Chives

Third week of Summer Reading Program.  I ironed on a Troodon patch to add to my T-Rec and Velociraptor.  (If you don't know what a Troodon looks like watch Dinosaur Train - the train conductor is one.)    The activity tonight was 'The Magic of Isaiah'.  Nice enough weather that it was held out in the parking lot.  Maybe 25-35 kids and adults came to watch the magic show (and of course spin the wheel for a weekly prize).    I had front desk duty so couldn't watch but from the yells and screams of the audience he must have done a good job.  I could tell that he had multiple dinosaur references and his schedule was taking him all over the north part of the state so I'm assuming the library consortium recommended him as part of each library's summer reading program.  He actually teaches at a university - this is just a fun summer gig for him.  The treat for the day was popcorn and lemonade which, thankfully, the remnants were strewn across the parking lot and not inside the library.  Librarian Trevor had hoped for a bigger turnout tonight.   On Wednesday, the day before, the Summer Reading Program held a special event at the park where the County Sheriff read a story to the kids and Trevor was happy w/ the number of kids that came out for that (which was about the same number).  Walked out w/ Trevor around 7:30 again.  He wondered if, instead of sending a deputy, the Sheriff had come to read to the kids because he's up for reelection this year?   Pretty sure the Sheriff makes a point of coming to as many PR activities w/ kids as he can - even when he's not going to be on the ballot.

Rainbow

Forecast for the day was 'iffy'.  Right after breakfast, Whip and I went outside for our daily reading-and-throwing-treats session while it was still sunny.  I finished the book I've been listening to and spent some time thinking about how the author could have come up w/ a better ending.  Could hear thunder so decided it would be a good day for cleaning.  I alternated between cleaning tasks in Sleipnir and Haven.  Finally had cleaned up enough of Sleipnir that I could disassemble the plant stands and store them against the wall.  Room enough now for Jormungandr and Svaldilfari to share that space.  Remember all of the bits of geranium that I'd either cut off or break off while I repotted them this spring?  I'd planted each piece in compostable cups my latte's are served in.  The cups are all outside on the apron in front of Sleipnir.  I'd hoped to sell the plants for the library before Mother's Day or Memorial Day but they hadn't grown enough yet.  Of the 20 or so cups, 17 of them are now putting on more leaves or even flower buds.  Planting them in the cups worked really well if it wasn't that the compostable cups are beginning to turn into, well, compost.  After a day of threatening to rain, around 4:30 p.m. it finally did and rain came down hard.  After the rain, a long low rainbow materialized as the sun began to set.

Dan and Connie

 

My brother-in-law Dan passed away yesterday.  He was the epitome of a southern gentleman - without the drawl.  He enjoyed working on genealogies.  Not only could he answer my questions of where relatives were born, who they married, but be able to add a story about them that he found while researching.  He'd even thank me for the weird Christmas gifts I'd give him each year.  He left his mark on the world - in the best way.

Impatiens

A few nights ago when Whip and I usually take our last constitutional of the day it was raining and thundering.  Whip dislikes both rain and thunder so we were both content to sit on the couch and watch a PBS mystery.  When the show ended I saw that the storm had ended too.  It was 9 p.m. and the sun had just set here.  Nice walking in the growing twilight.  The clouds had scampered off to follow the storm.  W/o the sun's heat to stir them up the winds quieted.  Best of all the it's firefly mating season.  The hay fields and meadow began to sparkle w/ random little lights that shone for a moment and then were gone.  Watching fireflies in the meadow is magical so Whip and I went back out on the deck to watch them for awhile.  

Finished the book I've been reading.  Honestly, when the cover blurb said it was about Pilgrims and witches in the 16th century I thought it would be historical fiction.  Instead it turned out to be a supernatural thriller.  The first half of the book was pretty interesting focusing on how outsiders were treated.  The protagonist says "Religion should not be used as a cudgel."   I rather liked that turn of phrase and turned it over in my mind while I was mowing the back trails this afternoon.  Would love to use it in a conversation but 'cudgel' doesn't  flow off the tongue as easily in the 21st century.

For the last few years I've planted Brother Phil's army boots w/ flowers.  I gave up on them more than they gave up on me.  This year I've planted my old hiking boots.  Think they look rather cute under my bench.

Tick count 13.

Last of the Peonies

Excerpts from Sheriff's Report:

5:44 a.m. - Caller reporting someone intentionally placed shards of glass under his tires.  A blue bottle was broken in the middle of the street and you can tell someone moved the shards in front of the tires.  Caller hasn't gotten into any altercations, mostly keeps to self.  Pictures taken, cleaned up glass.  Recorded for information.

8:24 a.m. - Gas drive-off.  Camera footage shows same vehicle did this a couple of weeks ago.  Both times it was around 8 p.m.  Total loss is about $75 from both incidents.  Vehicle appears to be a black 2010 Ford Fusion with window tint.  No license plates.

9:44 a.m. - Report of a black garbage bag on the side of the road with maggots all over it.  Reporting party scared it's human remains.  Officer found bag of household garbage by recycling site.

9:47 a.m. - Reporting party stating her male roommate threatened her last week when she attempted to gather her property while moving out.  He threw her stuff on the porch.  He did not turn over her medications or legal documents.  Officer spoke with school as individuals involved are teachers.  Male party states he did not threaten female.  He caught her vaping in his residence which he doesn't allow.  He would like an officer to stand by when she does come back to get things.  Officer viewed messages between the parties.  None were threatening in nature.  Male stated female has her things in a U-Haul she locked herself out of.

12:08 p.m. - Report of a silver Rogue all over the place, tailgating, flipping people off.  Driver was stopped in parking lot.  She was observed abruptly turning into parking lot without using turn signal and hitting the curb.  Female exited her vehicle yelling at deputy.  She complained about other drivers intentionally driving in front of her and flipping her off.  Female showed her phone recording which she made while driving and even passing another car.  She was told she will be receiving a citation for inattentive driving but refused to listen and continued to talk over deputy.  She was allowed to leave.  Citation will be mailed.

3:08 p.m. - Dept. of Corrections reports individual is in violation of electronic monitor.  Deputy contacted probation agent, who stated individual is on their way to their office and is walking.  Agent asked to not act on warrant unless he doesn't show up.  Warrant was cancelled when individual showed up.

5:24 p.m. - Caller reporting she just crashed.  Has three kids in the car.  No injuries but she is pregnant and feeling lightheaded.  Patient transported to hospital.  Deputy reports one-vehicle rollover, vehicle was towed.

6:31 p.m. - Deputy following vehicle into the hospital.  Believes the driver is having a heart attack.  Driver was told to call 911 next time so they would know why a car is driving 90 m/p/h.

7:22 p.m. - Caller reporting her husband assaulted her in their front yard and broke her thumb. Caller states male has been using cocaine all day, there are weapons at the house but were not involved in the altercation.  Minutes later female called back and said she lied about the whole thing.  She and her husband are going through a rough patch.  Deputy at residence.  Female taken into custody.  Deputy reported that female spit blood into his mouth.  Deputies gathered her medicine to take to jail.

10:56 p.m. - Caller reporting theft of a gas can from property with four gallons of gas in it.  No witnesses.  No footage.  Complainant suspects female who has an active felony warrant.  Deputy aware that female has taken things from them before and has been inside the residence without permission.  Complainants stated they are going to "pump her in the chest with a crossbow bolt" when they catch her because sheriff's officers do nothing.  Deputy advised against that course of action.

Raspberry canes and blossoms

Second week of the Summer Reading Program.  I added a velociraptor patch to the T-Rex dinosaur one already on my t-shirt and headed in early for my shift.  Good thing.  The afternoon volunteers had been so busy they hadn't pulled any books requested by other patrons and Librarian Trevor wanted to know how much he needed to pay the Friends of the Library for last weekend's raffle.  I just wanted to get my usual tasks completed before the children came in for the festivities tonight.  From past experience I knew there would be some coming in early.  Gave priority to Trevor's request and entered all of the transactions from the daily receipt slips.  Got that done and gave it to Trevor.  Printed out the list of books that needed to be pulled and went into the stacks.   The first two on the list were easy to pick up but got stuck on the third which was no where to be found as was the the next book on the list.  The front door began to ding as kids and their parent(s) began to trickle in.  They all wanted to spin the wheel and pick over the small prizes they won for that, leave off the books they read last week, pickup more books for the week ahead.  I was suddenly busy.  Just before the start of the program the volunteer reading the story that night came looking for a book she'd requested to be waiting for her on the hold shelf.  It had been on the pull list but I hadn't gotten to it yet and was pretty sure I'd seen a book w/ that title checked out by a child already tonight.  She picked out a backup book and all went quiet as I heard her in the amphitheater starting to read the story out loud.  Could also tell when she finished because of the roar as the kids went to one of four tables set up in the library.  At each table they could build a dinosaur but each had a different age/ability level.  One pasted cut out pieces to poster board.  Another constructed a dinosaur from different materials.  The treat was tumblers of fruit w/ whipped cream served just outside in the parking lot.   If only the kids had stayed outside w/ those treats.  Nope, parents brought them back into the library to spin the wheel, use the bathroom, or check out books.  One little girl protested to her parents that she hadn't spilled her blueberries on the carpeting all the while upturning the rest of them onto the floor in front of her.   Another volunteer asked for wipes to clean off  chocolate fingerprints from the front door.  The program ends and library closes at 7 but I didn't walk out w/ Trevor until 7:30.   I think children become less adorable the more there are of them.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

 A cool and rainy day.  Excellent time to go on errands.  Stopped off first to pick up my mail at the post office.  Had a sweet card from a niece thanking me for her high school graduation gift.   A nice start for the day.  Was going to stop off at Toad House and eat breakfast but all of their parking spots were in use.  While they don't have a lot of parking area, they aren't usually filled up.  Maybe some group meets there on Wednesday mornings.  Instead I went on to Ace Hardware.  All this precipitation has filled up my rain barrel and I thought yesterday I might use the rain gutter diverter to fill up some other containers.  As I extended the hose it cracked off.  In fact every time I tried to extend the hose another piece would crack off. I bought it last year and during the winter months it's been inside a heated building.  Didn't think it would deteriorate this quickly but such is life.  I stopped in the store's aisle to try and figure out where to find hoses - plumbing? outdoor equipment?  gardening hoses?  I like this ACE store because their staff  actively try to help customers.  Within a moment of my stopping, a lady w/ an ACE vest asked what I was looking for.  I brought out of my purse an example of a piece of the broken hose and she said to follow her.  She took me into a back room  (wouldn't have ever thought of going there).  A wall of coiled hoses of every style and type were mounted on a wall inside along w/ a man in fishing gear practicing casting w/ a pole.  I ignored the man (who, in turn, ignored us). Instantly found a hose that looked like what I needed and she cut off the length I required.  Next was grocery shopping.  Picked up some warm things to eat since the rest of the week will remain cool and rainy.   That's actually a good thing.  I can spend time reading books for the Summer Reading Program.

Arrowwood blossom and friend

Received a note from Librarian Trevor.  June is Pride Month and the main office of the consortium our local library belongs to features some LGBT+ books on the website.   They received a message stating such "scandalous" information should not be promoted by public libraries.  The message ended with "How will you answer to God?"  Trevor asked all of the volunteers that if anyone came in and wanted to discuss anything concerning Pride Month to refer them to him or, if he wasn't available, to take their name and contact information and he would handle their inquiries as soon as he could.   There was another year when some people got together in an attempt to ban LGBT+ books in the consortium.  I agree w/ our library motto: Freedom to Read.  Free to Learn.  Free to use.  I'm not about to limit what someone else chooses to read.  (Though, in honesty, I do make fun of Harlequins a/k/a Bodice Rippers.)

 Tick count 7.

Still shedding some winter fur

Check in w/ the cardiologist after being zapped earlier in the month.  First they took an EKG and the cardiologist was happy that my heart was still in normal rhythm.  Now comes the process of weaning me off the drugs they threw at the problem.  She gave me a schedule to get rid of one of the drugs.   After I'm off that I'll go in to check that nothing has changed before we tackle the next one.

I haven't been receiving utility bills from a company since January.  I called  the help desk for the third time.  Each time they look into the issue, say it's with their billing department,  be patient.  They assure me my account is not overdue and in fact I have a credit on the account.  I have done what I can:  I've alerted them that they aren't billing me, they admit it is their billing department's problem and not me, my account is not in arrears.  Guess I should shut up and allow them to give it to me for free.

Washed clothes and hung them on the line to dry.  Hadn't noticed around 4 p.m. that storm clouds were coming in until I saw the rain drops on the window.  The rain wasn't hard and was very short lived.  Decided to leave the clothes on the line since I still had another four hours of sunlight.  After our constitutional, I took the clothes off the line - all dry.  I love this time of year!

Doe and Fawn

I can understand why birds extend all of that energy to migrate to the Northwoods each year: lots of different berries throughout the season, lots of seeds of various kinds,  lots of insects,  lots of green cover, much milder temps.  (Of course they leave because the winters here aren't so accommodating.)

Cool enough that I decided to sit on the deck's sunny side.  I'd brought along treats to toss to the dog, water for me,  sunglasses, camera,  phone, the portable disc player, and an audio book of Shakespeare's sonnets.  I realized when I started listening to the sonnets it would be helpful to also be able to read them at the same time.  Brought out my annotated Shakespeare Vol. II where the sonnets are printed and also footnoted.  Once I was settled,  I saw a doe in the meadow had popped her head out of the tall grass and... a fawn was with her!  First fawn I've seen on the property this year.  She was OK w/ me seated far away on the deck but when Whip came around the corner the doe and fawn took off.  Whip was too preoccupied w/ watching for me to toss a treat to even notice.  Sonnet XVIII started about that time.  "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"  Somehow apropos I thought.

Tick count 12.

Ox-eyed Daisy

 

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:16 a.m. - 911 call for someone possibly in caller's house.  Caller on second floor can hear noises coming from first floor.  Caller asked to leave the house.  He refused.  Wanted police to enter using front door code.  Residence cleared.  Reporting party states he had been seeing UFO's.

2:16 a.m. - Walk-in complaint from male wanting to speak with deputy about a homeless young man living in a van in his yard.  Male reports his daughter is allowing a 13-year-old boy to stay at his shared residence.  Boy is dating his granddaughter.  Boy was kicked out by step-father and frequents complainant's residence.  Complainant was asked to call law enforcement with boy's information for follow-up.  Male will begin eviction process of his daughter.

2:41 a.m. - During traffic stop, officer observed passenger putting cans of alcohol in his shorts.  Breathalyzer conducted result of .01.  Male passenger issued a citation for underage alcohol and given a ride home. Officer notified parents.

2:59 a.m. - Officer on patrol saw three males in parking lot.  Due to issues at the park, the officer made contact.  One individual stated they were just smoking and going to have a three some.  Nothing out of the ordinary observed.

7:15 a.m. - Walk-in complainant states his sister-in-law has made defamatory statements on Facebook about him having sex with farm animals.  This is not true.  He wants it to stop.  Reporting party doesn't have Facebook but someone else brought it to his attention.  He spoke with district attorney who referred him to the sheriff's office.

8:39 a.m. - Reporting party at their rental property.  They are in the eviction process and paperwork has been served.  He needs to get inside the residence to take pictures of damage for court today.  Tenants won't let him in.  Deputy explained there's nothing they can do until court orders law enforcement intervention.  Tenants still have rights to the residence.  Tenants will be out today after court.  Landlord threatened to kick in the door.  Eventually left.  

10:56 a.m. - Deputy in contact with individuals coming off the ATV trail and closed logging road in a pickup truck.  They walked in four days prior and today one of their dogs couldn't walk.  They tried to carry dog out and decided to drive in w/ truck to get it.  They were warned for operating vehicle in a closed area and allowed to continue to the vet.

11:51 a.m. - Walk-in to file an informational complaint against a contractor she had hired.  Work was not getting done and the cost was continuing to go up.  She fired the contractor.  Contractor threatened to tear out the work he had done if he didn't get any more money.  Deputy made contact with contractor who identified himself with a different name.  He was told he was trespassed from property and handle the dispute in court.  He understood.

3:15 p.m. - DNR offense.  Citation mailed for allowing riding on bow of boat.

8:54 p.m. -  Elderly male stated he won a vehicle and it was going to be delivered any minute and asked deputy to stay while it was dropped off.  Deputy states it was clearly a scam and had been going on for a period of time.  Deputy tried to convince male he was being scammed.  He still believed he had won a car.  Deputy called son who lives out of state.  He and friends in the area have done everything they can to prevent it.  Deputy to make contact with DHHS.

11:59 p.m. - Caller is at his ex-girlfriend's house as they have a kid together.  She took his keys and won't give them back.  Officer in contact.  Female refused to give vehicle back as male is not the registered owner.  Officer informed her that stolen vehicles need to be reported by the registered owner.  Parties are separated for now.  

Gray Dogwood blossoms

My special project for the day was to plant Yggdrasil.  Usually I would have planted it a month ago however, the beautiful new needle growth at the ends of each branch had turned brown and died.  No sense planting a tree that was dying or had an issue that might infect the other trees near it.  I checked for the evidence of pests or infection.  I didn't see any.  Then new needle buds began popping out all over the branches.  The little tree was planning on living.

Neighbor Anita was probably correct.  I'd shocked it.  All of the Yggdrasils spend the winter in a 45 degree building.  They put on new growth much earlier than the other trees planted outside.  We'd had some very warm days this spring and I'd started to bring Yggdrasil out in the daytime but putting it back inside at night.  I'd probably done that too early for the new growth to survive.  

I loaded up Jormangandr with a shovel, spade, can of water, potting soil, a tape measure, and Yggdrasil 2025.  I measured off around 20 feet from the last tree and started.  A brown thrasher kept me company w/ his singing.  Once I'd finished I stepped back to admire my work.  Yggdrasil the Fifth  looked a bit bedraggled compared to it's predecessors but I have faith.

Tick count 2.

Yellow Pond Lily

 

Went in a little early for my volunteer library stint tonight.  I wanted to get my usual duties done before the start of the program at 6.  A few families came in early - either because it fit into their schedule better or they weren't sure of the start time.  That actually helped 'cause I had more time to spend w/ them.  Librarian Trevor had gone over all of the things we were to give each child at last week's training meeting.  Hadn't realized at the time it would be me giving them out.   Did pretty well I think:

• a half-sheet weekly score card where they could keep track of which days they had read (or been read to) for an hour.  Fill in at least two days each week and when they came into the library, they hand in the paper to me, I stamp it, they get the exciting 'spin of the wheel'.
• a full sheet where they can list the books they have read.  Each book read gives them a chance at winning one of the big prizes (on view in the display cabinets) at the end of the program.
• if they are an adult, they get a bingo card which has listed various types of books.  Read books that satisfy a bingo on the card and they can bring it into the library for a free tote bag.  Only lasts for as many tote bags we have available.
• a dinosaur bookmark 
• a pencil that changes color when you touch it.
• if they are an adult, a chip clip which also can be attached to the refrigerator.
• an oversized picture of different dinosaurs the child can color

All children got a 'free' spin tonight.  The 'wheel' is old and cobbled together.  I warned them if they spin so hard that it falls to the floor they forfeit the prize.  This admonition caused the older children to give cautious spins that barely made it all the way around.  The smallest children didn't listen and/or care and spun the wheel so hard it took awhile before it finally slowed to a stop.  Volunteer Carol stationed herself by the bathroom as monitor.  I asked her afterward how it went.  She said she did have to tell some people to wait their turn but they understood and everything went smoothly.   Trevor's headcount was around 50 adults and children.  I had written down the door counter before the beginning of the program and at the end - a difference of 77.  So we had somewhere in between those two numbers for the first day of the program.   Not bad for a rainy night.

Tick count 1.

Mammatus Clouds

One of the projects for today was to ready my t-shirt for the Summer Reading Program.  It starts tomorrow and the theme is dinosaurs.  The kids will see lots of slogans - 'Unearth a Story', 'Velocireader', 'Bookasaurus', 'Wild about Reading', 'Dinosaurs didn't read and look what happened to them', etc.  Librarian Trevor wanted all of us to wear a dinosaur t-shirt of our choosing.  Amazon has a lot of them but I wanted to try something different.  I have a t-shirt I rarely wear 'cause of the color. ( I like teal but heather-teal doesn't do anything for me.)  Thought I'd add a dinosaur applique each week of the program.  Eight  embroidered applique's might be heavy for a cotton t-shirt -  can always add applique's for the last weeks to jeans or shoes I suppose.   Started out w/ the very recognizable T-Rex.  Placement on the shirt became a problem.  Thought I'd put the first one left of my heart.  How to keep it positioned correctly - not leaning too far forward nor sitting back on it's tail - became an issue.   Finally decided that even if it was crooked, this was for kids enjoyment.  I don't  plan on wearing this t-shirt around town afterward.  As it happens, after I had ironed it on both sides, I'd done a good job at getting it exactly where it should be.  Could hear the approaching thunder storm by the time I hung the t-shirt up in the laundry room to cool down.    Whip and I went out on the deck.  She played a game of find-the-treat-Susan-throws and I watched the clouds blow through w/ the backdrop of deep thunder.   When the rain started we both went inside.  Every few hours another storm would blow in and we would go outside to greet it.   Of course, I had taken a shower before the first storm:  Always face the possibility of losing power w/ clean hair.