TODAY I SWITCHED OFF THE A/C AND TURNED ON THE FURNACE:))

LILY PADS IN A CREEK

If it weren't for it being a Monday I would have thought it were a Sunday.  Couldn't figure out this morning when I heard the garbage truck coming down the road why they were working on a Sunday.  Long week-ends have a habit of doing that to me once and awhile. 

Our hot humid days are gone and temps today dropped to 55F with a drizzly rain in the air.  That is perfectly fine with this guy and I hope that is the end of that miserable humid weather for this year.  So nice because we can open doors and windows again.  Won't be long and we'll be kicking on the sunroom fireplace and the main furnace. (actually, I did end up turning on the furnace for a bit)  I like that feeling of coming into a heated cozy atmosphere from colder outside temperatures.   Hot chocolate, simmering potpourri and soft ambient music.  Autumn, I just love it more and more every year.

It was 9 years ago today that Kelly and I came across a place with a 'For Sale' sign that we figured had our name on it.  Turned out it did and we moved into our current digs about 6 weeks later on a cold, wet and rainy Halloween Night.  We have been here ever since and for me it marks the longest period of time I have lived in one single place since leaving home way back in 1965.

Be sure to check out RVSUE AND HER CANINE CREW Here's a fellow RV Blogger with a flare for writing.   And, she has the excitement and enthusiasm to go right along with it too.  New to the RV world she is currently making her way around New Mexico with her 2 Canine Pals in a Casita trailer.  I particularly like her take on life and it is always reassuring for me to read another persons thoughts and feelings much akin to my own in many ways.  I particularly got a kick out of her statement,  By nature I’m a loner. (I said LONER, not serial killer, okay?) This Gal has Spunk:))

I was a good Boy today....I cleaned my room:))  Been kind of overdo for awhile but wanted to make sure I had things cleaned up and organized before we head out next month.  As a rule I am basically a fellow who likes to keep things neat and tidy but I have been known to fall off the wagon into the mud from time to time.  And yep, my room was beginning to get a little on the muddy side alright.  Well, especially now since it looks like I will be sharing my room with the Pheebster…..

A shout out and a big thank you to all the folks who send in encouraging emails from time to time.  Very much appreciated I can assure you.  And, to answer the following question in this mornings mail box......... "Thanks for doing what you do, I just wonder if you ever feel the pressure of the daily blog?"  Yes, I certainly do but let me just say this......the pressures and problems I face are generally caused by none other than myself:))

A bit late getting to the computer tonight because I became wrapped up in a TV history series earlier about the Moguls and Movies from their early beginnings in the 1920’s.  If something has to do with the realities of history, chances are I am probably going to be interested in it.

 THE LAST PARAGRAPH:{  I thought the Gypsy G-Mas made a good point in a comment on my blog Sunday night regarding my opinions on Full Timing.  They, in part said, “There's a lot of truth to the 'grass is always greener on the other side'. Although I don't regret our decision to go fulltime, I feel like I now better appreciate a lot of things we had when we were in a stix n brix.”  A point well made and a point well taken……….10-4:{

GROANER’S CORNER:  Tonight’s groaner is a bit long……but it is truly a groaner!!

After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed.
The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.
After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day.

Just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer's job. The bishop was incredulous.
'You have no arms !'
'No matter,' said the man. 'Observe !'
And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon.

The bishop listened in astonishment; convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo.
But suddenly, as he rushed forward to strike the bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below.

The stunned bishop rushed down two hundred and ninety five church steps, when he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moment before.
As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, 'Bishop, who was this man ?'.
'I don't know his name,' the bishop sadly replied,
' ................. but his face rings a bell'
WAIT ! WAIT ! There's more
The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop continued his interviews for the bell ringer of Notre Dame.
The first man to approach him said, 'Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch that fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honour his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty.'
The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and, as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, twirled around, and died on the spot.
Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side.
'What has happened ? Who is this man ?' the first monk asked breathlessly.
'I don't know his name,' sighed the distraught bishop, 'but...'
'He’s a dead ringer for his brother.'

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy

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

THE FULL TIMING DREAM……I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT

A FIELD OF BEANS IN RURAL SOUTH-WESTERN ONTARIO

Had it not been for the thunder and lightning knocking our power out about 2:30 a.m. this morning I might have racked up my fourth night of a reasonably good night's sleep.  Motormouse woke Kelly up when she crashed through her door and scrambled under the bed.  Pheebe handled the storm in stride as she took up most of my bed again leaving a small space on one side for me.  When I head down the hall to go to bed now she races ahead of me, jumps up on my bed and picks her spot.  In our house, dogs rule.   And, at the first sign I may be waking up in the morning, I am immediately smothered in big slurpy dog smooches:))

You would think with my miserable mechanical track record I would know enough to leave things alone by now other than trying to change a light bulb now and again.  But, oh no, I had to go out one morning this week and mess with the rig's hot water tank and drain plug.  Just wanted to drain the tank and refill it.  Those plugs are generally as inaccessible as fuse panels.  Took me awhile with an assortment of wrenches, crowbars, hammers and a front end loader to get that plug out and drain the tank.  Of course  when I attempted to screw the plastic plug back in I over tightened it and broke the head off the plug.  Par for the course.  So now the plug's threads are fully inserted with no way for me to remove it.  Even if I had a tool to get it out, knowing me, I would probably screw that up too and just do further damage.  Luckily, we have a fellow here in Bayfield who makes house calls so Lorne from Lorne's RV is going to drop around this week and hopefully fix that up for us.

I remembered JERRY asking why I clean the storage bins out in the Motor Home when we get back from the Southwest each Spring.  In fact, that is a question I frequently ask myself as well.  After nearly 6 months on the road in a lot of dusty and sometimes muddy locations those bins have a habit of getting dirty and somewhat disorganized at times so I generally like to empty the bins and hose them out.  Some of the things in the bins are used here at home in the summer such as lawn chairs, BBQ, etc. so I just leave them out.  For whatever reason, I like to start anew each Fall with empty bins because I have a tendency to organize things a little differently each year.  No wonder I can never find anything two years in a row!!  And why put things up in the rafters?  Maybe if I knew the answer to that question I wouldn’t be putting things up in the rafters.

Tonight the Bayfield Bunch welcomes our newest Blog Follower, Donald.  Welcome aboard my friend and thanks for having the interest and taking the time to stop by.

First thing Tuesday morning many children will be heading back to school in our area and quite a few will be picked up by school bus from the many farms in our rural countryside.  Kelly and I were both school bus drivers for a few years and I am still reminded of those days when I see the big yellow school buses on the road or the occasional little elf like buildings at the end of some farm lanes.   Parents have built these huts or shelters for their kids to wait inside for the school bus on cold frosty wintery mornings.  Below are a few I have come across on my back road photo tours.

 

  

 

Have you ever been bothered by nasty smells in your rig and have had trouble finding the cause.  Check out R SANITY RV ADVENTURES and you just might find out the cause for those smells and how to easily remedy the situation.  Who knew.

BIT OF A MIXED HERD HERE

A question was asked by a commenter as to why I was giving up my dream of Full Timing.   There is both a long and short answer to this question and I will give you the short answer.  First, let me say I have not given up the dream.  I will always have that.  For a major lifestyle change like Full Timing both parties have to totally be on the same page or it is not going to work.  That's it.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  In Canada's Newfoundland the Newfies have finally solved their own fuel problems. They imported 50 million tonnes of sand from the Arabs and they are going to drill for their own oil.  Those Newfies are pretty smart eh:))

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GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER

https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER

Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE  http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR

PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS   http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy

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

IT’S JUST THE KIND OF GUY I AM…….

 
PEOPLE GATHER TO WATCH AN INCOMING STORM THIS AFTERNOON
With the sound of rumbling thunder out over the lake again I quickly checked the computer’s weather map and saw a storm cell coming in.  Camera's into the Jeep and off to the the cliffs overlooking Bayfield's Beach.  Some great lightning bolts out over the darkening waters of Lake Huron.  Saw half a dozen boats all with the high bow waves racing for the safety of Bayfield Harbour.  Didn't seem to be any wind associated with the storm though and soon the threatening dark clouds turned a pale gray it began to rain.  Cameras back into the Jeep and I headed home.  Kelly had gone to Goderich so this marked the first time Pheebe had been home alone for over half an hour.  Happy to report the house was still intact when I returned:))

YES, THERE WAS A STRANGE YELLOW COLOUR IN THE AIR
Heard later on our 6 o’clock news that this storm which skipped over us caused a lot of damage about 60 miles inland with downed trees, ripped roofs etc.  Environment Canada will investigate once again to see if a tornado actually touched down anywhere.  We still have high humidity levels which are due to be blown out of here overnight with temps once again coming back down around the high 60’s mark.  Now, that is civilized.

I ventured back into Blog Land for a few minutes this morning and noticed GYPSY has happily found what I think just might be the answer at last to her unsettled living arrangement.  In her own words, "Homeless no more!"   In my opinion, the fact she has found a 55+ community is going to be a huge asset for her.  Her post got me to thinking about the 55+ community we have been living in for nearly 9 years now.  Of all the Parks we looked at in our area years ago there was only one that interested us and stood head and shoulders above all the rest because of it's uniqueness, one of them being…….. an Adult Park. 
Of course I am talking about the 5 Seasons Estates just a couple miles northeast of downtown Bayfield, Ontario.
Now, what I'm going to say here may ruffle the usual feathers but I'm sure the majority of folks will know exactly what I am talking about.  Probably one of the greatest things we have going for us in our Park is the fact it is 55+.  That is hugely significant because it means we do not have noisy kids running around or teenagers up and down the streets with their cars.  We have zero crime problems here and again I see that as a direct result of the Park's mature residents.  No noisy drunken parties, no neighbourhood egos, no loud music and no attitudes, (ok, maybe a few)   You could shoot a canon down any one of our quiet tree lined streets at any time of day or night and not hit anyone.  We can bicycle here without the threat of being mowed down and anyone can walk at any time of the night with absolutely no threat to their well being.  I attribute all those positive things to simply not letting younger people and families in here.  That may not sit well with some folks…………. but facts are facts!! 

AFTER THE STORM
With all the crap and garbage going on in our society today it is like we live in a 1950's time warp in our little 60 or so unit Park.  Four of our closest neighbours are single Seniors with the other 3 being Senior couples and actually, we rarely see each other.  Our treed lots are huge compared to any other Park like this that we have ever seen.  In fact, our lot is probably bigger than most homes found in many suburbs.  And, because of the way I have planted trees and shrubs on our lot we basically cannot even see the neighbour's or their houses.
 
We do have a Clubhouse in our Park but it is not an active one and I see that as a good thing because it is just down the street from us and who would want all that extra noise anyway.  There is another Mobile Home Park located a few miles south of us across the Bayfield River.  Fortunately we have some heavily forested land between us because sometimes on a long weekend Saturday night if I'm out walking I can hear the faint whoopin and thumpin of their live outside band.  We are so fortunate that we do not have any of that kind of stuff going on here. 
I've learned a few things over the years and one of them is this, 'if you are in the mood for party noise then go to where the party noise is and be a part of that noise all you want but when it's time to go home, I want to come home to where the quiet is.  We can do that here at the 5 Seasons.  Am I old fashioned?  Nope, if I have to be around people I much prefer to be around mature people.  I lost too many good years being around the other types of people decades ago. 

THE QUIET STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE
Our Park is located in the country and surrounded on 3 sides by forest with the 4th side being farmland.  We have miles of walking trails here where it is possible to walk quiet paths with rarely encountering another person.  Now, how nice is that:))  Our streets are all tree lined with each lot also having it's own canopy of trees.  We basically live in a Pine forest.  Mail is picked up in a mail box hut near the main entrance.  And no, we do not have one of those annoyingly silly wooden arm gates at our entrance either.   Garbage and recycling are picked up Monday mornings.  We can have campfires in the privacy of our backyard whenever we want as well.  We also have our Motor Home parked right on our lot with room to spare, and again, how nice is that. 

Several years ago the house across the street and down from us a tad was occupied by a single lady who's health finally forced her to sell.  A young 55+ couple from London Ontario bought it because they loved this beautiful forested Park so much.  In less than 2 years they couldn't stand it here any longer and were gone.  Tooooooo quiet!!  I think he liked it here and would have stayed but she couldn't handle being away from the shopping malls, big box stores, trendy Shoppe's and boutique craft places, fancy restaurants and all her friends.  The very things that we love so much and drew us to this Park were the very same things that finally drove that couple out of the Park.  They were accustomed to the bright lights social life and had to get back to the city.

THE LONDON COUPLE COULDN’T HANDLE ALL THE PEACE AND QUIET WHEN THEY LIVED HERE IN THIS HOUSE
Now, I can see a few folks right now with a question on their minds that might go something like this....'if your Park is such a great place, why is it you talk about wanting to leave there and live in the country??  Good question by the way and I will try to keep my answer as short as I can, if that's possible.  When Kelly and I met we were both living in big cities.  She was in Cambridge and I was in Stratford.  Kelly's life as well as mine before that had been spent mainly in large towns and cities.  Always in communities and always around people.  Had Kelly and I not mutually decided we had had enough of that way of life we would never have found our way to the old abandoned farm house near Fullarton Ontario that we made liveable and stayed for 7 years.   It was that 7 years of country living that changed everything for both of us.  Not just me, but Kelly as well!!  It spoiled us both, but spoiled us in a good way.  We will probably never live in a town or city again unless we are carried there on stretchers. 
Had we come right here to the 5 Seasons Estates Park without spending those years on the old farm I would probably not be as restless as I am now.  It is because we have lived in the country that we understand the difference between community living and rural living.  It is why we both would love to return to country living some day. 

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:))  Ed left a comment on my post last night that hit the nail square on the head for me.  In part he said, " remember how much you liked the old farm property that you lived on prior to your move into Bayfield. You need a new challenge, another small piece of ground (3-4 acres) would be perfect for you to create another 'jungle' for your summers."  Ed is right and that is the bottom line for me which I have blogged about many times before.  Yes, we have a really nice place here but the challenge has gone out of it for me.  Yes, there is still maintenance and puttering and I'm sure a lot of folks would love to be doing just that but I have always needed a bigger challenge and am always at my personal best when I have my teeth into a new project.  Not puttering!!  Oh how I envy JB in Alberta and MIKE in Montana with their ways of life.
The best days I had this past winter were the days we spent at the Lazy W Ranch near Elfrida.  I was busy, I had my teeth into something and by the time we left that property, it was looking a whole lot better than when we had arrived there.  With the slight possibility that we had a chance at buying that place, my head was ablaze with ideas. Unused muscles were once again back at work as I spent hours clearing brush, etc.  I had even figured out where the new Coyote proof fencing was going to be.  Even had a spot figured out where visiting RV'ers could park their rigs.  (yes, you read that right:)) My mind and body were alive again both mentally and physically.   And, how nice is that.  What a great time I had for a short while working on another dream.  It's just the kind of guy I am.  With my original dream of full timing slipping further and further away each year and age creeping up on me, I need a new challenge, a new interest, a new project.  A new dream.............

GROANER’S CORNER:  One of Microsoft's finest technicians was drafted and sent to boot camp. At the rifle range, he was given some instruction, a rifle, and bullets. He fired several shots at the target. The report came from the target area that all attempts had completely missed the target.
The technician looked at his rifle, and then at the target. He looked at the rifle again, and then at the target again. He put his finger over the end of the rifle barrel and squeezed the trigger with his other hand. The end of his finger was blown off, whereupon he yelled toward the target area, "It's leaving here just fine, the trouble must be at your end!"
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GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER
https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy


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

SO NICE TO SEE TOYS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR AGAIN:))

RAYS OF MORNING SUNSHINE FILTERING THROUGH THE PINES ALONG OUR FOREST TRAIL THIS M0RNING

   

Hopefully, the last hot humid day of summer has wrung it's last beads of sweat out of me as I hang on the weatherman's words today that we'll not have another humid day like this until next summer some time.  I sure hope that guy is right because I spent most of my day inside staying out of the heat.  Definitely not my favourite kind of day.

Between trips to the southwest in the winter I generally clean the rigs bins out and store things up in the rafters of our car port.  Spent some time in the cooler hours of this morning getting things down and dusted off for loading back into the rig.  Every little bit helps as our departure date draws closer.  I have noticed that time really seems to be slipping by this last while.  Here we are in September already and how nice is that:))

Unbeknownst to us we had a fellow RV Blogger drop by Deer Park Lodge a couple days ago.  Randy and Pam Warner from THE ROADRUNNER CHRONICLES were on their way from TOBERMORY Ontario to Port Huron on their way to Tennessee.  Number 21 highway runs right through Bayfield and right past DEER PARK LODGE where Kelly works so Randy took the time to stop in and say Hello.  Unfortunately, that was the morning Kelly and I had gone to visit my Uncle Harry.  Randy had wrote us a note which we just got today.  Thanks for stopping in Randy and sorry we missed you. 

Hello and welcome to Debbie Potter who has just joined us as our latest Blog Follower.  Always nice to see a new face on our Followers list:)) (nothing wrong with the old faces of course)

It is so nice to see toys flying through the air again as Motormouse and the Pheebs are learning to play together.  Our after supper toy time has resumed as Motor teaches Pheebs the rules of the game.  Rubber squeaky toys and furry teddy bears seem to be new for the Pheebster and what a blast it is to see the 2 furry kids racing around the living playing together.  Just as she did when Checkers first joined our family years ago, Motor has established herself as the Boss over Pheebe.  If push comes to shove it is the Motormouse who is the enforcer and Pheebe respects that.  Just as Max, Checkers and the Mouse provided us with endless hours of entertainment over the years I can see Pheebs and the Motor will be doing the same thing.  They have fast become big Pals and from the very moment I met Pheebe I could tell she had the type of personality that would get along just fine with our little Motormouse:))

A LITTLE DOGGY FACE REFLECTION

Not being a joiner of clubs anymore I recently turned down an invitation to join the newly forming Bayfield Camera Club.  That was a hard decision for me because I was a member of the Stratford Camera Club years ago and enjoyed it at that time.  But, it was the late 80’s and like I said, it was a different time.  I am currently a member of the Tumbleweed Photo Group in Elfrida Arizona but that is kind of a different scenario with it being a very small group.  For anyone interested in photography I would highly recommend joining a club because it is just about the best and fastest way to learn.  If anyone in our area is interested in the Bayfield Camera Club, just let me know and I can put you in touch with someone from the Club.  Who knows, maybe I will have a change of heart over the winter and re-think my decision again.

I THINK SOMEBODY IS PRETTY POOPED FROM RUNNING SO FAST

THE LAST PARAGRAPH:  It is at this point of the day and at this point in my posts that I sometimes sit here at the keyboard trying to decide whether to include some final thoughts and opinions on things or not.  Oh, I always have thoughts and opinions alright but it’s just knowing whether to share them.  At one point in my earlier blogging days I never really thought about that a whole lot and just went ahead and dumped most of whatever was on my mind into my post anyway.  Guess I still have a habit doing that sometimes, but……………….  

  

GROANER’S CORNER:  According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated, "Wash. Biol. Surv." until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:
"Dear Sirs: While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you it was horrible."

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GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER

https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy

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

A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP AND MORE TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS

RUMOURS AFTER THE TORNADO SAID THE BEN MILLER INN HAD BEEN DESTROYED, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE….IT HAS NOT!!

One of our commenters Wednesday suggested I try Benadryl for my sleeping problem and that kind of rang a bell with me.  I had recently moved some things from our medicine cabinet in the house to the Motor Home and one of those things was a package of Benadryl.  Tried one of those last night and it worked.  Well, it worked until I was jolted out my sleep by a nasty thunder, lightning and rain storm roaring through.  Luckily the Benadryl sent me right back to Lala Land and kept me there until 6:30 this morning.   Big change in my mental & physical well being today simply by having myself a better night's sleep.  I have always tried to stay away from pills of any kind & especially sleeping type pills but maybe in the long run I am doing myself more harm than good.

REPAIRS ARE UNDER WAY AT THIS OLD PLANT WHERE CHAMPION ROAD GRADERS WERE ONCE MADE YEARS AGO

TWO OF THREE CAR WASHES IN GODERICH WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED
Kelly was home this morning so I took the opportunity to throw my cameras in the Jeep & head on up to Goderich for another look around an area of Goderich that I had missed before.  After the tornado had ravaged downtown Goderich it headed east and began tearing up houses just a few blocks away.  It is an older housing section of Goderich and it took a pretty good mauling.  There are people there who will not be going back to their homes again.

 

Following the Tornado there were many stories going around about places being totally destroyed but many of those stories were just that....stories.  We had heard the exclusive & ritzy BEN MILLER INN had been destroyed about 10 miles east of Goderich so I headed over that way to have a look for myself.  The Ben Miller area was hit hard with many trees down but the Ben Miller Inn itself is basically fine and open for family dining.  Some of the other buildings like cottages, guest house’s and Spa on the property have sustained damage but work crews are busy getting things cleaned up, rebuilt and restored.  From what I could see, the main damage was to the surrounding forest & landscaping around the Inn itself.

THE OLD RECLUSIVE AND HIDEAWAY BEN MILLER INN HAS SEEN MANY POLITICIANS COME AND GO AS WELL AS A FEW MOVIE STARS ALONG THE WAY
When I returned home I had enough energy left over to clean the interior of the Jeep, etc & if it hadn't been so humid I would have taken the Pheebs for a spin around the trail.  Hopefully we are on the final countdown of humid days this summer.   

 

So nice to get out into the countryside again this morning.  If only we could figure out a way to stay in the countryside permanently.  There is nothing that excites or interests me more than, when on my back road photo tours, I come across a country property with a 'For Sale' on it.  Now that we have pretty much given up any idea of buying anything south of the border, moving to British Columbia or Full Timing, our interests have been re-focused on our own area again.  Came across a place about 3 weeks ago near the little town of Holmesville that set my imagination on fire.  Took some photos & brought Kelly back to see it the following day.  Unfortunately the house was too far gone to be saved and although there was no For Sale sign on the property we didn't pursue the idea any further. 

REPAIRS ARE QUICKLY BEING MADE TO SOME OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE BEN MILLER INN PROPERTY
A week ago Monday I came across another back country road house & property with a For Sale sign north of Goderich and got myself excited all over again.  Of course one phone call to the Real Estate company shot that one down too.  Maybe the housing market is down in some areas of the country but certainly not in our area.  Prices of rural properties are huge to say the least.  However, we will continue to keep our eyes open and ears to the ground for that special little 3 or 4 acre piece of quiet country living we both would so much like to find:))

IF YOU ENLARGE THE PHOTO BELOW ON THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE THE ABOVE ORNAMENT JUST ABOVE CENTER AND SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT…IT IS IN THE REFLECTION OF TWO RED AND GOLD LEAFED TREES  (PHOTO BELOW WAS AN 18mm WIDE ANGLE SHOT WHILE THE CLOSE UP OF THE ORNAMENT ABOVE WAS A TELEPHOTO 300mm)

  

TOOK TWO OF THESE AUTUMN PHOTOS LAST OCTOBER AND THE THIRD ONE FROM THE SAME LOCATION THIS MORNING ON THE BEN MILL INN GROUNDS….I DID NOT SEE ANY SIGN OF THAT ORNAMENT IN THE WATER BUT DID SEE TWO WORKERS IN A BOAT NEAR THERE PROBING FOR SOMETHING IN THE WATER

A comment on Wednesday night's blog by reader Scott sure reminded me of myself in our early RVing, computing & blogging days years ago.  Scott, in part says, "Al, its funny how things work, your growing tired of blogging however you have inspired me to begin. I am 51 and have never had much use for computers much less reading , but once I started my thirst for more is thru the roof."  Oh how I remember those early exciting days Scott and good for you in picking up and sticking with your blogging interest.  If my posts inspired you or others then it makes it all worth while and gives me a sense of well being:))

THE TORNADO JUST MISSED THIS RAILWAY YARD WITH IT’S LOCOMOTIVES, GRAIN CARS AND OLD STATION IN THE BACKGROUND…..THE TORNADO’S PATH TORE THROUGH  ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS TO THE LEFT OF THIS PHOTO

I hope to put another Picasa photo album together Friday with a few more pictures of what the tornado did to some of the homes. 

TWO LARGE YELLOW DEMOLITION MONSTERS WILL SOON TEAR WHAT’S LEFT OF THIS UNITED CHURCH…..TO THE GROUND

GROANER'S CORNER:))  St. Peter and Satan were having an argument one day about baseball. Satan proposed a game to be played on neutral grounds between a select team from the heavenly host and his own hand-picked fiery boys.
"Very well," said the gatekeeper of Heaven. "But I hope you realize, that we've got all the good players and the best coaches."
"I know, and that's all right," Satan answered unperturbed. "We've got all the umpires."

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