ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!

  IN OUR PARK JUST UP THE STREET FROM US THIS MORNING I SAW THIS RARE AND ELUSIVE RUBY TROATED GREEN-WINGED SOUTHERN SEMI- SIBERIAN HUMMINGBIRD:)) 

If I were prone to exaggerations which in some cases I intentionally am, I would tell you that all the snowflakes coming down this morning were as big as baseballs. But, that would be an exaggeration of course because not all of them were that big:))  Today's snow came in the night and stayed around for most of the day.  Very discouraging at this time of year when we are all patiently standing on our tippy toes peering over the snowbanks trying to catch the first glimpse of Spring coming over the horizon and sliding in around the corner.

 A LOT OF SNOW CAME DOWN AGAIN OVERNIGHT

 HERE'S KELLY JUST BACK FROM TAKING PHEEBS FOR HER MORNING WALK

 HEADING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY

 WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE ON SUCH A PRETTY STREET NO MATTER WHAT SEASON OF THE YEAR IT IS

Slipping the Jeep into 4-wheel drive Pheebs and I rolled out of our snowy driveway and took a short cruise around the Park before venturing off down the snowy unplowed roads to Bayfield.

 DRIVING AROUND OUR PARK TAKING A FEW PHOTOS

IT WAS IN THE FRONT YARD OF THIS HOUSE WHERE I SPOTTED THAT RARE HUMMINGBIRD 

THESE PARK RACCOONS ARE COMFORTABLY WEARING THEIR WINTER OUTFITS

There is a short fairly steep hill leading down to Bayfield's harbor and coming back up that hill to make a hairpin turn to the right this morning even the Jeep's 4-wheel drive was in trouble for about 10 seconds as we slid a good 10 feet backwards on the ice under the snow.  Both the Jeep and I quickly regrouped and agreed on a plan that required the straightening of the front wheels plus the application of some major power.  We rocketed our way around that hairpin in a rather sideways motion and firmly gripped our way up the remainder of the grade.  Exciting.....just like the old days:))

 TURNED LEFT OUT OF OUR PARK AND HEADED DOWN THIS SNOWY ROAD IN THE DIRECTION OF BAYFIELD

Noticed a few people digging out in downtown Bayfield this morning but I was surprised at the lack of traffic on the roads for a Friday morning.  We slip-slided our way to the south end of town and popped into the local Foodland Supermarket for some milk.

 DIGGING OUT IN DOWNTOWN BAYFIELD

THIS FELLOW WAS BUSY KEEPING FOODLAND'S PARKING LOT CLEAR

 ANOTHER SNOW REMOVAL MACHINE WARMS UP IN THE BULLPEN

THIS WAS THE ONLY SNOWPLOW I SAW

Following our snowy milk run we headed home where I busied myself topping up the birdfeeders and following my snow shovel around all over the place again.  This is not fun anymore!!!! And to add insult to injury, I was hoping the 40 pounds of birdseed I bought last week would last me until Christmas but at the rate of seed consumption in this wintery weather, I won't even have enough to last me to St. Patrick's Day.  I hope I'm not forced into the tough decision of deciding what's more important.....gas for the car or seeds for the birds!!

 A FEW MORE PHOTOS IN BAYFIELD THIS MORNING

 BAYFIELD'S PIONEER PARK QUIETLY AWAITS SUMMER'S TOURISTS

I am beginning to think this recurring pain in my right leg may be directly related to my snow shoveling.  I won't know for sure until all this !!@#%%&* snow is finally gone so it's just another reason to look forward to an early Spring.  By the looks of things outside today, it looks more like this is an early start to this year's already approaching winter in November.  Checking the 14-day weather forecast I see that 7 of those days are predicted snow days.  Enough is enough is enough of all this snow already!!  However, I do see temperatures trending steadily into the upper thirties in the third week of the month.  What would we northerners do if we didn't have the hopes of nicer weather to look forward to eh.  It seems like we sometimes only really appreciate the good stuff after we've had a good bunch of bad stuff. 

 HEADING HOME THIS MORNING

Al's Music Box:)) Black Magic Woman by Santana from the album Abraxas.  1970 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Doctor: "I see you're over a month late for your appointment. Don't you know that nervous disorders require prompt and regular attention? What's your excuse?" 

Patient: "I was just following your orders, Doc."

Doctor: "Following my orders? What are you talking about? I gave you no such order."

Patient: "You told me to avoid people who irritate me."

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'Nice Caboose':  I took the train to NYC today and the conductor paid me the nicest compliment as I was boarding...He said, “First class rear..."

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STOPPED IN TO SEE A COUPLE GOOD FRIENDS

A FEMALE COMMON GOLDENEYE DUCK ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER THIS MORNING AS THE WATER REFLECTS THE BLUE SKY OVERHEAD

Our third sunny day in a row.  Washed the Jeep at the Bayfield car wash and then it was over to the cemetery to get some paws and boots on the ground for a walk.  Stopped to visit a couple good friends on the way home and welcome them back to the Bayfield area.  With shovel in hand, I spent time this afternoon moving around a few patches of driveway snow before the next bash of the cold white stuff rolls in Friday.  And that about wraps up another winter's day.........

 WITH FOUR FISHING BOATS BACK IN BAYFIELD NOW IT DEFINITELY SIGNIFIES THAT SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

THE MOUNTAINS OF ICE ON BAYFIELD'S PIERS ARE SHRINKING DAILY

BAYFIELD'S WATER TOWER CAN BE SEEN IN THIS MORNING'S CEMETERY PHOTO....PHEEBS IS IN THE PHOTO TOO

 IT'S GREAT TO SEE AREA CREEKS FLOWING

 THIS FAVORITE ROAD OF MINE IS NOT MAINTAINED IN THE WINTER AND I WILL BE GLAD WHEN IT IS SOON OPEN AGAIN 

MORNING WALKERS IN OUR 'BAYFIELD PINES' PARK TODAY 

Al's Music Box:)) Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan from the album 'Nashville Skyline'.  1969

GROANER'S CORNER:((   I just got a job making plastic Draculas.  There are only two of us on the production line, so I have to make every second Count.

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Men are like a pack of Cards:
A "heart" to love them
A "diamond" to marry them
A "club" to smack them and
A "spade" to bury the body...

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A NICE SUNNY DAY

Al's Music Box:)) Brandy by Looking Glass.  From their album 'Looking Glass'.  1972

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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