in the night from left to right I again became dizzy.  Hauled myself out of bed & moved to my recliner for the remainder of the night.  All day Saturday I had recurring minor dizzy spells when bending over again & didn't feel well.  Things were just ‘off’ again.  After publishing Saturday night's post I went in & laid across Kelly's bed letting my head drop down over the edge.  This was my first attempt at the EPLEY maneuver by myself.  Head turned to the right for about 45 seconds then to the left for 45 seconds.  The left head turn caused dizziness but I  held on & the dizziness did stop.  Sat back up, felt sick to my stomach for the next couple hours but then began feeling better with no more dizziness.  Slept in my recliner for the night & woke up feeling totally fine.  No dizziness or nausea all day Sunday which told me my EPLEY maneuver had worked.  But here's my dilemma now.  Can I never sleep in a bed again?  Must I always sleep in a reclining position?  If so that's not so bad because I find sleeping in my recliner totally comfortable anyway.  But oh-oh here's a problem.  We don't have a recliner in our Motorhome..........................

  

Ever thought about all the advantages of sleeping in a recliner?  No, well I have been & here’s a few of them I thought of today…………Never ever have to make my bed again.  No sheets to keep changing & washing.  No more flumpy pillows.  Solves my rolling back & forth problem which leads to my current Vertigo problem.  I can fall asleep & wake up with the TV remote still in my hand.  Don’t ever have to worry about falling out of bed & I don’t have to worry about Monsters being under my bed.  When I wake up I’m already half way to where I want to go.  I’ve never had coffee brought to me in bed but Kelly always brings me one in the morning if I’m in my recliner. Bonus.  Pheebs can’t curl up on top of me if I’m in bed but can & does curl up & snooze on my lap when I’m in the big reclining chair.  And if I have to go to the washroom in the night I’m already part way to standing up.  Yep, this recent Vertigo thing may just have put me on the right track to some mighty comfortable sleeping for a change.  Long as them Monsters don’t figure out a way to get under my recliner that is……………………………………….   

GROANER’S CORNER:(( When I went to get my driver's license renewed, our local motor-vehicle bureau was packed. The line inched along for almost an hour until the man ahead of me finally got his license.  He inspected his photo for a moment and commented to the clerk, "I was standing in line so long, I ended up looking pretty grouchy in this picture." The clerk looked at his picture closely. "It's okay," he reassured the man: "That's how you're going to look if & when a police officer pulls you over anyway."

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A man walked by a table in a hotel and noticed three men and a dog playing cards. The dog was playing with extraordinary performance.  "This is a very smart dog," the man commented.  "Not so smart," said one of the players. "Every time he gets a good hand he wags his tail."

I FLEW TO BORREGO SPRINGS FRIDAY NIGHT, DROVE AROUND CHRISTMAS CIRCLE & WENT TO JILBERTOS

Our morning sky dawned bright & clear but the air was already muggy at 9 a.m.  Even Pheebs didn't want to go for a morning walk with Kelly so I took her for a little Jeep ride with all the windows down.  We picked up our usual 'to go' in Clinton & headed a short distance to Huron County's Hullett Marsh.  Thought maybe we could try a short walk if the bugs weren't too bad.  Couldn't believe the heat & heavy humidity in the air when we got out of the Jeep.  Amazingly enough there were no Mosquitos but the triangular shaped Deer flies were soon after us.  A few hurried photos & it was back in the Jeep with windows up & air conditioning on.  Criss-crossed a few country roads & we were home again about an hour & half after we left.  Just tooooo hot to be comfortable doing anything outside.  Although a nice looking day we spent it inside with our A/C cranked comfortably wearing sweaters, mitts, & winter hats.  Unfortunately our 10 day weather forecast is calling for more of the same.  Nuts!!!!

I flew down to Borrego Springs California Friday night in my Google Earth plane & landed on the road just south of Christmas Circle.  Hopped in my 'Street View' Google car & took me for a drive around that big wonderful circle of green grass then up main street stopping at Los Jilbertos which is my favorite little eatery in the Springs.  Looked like they were closed so no burger & fries for me this time.  I'll just have to wait a few months until we walk through Jilbertos door in person again.  Of all the places we have traveled Borrego Springs is one of my favs.  Each year I always look forward to going there.  Sooooo many great memories for us in that area over the past 8 years.  It was December of 08 when we first heard of, then drove to Borrego Springs from Slab City.  We had been at the Slabs having a solar system installed in our Class A Damon Challenger & totally had no idea where we were going next until we talked to another RV'er who suggested Borrego Springs over on the west side of the Salton Sea.  We have been to Borrego Springs every winter since being drawn back there over & over by it’s charming quaint appeal.   So many things to do, so many things to see in that whole area.  And the scenery, the desert sunrises & sunsets are just beautiful.  No big cities nearby so the dark night sky just goes on forever.  Well there ya go, now I've got myself scratching away at my hitch-itch on the early side & it's still a couple months before we even get out of Canada.  Guess I should have just left my Google Earth plane parked on the runway...........................

DAD ARE YOU SURE THERE ISN’T ANY OF THAT CARROT MUFFIN LEFT

I did finally get up enough courage today to broach the subject of our ‘time of departure’ for the South-west this Fall.  We always seem to have a little tussle every year about departure times.  I always want to get rolling sooner than later while Kelly prefers to get rolling later rather than sooner.  Same thing happens every year.  She has her reasons for later & I have my reasons for sooner.  But at least we are in total agreement about one thing & that is none of this waiting until after Christmas stuff.  Every year we hear of fellow RV’ers fighting their way through bad winter weather, snow storms, icy roads, high winds & rain.  November is a seasonal change month like March & weather can turn on a dime in these parts so I always like to be out of here well before there is any chance at all of those early winter driving  hazards.  Our normal time for heading south generally centers around whatever Saturday comes closest to October 21rst.  This year we have a Saturday on the 24th & another one on the 31rst.  Of course you know which Saturday I would pick.  And I know Kelly would prefer to leave sometime in mid to late November.  Brrrrrrrr!!  Haven’t decided on our route yet but I have a feeling we may just decide to head straight for Congress Arizona.  Of course that could very well change once we get our RV travel heads back on straight.  I like when that happens & I’m hoping we can get those heads back on sooner than later:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A minister was asked to dinner by one of his parishioners who he knew as being an unkempt housekeeper. When he sat down at the table, he noticed that the dishes were the dirtiest that he had ever seen in his life.  "Were these dishes ever washed?" he asked his hostess, running his fingers over the grit and grime.  She replied, "They're as clean as soap and water could get them".  He felt a bit apprehensive, but blessed the food anyway and started eating. It was really delicious and he said so, despite the dirty dishes.  When dinner was over, the hostess took the dishes outside and shouted, "Here Soap! Here Water!"

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Ole and Lena were sitting down to their usual cup of morning coffee, listening to the weather report coming over the radio. "There will be 3 to 5 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the odd numbered side of the streets." Ole got up from his coffee and replies "Jeez, OK."  Two days later, again they are both sitting down with their cups of morning coffee and the weather forecast is, "There will be 2 to 4 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the even numbered side of the streets." Ole got up from his coffee and replies, "Jeez, OK."  Three days later, they both are once again sitting down with their cups of coffee and the weather forecast is, "There will be 6 to 8 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the..." and then the power went out and Ole didn't get the rest of the instructions. He says to Lena, "Jeez, what am I going to do now, Lena?"  Lena replies, "Aw, Ole, yust leave the car in the garage."