AN UNEXPECTED OVERNIGHT FURRY LITTLE GUEST

With temps barely above freezing and an icy wind blowing under a cold gray sky it was an effort to get myself outside.  But, step outside Pheebs and I did.  We fired up the Jeep and took a short drive down to the end of Bayfield River Road, made a U-turn, and headed straight back home.  Shortly before 11 a.m. we had traces of snow in the air.  So far, it has been a slow Spring to warm up.

 COLD FRESH COUNTRY AIR THIS MORNING

Knowing today could be a cold gray day I took a few extra photos Friday afternoon when Pheebs and I were out for a walk.  It is those photos you first see in today's post until mid-afternoon when something happened that made me fire up my camera. 

ONE OF OUR ACTIVE FRONT YARD CHIPMUNKS WHO I SUSPECT HAVE THEIR BURROWS IN THE ROCKS THAT SURROUND OUR FROG POND

 CHIPPY'S CLOSE-UP

PAINTED TURTLE IN THE PARK'S POND

HYACINTH FLOWERS

THERE ARE TWO FROGS IN THE PHOTO AT THE EDGE OF OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

 LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU CAN SEE THE EYE OF THE SECOND FROG

 SAME FROG COUPLE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

It was about 2:45 this afternoon when I noticed something in our front yard that didn't quite look right.  Something small and black and hardly moving under the bird station.  It looked kinda like a squirrel but was too small and inactive for a squirrel....or was it.  Out the door I went and slowly approached expecting whatever it was to scamper off.  It didn't.  Approaching closer I saw it was a very young squirrel and it sat there looking up at me.  Slowly I extended my hand and it reached up to me with its front paws.  Moving slowly so as not to alarm it I carefully reached under and picked the little fellow up.  It made no attempt to bite me.  The little guy felt cold and being a cold windy day I quickly tucked it under my outer flannel shirt and held it in my hand there.  I petted it gently and I could tell it was content as it seemed to snuggle into the warmth of my shirt.  I did not feel at any time that this young squirrel was sick.  Just lost.  Carrying the little fellow with me I slipped around to one of our two sheds and picked out a cardboard box.  Next, I found an old car wash mitt in our carport and then headed inside.  The little guy appeared to be asleep in my hand under my shirt.  Once inside and not wanting to wake him up I slowly sat down in my sunroom recliner and tipped back a bit.  The little monkey woke up, shuffled around a bit and went back to sleep.  So there we sat for the next half hour, me reading my book and the little squirrel sound asleep on my chest while I softly petted it.  Kelly walked by and I pointed out the tiny black bundle of fur sleeping on my shirt.  She quickly grabbed my camera and took a few pictures.  After a bit, I put him into the box with the soft fur-like wash mitt and dropped in some birdseed which he readily began eating.  A good sign.  It also drank from a capful of water too.  After supper when he became more active I picked him up and put him in a larger plastic container.  With another near freezing cold night approaching, I decided to keep the little chap inside where it's safe and warm.  I plan to let 'Little Spike' go late tomorrow morning after a good breakfast when the sun will be shining and other squirrels will be in the yard.  Hopefully it's mama squirrel will be out there and by then he will be bulked up with enough birdseed to take on the world.  

 PEEKING OUT FROM UNDER MY SHIRT

 I THINK IT WAS THE WARMTH OF MY BODY THAT BROUGHT HIM AROUND

 I MOVED THE LITTLE FELLER TO A CARDBOARD BOX

 WHILE AT THE COMPUTER I HAD HIM ON THE COMPUTER DESK IN FRONT OF ME

 AFTER A WHILE WHEN THE LITTLE FELLA BECAME MORE ACTIVE I KNEW I HAD TO MOVE HIM TO LARGER MORE SECURE QUARTERS WHERE HE COULDN'T JUST 'POP' OUT OF THE BOX

 PLACING HIM IN A LARGER PLASTIC CONTAINER I GOT HIM SOME SUPPER

 JUST BEFORE SETTLING DOWN FOR THE NIGHT LITTLE SPIKE WAS BEGINNING TO ACT LIKE A REGULAR RAMBUNCTIOU RASCALLY LITTLE SQUIRREL WHICH OF COURSE WAS A GOOD SIGN

 AS TWILIGHT SET IN AND THE DAY'S LIGHT BEGAN TO DIM, THE LITTLE FELLA  TUCKED HIMSELF IN UNDERNEATH THE TOWEL AND WAS SOON FAST ASLEEP

Al's Music Box:)) Steel Rail Blues by Gordon Lightfoot.  I couldn't find any info on this song so here are the lyrics instead so now y'all can sing along...................Um, I can't hear you:))

Well I got my mail late last night
A letter from a girl who found the time to write
To her lonesome boy somewheres in the night
She sent me a railroad ticket too
To take me to her lovin' arms
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I been out here many long days
I haven't found a place that I could call my own
Not a two bit bed to lay my body on
I been stood up I been shook down
I been dragged into the sand
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I been uptight most еvery night
Walkin' along the streets of this old town
Not a friend around to tеll my troubles to
My good old car she done broke down
'Cause I drove it into the ground
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I look over yonder across the plain
The big drive wheels are poundin' along the ground
Gonna get on board and I'll be homeward bound
Now I ain't had a home cooked meal
And Lord I need one now
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Now here I am with my hat in my hand
Standin' on the broad highway will you give a ride
To a lonesome boy who missed the train last night
I went in town for one last round
And I gambled my ticket away
And the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An important and very well-publicized murder trial was soon to begin. In preparation for the trial, the tiresome jury selection process took place, each side hotly contesting and dismissing potential jurors.  One prospective juror, Dan O'Keefe, was called for his question session.  He was asked, "Property holder?"  Dan replied, "Yes, I am, Your Honor."  Then he was asked, "Married or single?"  Dan responded, "Married for twenty years, Your Honor."  Then the judge asked, "Formed or expressed an opinion?"  Dan stated with certainty, "Not in twenty years, Your Honor."

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Teacher: "Kids, what does the chicken give you?"
Student: "Meat!"
Teacher: "Very good! Now what does the pig give you?"
Student: "Bacon!"
Teacher: "Great! And what does the fat cow give you?"
Student: "Homework!"

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Two men were in the process of inventing a new brand of gum. They were arguing over the fact that their new gum was too hard and brittle and didn't have the right consistency. One of the inventors kept arguing that they simply had to add more liquid to their primary secret ingredient, code-named "Yewin".  The other man argued adamantly. "No, No, No! It's not wetter Yewin that counts... it's how you ply the gum!"
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THE DAY WE ALMOST BOUGHT A GUN

Rain came in the night and stayed all morning.  With that rain falling and the recent hike in gas prices I seriously considered leaving the gas-guzzling Jeep in the carport.  Surprisingly, Pheebs must have been thinking the same thing because she refused to even set foot out the door.  Me, not being as smart as Pheebs, went for a Jeep ride anyway into and around Bayfield before returning home half an hour later.

 A RAINY START TO OUR DAY

SOGGY SAILBOATS WAITING FOR SUNNY SAILING DAYS AHEAD

 SMALL PORTHOLES

 PERHAPS A FAMILY BOAT WITH KIDS ABOARD

THE RIVER BARGE WORKERS ARE STILL INSTALLING BOAT DOCKS

 RECENT STORMS HAVE LITTERED BAYFIELD 'S BEACH WITH A LOT OF DRIFTWOOD AND DEBRIS

 IN THIS PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD I SEE A BEACHED DOLPHIN

With the morning being so dark and gloomy I found myself in a rather reflective mood thinking back to our RVing days and a time when we almost bought a gun.  In all of our thirteen Canadian Snowbird RVing years in the United States and especially boondocking in remote desert locations we never once had an incident where we felt threatened by anything.  We knew that probably many of our fellow American RV'ers carried guns either on them or in their rigs but it was never a concern for us and we never thought much about it.  This was America after all and we were mere travelers coming and going with our RV across their land.  While at our house in Congress Arizona, we spent a lot of mornings walking in the nearby Sonoran desert and after talking to nearby neighbors and other walkers and hikers about rattlesnakes, coyotes, javelinas, and possible mountain lions, etc. we kinda thought maybe we should think about carrying a gun for protection just in case some coyotes or javelinas came in close and went after Pheebs.  We tossed the idea back and forth trying to justify a gun purchase.  What kind of gun would we get??  Being Canadians, our gun knowledge was zero.  What would we do with the gun when we went back to Canada because we knew it was illegal to cross the border with it.  Would we hide it in our Congress house?? With those and a number of other unanswered questions and concerns, we headed to a Wickenburg Arizona gun shop one day to see if we could bolster our gun knowledge.  Walking into that gun shop I hadn't realized there were so many different types of guns available.  Big ones, little ones, long ones, short ones, and I think even some colored ones for the ladies.  With no idea what we were looking for we talked to the shop's experienced gun owner who trotted out some handguns and explained them to us.  I can't remember the makes and models we looked at but all the time we were there it just didn't feel right to be buying a gun.  Something didn't sit well with me.  In the end, our Canadian upbringing came through strong and clear and we left the gun shop, gunless.  I think I even remember heaving a big sigh of relief upon exiting the shop knowing we didn't have to deal with the serious responsibilities of being gun owners.  Right or wrong, good or bad, we've never regretted our gun decision and we happily remain gunless to this very day:))  Oh, and I have one other short gun story concerning the Bayfield Bunch while I'm at it.  For security purposes while parked at a property north of Elfrida, Arizona years ago we one day came into temporary possession of three guns.  A shotgun, a .357 or 44 Magnum, and another pistol I can't remember the name of.  The house on the property had recently been vacated by an elderly couple we knew.  Unable to look after things any longer they had to move back to New York to be close to their kids.  With our location being only about 25 miles from the Mexican border any vacant house in this area with all its possessions inside was vulnerable to theft and vandalism so we stayed on that property until the elderly couple's two sons came from New York a month later with a truck to transport their parent's house contents back to NY.  In the meantime, in that house were 3 guns and it was those guns we were given to keep safe until the two sons arrived with the moving truck.  The shotgun was all black in color and I could hardly believe how heavy the black-handled chrome metal-looking .357 Smith and Wesson handgun was.  I can't remember what the other handgun was but it might have been a Colt something or other.  I also don't recall receiving any ammunition with those guns which was probably a good thing or I might have been out there accidentally shooting my boots off or ending up with bullet holes in my cowboy hat.  The only time I ever fired a handgun was in the Canadian Navy's boot camp in 1965.  I remember firing 9 shots at a big target shaped like a charging enemy soldier.  Out of nine shots, I never hit the target once.  I think it is safe to say we made the right decision in Wickenburg that day not to buy a gun!!  By the way, in all those travel years I never did see a live rattlesnake (two dead ones) or a mountain lion.  We did encounter a number of coyotes and javelinas though.  

 MAIN STREET BAYFIELD

 THAT IS QUITE A NAUTICAL SCULPTURE

Rain finally quit and clouds began clearing out shortly before noon turning our 52F day into big, bright, and beautiful.  Figured I had better take advantage of the sunshine and blue skies and get outside to work away at cleaning and reorganizing our metal shed which always ends up in such a mess over the winter months.   

 IF YOU THINK THIS LOOKS CLUTTERED YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE I CLEANED THINGS UP THIS AFTERNOON

And, before I forget, a short note on 'Al's Music Box'.  A reader recently commented about me being very knowledgeable about music.  I wish it were so but alas, it is Wikipedia that knows far more than I and that is where I copy and paste all the info about each song.  However, by doing my Music Box each day, my knowledge is definitely increasing.  Now, if only I could remember and retain what I am learning.  

 AN AFTERNOON WALK AROUND THE PARK'S POND

 I SAW THIS BUNNY  AT THE FAR END OF THE POND BUT PHEEBS DIDN'T

 WE SAW A TOTAL OF 4 TURTLES TODAY

A Blast From Our Past: In my Thursday post I had included a number of older photos taken off a Flash Drive.  In one of those photos, Pheebs has her front paws on somebody sitting in a lawn chair.  The location was Borrego Springs, California and although I had kind of an idea who the fella in the lawn chair was, I couldn't remember his name.  In a comment on that post, another fellow RV Blogger Dave Burdick from Going RV Way not only recognized the fellow RV'er in the chair but he also found my post for that very day as well.  Reading my own post brought back memories of not only meeting Howard (the fellow in the chair) and Linda, but earlier in the day meeting another RV Blogging couple Nan and John and their two dogs, Oliver and Olivia.  Here is my post for that day on Monday, December 29th. 2014. By Golly We're Just Somewhere West Of Yuma Tonight  So a big thanks Dave for somehow linking that memorable day up for us:))

 OUR HOSTAS ARE EXPLODING OUT OF THE GROUND

Al's Music Box:)) Carolina On My Mind is a song originally written and performed by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It was Taylor's second single from his 1968 self-titled debut album. Taylor wrote Carolina in My Mind while in England recording for the Beatles' label Apple Records, and the song's themes reflect his homesickness at the time. Released as a single in 1969, the song earned critical praise but not commercial success. It was re-recorded for Taylor's 1976 Greatest Hits album in the version that is most familiar to listeners. It has been a staple of Taylor's concert performances over the decades of his career. Carolina in My Mind is one of the most covered contemporary folk songs of all time, the most famous of which being covers by American singer-songwriter John Denver and American rock music duo the Everly Brothers.  The song references Taylor's years growing up in North Carolina.  He started writing the song at producer Peter Asher's London flat on Marylebone High Street, resumed work on it while on holiday on the Mediterranean island of Formentera, and then completed it while stranded on the nearby island of Ibiza with Karin, a Swedish girl he had just met. The song reflects Taylor's homesickness while missing his family, his dog, and his State.

 ONE OF OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND FROGS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Vocabulary::

- Accountant - Someone who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
- Auditor - Someone who arrives after the battle and bayonets all the wounded.
- Banker - The fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain. 
- Economist - An expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today.
- Statistician - Someone who is good with numbers but lacks the personality to be an accountant.
- Actuary - Someone who brings a fake bomb on a plane, because that decreases the chances that there will be another bomb on the plane.
- Programmer - Someone who solves a problem you didn't know you had in a way you don't understand.
- Mathematician - A blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isn't there.
- Lawyer - A person who writes a 10,000 word document and calls it a "brief."
- Psychologist - A man who watches everyone else when a beautiful girl enters the room.
- Schoolteacher - A disillusioned woman who used to think she liked children.
- Consultant - Someone who takes the watch off your wrist and tells you the time.
- Diplomat - Someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.
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