MacGregor Point, Nov. 16-17 2013

Sadly this will be our last adventure for the 2013th season. We have got to put Georgie to rest for the winter. Don't want to end up with frozen water lines!! We were able to prove cousin John wrong though as we had two more adventures after he said we wouldn't be going out any more.
Our final weekend was like an early fall trip as the temperatures were so nice. We had a high of 16c on Sunday and the sun was quite warm. We did however have to deal with very strong winds for most of Saturday and Sunday. Made for a two handed drive all the way home for Duncan. We enjoyed two wonderful long evenings at the campfire since it gets dark so early now.
Saturday we toured around and made a stop at the Southampton Bakery so we could bring John and Joanne a treat. Oh.....I forgot to mention we picked up a few things for ourselves as well. On our return to the park we went over by the Visitors Center and the pond area. I was lucky enough to get some pictures of the Spruce Grouse that was hanging around under the spruce trees. That was my first up close encounter with a Grouse. I was able to get within about 5 feet of her. We met up with John and Joanne to tour the reno work on the house and to enjoy dinner at the Fusion Restaurant. I must admit we ate too much but it was sooo good we just couldn't help ourselves. If your talking to John be sure to ask him how he says black pepper beef.......lol
Sunday we slept in and enjoyed our last morning of the camping season having our usual Sunday breakfast. I spent time with some of natures friends while Duncan gave Georgie a quick bath before we put it in storage for the winter. Sunday there were wind warnings out and we sure experienced them. Our drive home was very windy and wet at times. Duncan did an amazing job of fighting the gusts that were rocking us at times as we hit cross winds or when we were driving right into them. After arriving home we winterized all the lines so we don't have to worry about any of them freezing now. I have been busy taking things out so we can store it for the winter.
We certainly had another year of amazing fun and firsts. We have really enjoyed our new cottage and I will miss our weekends out on the road exploring the beautiful parks and wild life this province has to offer. Just think in just over one month we will start to book next years adventures. If you would like to have some fun be sure to get out and enjoy nature and all it has to offer.

MacGregor's Natural Beauty

Mrs. Dear and her two young ones

A rare sight of a six hitch horse team north of Wroxeter

Snow drifts north of Hwy # 9

View from our campsite

Fridays sunset from the back of our site

Blue Jay waiting for the right time to get its peanut

Mr. Cardinal came to check things out. Mrs was to shy for a photo

A great Christmas card photo of the Chickadee

Dark-eyed Junco near dusk at the boardwalk

Chickadee enjoying a sunflower seed

Mr Red Squirrel looking for a snack

Fall reeds at the pond

Mrs. Red-breasted Nuthatch was quite vocal at times

The Mr. wondering what all the noise was about

My first photo of a female Spruce Grouse

She has amazing feather patterns

A sunny warm day on Sunday

There were lots of lady bugs enjoying the warmth

Mennonite traffic on the way home

Reno Update

The cupboards are in the kitchen now

Lots more storage space with this addition

 

Main floor bathroom with tall cupboards

Is Joanne going to be able to fill them?

Pinery, Nov. 8-10 2013

It was nice to get back to the Pinery as it has been a while since our last visit. I often think of our week-end get together with Janet, Joe and there families when ever we are there. We had a relaxing Friday and enjoyed dinner out at Aunt Gussies in Grand Bend.
Saturday morning I spent time with some of the feathered friends at the Pinery.  I was lucky enough to spend some time with a Pileated Woodpecker. I knew it was a big bird by the sound of its pecking in the woods by our campsite. I was also looking forward to seeing the Tufted Titmouse as they do not spend any time in our area. I was not disappointed. I actually had two of them eating from my hand. What a thrill that was!! After a very late breakfast we headed into town to do a bit of shopping as it was "Christmas in Grand Bend". On our return we toured around the park and did a bit of exploring before heading back to our cottage for an evening in front of the fire. By late in the evening the winds really picked up and we were in for a very windy Sunday.
We had a bit of very light rain and some hail around noon on Sunday and it was a very windy drive home. I was amazed to see that some people are still camping in tents at this time of year. That is by no means anything you would catch us doing. How do you keep warm when it is around freezing outside? After we arrived home we saw that they had snow squall warnings out for Grand Bend. We left just in time I guess. I am hoping to get one more trip to MacGregor in but we will have to wait till later in the week to make that decision. They are calling for warmer weather on the weekend so I can hope. If not, our time at the Pinery will be our final memory for our 2013 camping season.

Pretty in shades of pink

One of many vacated wasp nests in the park

This one was only about three feet off the ground

Pileated Woodpecker working his craft....

I enjoyed my time with this large beauty

Wild Turkeys out for a walk

Fresh beaver work near the Ausable Channel

A female Hairy Woodpecker in search of food

A fine coat of feathers on this Chickadee

This raccoon had traffic stopped on Hwy 21 in Grand Bend. 

People had to go out with sticks and brooms to chase it off the road

Time spent enjoying the Tuffted Titmouse

I was able to capture a front and back view together

Reflections of fall oak trees still with their leaves

Juniper berries for winter feeding

Female White-breasted Nuthatch in the wind

Common pose of the male White-breasted Nuthatch

Golden beauty along the channel

Enjoying a roaring fire on Saturday evening

She's posing nice in hopes of getting a treat

Female Downy Woodpecker was a frequent flyer to our site

Hand feeding a Tufted Titmouse, What a thrill!!!

Late afternoon at the beach on a fall day

How do you like this pose?

Clancy/Holmes Wedding, Nov. 2, 2013

It was an amazing get away at my cousins wedding this past weekend. We stayed at the Hilton, Waterfront Hotel in Windsor with many of the other guests. The hotel was on the waterfront so we had the opportunity to watch the boats coming and going. After checking in we ran into John and Joanne and were given a huge yummy surprise!!! They had stopped at Culbert's Bakery in Goderich and brought us a dozen donuts. They were delicious and a big thank-you goes out to them. Friday we had supper with Bob & Sue. We had not seen them for a few years so it was nice to catch up with them. After dinner we visited with a number of the other guests in Geoff's suite. Saturday was a rainy day but it certainly didn't dampen the wonderful wedding. The ceremony and reception were held at Willistead Manor. It is the former home of Edward Walker of the Walker Distillery Family. The service and reception was wonderful. A special thank-you to Pat and Geoff for inviting us to share in their wedding day. You did an awesome job of planning and a memorable day was had by all. Sunday we all met for breakfast and after checking out we visited at Pat and Geoff's house with other family members. This was the first weekend since the first of May that we had not been out camping. Despite John's prediction that we wouldn't be out camping again this year we will be going to the Pinery this week-end and if the weather holds we may head up to Macgregor Point the following week.

Barge being pulled by a tug boat up the Detroit River

Night view from our hotel room

U.S. coast guard boat

Sundays view on a sunny morning

What a cute couple!!!

The groom Geoff waiting for his bride

The bride Pat looking amazing

The groom, his brother and the grooms son's

 

The maid of honor and the attendants

Pat's brother John walked her down the aisle

Signing there lives away......lol

All smiles after the service

The wedding party

Pat and her niece Kristen

 

Pat & Geoff with his mom

 

What a delicious wedding cake

The head table

Pat and Geoff's first dance as a married couple

Pat dancing with her brother John

The trees shadows on the windows from inside

Willistead Manor

View of the front of the house

A big gorgeous wooden front door

The wooden fretwork and copper downspouts were so decorative