KELLY HEADS TO CAMBRIDGE ONTARIO FOR MOTHER'S DAY

PHEEBS WAS HAPPY TO SEE HER VERY MUCH MOST FAVORITIST COW HERD BACK OUT IN THE PASTURE

It was a cold cloud shrouded windy 'Mother's Day' morning that saw Kelly roll out our driveway heading east to Cambridge Ontario.  She was off to see three or maybe four of her five children.  Instead of everyone meeting at her daughter Sabras house like other years the gang headed off to The Bruce Craft House for an 11 o'clock all you can eat Borguschmord.  I of course stayed home with the Pheebs.

AND YES THERE WERE SOME MOTHERS OUT HERE TOO

Needing a few groceries I loaded up the little Doogins and we were off to Goderich.  Due to the dismally drab day I couldn't seem to drum up any enthusiasm for doing much of anything so after picking up our groceries we headed on home.  And that was pretty much all there was to my day.

A VERY PLACID BUT COLD LAKE HURON THIS MORNING

A NICE SHORELINE DOG WALKING AREA AT THE SOUTH END OF ROTARY COVE

Kelly made it back home shortly before 5.  Had a nice day but she sure was tired out from all the visiting and the drive.  I wonder what it is that is so tiring about visiting.  Neither one of us can remember it being that way years ago.  It can't be the visiting itself....it's gotta be us.

KELLY WITH DAUGHTERS REBECCA, SABRA ,AND SON BEN

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burgler.
Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.  
Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.
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I was visiting my daughter last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper.'  This is the 21st century,' she said. 'We don't waste money on newspapers. Here, use my iPad.'  .I can tell you this... That fly never knew what hit him!
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Traveller: "Can I take a short cut across your paddock? I need to catch the 6:45 train." 
Farmer: "Sure. And if my bull sees you, you'll catch the 6:15!"
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WE SOLD OUR MOTORHOME THIS MORNING

WE ARE IN FULL BLOWN DANDELION SEASON

I was too discouraged one day last week to write about what happened one morning when I started our Motorhome up to let it run for a bit.  Within a minute the engine was pouring out a steady cloud of white smoke from the passenger side tailpipe.  One didn't have to be a mechanic to know there was something seriously wrong somewhere.  

DESPITE OUR COLDER THAN NORMAL SPRING THE COUNTRYSIDE IS GREENING UP

Our good friend Richard came over later and said it could be any one of a few things.  A good news-bad news case if you will.  He suggested new spark plug wires for starters so I picked up a new set of wires at Carquest in Clinton.  Richard wedged himself in ahead of the front tire and took off the 4 plug wires from that side of the engine.  Pulled out each plug and checked it.  One plug was wet and he immediately suspected a problem with that particular engine cylinder.  He put the new plug wires on and we started it up.  Engine was still chugging but most of the smoke was gone.  A lot of water coming out of the tailpipe.  He then suspected the head gasket could be the problem and if that was the case it was going to be an expensive repair.  Have I emphasized the word 'DISCOURAGED' yet.  That about pushed us over the top but we were thankful for a couple things.  We're so glad the folks Dee and Mike from Gone RVing who were interested in buying our rig last Fall didn't buy it or else they would have had all these problems and expensive repairs we have just had.  Richard and Gayle had shown an interest in buying it as well late last summer and once again I am glad they didn't.  But there is a bright spot here......……...

Our good and trusted friend Ron from Four Seasons Performance had expressed an interest in buying our rig about a month ago.  Still needed a number of repairs at that time so he asked what we wanted for the rig 'as is'.  I gave Ron a figure and he said he'd come have a look at it so to make a long story short Ron came this morning, had a look at our rig and despite it's current troubles he bought it.  He is in a much better position to repair that engine and sell that coach than we are.  We just didn't want to throw any more money into additional repairs.  He suspects a dead cylinder.  For Ron to do those repairs it's no big deal so he's happy, we're happy, and he'll pick the rig up early next week.  A big stress load finally off our shoulders.  

I'M GUESSING THIS LITTLE FELLOW AS AN INDIGO BUNTING

So will we get another RV or not??  Well that's a question I can't answer but let me just say this......we will definitely continue to keep an eye on the used RV market to see just what's for sale out there.  If the perfect deal came up on a small Class C or B.....well who knows.  We're not quite ready to put this whole RV adventure behind us just yet.  Close......but not yet:))

OUR BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE REALLY LIKING THE PEANUT BUTTER SUET THIS YEAR

GROANER'S CORNER:(( While going out for a ride with his young daughter, a doctor notices the little girl playing with his stethoscope. He becomes excited, thinking "My daughter is going to follow in my footsteps!" The girl speaks into the stethoscope like a microphone, "Welcome to Burger King, may I take your order please'.
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Why didn’t the frog sit on the toadstool? Because there wasn’t mushroom.
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If the group had included a garbage man, they would have been called the Swillage People.  Their music was trashy anyway.
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IT WAS A 205 MILE JEEP RIDE FOR ALL 3 OF US TODAY AND ONE OF THE STOPS WE MADE WAS AT A HOSPITAL

I SAW FOUR BALTIMORE ORIOLES IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON 

It was 9:10 when all three of us in the Jeep rolled ourselves out of the driveway heading for London's University Hospital.  Our intermittent wipers lead the way under overcast drizzly skies.  Kelly had an appointment with her liver Doctor for 10:40.  After dropping her off at the hospital's main door Pheebs and I headed over to Masonville Mall where we put in some time and took ourselves for a week walk around a grassy treed area.  From there it was back to the hospital where we luckily found a parking spot and waited for the phone to ring.  It did and minutes later Kelly came out the front door.  Although this was a scheduled appointment for her it came at a good time because she hasn't been feeling the best lately.  She had made a list of symptoms she had been experiencing and how she's been feeling.  When the Doctor read the list he sent her right away for bloodwork.  He is also shortly setting up two unscheduled additional appointments with one being a liver biopsy and the other being an MRI.  The word Hepatitis was mentioned and she will be checked for that as well.  Also another scheduled appointment for August 1.  Her Doctor emphasized from now on anytime she is not feeling well she is to make an appointment to see him.

OUR SEATING ARRANGEMENT ON THE WAY TO LONDON THIS MORNING

OUR SEATING ARRANGEMENT ON THE WAY BACK FROM CAMBRIDGE THIS AFTERNOON

From London's University Hospital it was a quick stop at McDonalds for coffee before setting an eastern course for Cambridge Ontario 60 miles to the east.  Working our way through London's southeast end we made our way to Canada's infamous 401(same as an American Interstate) and joined the 6 lane stock car race about 12:20.  I was back in my old work place element from years ago with a four wheel vehicle and I thoroughly enjoyed smoothly slicing my way through traffic all the way to Cambridge.  What a huge difference driving a small peppy vehicle in heavy traffic as opposed to a big huge Motorhome towing a four wheeler behind.  I've driven RV's as far as California and back twice a year for thirteen years now and this morning was the first time it really sank in how stressful that can be.  This morning's 401 drive from London to Cambridge in our Jeep was actually quite relaxingly enjoyable for me and showed me how stressful driving a large RV in traffic can really be even if one maybe doesn't seem to think so at the time. 

ONTARIO'S 401 HEADING TO TORONTO....MY OLD STOMPING GROUNDS SO TO SPEAK

Okay, so what were doing in Cambridge??  Kelly had noticed a 2005 Class C 'Fleetwood Jamboree' RV in one of her 'RV's for Sale' sites.  Been a long time since we've even been in a Class C so we thought we would go have a look at it.  It was a nice clean, well maintained 25' foot rig with some nice options on it.  Ford 350 V-10.  No slides but had one of the nicest spacious washrooms we had ever seen in a rig that length.  The drawback for us was the unmoveable bench dinette set up.  The fresh water tank was located under one of the seats while the heater/water pump/ and a few other things were located under the other bench seat. 
First thing we generally do with any RV is to get rid of the space wasting dinette (and couch if possible) and use that space for comfortable seating arrangements like a couple comfortable recliners which is always priority for us.  As a rule most if not all RV furniture we've encountered is anything but comfortable and in these Senior years of ours now 'COMFORT' has been moved up to the top of our list.  No more tents, no more tent trailers, and no more cheap RV furniture.  If we have learned anything over the years about RVing it has been that ya gotta have a comfortable place to rest your weary bones at the end of the day.  

NICE LITTLE RIG BUT IT JUST WASN'T FOR US

From Cambridge we made a beeline for home 85 miles to the west with a quick stop at McDonalds in New Hamburg for a vanilla cone and a chocolate Sundae to go.  It was sometime after 3 when we finally rolled back into our driveway and shut it down for the day.  According to the Jeep's odometer we had traveled 205 miles today.  It was nice for all three of us to get out, go somewhere, and do and see something different for a change.  I like days like that:))

I BELIEVE THIS FELLOW TO BE A HAIRY WOODPECKER

'DID YOU JUST CALL ME 'HAIRY' MISTER!!

THAT'S HAIRY ON THE LEFT AND DOWNY ON THE RIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:((  

New Greeting Cards::

 l ways wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love, and now that you've come into my life...(Inside card) I've changed my mind.

I must admit, you brought religion into my life...(Inside card) I never believed in Hell until I met you.

 Happy Birthday! You look great for your age....(Inside card) Almost lifelike!

I'm so miserable without you...(Inside card) It's almost like you're still here.

You are such a good friend. If we were on a sinking ship and there was only one life jacket...(Inside card) I'd miss you terribly and think of you often.

Your friends and I wanted to do something special for your birthday...(Inside card) So we're having you put to sleep.

Looking back over the years we've been together, I can't help but wonder...(Inside card) What was I thinking?

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- An undertaker can be one of your best friends...He'll be the last one to let you down.

- If the pen is mightier than the sword, in a duel I'll let you have the pen!


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CALLED IT A DAY

PAPA DOWNY ON THE LEFT AND MAMA DOWNY ON THE RIGHT

As deep as my mind dug for a few

words to say I finally gave up and called it a day.

A FEW SLIGHTLY BLURRY HUMMINGBIRD PHOTOS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Sister: Oh, this is terrible! I made such a lovely meat pie for dinner and the cat ate it all up! Brother: Don't cry over it ... You know, we can always get another cat.  
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What do you call a sandwich box swinging from a bell rope? The Lunchpack of Notre Dame.
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A NICE QUIET FOREST WALK WITH MY BEST PAL PHEEBS

SPRING FLOWERS ON A FOREST FLOOR

Needing more top soil for our white clover seed yard project Pheebs and I headed straightaway to Goderich's Canadian Tire Store and picked up an additional 15 bags of dirt at their garden center.  On the way home we stopped at a conversation area on Kitchigami Road and took ourselves for a walk in the Spring forest.  Returning home I finished up our front yard and have started on the backyard.  With rain coming in Thursday I anxiously wait to see if anything grows.

MAYAPPLES

NICE MORNING FOR A QUIET WALK IN THE FOREST

Since the last breach of our bird feeder by the little Red Sqirrel I patiently watched to see where the weakest point of my defences were and it didn't take Red long to show me where it was.  With a couple short pieces of 2x4 I plugged up the hole he was getting through.  No sign of Red today so I am briefly in the lead again.  It is quite the tussle that little fella and I are having this year.

IN SOME PLACES THE TRAIL IS NOT EASY TO FOLLOW

ARE WE LOST YET??  NOPE, I CAN SEE A WHITE TRAIL MARKER ON A TREE AHEAD

NO STOPPING FOR US GUYS WE JUST BLEW RIGHT ON BY THIS BENCH

Still no sign of our missing Goldfish.  It's a mystery what could have happened to the little fellow.  So far the remaining two are doing just fine but they do hide a lot.  Can't help wonder if a Blue Heron got it but if that was the case why wouldn't it have grabbed the other two as well.  Goldfish in small outside ponds can be easy pickens for Blue Herons.

THIS OLD STONE FOUNDATION IS A FAMILIAR SPOT ALONG THE TRAIL

I LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH MY BEST PAL

So nice walking in the Spring forest this morning.  Came across the remains of an old cement foundation I had not seen before on previous walks.  It was only because there is not a lot of vegetation out yet that I saw it.  It is not far from a much larger old stone foundation I was familiar with.  There is history here but I don't know what it is.  

NATURE RARELY WORKS IN STRAIGHT LINES AND RECTANGLES AND IT WAS THAT WHICH CAUGHT MY ATTENTION HERE

ALTHOUGH ONLY HALF A DOZEN YARDS OFF THE TRAIL I HAD NEVER NOTICED THIS OLD CONCRETE FOUNDATION BEFORE

And sad news out of Quartzsite Arizona today.  Paul Winer often referred to as the 'naked bookseller has passed away.  I never met Paul formally but I did manage a candid photo of Kelly standing beside Paul years ago when we popped into the book store.  Exchanged a few nice emails with Paul's wife Joanne a few years ago when she emailed me about a post I wrote after Kelly and I walked around Celias Rainbow Garden in Quartzsite.  Celia was Joanne and Paul's daughter.  Celia passed away October 25th 1995.  Rest In Peace Paul and don't let no dust gather on those there rockin boogie-woogie piano keys...…………

GROANER'S CORNER:(( 
Doctor, Doctor I feel like a pack of cards.  I'll deal with you later! 
Doctor, Doctor I think I'm turning into a frog.  
Your just playing too much croquet! Doctor, Doctor I think I'm a yo-yo.  
Are you stringing me along! 
Doctor, Doctor I dream there are monsters under my bed, what can I do?  Saw the legs off of your bed!
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Just spent $300 on a limousine and discovered that the fee doesn't include a driver... Can’t believe I’ve spent all that money and have nothing to chauffeur it!
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