Tuesday, August 16, 2016

ONCE NEVER MUCH OF A SECOND THOUGHT

DSC_0048

NO NOT A FRONT YARD FROG POND BUT A FRONT YARD POND FROG

'If it doesn't rain it pours' is an old saying that fortunately came true for us these past few days.  The ground is well saturated and brown lawns are quickly turning green again.  Our recent plantings are happy and so am I now that Mother Nature as taken the time to water them for me.  She does a much better job than I do.DSC_0020

OUT FOR A STROLL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GODERICH HARBOR SUNDAY MORNING

DSC_0018

DSC_0014DSC_0016

Despite intermittent drizzly rains this morning Pheebs and I went for a short drive around Bayfield.  Kelly had a hair appointment in Goderich. (thanks for sending her home with that Orange-Banana-Strawberry drink from Zehrs for me Karen:)).  Seems funny but I saw a few sections of Bayfield this morning I had never seen before despite having lived here for nearly 14 years.  Didn't know Bayfield had a Croquet Club and a drive through the local cemetery was only my second time there.  Poked our nose down a couple dead end streets that didn't ring any memory bells and came across the Woodland Hiking Trail which I had never seen before.  The trail looked enchantingly interesting so will have to return there for a few photos on a brighter day.DSC_0008-006

CAN YOU SEE A LARGE REPOSING FIGURE LYING ON A BED OF CLOUDS??

DSC_0013-001DSC_0012

Didn't write a post Monday simply because I didn't feel up to it.  Very unusual for me but neither the inspiration or interest were there.  I struggled with it again today but by late afternoon after sitting around twiddling my thumbs I noticed skies beginning to clear and I felt a little better about things.

DSC_0006

SUNDAY MORNING CLEAN-UP

DSC_0005

DSC_0004

HEY HOW’S ABOUT A LITTLE PRIVACY HERE EH

DSC_0008

PRIVACY SCHMIVACY I’M JUST GONNA HAVE MYSELF A LAZY DAY

Maitland Medical Center phoned Monday to say the results of another routine medical test I recently had was clear and everything was normal.   It's funny now at this age and stage of life how one thinks more about their eventual mortality.  Once never much of a second thought it seems nearly every little medical bump in the road has one asking oneself the question, 'well is this IT!!'.  Nothing to dwell on so to speak but I'm finding the question has a habit of cropping up more often than it once did.  Just one of life's little natural realities.DSC_0012

SURE IS A SMALL SAILBOAT

DSC_0006 DSC_0007

A COUPLE OF GODERICH LOCALS

DSC_0026

AND OF COURSE 1 SLEEPY BACK SEAT BAYFIELD LOCAL AS WELL

October can't come fast enough for me again this year.  So much looking forward to once again sliding into our semi-annual Snow Bird lifestyle change.  A welcome switch of routines, new scenery, new things to photograph and write about each day.  A healthy chunk of apprehension mixed with just about the right dose of excitement works wonders for me every time as new challenges and opportunities present themselves along the way.  I'm talking about our RV winter travels of course and oh how I so look forward to getting those big wheels rolling again.  Just sitting here typing these few lines I can feel the excitement stirring inside as I happily think of seeing many of our old familiar Southwest haunts again plus all the new places we haven't seen or been before:))

DSC_0003

NO MATTER HOW STRESSFUL LIFE MAY BECOME ALWAYS REMEMBER TO STOP AND SMELL THE THISTLES

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A circus owner walked into a bar to see everyone crowded about a table watching a little show. On the table was an upside down pot and a duck tap dancing on it. The circus owner was so impressed that he offered to buy the duck from its owner. After some wheeling and dealing, they settled for $10,000 for the duck and the pot. Three days later the circus owner runs back to the bar in anger, "Your duck is a ripoff! I put him on the pot before a whole audience, and he didn't dance a single step!"  "So?" asked the ducks former owner, "did you remember to light the candle under the pot?"

Sunday, August 14, 2016

I WAS OUT OF THAT CHAIR BEFORE I KNEW I HAD EVEN LEFT IT

DSC_0029

Well, my recliner nearly got me this morning.  It was 7:15 and there I was stretched out slumped and grumped groveling along through my mind trying to hit upon a reason interesting enought to turf myself out of that chair.  Didn't look to promising with gray skies and a dusting of rain.  And then it happened right in front of me.  A bright patch of inspiration suddenly appeared on the living room floor.  Sunshine:))  I was out of that chair before I knew I had even left it.  Like a 'Jack-In-The-Box (Seniors version) I was on my feet and my day was underway.

DSC_0001

AFTER SATURDAY’S STORMS AND HEAVY RAINS SUNDAY MORNINGS SKY CLEARED NICELY

Needed a few things at Goderich's Wally-World so Pheebs and I were off as cooler skies slowly cleared overhead.  Turned out to be a beautiful morning as we swung down around the south harbor stopping for a few photos.  DSC_0002

BEAUTIFUL CLOUD FORMATIONS LOOKING DOWN THE LAKE TOWARDS DETROIT MICHIGAN

DSC_0009

WATCHED THIS YOUNG FELLA STRUGGLING WITH HIS KITEBOARD

DSC_0012DSC_0014

I COULD TELL HE WAS NEW AT IT

DSC_0016DSC_0017

TRY AS HE DID HE JUST COULDN’T GET HIMSELF UP AND GOING

DSC_0019DSC_0020

FINALLY ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH & HE PULLED HIS BOARD UP ONTO THE BEACH

DSC_0003

THE HARBOR’S PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC WAS AGAIN HEAVY THIS MORNING AND BELOW THAT SECOND FELLA IS REALLY SHOWING OFF HIS HIGH STEPPING ‘GOOSE STEP’

DSC_0004

From the harbors south side we swung on over to the north side for a few more photos and a leg stretch.  It’s a beautiful harbor here in Goderich with all it’s shapes and colors.

DSC_0025

THERE’S A LITTLE PHEEBERS IN THIS PHOTO

DSC_0026DSC_0030DSC_0031DSC_0027DSC_0022DSC_0027

LOVE ALL THE SHAPES  AND COLORS

DSC_0023

SUNDAY MORNING FISHERMEN AND BELOW IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE FELLA ON THE LEFT FROM BEHIND

DSC_0029

YEP THAT’S A TIM HORTONS COFFEE THIS OLD FELLER HAS ALRIGHT:))

DSC_0033

DRIVING BACK UP OUT OF THE NORTH HARBOR

Rather than a long leisurely Sunday morning drive Pheebs and I decided to head back home and get us a little work done in our front yard. 

DSC_0035

CUT THIS FLOWER BED AND THE ONE BELOW IN HALF WITH A PATH

DSC_0037DSC_0034

TORE THIS BED APART AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF RE-DOING IT

DSC_0036

I LATER RE-DID THAT PILE OF ROCKS AND MOVED ALL THAT ELECTRICAL STUFF FURTHER AWAY FROM THE POND

DSC_0038

CLEARED THIS OVERGROWN AREA OUT AS WELL AND NOW WE CAN WALK THROUGH IT

The heat wasn't quite as bad as the past several days so I was actually able to get about 4 hours in transplanting half a dozen Hostas, cleaning the frog pond, rebuilding the waterfall and relocating a few electric sockets near the pond.  Our front yard is slowly changing shape and it's a nice feeling having some of my outdoor creative interests up and running again.

DSC_0040

KELLY GETS A KICK OUT THIS HUGE SHIRT I WEAR WHICH IS ABOUT 3 TIMES TO BIG FOR ME

DSC_0044

I’M IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING SOME OF THE ROCKS AROUND THE POND

DSC_0045

OH-OH I MIGHT NEED A FRONT END LOADER TO GET ME BACK UP ON MY FEET AGAIN

DSC_0046

MAYBE I’LL JUST ROLL OVER AND SLEEP UNDER MY TENT SHIRT TONIGHT

DSC_0041

HEY WHO SAID I COULDN’T GET MYSELF BACK UP >>>>>>>>

How nice tonight to step outside into cooler evening air.  Looking forward to once again getting back out for some walks on our pine forest trail.  Soon the bugs will be out of the air as the forests begin to transition from Summer to Fall.  The shortening of daylight is already upon us and soon the great constellation Orion will begin his long Winter trek across the starry night sky.  Oh how I am looking forward once again to those crystal clear and cool desert nights.  What an absolutely wondrous place all of America’s great Southwest is and how truly fortunate we really are to be a part of it each Winter. 

DSC_0025

GROANER'S CORNER:(( If you love something, set it free.  If it comes back, it will always be yours.  If it doesn't come back, it was never yours to begin with.  But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and doesn't appear to realize you set it free... You either married it or gave birth to it.

------------

Why did the cross-eyed teacher get the sack?Because he couldn't control his pupils.

------------------------

Televangelism is all about false profits.  (Amen to that one for sure!!)