A NASTY WEATHER DAY SO LET'S LET 'MEMORY LANE' TAKE US FOR A WALK ON AN ANCIENT LAVA FLOW IN NEW MEXICO

VALLEY OF FIRES NEW MEXICO

Even with windows and doors tightly closed against nature's cold we could hear a steady roar outside upon awakening this morning.  No we don't have lions here but we did have huge winds ripping through our area.  Both Kelly and I were surprised our power was still one.  Usually in past years if someone in the Park sneezed our power went out.  Letting Pheebs out our back door Kelly noticed our deck had a thin coating of ice on it as well.  Being surrounded by tall pine trees and with high winds and freezing rain present we usually have branches and sometimes a tree come down.  Maybe so but our power was still on.  Very much most amazing.  ::Update:: I wrote the above paragraph around seven o'clock this morning.  Forty five minutes later while slicing some celery into my morning shake...'Poof' and our power was gone.  I knew I shouldn't have mentioned it!!

PHEEBS WANTS YOU READERS TO KNOW IT'S HER WINTER COAT THAT MAKES HER LOOK BIGGER THAN SHE REALLY IS

Well what to do.  Stay in the house looking out the window until the storm passed or venture out to see what we could see.  There has always been an undeveloped photo journalist lurking inside me and it was that adventuress side of myself which had me out the door, into the Jeep, and down the road to check things out.  Pheebs too:))

ATOP THE BLUFFS OVERLOOKING GODERICH'S HARBOR MOUTH

In four wheel drive Pheebs and I slowly made our way North on Porters Hill line.  Thought for sure I would see branches down but nope, only a couple dozen twigs.  Not another vehicle to be seen anywhere.  Paved road surface was iffy but 4WD held the traction until near Goderich when I noticed the road ahead had a glass like appearance.  A wind gust moved the Jeep slightly sideways and I knew right away I was on ice.  Foot off the gas, carefully steer, and we were fine.  From there to number eight highway we eeked our way along with a very light touch on the controls.  I knew once we reached the highway in another mile or so it would be salted and sanded.  And it was.  We were soon the only vehicle going through Tim Hortons drive-thru for a hot coffee and carrot muffin to go.  The girl at the drive-thru didn't even notice I didn't have my teeth in or else she would have started laughing, pointed her finger at me and hollered for the staff to 'come over and have a look at this':((   With coffee in hand we made straight away for the harbor and beach areas.  Two large freighters were in port with one being at the Sifto Salt Mine dock and the other at the Goderich Grain Elevators.  

THE ALGOMA INNOVATOR WAS AT THE SALT DOCK

AND THE ALGOMA NIAGARA WAS AT THE GODERICH ELEVATORS

Slipped along Cove Road to the far end and headed back.  No point in stopping at the Dog walking area with cold wind driven rain coming down.  Actually it rained all the way to Goderich and back this morning.

DESPITE GUSTING WINDS LAKE HURON REMAINED CALM BEING IN THE LEE OF AN EAST WIND

THESE MACHINES WILL KICK OF THE GODERICH SHORELINE REPAIRS FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING

Rolled out Goderich's south end staying on the salted #21 highway all the way back to Bayfield.  A quick drive through the village to see if their power was out (it wasn't) and we headed home.  Coming around a sharp curve near our Park I saw an old dead tree down across the road.  There was no way I would be pulling that off to the side so had to reverse ourselves, head back towards Bayfield, take a couple other roads and access our Park from a different direction.  Pulling into the Park I didn't see any lights on through any windows so knew our Park's power was still out.  It was 9:05.  With no electricity I knew our furnace wouldn't work but luckily we installed a free standing gas stove in the sunroom about ten years ago and Kelly was quite contentedly sitting in my recliner right beside it toasty warm reading.  She had put a call in to the Power Company and they said power would be restored by ten thirty.  Ten thirty came and went with the power company calling back saying all would be well by noon.  Noon came and went too with both Kelly and I sitting on either side of our warm little stove.  Temperatures slowly began to rise as we watched icicles slowly at first begin to drip.  And then at twelve fifty it happened and with a 'fizzle and pop' our power was finally back on after five hours and five minutes.  An hour after that the power company (Ontario Hydro) sent a text saying they were still having problems and hoped to have our power restored by 3 o'clock.  Well oh gee thank you very much..…….All in all I think we got off pretty lucky here in our area.  Storm could have been a lot worse and wasn't.  In fact temps are now on the rise again and it looks like most of our days for the next couple weeks are above freezing with one day maybe reaching 40F.  At the time of posting tonight we have a little drizzle in the air with temps sitting on the freezing mark.

STAYING TOASTY WARM BY THE FIRE DURING OUR POWER OUTAGE

Almost hate to jinx myself by mentioning the following but I think my new Verilux Happy Light might just be helping me.  I know it hasn't even been a week yet and I may end up eating my words of course but weather and especially the darker rainy days has not been gloominizing me as is often the case.  Not going to push my luck so I'll not say anything more about it until next month some time.  Just know I've been feeling more like :)) than :((

WHILE READING IN MY RECLINER I SUN MYSELF WITH MY VERILUX LIGHT

NOT WANTING TO GO TO ALL THE WORK OF FLYING SOUTH THIS WINTER THESE GEESE ARE GOING TO SNEAK ABOARD THIS FREIGHTER HOPING IT'S HEADING TO A WARM CLIMATE

'OKAY GUYS FOLLOW ME AND KEEP YOUR HEADS DOWN LIKE THIS SO THEY DON'T SEE US COMING'

Surprisingly, despite trying three times to breach my latest defences Squirrely was unable to reach the suet feeder today.  Well at least not while I was watching him.  Below you can see his three attempts in about five minutes.  I'm sure he'll be back tomorrow and figure things out then.

I HAVE GATHERED HALF A GARBAGE CAN OF CORN FOR THE SQUIRRELS OVER THE WINTER

::Memory Lane::  November 21rst 2011 finds us on a lava flow walk at New Mexico's Valley Of Fires.  My post for the day is here at Thunder, Lightning, And Rain In The Desert.  My photo album for the walk is here at Lava Flow Walk 

OH THE BEAUTIFUL LANDS OF NEW MEXICO

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Two cowboys come upon an Indian lying on his stomach with his ear to the ground. One of the cowboys stops and says to the other, "You see that Indian?"
"Yeah," says the other cowboy.
"Look," says the first one, "he's listening to the ground. He can hear things for miles in any direction."
Just then the Indian looks up. "Covered wagon," he says, "about two miles away. Have two horses, one brown, one white. Man, woman, child, household effects in wagon."
"Incredible!" says the cowboy to his friend. "This Indian knows how far away they are, how many horses, what color they are, who is in the wagon, and what is in the wagon. Amazing!"
The Indian looks up and says, "Ran over me about a half hour ago."
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OUR FRONT YARD SQUIRRELS ARE DRIVING ME SQUIRRELY

ALWAYS SAD TO SEE OLD NEGLECTED BARNS SLOWLY SUCCUMBING TO THE ELEMENTS

I was surprised on our morning wanderings not to see one field of corn left standing.  Farmers must have really been burning the midnight oil this past week to get their corn harvest in.  Seen one combine working a field not far from our Park and I suspect he probably finished that field up by afternoon.

MANY FIELDS OF CORN STUBBLE THIS MORNING

AND HERE'S THE BUSINESS END OF THE MACHINE TURNING RIPENED CORN FIELDS TO STUBBLE

THIS FARMER IS DEPLOYING HIS MACHINERY TO CHURN AND SCUFFLE UP THE CORN STUBBLE

GONE ARE THE TALL WILLOWY CORN STOCKS

WHEN CORN FROM THE COMBINES AND HOPPERS IS TRANSFERRED TO WAITING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD THERE IS OFTEN SPILLAGE SO THIS IS WHERE I SCOOP UP SOMECORN TO TAKE HOME AND FEED THE SQUIRRELS SO THEY CAN TORMENT ME TO PIECES RAIDING OUR BIRD FEEDERS

THE BRAZEN RED COQUEROR RESTS AMONG THE LEAVES AND STOCKS OF THE VANQUISHED

A COMBINE TRAVELS IN TANDEM WITH A TRACTOR TOWING A HOPPER

NO SIGN OF THE ONCE TALL CORN FIELD GROWING HERE

SAW A FEW OF THESE CURIOUS LOOKING COCOONS TODAY BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE

Under cloudy skies with temps hoovering just under the freezing mark we were fortunate to not have any wind.  It felt cold enough as it was.  Pheebs and I got a walk in at the Bannockburn cemetery about 3 miles east of our Park.  We did get in a second walk this afternoon with a bit of bush scrambling near the Park's pine tree trail.  And Kelly put a few more Christmas decorations up outside today.  

THERE'S LITTLE MOLLY MUGGINS OUT THERE PUTTING UP A FEW CHRISTMAS DECOS

PHEEBS ASLEEP ON ONE OF HER NEW BEDS BESIDE ME IN THE SUNROOM

It was at 1:17 p.m. on the day of 30 November in the year 2019 when Squirrely finally breached my home made double bubble bird feeder baffle bungle.  My latest contraption had withstood his relentless attacks less than 24 hours.  Luckily I was sitting in the sunroom at the computer and saw right away how he did it.  Undaunted it was on with my coat and despite the 30F temps I was out the door and up my ladder reconfiguring my set-up.  Moved the baffle lids closer together but I have a feeling this isn't going to work either.  Photos below (view left to right) are in sequence showing two attempts with the first one being unsuccessful and the second one being a big win for Squirrely.

SO HERE'S MY LATEST DEFENCE SURE TO BE BREACHED PROBABLY SOMETIME SUNDAY

::Memory Lane::  November 29th 2011 found us in Ajo Arizona.  On this day we decided to Jeep the tire scuffing Rough And Tumble Cabeza Prieta.  Nice drive if you like rough and tumble:))

::Foibles and Fumbles::  Is That A Diesel Motorcycle Sir?? the young fella at the Shell gas station asked me.  Oh No now what have I gone and done!!!!:((

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The two thousand member Baptist church was filled to overflowing capacity one Sunday morning. The preacher was ready to start the sermon when two men, dressed in long black coats and black hats entered thru the rear of the church.  One of the two men walked to the middle of the church while the other stayed at the back of the church. They both then reached under their coats and withdrew automatic weapons.  The one in the middle announced, "Everyone willing to take a bullet for Jesus stay in your seats!"  Naturally, the pews emptied, followed by the choir. The deacons ran out the door, followed by the choir director and the assistant pastor.  After a few moments, there were about twenty people left sitting in the church. The preacher was holding steady in the pulpit.  The men put their weapons away and said, gently, to the preacher, "All right, pastor, the hypocrites are gone now. You may begin the service."
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Me: "I think I have a crush on Beyoncé..."
Her: "Whatever floats your boat." 
Me: "No, that’s buoyancy."
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“The company's performance was so abysmal that it quickly became the joke of Wall Street: a laughing-stock.”

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GODERICH SHORELINE RESTORATION TO BEGIN, SQUIRREL BATTLES, CHRISTMAS DECOS, AND A 'CITY OF ROCKS'

Work begins December 1rst by the town of Goderich Ontario to restore and strengthen their damaged Lake Huron shoreline.  Cove Road and pedestrian access leading to Rotary Cove and the dog walking area will be closed at the water treatment plant until further notice.  I'm guessing this project could last a month or two depending on weather with it's Winter storms.  The next photos I take in that area may show a fully restored shoreline.  You can be assured I will be keeping an eye on the progress having now attained my Senior's 'Sidewalk Superintendent' status.

I'M GUESSING THIS IS ANOTHER ELEVATOR SHAFT BEING CONSTRUCTED AT GODERICH'S SIFTO SALT MINE

A CLOSER LOOK

Pheebs and I slipped up to Goderich.  I go through a fair amount of vegetables each week with my morning Sounds Yukky - Tastes Yummy shakes. (video)  Been doing these shakes for the best part of 15 years now but not on the road when RVing.  A banana goes into each daily shake so I'm always having to replenish bananas, romaine lettuce, carrots, celery, and apples.  Keeps me on the run to the supermarket.  (Quick 2019 update on my shakes....I use only bananas, lettuce, carrots, celery, apple, cinnamon, and vanilla flavored Whey powder now)   While in Goderich we of course swung down around the harbor to Rotary Coves dog walking area.  With a big shoreline restoration project due to begin in a few days it may well be the last time this year we get down there.  

EQUIPMENT IS GATHERING NEAR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR BEACHFRONT REPAIRS AND RESTORATION

Nobody at the dog walking area so taking advantage of that we took ourselves for a walk along the shoreline noticing along the way other damaged areas of shoreline from high water levels and wind driven waves.  I'm sure there must be a lot of cottage owners up and down this coast line with major structural damage to not only their beach areas but their docks, boat houses, and possibly their dwellings. 

SHORE EROSION IS TOPPLING A COUPLE TREES INTO THE LAKE

WALKING FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE SHORELINE IN THE DOG WALKING AREA I SEE MORE SIGNS OF EROSION

YEARS AGO WHEN LAKE LEVELS WERE LOWER CHUNKS OF OLD CONCRETE, PAVEMENT. ROCKS, CEMENT BLOCKS ETC WERE PLACED ALONG LAKE HURON'S SHORELINE  AS A BUFFER AGAINST BATTERING WAVES

THERE'S A COMPLETE CEMENT PORCH AND STEPS FROM AN OLD BUILDING

LOOKS LIKE SOME COMMERCIAL FISHING GEAR SQUASHED UNDER THE CONCRETE STEPS

SPOTTED THIS YELLOW KAYAK WASHED UP  SO IF ANYONE LOCAL IS READING THIS AND KNOWS ANYONE LOOKING FOR THEIR LOST KAYAK THIS MIGHT BE IT

UNFORTUNATELY THE BOW (FRONT) OF THE KAYAK IS SMASHED UP

EVEN FOUND ME SOME ICICLES

A NUMBER OF WEATHERED BRICKS LAYING ABOUT

HERE'S A VERY INTERESTING PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD....COULD IT BE A WEATHERED TIMBER FROM ONE OF THE MANY OLD SHIPWRECKS OFFSHORE HERE

Home shortly after 10 I was soon out in the front yard working again at trying to stop Squirrely from beating up on our hanging bird feeders.  My single bird feeder baffle idea didn't work so I put together this morning what I call my double bubble bird feeder baffle bungle.  Wasn't long before Squirrely tried it out and failed in his first attempt.  However I won't be surprised if he breaches the defences and if so I have an idea already for an adjustment. 

PHOTO BELOW LEFT SHOWS MY SINGLE BAFFLE ATTEMPT A FEW DAYS AGO WHICH FAILED THE SQUIRREL TEST AND PHOTO AT RIGHT BELOW SHOWS TODAY'S DOUBLE BAFFLE ATTEMPT

 

SQUIRRELY FAILS ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT

Kelly started on a few outside Christmas decorations today.  With all our snow gone now it's not looking too Christmasy but I'm sure it will before too long again.  We had a nice pre-Christmas two years ago but last year not so much.  We just couldn't seem to get ourselves into Christmas mode.  Two years ago we left for the Southwest a few days before Christmas and last year a few days after Christmas.  In the past we left once in September, twice in November, and eight times in October.

THAT'S A METAL SUNFACE STRUCTURE AND KELLY SIMPLY HUNG A CHRISTMAS WREATH ON IT

A gray November day sitting just under the freezing mark.  Roads were bare and dry and with country roads slightly frozen there was no dust or mud on them.  Although November is my least favorite month it does have it's own sense of beauty and appeal.  One just has to look a little harder for it.  But it's there.

Thanks to readers for your re-assurances.  Wished I had as much confidence in my own abilities as some of you have.  It's a long story I carry with me.

It was 11 years ago today in 2008 while in New Mexico we made the decision to switch from Satellite internet to a Verizon air card.  We've never regretted that decision although both those two communications systems had their own sets of problems.  Here is my post from the day we made an Internet Decision In Silver City New Mexico.  We were staying at City Of Rocks State Park.  Here is my photo album of our time there entitled A Day At City Of Rocks.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. However, all the league records were unfortunately destroyed in a fire. Thus we'll never know for whom the Tells bowled.

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-“I owned two racetracks but I rented them to others. I was the lessor of two ovals.”
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Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings... One by one... As each relative goes home.
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A father spoke to his son, "It's time we had a little talk, my son. Soon, you will have urges and feelings you've never had before. Your heart will pound & your hands will sweat. You'll be preoccupied and won't be able to think of anything else."He added, "But don't worry, it's perfectly normal... it's called golf."
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