I TOLD AUNT JEAN NEXT TIME SHE COMES WE WILL HAVE A NICE WINNEBAGO FOR HER TO STAY IN:))

PRIMROSE

We were glad our great Spring weather held together long enough for Jean's final few days with us. We were over to Deer Park Lodge before 9 this morning to help load her luggage into the car. When giving her a big hug I whispered in her ear that next time she came up we would have a nice Winnebago Motorhome for her to stay in right on our property. Yes, the deal went through on the WINNY.  We will pick it up early next week:))

WELL, TIME TO GO:((

 
A FEW LAST MINUTE PICS AS JEAN LOOKS TO KELLY & SAYS, ‘HOPE I DIDN’T FORGET ANYTHING’

Very sad saying goodbye to Aunt Jean this morning because the reality of age & health always cloud the future at this stage of life. Not likely she will come to Arizona this winter. Although she enjoyed her adventuress time there with us 3 months ago the cold proved to be just too much. We are hoping she might make it back to Bayfield in September this year or maybe June of next year. June & September are two of the nicest months here & Jean really liked this whole area on the sandy shores of Lake Huron. It had been nice having her here & it was the first time ever she was able to spend time with us other than the past couple winters in Arizona. She said this morning she is already looking forward to coming back, renting a car again, & buzzing around the countryside. Pretty darn good for 86 years old I'd say:))  We are all missing you tonight Jean………………..

 

A FAREWELL WAVE TO THE PHEEBS & AUNT JEAN HEADS OUT THE DRIVEWAY AT DEER PARK LODGE 

We finished cleaning out the Sunseeker & I took the hitch assembly off the back. Quick clean-up on the Jeep & then turned my attention to the Motorcycle. Don't know how it gets so dirty just sitting over the winter but it does. Always a bit of a tedious clean-up with all the tiny crooks, crannies, & corners to get into but I did get er all sparkly again & ready to roll for another season.

With temps running in the mid 70's this afternoon it was only fair I take that shine & sparkle for a ride. Headed up to the Goderich Cycle Center to buy an oil filter. The fellas there said they don't charge to do an oil change & filter & just include that in the oil & filter price. Thought that was a pretty darn fair deal so had them change the oil while I waited. Tire pressures checked & I was back on the road in half an hour. Don't know how many times I've thought of selling that bike over the past few years. Every time I had trouble starting it last year I'd think, 'why didn't I sell this thing.' Ten minutes later cruising down the road I would think to myself, Geeeeezzzz, glad I didn't sell this thing. And today was another one of those 'Geeeeezzzz glad I didn't sell this thing' days:)))))))))

ALL SPARKLED UP & READY FOR ANOTHER SUMMER

 

 

Felt downright hot later this afternoon as Pheebs & slipped out for a walk around the Park's pond. So nice to see so many signs of Spring just popping out all over. Spring flowers are blooming & trees are bursting forth in leaves. I've never seen so many fish in the pond before. Especially goldfish.

 

HYACINTH

  

JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOMS – WHITE MAGNOLIA – TULIPS ABOUT READY TO BLOOM

JIMMY SIKES joined us as our latest Blog Follower today. Welcome aboard Jimmy. We'll be upsizing to a slightly bigger rig next week so we'll have a little extra room for all the Blog Followers:))

JEAN’S FAVORITE ROCKER/GLIDER CHAIR IN OUR SUNROOM IS LOOKING MIGHTY EMPTY TONIGHT WITHOUT HER IN IT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( All of Broomtown was a buzz because boy-broom and girl-broom were going to get married. Everyone felt certain that the bride-broom and the groom-broom would make a lovely couple. The night before the wedding, however, bride-broom told groom-broom that she was going to have a little wisk-broom. "But, how can that be?" wailed groom-broom, "We haven't even swept together yet!"
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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.

SLEEPING ON A DECISION & AUNT JEAN’S LAST DAY WITH US

Same temperature in Bayfield Ontario today as in Congress Arizona. Nice. Wonder how the sheep are doing at keeping the grass trimmed at our digs on Ghost Town Road.

JIM, AUNT JEAN & COUSIN NORMA…I’M THE BIG PALOOKA ON THE LEFT
 
SOME SERIOUS MENU CONCENTRATION GOING ON HERE…KELLY’S SHANGHAI STIR FRY ON THE RIGHT
 
JIM’S LIVER & ONIONS ON LEFT & MY DOPEY BURGER ON RIGHT…YEP, THAT’S WHAT IT WAS CALLED ALRIGHT…FIRST TIME EVER I FIGURED MY FOOD  KINDA MATCHED MY PERSONALITY:((  NORMA & AUNT JEAN HAD FISH & CHIPS
No movement on the Winnebago deal so I'm guessing it isn't going to fly. We may or may not counter offer or we just may move on to our next option. We'll sleep on it tonight & see what we come up with in the morning.

STEPPING OUT OF THE ALBION
 
‘HEY’, JEAN SAYS, ‘DON’T KNOCK OVER MY HARLEY
Kelly had her echo cardiogram at the Goderich Hospital this morning & should have the results from that early next week some time. My hip X-rays have been sent to St. Joe's hospital in London Ontario so we'll see what happens.

KELLY LEADS THE WAY DOWN BAYFIELD’S MAIN STREET TO THE ICE CREAM PARLOUR
 
A LITTLE GUIDED TOUR ALONG THE WAY & RELAX JIM THAT PIECE OF ART IS ONLY $5,500
Aunt Jean's stay is rapidly coming to an end. My first cousin (Jean's niece Norma) & husband Jim came over from Waterloo this afternoon to say good-bye. We all ended up in Bayfield's Albion Hotel for a late supper so I am later getting to the computer tonight. Just not going to be able to get a lot of blabberness out of myself before I fall asleep at the switch.

  
BY THE TIME WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE ICE CREAM SHOP……IT WAS CLOSED:((
In the morning Aunt Jean has to have her rental car back in Stratford by noon. We will see her briefly before she leaves. Going to be a sad day at our house tomorrow. She will stay at cousin Mary Ann's in Tavistock Friday night. Early Saturday morning Mary Ann & brother David will drive Jean to the London Ontario where she will catch a shuttle bus for the airport in Detroit Michigan. By the end of the day Jean will be back home in Sarasota Florida comfortably relaxing in her big cushy recliner after a long day's journey. Think she changes planes & has a 2 hour wait in Baltimore or somewhere so she will be making up for a whole bunch of lost snooze time when she gets home.

HAVING A LOOK AT NORMA & JIM’S RECENT CRUISE PICTURES FROM HAWAII

YEP, SEEMS THERE IS ALWAYS A FURRY CRITTER AT OUR HOUSE STEALING THE SHOW…..:))
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A lady on her first visit to Yellowstone National Park said to her guide, "Look at all those big rocks. Wherever did they come from?" "The glaciers brought them down," said the guide. "But where are the glaciers?" The lady asked. "The glaciers," said the guide in a weary voice, "have gone back for more rocks."
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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.

TEST DROVE THE WINNEBAGO THIS MORNING, BUT…….

A PAIR OF MALLARD DUCKS SILHOUETTED AGAINST AN OLD  BARN SILO WITH A RED DUMPSTER BESIDE IT THIS AFTERNOON

Once again how nice to be out the door going somewhere earlier this morning.  Turned out to be the nicest weather day of the year so far. Great to finally see trees alongside farm fields beginning to green up as Kelly & I Jeeped our way over to the east end of London Ontario. Fortunately I know the paved back roads all the way & we were able to totally avoid all the city traffic nonsense. Our destination was FOREST CITY MOTORHOMES.

ALONG THE FOREST TRAIL TODAY
Had ourselves another thorough look at the Winnebago Access. Surprised to see it comes with a Macerator pump for the black tank. We have never had a Macerator Mossmagator pump in any of our rigs before. Lots of room on the Fiberglass roof for solar panels. It's hard not to make comparisons between the Chev & Ford Chassis. Always pros & cons & each manufacturer has their inherent weak & strong points. I am not a Ford man or a Chevy guy so my opinions are totally unbiased. I don't think either one is better or worse than the other. You can throw the Chrysler/Dodge guys in that mix as well. So, here are a few comparisons I noticed between the Ford & the Chev.
 
CHECKING HITCH HEIGHTS BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES

Starting at the front. I like the beefier looking Ford front ends. Like the light package better than the Chev as well & I get the feeling there is more crash protection in the Ford. Noticed the Ford has sturdier rear view mirror arms with bigger wider vision mirrors. Wider running boards on the Ford & much easier access into the cab for me. I had complained a couple months ago about the poor closing doors on the Chevy chassis. The Ford doors are solid & close the way a vehicle door should!! Definitely like the Chevy Sunseeker dash better than the Ford though. I liked the computer Speedometer/Odometer/Fuel calculation etc package on our Damon Motorhome & the Sunseeker. No computer package on this 2011 Ford:(( Like the Chevy instrument cluster better as well but the Ford seemed a bit more visible. 

TO ME THIS FORD HAS ONE WEIRD LOOKING DASH BUT I DON’T MIND THE ENGINE COVER (DOGHOUSE) BELOW AND I WOULD MUCH PREFER GRAY SEATS…I LIKED THE LONG SWEEPING LINES OF FORD’S PREVIOUS DASH DESIGN MUCH BETTER

I’m not too crazy about that weird wood grain boom box dash look in the Ford but I think I might like the engine cover doghouse better.   Like the darker tanned seats in the Chevy but at least the Ford’s seats swivel backwards.  Not so in the Chevy Sunseeker.  Like the Ford’s grab handles & convenient dome lights & I prefer darker colored interiors as opposed to light colors. Just me:)) Tomorrow I will make some coach comparisons. Well, if the deal goes through that is. At the moment we still don't know.

EVEN THE BROWN COLORS SORTA KINDA MATCH A BIT
I knew before we took the longer, heavier, Ford Winnebago for a drive that it was not going to handle like the shorter. lighter, & very nimble Chevy Sunseeker. I was prepared for the Winnebago to drive like a bigger slower Motorhome & not a sports car. I knew that little Chevy had spoiled me & I was right. But, like I said, nothing is perfect when it comes to RV's & one has to decide where one's priorities lie. If we do end up buying the Winny I will definitely miss the superb driving  capabilities & versatilities of the much peppier & smaller RV but I will so much appreciate the better creature comforts that come with a slightly larger coach.

  

KELLY MAKES DOUBLY DARN SURE THE COUCH IS COMFORTABLE…… & IT IS:))
We spent a couple hours at the dealership going over & driving the rig but we did not arrive at a deal. That will be decided Thursday sometime when the senior dealership owner returns from a large RV show in Las Vegas. He is the fellow who makes the decisions on the unit sales & will decide tomorrow if we have a deal or not. I will not be surprised if we cannot reach an agreement.  If not we will just keep looking. No big rush.  Hey, it was just nice to get out for a couple days in a row to go & do something different for a change.  I like that:))

With a stop at McDonald's & another stop at an area Mennonite Market for some meat & butter tarts we were home again shortly after 1 o'clock.  Even saw some folks cutting grass on the way.  Now if that isn’t a sign of Spring nothing is.

  

MY FAVORITE PIE HERE IS THE APPLE SCHNITZ BOTTOM CENTER & WHO DOESN’T LOVE MAPLE SYRUP:))

 

AND WHO KNEW…………..MENNONITES MAKING WHOOPEE PIES & AL’S MENNONITE BACKGROUND…AUNT JEAN REMINDED ME TODAY OF OUR DISTANT MENNONITE BACKGROUND  ON HER MOTHER’S (MY GRANDMOTHER) SIDE…MY GRANDMOTHER WAS FROM THE GASCHO CLAN IN THIS AREA NEAR ZURICH ONTARIO

About 4 o'clock this afternoon Aunt Jean, Pheebs & I were off for a walk on our Pine bush trail. Jean has been reading my blog for a few years now & has seen the many photos I have taken along that trail on our morning walks. She has always dreamed of walking that trail some day with us. A week ago Kelly, Pheebs, Aunt Jean, & I struck out for that walk but I had to turn back because of my painful hip. Kelly, Pheebs & Aunt Jean continued on. My hip has been pain free for 6 days in a row now so Jean, Pheebs, & I headed out for a warm afternoon walk. What a lovely 70 plus day with a light warm breeze & how nice to walk the trail with Jean. Spring wild flowers carpeted some sections of the forest floor, maple tree buds are opening, Trilliums will be in flower shortly & Spring is finally springing out all over. Turtles & Gold Fish in the big pond swimming along with a Muskrat & Papa Goose. A pair of Mallard Ducks made a short touch down on the pond before becoming airborne again. Pheebs chased a couple bunnies into the woods. The sun felt good & all was well. How fortunate to get out for a pleasant afternoon walk in the woods with Aunt Jean & the Pheebs:)).

AUNT JEAN CAREFULLY MAKES HER WAY ALONG THE PINE FOREST TRAIL…NO, SHE’S NOT ON A CELL PHONE:((

 

CHECKING OUT SOME WILDFLOWERS & WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT FLORIDA JEAN WOULD HAVE BEEN WARM ENOUGH IN THIS HERE CANADIAN SPRING AIR TO TAKE HER SWEATER OFF

BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN GROUND JEAN HAS TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHERE SHE STEPS

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A young priest was sent to a very small church in the backwoods of Alaska. After a couple of years the Bishop decided to pay the priest a visit to see how he was doing. The priest said that it was a really lonely job and that he didn't think that he could have made it without his Rosary and two martinis each day. With that the priest asked the Bishop, "Would you like to have a martini with me?" The Bishop said, "Yes, that would be nice." The priest turned around and hollered toward the kitchen, "Rosary, would you fix us two martinis please?"

And always remember……. ‘Truth has only to change hands a few times to become fiction’.

-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.