Nightshade berries

Tuesday, when I went into the library, Librarian Trevor said the phones had been out for most of the day.  There is infrastructure work going on across the road and they had cut through/disengaged the telephone wires into the library and village hall.  It was Veteran's Day so there was no one at the village hall to notice but Trevor got a call on his cell phone from someone trying to call the library that there was no service.  Trevor immediately called the phone company and got the response "Oops", a pause, and then an affirmation that everything should be working now.  Trevor tried calling out on the library phone - no service.  Trevor again used his cell phone to call the phone company and was told "Well, it may take a half hour for everything to cycle and come back up."  Trevor looked at me as he told his tale and asked "They should have known I'd try it right away.  Why didn't they tell me I had to wait a half hour?"  Got me to thinking that even though the plumber had fixed the water feeds into my washing machine, I hadn't yet tried them.   Did that this morning; worked perfectly.   I also arranged my laundry room back to it's original configuration.  I'd moved all of the tables to the opposite side of the room to enable working on the dryer and wash machine. The small table next to the wash machine where I put my dirty clothes hamper is back in it's place just as, on the opposite end of the room, the long folding table is in it's place next to the dryer.  I smiled when I opened the door to the laundry room tonight.  Doesn't take much to make me happy.

The Grove at Sunrise

 The plumber arrived early this morning.  He was here to fix the hot water feed to the washing machine.  His evaluation of the situation: put in new valves for both the hot & cold.  Easier & faster if he could cut another hole in the laundry room's sheetrock for better access (the washer will be in front of the access hole so that was an easy "yes").   Best of all he said I could watch him work. I "learned something that I didn't know before that I'll want to remember for a long long time" (family joke).   First he shut off the hot water and cold water feeds in the utility room.  I followed behind marking those w/ ID tags.  Sure, anyone can follow the exposed pipes in the utility room but this way the color coded ID's are an immediate indication.  He brought out a cordless tube expander that will temporarily expand the internal diameter of PEX tubing.   He explained PEX wants to go back to it's original diameter but for a brief time after expanding it you can couple pieces together.  As the tubing contracts it creates a water tight seal.  In between teaching moments we engaged in what passes as polite Northwoods small talk.  He saw a nice looking doe at the corner before my house.  His trail cam had picked up a bobcat.  I said I've seen bobcat prints in the snow but never the animal.  Had I hooked up my snowplow yet?  No, have a snowplow guy.  Could use another warm day so I can wash the outside windows.  He had completed everything in about a half hour's time and was on his way.  I'm relieved to have a reliable plumber's name/number to put in my contact list.

Aurora

Probably should have stopped more often on the drive to my sister's and back.  Have developed a pain in the back of my right leg.   It wasn't too bad when I was in Indiana but when I got home it's painful to bend down.  Not a problem.  I assume it will work it's way out and in the meantime pain can be rather entertaining.  

The torque from the winds today brought down two lines on my clothesline.  Retied one back in place but the other line was too frayed.  Not a problem.  If I can't find any extra line, it's simple to get more, cut it to length, and tie it in place. 

I missed seeing the aurora display last night.  Not a problem.  Tonight, they came back for an encore performance.

Full Moon over the Ski Hill

 

This afternoon had a couple of hours free so I made Spritz cookies using the recipe that came w/ the cookie gun.  I was suppose to sift the flour but didn't have a sifter.  Figured putting it through a sieve was pretty close so did that.  It looked about right.  I read and followed instructions, working at making the cookies look like the pattern in the book.  Nope.  Couldn't do it.  However, some kinda resembled what a Spritz cookie should look like.  The recipe made a lot so I filled a container and put it in the refrigerator.  In the future though I planned on making different recipes/flavors/patterns/colors.  Couldn't possibly eat that many cookies.   Yesterday I'd picked up books waiting for me and Librarian Trevor had mentioned that he needed someone to watch the desk Tuesday while the library board held their monthly meeting at the library.  I said I would come in for those couple of hours before closing.  I put the better looking cookies on a plate and took it into the library tonight.  I'd offer them for the Board meeting.  Now most of the women on the board are expert bakers.  My need to get rid of cookies however outweighed the embarrassment of irregular (but OK tasting) cookies.  Worked well.  I got caught up on some of the stats I didn't do last week while I was out of town and at the same time unloaded cookies.  

Coots

Fifty years ago the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in a early November snowstorm on Lake Superior.   In 1991 Minneapolis had the Halloween Blizzard dump 8" of snow.  You would think that I'd remember winter storms can hit even in the fall.  Still I was surprised that snow was forecast for Sunday when I planned to leave Indiana for the Northwoods.  Had leeway built into my schedule and would have waited to drive back on Monday but there was more lake effect snow due that day.  Took off on Sunday and, as expected, there were people who thought they could drive and maneuver as easily in slush as on dry pavement.  I put on an audio book about Greek Mythology and slowly went w/ the flow until the roadways finally cleared and I could speed up.  By the time I was thinking of finding a hotel, I only had about 100 miles to go so continued on.  The last 30 miles were in the dark on a winding road through forests and around lakes.  Slowed down to 50 m/p/h.  Had to hit the brakes three times to avoid deer that don't tend to look both ways before crossing roads.  The car following me didn't pass so I assumed they were happy to let me run interference for them.  When I got to the village I decided to drive down main street and take a back way home.  That same car hung back but continued to follow me.  Not a problem.  Let my paranoia take over and doubled back to lose my follower before continuing on home.  An engaging drive home - in multiple ways.

Clouds at Sunrise

Saw the nieces and their families today.  Always neat to hear what everyone is doing, a rehash of family stories, and the making of new ones.

Whitetail Buck

 I'm blaming it on my brother-in-law Dan.  He was trying to explain last night the kind of Christmas cookies he liked and both Connie and I thought he was referring to Spritz.  Later he said that wasn't the one he meant but by then the idea of making Spritz cookies was stuck in our head.  I didn't have a spritz cookie maker and neither did Connie.  She knew of a store where they sold baking accoutrements so we took off shopping.  The place even had a 'Sprinkle Bar' where you could mix and match different types of sprinkles in a bag.  They had three different types of spritz cookie makers.  Connie got one brand and I another.   As an impetus to actually use what we purchased, we promised once we made cookies to e-mail/text pics to each other.   Then we went to a restaurant where the soup of the day was Lemon Rice.  A lot of saltines and some pepper later ... it was palatable.  Lemon rice soup will probably be a one-time experience.

Thanksgiving at the Library

 

I was in the car when I got a call back from the plumber's administrative assistant.  She wanted to see if she could fit me into his schedule next week.  I explained quickly I was driving on a freeway in an unfamiliar area.  She said to call her back later.  Unwilling to possibly lose the chance of having a plumber visit my home, I asked she could just give me a date and time and I'd make sure I was home.   She added "I'll also need a credit card number."   "You were correct.  I'll call back later."  I said and hung up.  Later, after I'd reached my destination, I called back and gave her all of the information she asked for.  I thought this is more info than I am asked for when booking a hotel room.   Finally she said I'd be his first call on Thursday.  Might be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Pileated Woodpecker

 Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

8:45 a.m. - Officer at elementary school talked to a juvenile who was punching other juveniles.  Juvenile informed officer he was out of control.  He took a break and talked to officer and staff.  He had been having a difficult time outside of school due to homelessness and not getting rest.  Six family members and pets live in their van and do not know when they will find housing.

10:08 a.m. - Caller who had been allowed to hunt on property states land owner is not allowing him to hunt there anymore.  Caller wants to get his hunting stands.  Landowner states caller has no claim to the stands and it was his friend 'Scott' who helped him build the stands.  Caller states he was adopted by 'Scott' so the stands are his.  Deputy asked caller to provide documentation of legal adoption and inheritance of the stands.

11:50 a.m. - Caller reports their daughter works, parks her car at their home, and carpools to work.  The vehicle is gone and their daughter is still at work.  The keys are always left in the vehicle so property owners can move it.  Deputy called vehicle owner.  OnStar requests confirmation of VIN.  They located the vehicle in another county.  The county's officials notified of stolen vehicle.  Vehicle recovered and owner en route to pick it up. 

1:47 p.m. - Multiple calls reporting a vehicle in the ditch.  One caller reported male was cleaning out the car and to check the other side of the fence.  Deputy in contact with male driver who admits throwing illegal substance over the fence.  Female cited for illegal substance.

2:12 p.m. - Caller reports a vehicle vs. lawn mower accident.  Lawn mower driver airlifted to regional hospital.

2:35 p.m. - Caller reports their neighbor who just moved in stopped by and asked for their telephone number.  Caller refused to provide the number and neighbor said "Well when your house burns down I won't call anybody."  Caller advised deputy that neighbor did time for arson and were advised by his probation officer to call law enforcement so the incident could be documented.

4:20 p.m. - Call from Native American Reservation conservation warden.  They want to speak with someone that was trespassing earlier today on private property and request assistance.  Deputy reports person in question had been on tribal land and took a piece of historic military plane at a crash site.  Item was recovered by tribal police.  they will issue a tribal citation for trespassing.

5:14 p.m. - Call from female reporting she can hear people talking in a secret room above her apartment.  Also there is a foul smell coming from that area.  Officer spoke w/ female who said this has been occurring for three days and she believes someone is living in the ceiling.  Caller asked officer to push open one of the tiles in the ceiling.  He did not.

9:00 p.m. - Complainant reports she was scammed out of $6,000.  Reporting party states she received a call from what she thought was a friend in jail who needed financial help.  Complainant took out $6,500 to get her out of jail, put the cash in a magazine, and someone named Emmanuel came to her residence in a white vehicle and took the magazine.

10:06 p.m. - Call regarding a person laying on their back on the corner.  Officer in contact with individual laying on the sidewalk who stated he is staying at the motel.  He walked downtown to do some laundry and was walking back to the motel when he stopped and laid down on the sidewalk to take a break.

Autumn gone to seed

I was walking out of Gateway Gourmet w/ my latte when Town Supervisor Roger stopped me.  One of the permit requestors the Town Planning Commission had OK'd last week had asked him if they could get started on the foundation before the Town Board gave their official okey-dokey to the permit.  Nights are regularly below freezing now and the ground will soon freeze.  If would be easier to break ground now.  He'd given them a go-ahead and just wanted me to know in case I noticed work had begun before the permit was signed.  There had been no concerns w/ the permit so it seemed like a good call on Roger's part.  "Besides" I smiled, "the board will OK it even if we denied it."  I was referring to the permit the commission had denied but the town board had OK'd recently.  Roger took the comment well and replied, "We deserved that one."  Made a mental note that I had made my point and not to belabor that issue anymore.  I was on my way to the County Seat to the first meeting of the County Board of Adjustment as a newly appointed member - albeit as an alternate member.  Besides the board, the clerks office had sent someone to take the minutes, a County Zoning rep, a DNR rep, and someone from the lawyer firm representing the County.  The land owner presented his case for why he should be allowed to bring in a pre-built shed and put it less than 75' from the high water mark of the lake.  His presentation was complete and concise.  Zoning provided an excellent map of the area w/ lot lines drawn in along w/ where the shed would be located.  Zoning went on to suggest approving the variance.  The DNR merely pointed out that the shed would be within 50 feet of the high water mark and didn't comment on if the variance should be given.   Since the whole board was able to vote on the matter, I wasn't called on as part of the decision making.  This one I'll have to think about.  Personally I don't know why a new shed is a requirement to usage of the land.  Pragmatically, the houses up and down the peninsula are closer to the water than this new shed will be.  Privately, I wonder how the landowners think a fire engine and ambulance will be able to quickly maneuver the one lane private road w/ no setback rules.

Big Bluestem

 

We are off Daylight Savings Time.  I'm still getting up before sunrise and going to bed after sunset.  The only benefit  is it gives me a chance to use my problem solving skills.   Changing the clock in the car is not intuitive.   By the time I've gone through all of the machinations the time is off by a minute or two.  Then there is the tall clock in the living room.  Easy to change the time but doing so without affecting the chimes is the trick.

Bald Eagles at Dawn

Library Volunteer Bev wanted a display for Thanksgiving.  I had been quizzing Librarian Trevor on what he would like in the display cases over the Christmas in the Village celebration in December.   If he wanted something 'Christmasy' in at least one of them, I would ask that either the 4H space display or the Gone With The Wind memorabilia be removed.  That's when Bev spoke up and said she wanted a display for Thanksgiving 'cause it's skipped over too often.  Trevor was cool w/ that so I told Bev if all of the volunteers  got together, we could probably find enough things to put in a display cabinet.  Somewhere along the line things changed and when I went in to work on Thursday the 4H group were taking down their display and Trevor said the GWTW display would be taken out by it's owner tomorrow.  Yikes!  Both displays would be vacant.  This morning, I decided to embrace the Thanksgiving season.  Walked out to the apple tree and picked off some apples.  The type is 'State Fair' which doesn't look as good as 'Delicious' and isn't as sweet as 'Honey Crisp' but is firm and juicy and a nice combo of sweet/tart.  I made a puffy German pancake in the oven while cooking the apples along w/ butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a touch of orange rind.  Made for a delectable start to the day and the house reeked of autumnal smells.   I gathered together a bunch of Thanksgiving/Autumn decorations from around the house and drove to the library.  Volunteer Bev was on duty and said she and the others would work on the back display case if I could fill the front display.  I put in colored leaves made from glass, Indian corn, strings of artificial flowers/leaves in gold and orange, pilgrim figurines, etc.  Surprisingly a display just for Thanksgiving is a nice touch- even for only the month.

Not impressed w/ her bumblebee costume

One last horror flick and I'm sated for the season.  That doesn't mean I'm ready to start watching Hallmark Christmas  movies - just that I'm hoping the TV channels run other genres for awhile.   

 

Autumn gold

Before picking up groceries, I stopped at Bath and Body Works.  Two of my scent experiments have worked well.  The other one is a lost cause so I've terminated it.  I picked up two types of scents.   A few bottles of  'Fresh Laundry' for the utility room.  I've got a scent dispenser in there that lights up.  It works as a night-light for the cats to see their way to food bowls and litter boxes.  'Fresh Laundry' seemed the most innocuous and mild of the scents offered so hopefully it won't bother the cats.  Most of the bottles I purchased were 'Eucalyptus & Spearmint.'  The store, as it almost always does, was offering a sale if you bought at least 5 bottles.  For once I actually could use a lot.  The two experiments were to see if (1) 'Eucalyptus & Spearmint' would keep mice out of the garage over winter and (2) it would cut down on the number of flies in the apartment.  Last year was the first year w/ no mice in the garage and the number of flies is a tenth of what I had last fall.  While I can't prove yet how much of a factor scent was in those outcomes, I'm keeping the dispensers filled.  At checkout, the saleslady, making small talk, remarked at how many I'd picked up.  Figuring the store didn't want their product associated w/ pest control, in sotto voce I said, "It keeps the mice out of the garage."   She brightened up.  "Oh, I've heard that many times before."  Guess the store doesn't care - a sale is a sale.