ENERGY BURST DAY 2…..WHAT THE BIG DARN HECK IS GOING ON??

INTENTLY WATCHING A GRASSHOPPER

Looks like I shouldn't be pressing Google buttons & clicking on stuff I don't understand. I've been banging around in that Google+ stuff again this time trying to get a handle on the photo side of the program. I messed up my blog's comment section somehow & I saw some photos added to Google+ that I did not add.  Now that really bugs me!!  This was probably my 4th or 5th attempt to get a handle on Google+ stuff & again I came away in a confused state of angst. I was also trying to figure out how to drop my daily posts in Google+ but didn't get that one figured out either. I did manage to re-trace my steps & un-check a button in Blogger's dashboard so comments may appear at the end of my posts again & are not lost in the great Google+ maze somewhere. I may have gained a slight understanding into the photo side of things, but only slight & I still have no idea what all this Google+ stuff is supposed to be. And I don't like the fact the great Google Monster has & still is reaching it's long controlling tentacles into more & more of people's on-line lives.  Guess it’s the same complaint I hear a lot of people have with Facebook too.   I get the feeling Google is saying to me, 'it's our way or the highway Buster'!! At least that is the way it seems to me.................... Thanks for the email Tom:)) 

EASY TO SEE HOW CLEAR OUR LAKE HURON WATER IS

 

AT THE SOUTH END OF GODERICH’S LONG BEACH SHORELINE THIS MORNING

 

STILL WORKING ON BUILDING THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION UNDER THE OLD CPR STATION/NEW RESTAURANT

By Golly, I had myself another great spurt of energy today. Right after our morning walk I fired up my wheelbarrow & went around loading up about two thirds of our summer lawn ornaments & putting them away in one of our sheds. Following that Pheebs & I hit the road for Goderich & took care of a few errands. Quick stop at the medical center & then took Pheebs down to the beach for a walk. Back home, hauled out the hose, a bucket of foamy Turtle wax water & washed the Jeep. Vacuumed the interior & sucked up enough muffin crumbs to bake a cake. While I had the hose & bucket out I washed the Motorcycle as well & took it for a spin to blow it dry. Aw what the heck, might as well wash Kelly's car too. Hey, I had the bucket & hose out anyway right. So where's all this energy coming from? Cooler temperatures maybe, no humidity, the fact Autumn is upon us, maybe knowing we will be rolling out in less than a month. Or maybe something else............ If my energy levels stay consistently high over the next few weeks I may tell you what I think might just be responsible for those levels coming up.  These last 2 days reminded me a whole lot of myself right up until just a few years ago.  Days when I had half a dozen little projects on the go all at once & just merrily bounced my way along from one to the other.  Sure would be a happy guy if I could get my old self back again.  We’ll see what happens………………………:))

 

 

YEP, WE GOT EVERYTHING JUST A SPARKLIN AROUND HERE NOW:))
Mark over at BOX CANYON BLOG finished up his solar panel installation a few days ago & has photos of his set up. I am always in envy of people who can do a lot of their own mechanical things like that. I almost successfully changed a light bulb once.

A BIG PHEEBER SMOOCH FOR MOM

We think the tree cutter is coming with the big boom arm machine in the morning to take down a couple tall pines close to the house in our back yard.  I have a feeling this is going to be a nail biter because one of the pine trees is leaning towards the house.  I’ll be here to help wherever I can but our Jeep will be at the BAYFIELD GARAGE for the morning.  Oil change, tire rotation, undercoating, brakes check, etc. etc.

PHEEBS & I SCARED UP THIS GREAT BLUE HERON OFF THE GOOSE POND ON OUR WALK TONIGHT

 

GREAT BLUE BANKS TO THE RIGHT & HEADS INTO THE TREES

HE WAS SOON JUST A SILHOUETTE IN THE EARLY EVENING DUSK
MARY-PAT is our latest Blog Follower & we thank her for taking the time & making the effort to wade through the necessary Google requirements to get herself aboard.  A big Bayfield Bunch welcome to Mary-Pat:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Friend: "I suppose you carry a memento of some sort in that locket of yours?"
Woman: "Yes, it's a lock of my husband's hair."
Friend: "But your husband is still alive."
Woman: "I know, but his hair is gone."

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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.

AN ENERGIZED DAY, A MEMORABLE MORNING IN BORREGO SPRINGS, & SOME THREE & A HALF YEAR OLD THOUGHTS ON BLOGGING

A FEW PHOTOS FROM BORREGO SPRINGS CALIFORNIA TONIGHT

Our New York State folks dropped in early for a quick light breakfast before heading home at 9 a.m. this morning.  Peter punched in their route on his Garmin & it told him they will be back to Spencerport NY about 1:45. We wished them good luck at the border & they were off. We may see Leslie & Peter in Arizona this January.

   

OUR NEW YORK COMPANY ROLLS OUT FOR HOME SHORTLY AFTER 9 THIS MORNING

Despite an overeating, cloudy, cold, & rather lethargic week-end I pleasantly surprised myself with a day long burst of energy. Started off by taking half a utility trailer load of branches to our recycle area. Loaded a few things into Winnie's main bin & then got right into things. Our Winnebago has sat in a shady area directly under a large pine tree for the past 5 months. That tree is gone now but not before it deposited a lot of guck on our rig's roof. Pine pollen, needles, sap, & sawdust not to mention the green & black mould that had set in on the roof as well. I also don't think the roof had ever been cleaned since the rig was new. Hauled the garden hose, a big bucket of soapy water, a scrub brush, a couple of sponges & a mop up onto the roof. Took me the best part of an hour scrub, scrub, scrubbing that roof. What a huge difference by the time I was done. We ended up with a nice gleaming white roof & I ended up with some soggy wet pants. But no problem & I didn't stop there.

 

EVEN HAD TO SCRUB OUR TV ANTENNAE CLEAN

ROOF WAS QUITE A MESS

Figured while I had the hose & bucket out I may as well wash the whole RV. Sun had come out & the 60 degree temperature was just my kind of working weather. The rig was definitely in need of a wash anyway especially now that I had hosed all the dirt off the roof & down the sides. Another hour or so & I had the whole darn Motorhome just a sparkling. I added some Turtle Zip wax to the water & that made a big difference. Luckily because Winnie is a 2011, was stored inside for a couple years, & has low mileage, it's overall condition inside & out is just like new.

ALL CLEANED UP & READY TO RUMBLE

A shout out in our Shout Box today reminded me of a memorable day in Borrego Springs California a few years ago. Chatted briefly with a fellow (Gene Wild) that morning on an educational photo shoot put on by the Borrego Springs Desert Nature Center & he popped up in our Shout Box today. Turned out to be a nice photogenic morning that February 28th of 2010 so decided to include a few photos in tonight's post from that photo shoot in the desert just outside of Borrego Springs.  One of the many things we have always liked about Borrego Springs is all the interesting programs put on by the ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK folks & also the folks at the Desert Nature Center.  Saturday morning Jeep tours, Astronomy classes, photo shoots, & guided hikes to all kinds of really great places in the area.  Always something to do in Borrego Springs.  It was also the day we met Wandering Willy for the first time. You can read my post from that great day here at EARLY MORNING PHOTO GROUP.  And I’m going to stick my neck out here at the risk of mis-identifying someone but if my memory serves me correct which it seldom does I am going to guess the fellow you see in my photos (link) with the slim white beard, black jacket & hat, peering through his camera is the fellow who popped up in our Shout Box today.  Gene, if that isn’t you, let me know & I’ll make the correction:))

Also in the above linked post I answered a fellow Bloggers question at the time who asked,
"Is that REALLY why you blog? Would you quit blogging if you didn't get comments from readers? If you thought no one was reading?"  My answer to the question in that post over three & a half years ago still stands true today & is exactly why I write this daily blog.  If I was writing my blog for comment numbers I would have packed it in a long time ago.  It’s the quality of the comments I appreciate, not the quantity………………………………..

OUR EARLY MORNING BORREGO SPRINGS PHOTO GROUP

AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY FINE REASONS I ENJOY  THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUTH WEST

After struggling with poor sleeping habits for years & ending up with wasted days due to lack of sleep I finally gave in to the idea of 'sleeping pills' about a year ago. I had tried many suggested methods of attaining a good night's rest but to no avail. Even cut my coffee consumption to one coffee a day in the morning. That still stands. My opinion now is that the sleeping pills have been a definite help & I have no regrets that I still take a sleeping pill each night. Maybe there will be some kind of long term effect eventually but so be it. What is important to me now in the present is that each night I am able to once again get myself a decent night's sleep. My days now begin around 5:30 a.m. instead or 3 or 4 a.m. like in the past & most of my days contain more energy than they did when I was not sleeping well.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deerskin, one slept on an elk skin and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All three became pregnant and the first two each had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This goes to prove that the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides.
-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.

A COLD GRAY DAY MAKES FOR LOTS OF INSIDE VISITING

Disappointed our cloud cover returned later Saturday night bringing with it lake effect showers which continued into Sunday morning leaving us with a cold gray day. The New York State folks rolled in around 9 & we all headed over to the BAYFIELD BERRY FARM for breakfast. First time back there for Kelly's Mom, Peter & Leslie since Kelly's surprise Birthday party over 5 years ago.

EASY TO SEE WHY THEY CALL IT THE ‘BERRY FARM’

 

WE GENERALLY ALWAYS GET OUR FAVORITE TABLE

 

KELLY’S MOTHER & BROTHER EYE ALL THE GOODIES…PETER BOUGHT A PIECE OF WALL ART FOR THEIR HOME NEAR ROCHESTER NY

 

HEADING OUT INTO THE COLD GRAY MORNING & DECIDING ON PLANS FOR THE DAY

A TOUR OF WINNIE THE BAGO WAS IN ORDER

Turned out to be a day of visiting & supper at 'The Docks' in Bayfield. More visiting & that pretty well wrapped up our day.  Think I’m gonna have to take the course ‘Visiting 101’ to get myself back up to speed in that department.  Haven’t done a whole lot of that these last bunch of years & I’m pretty rusty at it.

<<< THE BERRY FARM HAD A NICE SELECTION OF PUMPKINS

Figure this coming week we will be shifting things into a slightly higher gear. Tree cutters may or may not be back Monday & I will begin gathering up all our summer lawn ornaments to store away in our shed again. That's generally a couple wheel barrow loads of things scattered about in all our greenery. Will have to make an appointment to get the Jeep in for an oil change, tire rotation, etc. May have it undercoated this year again.  Our loading up of the rig will begin more in earnest this week as well & that means my 'to do' lists will be trotted out of hibernation once again. October 19th will be upon us before we know it. Think I have to schedule a Doctor's appointment in there somewhere too. Kelly has one in the morning with her local GP in Bayfield.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Teacher: What does your father do for a living?
Student: He is a magician.
Teacher: what is his favorite event.
Student: He cuts people in two.
Teacher: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
Student: One half-brother and one half-sister....
-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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 rightnow...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

A FEW RAIN SOAKED DAYS & OUR NEW YORK COMPANY ARRIVES

WE HAVE BEEN UNDER RAINY SKIES
With buckets of water still spilling from darkened gray skies this morning I would say this is the longest sustained rainfall we have had all summer. Could have used all this H20 back in June, July, or August but it is the changing of seasons we are into now so it is what it is. First official day of Autumn too. I don't go by the calendar date & for me Autumn days begin when air & weather patterns begin changing way back in late August & early September. I'm always in a hurry to see the long hot summer over & the colorful Autumn magic upon us.



WE ARE SOMETIMES UNDER STORMY SKIES HERE IN BAYFIELD THIS TIME OF YEAR
JULIE & TOM had a question regarding my Friday post's first photo. "The photo of the wooden building with the bottles and wagon wheel in front is awesome. It looks like you made it black and white, but somehow retained the color in the bottle. Any tricks you can give on how to do this? Can you do this technique with Picasa"? Answer: Yes, that is done with a Picasa tool. Click on your chosen photo. You will see 5 horizontal tool buttons. Click on the middle one. You will now see 12 editing tools. 'Focal B&W is bottom center. Click that & your photo becomes black & white except around your curser which will be colored. Move the curser around to the part of your photo you want to remain colored. Use your top left slider bars to adjust size & sharpness. Just play around with it for a bit & you will see how it works:))

And some exciting news at HOUNDS & RVS this afternoon.  Remember Steve’s post from a couple days ago & the difficulties he was having deciding on some doggy & RV issues…….well ya better drop in & see what’s happened over there:))

STORMY SKIES OVER OUR HOUSE
Our company from Spencerport/Rochester NY arrived about 4:30.  It’s been over 5 years since Kelly’s Mom, Brother Peter & wife Leslie were last here.  Kelly’s Dad was still alive then & it was the time we sprung a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY on Kelly:))
 
KELLY & HER MOM
 
CAN YOU FIND PHEEB’S NOSE IN THE PHOTO AT LEFT?
 
LESLIE & PETER It was nice to end our rainy weather stretch under clearing cooler skies tonight.  Our New York company will hopefully have nice weather from here on in until they head for home Monday morning.  Kelly put together a good supper tonight.  BBQ Pork Chops, potato salad & cole slaw all from the Mennonite Country Market south of Bayfield.  And to top it off a couple freshly baked Mennonite pies for desert.  One Blueberry & one Apple.  Only time we ever have pie for desert is when company comes.  Good thing we don’t have a lot of company or I would have trouble fitting through the doorways.  I just turn into a real ‘Oinker’ when it comes to desserts………………………..

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The teacher asks: Now, Susan, how may fingers have you? Susan: Ten.  Teacher: Right. Now if you lost four of them, what would you have? Susan: No more piano lessons.
-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.