A FEW THOUGHTS ON MY BLOG AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS TO ME

KELLY SPOTTED A COUPLE PILEATED WOODPECKERS IN OUR YARD THIS AFTERNOON

It was a sultry gray laden sky which greeted us this morning and with the humidex level already high any thoughts of hiking area trails today were non existent.  Kelly and Pheebs on their early walk ran into a barrage of mosquitos and that was to be my experience an hour or two later as well.  Humidity and masses of mosquitoes go hand in hand. 

Our usual slow drive to Goderich led to our usual McDonald’s fare which in turn led to our usual drive down around the harbor.  A stop at the doggy walking area and we were on our way again.  Sure nice to get ourselves off the busy highway and onto some good old gravely roads in the quiet countryside.  Some drivers just seem to get totally nuts whenever they seat themselves behind their steering wheels.

Headed northeast out of Goderich keeping an eye on a few fog patches in the countryside.  Anytime we stopped for a leg stretch or a few photos we were instantly set upon by hordes of mosquitoes so it was mainly an ‘in the Jeep’ morning.

WIND TURBINES IN THE MORNING MIST

It is so nice not to have to work anymore.  Nice to get up whenever one feels like it and have no schedules or people telling one what to do for the day.  I think about that driving around along through the countryside on these morning jaunts with Pheebs.  I think about that a lot.  How did I ever end up being so fortunate.  Well of course I know the answer to that question but that’s another story for another day.

NICE PLACE BUT I CAN’T IMAGINE HAVING TO CUT ALL THAT GRASS

Every once in a long while I kinda stop and take a look at where I am with this blog of mine.  I have written maybe half a dozen posts over the years about those thoughts and how my blog has evolved.  From it’s early stumblings in late 2006 when I posted to Microsoft’s ‘My Space’ at the time right up until now my blog seems to have taken on a life of it’s own and some days now it’s the blog writing me instead of me writing the blog.  For me the blog isn’t secondary anymore nor does it take a low priority in my day like it once did.  For me my blog has become my day and I am perfectly fine with that.  I spend a lot of enjoyable time on it and it’s very existence has saved me time and time again from many otherwise boring days.  I’m sure other people’s hobbies do the same for them.  If it wasn’t for my 3 main interests of traveling, writing, and photography I can’t even hazard a guess where I would be.  Maybe it would be here…..They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Ha 

ROADSIDE STOP BESIDE A POND

I LIKE THIS FELLOW’S HOUSE BESIDE THE POND BUT NOT WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH HIS PROPERTY

There are several main factors in blogging which are crucial for me staying on an even keel and not spiraling down into the depths of depression and boredom.  Other folks may have different priorities to their lives with hobbies and activities much different to mine.  They keep a hand in and their heads above water in other ways.  We all cope with our Senior years in different ways.  I haven’t done much with my life over the years and have never felt very successful at anything.  Never felt I contributed much to society, never really went too far in stepping out to help other people along……until my blog caught on and began to evolve into something I couldn’t have imagined when I first started out. 

OUR BACKYARD PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS

SWEET WILLIAM

STELLA D’ORO LILY

WE HAVE MANY OF THESE DAY LILIES ON THE PROPERTY

Many times over this past decade I have been able to help myself by writing about myself.  I’ve been able to get things on my mind out of my mind and into the minds of others.  I have been able to tell perfect strangers as well as friends who I am and what I think.  Pretty much impossible for me to do face to face.  In face to face encounters I present a different person to different people but here in my blog I can strip away my fears and inhibitions and feel relaxed knowing I will not be interrupted in my thoughts.  Several readers over the years have told me my blog reminds them of a kinda homespun ‘fireside’ chat’ at the end of the day and I have always liked that analogy because that is how I like to think of it as well.  Just a relaxed chat at the end of another day.  Of course I am the only one chatting but that somehow comfortably works for me best.

WHAT IS THIS??

IT IS THIS:))

WHAT IS THIS??

IT IS THIS:))

WHAT IS THIS??

IT IS THIS:))

As much as writing, photography, and daily mini-travels help me, the real help comes from the readers.  Blog reading friends and perfect strangers alike have helped me over this past decade more than they can ever know.  The comments, the emails, and the personal visits from people that Kelly and I have received over the years have been so rewarding.  And here’s the kicker for me, something I could have never imagined when I started out and one of the main driving factors for me to continue my blog day after day.  Yes I get very frustrated with myself from time to time but it is those comments, emails, and friendly visits and encounters from folks over the years saying how much the Bayfield Bunch blog has helped and meant to them in their own personal lives.  Wished I could tell and read you some of the kind things that has been said to both Kelly and I but I can’t.  It would be blowing my own horn if I did and I don’t want to do that.  Knowing these people are out there gives me the inspiration to write and travel about searching for new photos every day.  These folks help me to help myself and in doing so it seems the help has somehow rebounded the other way as well.  Gives me comfort to know something I started from scratch has done so well in bringing enjoyment to people.  I am so fortunate to be in a position where I feel I can do some good for others finally.  A success if you will.  Something that has come to me late in life but something that eventually did come that I now can feel good about.

HAY WAGONS AWAIT ANOTHER LOAD OF HAY BALES

THIS OLD BARN IS A MERE SKELETON OF IT’S FORMER SELF

THIS PIECE OF FARM MACHINERY IS CALLED A ‘HEAD’ AND FITS ON THE FRONT OF A COMBINE…..DIFFERENT HEADS ARE USED FOR DIFFERENT CROPS

A REVOLVING DEVICE WITH LONG SPIKE LIKE TONGS REEL IN THE CROP DRAWING IT IN FURTHER WHERE THE COMBINE IS ABLE TO SEPARATE THE SEEDS FROM THE STEMS

Of course with the good feeling there does come another side and it’s a side I am still falling down on and it has to do with the many unanswered emails and comments I have received from folks over the years.  People writing to me with their thoughts, ideas, questions, opinions, and well wishes.  People’s emails and comments I have not answered.  I keep running across them, I keep meaning to answer them and yet I don’t know what it is or why it is I am so lax and unresponsive.  Yes my memory is big factor but it also sounds so much like a big excuse.  Before starting my blog I was in constant email contact with people and I would not be exaggerating if I said my email correspondence with people was huge.  Almost over night with the advent of my blog my email correspondence ceased.  A similar thing happened nearly 38 years ago when I quit drinking.  Literally overnight I stopped answering telephones or dropping around to visit people just for the heck of it.  These are all parts of my life where I still search for answers………………

‘GEEEZZZZ I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S STILL THAT HOT OUT TODAY’

 

THIS WAS OUR FIRST EVER SIGHTING OF A PILIATED WOODPECKER

  

Aunt Jean way down there in that Sarasota Florida place had a birthday yesterday and she turned 90.  I call Jean every week and Tuesday night was no exception.  She had many well wishers and some surprise deliveries one of which was a beautiful flowering Orchid plant she was so thrilled about from her niece and my cousin Norma and her husband Jim from Waterloo Ontario.  Aunt Jean’s mind is still sharp as a tack but it’s her body which is failing her.  Not one to let the onslaught of age get her down she still gets out for her morning walk as often as she can and is hoping to get back out on the golf course when the Florida heat dies down sometime in October.  She is a fighter and a very determined person.  She is my Aunt Jean and I love her very much.

 

Rain showers have been cruising through our area all day but what I’m really hoping for is a good old cold front to come through and blow all this miserable damn humidity right out of here.  Come on Autumn I’m a-waitin fer ya:))

SPOTTED THIS LITTLE FEMALE ORIOLE SITTING IN OUR RED BUD TREE THIS AFTERNOON

GROANER’S CORNER:(( I called an old school friend and asked what was he doing. He replied that he is working on "Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics, aluminum and steel under a constrained environment."I was impressed.  On further inquiring, I learned that he was washing dishes with hot water under his wife's supervision.

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After reading the morning headlines about the recent stock market downturn, a high-powered executive trying to impress a client in his office, flipped on his intercom switch and barked to his secretary, "Miss Hunter, get my broker!" The client was impressed until he heard the secretary's clear voice saying, "Yes, Sir, stock or pawn?"

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Dawn!
Dawn who?
Dawn leave me out here in the cold!

BREAKFAST AT THE BAYFIELD BERRY FARM AND ‘BYE-BYE’ TO THE KIDS

Pheebs didn’t make the cut this morning but Kelly did so it was into the Jeep and off we went to the Bayfield Berry Farm about a 5 minute drive from our place.  Always one of our favorite little hide-a-way breakfast spots with so much more to offer than just breakfasts and good eats.  For anyone in our area who hasn’t been here you really must go and especially if you like your berries:))

RASPBERRIES ABOVE AND BLUEBERRIES BELOW FRESH ON THE VINE

We had agreed to meet Bri, Ben, and the boys Dorion and Kai there for breakfast.  It was a few minutes after 8 and how lucky we were to find that we were the only ones there.  Had the whole place to ourselves for breakfast.  Now that is my kind of happening.  Love it when there are no masses of yakky-doodle people around.

LUCKILY WE HAD THE PLACE TO OURSELVES FOR MOST OF THE TIME WE WERE THERE…..THE FELLOW  WHO BUILT OUR SUNROOM ALSO PLAYED A BIG ROLL IN BUILDING THIS BUILDING

ALL THOSE ‘LOW SUGAR’ JAMS AND JELLIES ARE GROWN AND MADE RIGHT THERE AT THE BERRY FARM

FRESH STRAWBERRIES JUST PICKED

ALL JUICES ARE MADE RIGHT HERE AS WELL AND IF YOU ENLARGE THE PHOTO YOU CAN SEE THE MANY JUICE COMINATIONS….WE HAVE AN APPLE AND STRAWBERRY MIX  BOX IN OUR FRIDGE RIGHT NOW…..ALL 3 LITER BOXES HAVE A SPOUT AND TAP

THAT’S US WAY OVER THERE IN THAT FAR CORNER

As any parent knows eating with Kids can be an experience in itself and so it was this morning again.  I never went through the ‘kids’ phase in my life and I sometimes think to myself it was probably just as well.  But of course I’m looking at it from a Seniors point of view now and not a young family man’s point of view.  Maybe I would have made a good Father, I like to think so, but I’ll never know.  I’m a biological Father of course but guess you could say I never really earned my wings to think of myself as a true Father.  Anyway it’s always an educating experience for me whenever any of Kelly’s 6 Grandchildren and their parents happen to drop by.

HERE’S GRAMMA KELLY HAPPILY TAKING PHOTOS OF HER GRAND KIDS:))

KAI ON THE LEFT ‘CODE TALKS’ TO HIS BROTHER DARION ON THE RIGHT THROUGH A COUPLE PLASTIC GLASSES

A BUSY LOOKING BREAKFAST TABLE AS KAI SLURPS UP SOME COLD HOT CHOCOLATE

Made it through breakfast without any injuries and it was soon time to say good-bye.  They were headed back to Deer Park Lodge to spend more time down at the beach before heading home.  Kelly and I were back home well before 10 to find Pheebs sitting outside waiting for us.  We had left the back door and gate open but Pheebs is such a good dog she just patiently waited for us to return.  That happened once before and she did the same thing.  She is just the very much most bested little girl in the whole world.

RASPBERRY FIELDS ABOVE AND STRAWBERRY FIELDS  BELOW AND SOMEWHERE OUT HERE ARE SASKATOON BERRIES AS WELL

OUTSIDE HEADING FOR THE BERRY FIELDS

‘DID SOMEBODY JUST HOLLER AT US TO STOP EATING ALL THE BERRIES’…..NAWWW, MUST HAVE BEEN THE WIND

 

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE…………AND THIS BRINGS TO A CONCLUSION MY ‘KIDS’ PHOTOS UNTIL NEXT TIME:))

The day rapidly heated up and the miserable humidity kept us both inside which was Okay because I had lost all my energy along the way somewhere anyway.  Some days are fine for doing nothing and this turned out to be one of them.  Early tomorrow morning when our outside air is again cool and fresh Pheebs and I will likely be out dusting along a few country roads somewhere in search of more brown cows and tractors, flying green chickens and and just about anything else that catches our fancy……………….

EARLY MORNING’S DEW ON THE BLUEBERRIES

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Dearest Dad I am coming home to get married soon so get your check book out.  I am in love with a man who is far away from me.  As you know I’m in Australia and he lives in Scotland.  We met on a dating website, became friends on Facebook, and had long chats on Whatsapp.  He proposed to me on Skype and now we’ve had two months of a relationship through Viber.  My beloved Dad I would like your blessing, good wishes, and a really big wedding.  Lots of Love and thanks.  Your daughter Lilly…………The Response………My Dear Lilly, Like Wow, Cool.  I suggest you get married on Twitter, have fun on Tango, buy your kids on Amazon and pay for it all on Pay Pal.  And when you get fed up with your new husband sell him on Ebay.  Love, your Dad.

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A wife and husband both talked in their sleep. She loved auctions; his hobby was golf. The other night, as they slept, the golfer yelled, "Fore!" His wife yelled back, "Four and a quarter!"

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Deanna!
Deanna who?
Deanna-mals are restless open the cage!