I HOPE TO CONTINUE BRINGING NATURE PHOTOS TO MY READERS

AT A FARM JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM OUR PARK

Warm windy rains came in the night bringing summerlike 50F+ temperatures early this morning.  Didn't last long though as temps plummeted throughout the morning and we ended up with a cold windy day with temps finally falling over 20 degrees to well below freezing.

I BELIEVE THAT TO BE A HAIRY WOODPECKER ON THE LEFT AND A DOWNIE WOODPECKER ON THE RIGHT

A change of routine this morning.  Had to stay close to the phone for a 9 a.m. call from my Nurse Practitioner.  I would normally have gone to the Maitland Valley Health Clinic for this appointment but of course these are not normal times any more.  Had a shower, combed my hair, put on a clean shirt, straightened my moustache and waited in my sunroom recliner for the phone to ring.  And ring right on time it did.  Not being able to do any real time things like blood pressure and stuff it was basically an ask and answer session.  I might be called in sometime next week for a blood pressure test so we'll see.  All depends whether the medical clinic decides to stay open.  I think my Nurse Practitioner may have been calling from her home.

SOME LIGHT FOG ON THIS WARM WET MORNING

Kelly had a short grocery list and I had a prescription to pick up so all three of us were off to Goderich's Walmart with Pheebs riding shotgun in the front seat.  Rained all the way.  Pheebs and I waited in the Jeep while Kelly slipped in to Walmart.  She said everything looked normal in there with the exception of staff wiping down each shopping cart.  I didn't see anything out of the ordinary outside the store either.  Everybody I saw seemed to be acting normally and not panic buying.  No line-ups.  Majority of carts coming out were only half or a quarter full. We were back home by noon.

THIS LITTLE SQUIRREL SURE HAD IT'SELF A BIG DRINK HERE

As predicted our warm temperatures plummeted throughout the day and I didn't have any desire to go outside.  Waking up from an hour's snooze around three I looked out the window to see it snowing.  What an insult to the first day of Spring:((  Sunday is supposed to be sunny and 37F and temperatures continue to rise after that:))

I LIKE THIS PERSON'S LITTLE LOG CABIN BUT NOT SO MUCH THE LANDSCAPING:((

THAT'S A PRETTY NICE SHELTERED PLACE FOR FARM KIDS TO AWAIT THE SCHOOLBUS

I LIKE THIS LITTLE PLACE

With each waking day seeming to be more serious than the day before with this Covid-19 dilemma these are truly troubling times.  As seemingly safe as we appear to be for the moment in our little protective Bayfield bubble we also know our community could be turned right upside down at any moment.  In the meantime I plan to be out on the country roads with Pheebs each and every morning enjoying the scenery and gathering photos for my blog.  If readers can't get out to be a part of nature I'm hoping I can continue bringing nature to my readers...………..  

I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A PAIR OF DOWNIE WOODPECKERS WITH THE MALE ON THE LEFT

GROANER'S CORNER:((  I love bacon. Sometimes I eat it twice a day.  It helps take my mind off the terrible chest pains I keep getting.
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“The other day I held the door open for a clown. I thought it was a nice jester.”
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I was watching Star Wars with my daughter. She asked why Luke was climbing inside a Tauntaun. I said to keep warm.  She asked, "How warm is it inside?" I said, "Lukewarm."
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WE'VE SEEN IT IN EACH OTHER'S FACES SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS

SPRING OFFICIALLY ARRIVES TONIGHT AND AREA WILLOW TREES ARE ALREADY SPORTING THEIR FINE SPRING COLORS

No icy cold east wind this morning and with temps pushing 40F Pheebs and headed into Bayfield.  Being outside was doable and it didn't seem to matter much if it was cloudy.  

CALM REFLECTIVE WATERS IN THE BAYFIELD RIVER THIS MORNING

BAYFIELD'S SOUTH FISHING PIER IS FILLING UP

AND HERE COME A COUPLE MORE

I THINK THESE TWO FISHERMEN ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

THESE BAYFIELD POLE VAULTERS ARE KEEPING A RESPECTFUL COVID DISTANCE

I GUESS WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE NOW THIS PROPOSED TIM HORTON COFFEE SHOP  BUILDING WILL JUST REMAIN A THING OF THE PAST

EVEN WITHOUT SUNSHINE IT WAS STILL A NICE MORNING TO BE OUT AND ABOUT IN OUR RURAL COUNTRYSIDE

Rolling south out of Bayfield I figured we would head for a walk on the beach at the end of Pavilion Road.  My intentions were good but unfortunately the steep wooden stairs leading down to the beach were blocked off with a 'no admittance' sign.  Looking down through the trees I could see where high lake levels had carried water and ice right across the narrow beach and into the bottom of the old wooden staircase.  I'm sure there is more damage all along the shoreline.

NOPE, GUESS WE WON'T BE GOING FOR A WALK ON THE BEACH HERE TODAY

I THINK MAYBE THE WHOLE BOTTOM END OF THESE STAIRS MAY BE MISSING BECAUSE WHAT IS VISIBLE IS ONLY THE TOP THIRD OF THE STEPS

STILL ICE OUT ON LAKE HURON LOOKING NORTH

LOOKING SOUTH

THAT'S A PRIVATE HOMEOWNERS STAIRWAY TO THE BEACH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WATER AND ICE ARE RIGHT TO IT'S BASE

FLOATING ICE BURGERS

'HMMMMM,' WONDER IF ALL THESE PLACES ON CENTENIAL ROAD FOR SALE ARE INDICATIVE OF OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING TIMES

From Pavilion Road we wondered east to a favorite walking spot of ours near Kerr's Campground.  Foiled again when I noticed the seldom plowed or graded dead end road was mired in mud.  Parked the Jeep nearby and took us for a walk through part of the campground.  With a firm flat grassy surface to walk on we made our way around making sure not to go near any of the camping units.  Too early for any of the camping folks to be out here yet but the camp owners house was nearby and I didn't want him running out to chase us 'would be burglers' off the property.

LOTS OF WIDE OPEN SPACES HERE AT KERR'S CAMPGROUND

SO NICE WALKING ON GRASS AGAIN

IN THE PARK'S HEYDAY THIS WAS AN OUTDOOR THEATER COMPLETE WITH STAGE DOORS AND A CHANGE ROOM OUT BACK.....ONLY THING ON STAGE NOW IS AN OLD WEATHERBEATEN CHAIR NO DOUBT AN OLD PROP FROM A LONG AGO FORGOTTEN PRODUCTION 

NEWER HORSESHOE PITS AT THE CAMPGROUND WITH THE OLD THEATER STAGE IN THE BACKGROUND

SOME OF THE FENCING IS GETTING A LITTLE OLD

Home again before 11 I busied myself with a few outside projects.  Uncovered our front yard frog pond and it looks like our two goldfish have survived the winter but are still in their dormant winter state and not moving much.  As soon as the water slowly warms up I'm sure they will come back to life from their long frozen hibernation.

I THINK SOMEBODY SNUCK UP ON ME WITH THEIR SMART PHONE AS I WAS RAKING A UP A FEW LEAVES FOR OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR MONICA WHO IS DUE HOME FRIDAY FROM FLORIDA

Even with more and more places closing down due to Covid-19 it really doesn't bother Kelly and I a whole lot.  Most of the closing down places we never frequented anyway except for the Bayfield library where Kelly hustled off to a couple days ago taking out 12 books before the library closed until further notice a few hours later.  We never go to bars and rarely to restaurants.  Not at all being a sports fan I don't miss any of that stuff at all and music concerts have become too expensive anyway.  Churches closing is no problem for us either.  Social groups, events, and gatherings??  Nope, that's not us.  As long as we can get gas and groceries we will be just fine.  All and all Kelly and I consider ourselves to be very fortunate during these difficult times when so many other people are having a very difficult time of it now with this Pandemic going on.  With a couple extra dollars in the bank we don't have to worry about working and depending on a paycheque.  Just the two of us with no children to care for.  We are so lucky to live in Canada, in a nice quiet and scenic area of rural Ontario.  No big cities nearby and our region is not overpopulated with people and traffic flying around all over the place.  We live in the nicest Mobile Home Park we've ever seen which is actually located in the countryside just outside of Bayfield Ontario and we have a nice little snug as a bug place to live in with lots of room outside to walk around.  And a forest at our doorstep.  Yes, we consider ourselves to be so very, very, fortunate in these seriously troubled times.

SPOTTED THIS RED WINGED BLACKBIRD ON OUR TRAVELS THIS MORNING

Needing celery, milk, and bananas I popped into Bayfield's Foodland this morning expecting to see rows of empty shelves.  Nope, the store looked exactly like any other time I had ever been in there.  Lots of everything.  Even saw half a dozen toilet paper packs on the shelf beside a small bare spot.  Six vehicles in the parking lot with about 10 people in the store.  Even saw an older RV couple scampering around hastily loading up their shopping cart.  No doubt they're headed home and I bet they had just crossed the border into Canada after a long drive.  They had that frazzled look about them.  Both Kelly and I know well about that long distance totally frazzled RV look alright.  We've seen it in each other's faces many times over the years...…..

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Bubba and Earl, were driving down the road drinking a couple of bottles of Bud.  The passenger, Bubba, said, "Lookey thar up ahead, Earl, it's a po-lice roadblock! We're gonna get busted fer drinkin' these here beers!!""Don't worry, Bubba," Earl said.  "We'll just pull over and finish drinkin' these beers, peel off the label and stick it on our foreheads, and throw the bottles under the seat."  "What fer?" asked Bubba.  "Just let me do the talkin', OK?" said Earl.  Well, they finished their beers, threw the empty bottles under the seat, and each put a label on their forehead.  When they reached the roadblock, the sheriff said, "You boys been drinkin'?"  "No sir," Earl said. "We're on the patch."
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AMIDST ALL THE VIRUS TURMOIL PHEEBS AND I HAD US A NICE RELAXING DRIVE THROUGH AMISH MENNONITE COUNTRY THIS MORNING

'Wow' noticed a definite drop in vehicle traffic on area roads this morning and imagine my surprise when I figured there would be a long line up at Tim Hortons coffee shop now that they are doing drive-thru only.  Approaching Tim Hortons I didn't see a single vehicle and thought they were totally closed.  Turning in I saw 3 cars which I assume might have been staff.  Nobody in the drive-thru lane but I stopped at the speaker board anyway and was happy to hear a voice asking what I would like.  "Small decalf coffee with cream please" I said.  "That's a dollar sixty, drive on up" she said.  With my coffee safe in my cup holder I exited Tim Hortons then pulled over to the side of the road and sanitized myself.

AN ALMOST EMPTY TIM HORTONS LOT ON A MORNING WEEK DAY IS TRULY RARE

AN EMPTY DRIVE-THRU LANE...WHAT!!

NOT MUCH TRAFFIC ON AREA ROADWAYS

THE COVID VIRUS ISN'T SLOWING THIS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DOWN

Rolling east out of Clinton I caught the first country road left and headed North.  The number of vehicles I saw I could count on one hand so it was a very peaceful drive through the countryside.  Not much in the way of sunshine but at least clouds were thin enough to let some diffused lighting through making for evenly lit photos.

A BELATED HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY I'D SAY

I COULD SMELL THIS MANURE SPREADER BEFORE I SAW HIM

THESE RURAL FARMS WILL SOON BE BUSY WITH THE COMING OF SPRING

STILL PATCHES OF SNOW LYING AROUND

IT'S DEFINITELY MAPLE SYRUP TIME 

THIS HEAT MASTER IS AN OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACE

Had it in my mind to head on up through Amish Mennonite country so that is the direction our wanderings took us.  Driving up through that area I couldn't help but wonder how much these quiet living folks knew of what's going on the world right now with the Covid-19 virus going around.  Wondered if they knew how close this impending storm was to their protected but vulnerable rural community.  No radios, no TV, no newspapers.  Are non Amish Mennonite neighbors keeping them informed.  Passed by 3 different A-M schools and only saw chimney smoke at one of them.  Don't know if the kids are in school or not.

WHEN ONE SEES BUGGY TRACKS IN THE GRAVEL ONE KNOWS HE'S IN AMISH MENNONITE COUNTRY

YESIREEEE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT ROAD ALRIGHT

THESE QUIET FOLKS LIKE WHITE HOUSES AND RED BARNS

AND THEY KNOW HOW TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF A MAPLE TREE FOR MAPLE SYRUP AND DID YOU NOTICE ALL PAILS ARE ABOUT HALF FULL

SPRING CLEAN-UP

Saw lots of buggy tracks and horse buns on the road so the folks are obviously out and about.  Could also smell wood smoke in the air on this cold morning.  I recognized a summer sausage in the air as well so I think some farms were smoking meat and making sausage.  Stopped at Lake Wawanosh in the heart of Amish Mennonite country and found it still frozen over.   Won't be any fishing, canoeing, or kayaking going on there for a few weeks yet.

FOLKS WON'T BE CANOEING ON LAKE WAWANOSH FOR AWHILE YET

THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THIS SCHOOLHOUSE CHIMNEY

A FRIENDLY WAVE WHICH I RETURNED

AN OLD COUNTRY CEMETERY

STILL FOLLOWING THE BUGGY TRACKS

LOOKS TO BE SOME WOODWORKING GOING ON HERE

PHEEBS LIKES CHECKING OUT FARMS FOR COWS

Despite predictions of 40F temps today we were a long time getting there with this mornings icy east wind driving the wind chill factor below the freezing mark.  I still start most every day dressed in my lined winter pants and winter jacket then change into lighter clothes as the day progresses.

NOTICE HOW THESE TWO FARM FAMILIES HAVE JOINED THEIR HOUSES

THIS FELLOW IS HOLDING UP A WIND BREAK IN FRONT OF HIS FACE

REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WAS SMALL AND MY MOTHER WOULD HANG OUT THE LAUNDRY

I wonder how many Canadian RV folks will make it back to the sunny south next Winter.  Too early to think about that??  Maybe so.  Sure glad we sold our Congress Arizona house when we did a few years ago.  One of the reality worries we had was not being able to cross the border into the States.  Whether blocked by political decisions, medical or financial concerns the worry was real.  It wasn't our only deciding factor but it was one of them.  We really enjoyed the 4 years we had our little ranch style house and we've had no regrets in selling it.  Like I said, we're just glad we sold it when we did and don't have to worry about it......especially now.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  One night a teenage girl brought her new boyfriend home to meet her parents, and they were appalled by his appearance: leather jacket, motorcycle boots, tattoos and pierced nose. Later, the parents pulled their daughter aside and confessed their concern. "Dear," said the mother diplomatically, "he doesn't seem very nice." "Oh please, Mom," replied the daughter, "if he wasn't nice, why would he be doing 500 hours of community service?"
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OLD RADIOS never die, they just stop receiving
OLD RAILROADERS never die, they just derail
OLD RAIN PUDDLES never die, they just dry up
OLD SAILORS never die, they just get a little "DINGHY" 

OLD SALESMEN never die, they just go out of commission

OLD SCHOOLS never die, they just lose their principals

OLD SCOTS never die, but they can be kilt

OLD SCULPTORS never die, they just lose their marbles

OLD SEAMSTRESSES never die, they just come to the point 

OLD SEERS never die, they just lose their vision

OLD SEWAGE WORKERS never die, they just waste away

OLD SHEETROCKERS (dry wallers) never die, they just hang around

OLD SHOES MAKERS never die, they just lose their sole

OLD SKIERS never die, but they go downhill fast 

OLD SAILORS never die, they just lose their porpoise

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