Birthday cake

Another year older.  I made an angel food cake and decorated it w/ raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.   Brother's Brent and Phil installed  a water diverter in the downspout of a rain gutter.  I don't have a formal rain barrel but I do have a large plastic garbage bin which works well for storing water for my plants. We had pizza for lunch (frozen ones from Grandpa's Pizza so no prep) and after I got home from my volunteer stint at the library, I made root beer floats for us all.  I plan on continuing my birthday celebration by going to bed early.  If I'm ever asked what my 'superpower' is, it's being able to fall asleep anytime and anywhere.

Summer

Last night Bros. Phil, Brent, and I sat on the couch and were mesmerized by Public Broadcasting (PBS) airing of American Experience: Victory in the Pacific.  Tonight, Brent and I watched the PBS show The Bomb about the Manhattan Project.  I assume these were airing because it's the 80th anniversary of the U.S. dropping a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima.   By the time that show had ended Brent and I both said we wanted to watch something a bit lighter in tone. We turned to the PBS show Pompeii: The New Dig.  I'm not sure  a documentary on a city that was totally destroyed by a volcano is any less serious than one about a world war but it didn't really matter I guess.  Brent was soon asleep on the couch and I had a birthday cake to bake.

Oriental Lily

One of the projects I listed for Brothers Phil & Brent to do (if they felt so desired) was to figure out what Roku stick I should buy for Mjolnir.  Phil brought up his to use in the TV out there but it would be best to just get another one to leave in the TV permanently.   Phil decided on what he thought would work best, saw that the nearest Walmart had it, and we bopped over to pick it up.  The unit was there in the store but instead of the $30 listed price on the store's website, it was $40.   He asked an employee if there was some sort of sale about to start.  She said no and explained that the in-store price was higher but if he wanted it shipped to my address or have it sent for pick-up at this store, it would be at the lower price on the website - in either case, it wouldn't be ready for another three days.  We left the store and I ordered it off Amazon at the lower price (I already had other items in my cart so had enough to qualify for free shipping.)  Amazon says it will arrive in five days.  Tacking on 1/3 of the cost for the convenience of getting an item immediately seemed excessive to me but I checked on-line and there were multiple websites talking about just that thing.  One website was explaining the multiple factors going into pricing. (Interesting though not particularly helpful.)    Another website went into various ways to cheat the system.  (That one left a bad taste in my mouth.)   Yet another website reminded it's readers to always check prices from multiple places. (Yikes, now I'll be worried if I'm getting the best deal I can on everything I buy?)  Decided it's too nice a day to fret about it.  Went out on the deck and threw treats into the grass for the dog to find.

Wild Cucumber

As Phil put it, I can knock  'driving into Menard's back lot' off my bucket list.  (Even though it was never on my bucket list.)    After getting Svaldilfari stuck in the mud and needing to call Brother Russell to pull me out, something had to be done about the access to the back 80.  The topography of the land means there is no good way to get across if we've had rain.  Brother Phil talked w/ Neighbor Blake about it and Blake suggested drainage tiles.  This morning Phil and I drove over to Churchville to do some errands and to just see what the drainage tiles would look like.  We found them plus we found seven bags of sand for another project.  Instead of dragging all of that through the store, I got a slip, paid for it at the checkout, and drove around the back of the building.  First you needed to scan your receipt to get into the backyard.  Probably to keep people from driving back there to 'look around'.  Picking up the tiles were no problem.  We only needed three 10 footer's and they were very flexible.  Easy to bend them into a 'U" shape in the back of the car.  For the sand bags, we drove down the paving material alley in the back lot.   Allowing cars into these relatively narrow alleyways seemed to me insanity.  Items were stacked higher than the car. Some item stacks intruded into the alleyway here and there. There were semi's, trucks, and cars all on their own mission w/ no set routes.  Phil kept assuring me this is the way it's done.  (Personally, I would have pulled the 'old lady card' and asked if I could just drive to the pickup doors and have employees bring everything to me.)  Fortunately, my car has an excellent backup camera, I drove slowly, and always gave the semi's plenty of space.  On the way out, there was a guard to check that we'd only taken what was on our receipt.  I'm guessing if I really want a thrill I should go back there next spring when everyone is getting materials for their DIY projects.   

Red Sunset

The last day of the Library's Summer Reading Program.  After sitting quietly while a book was read to them, the children and parents all went outside for a free picnic along w/ balloon animals, giant bubbles, a bouncy something or other, etc.   All of the children's list of books that they read should have been turned in by Wednesday night but the librarian warned me there would probably be some last minute additions and how to handle them.   I only had one last minute addition - a little girl w/ a list of 80 books.  I let the program coordinator know about it so she could adjust her list of winners.  At 6:00 the kids and their parents filed back inside the library and the coordinator started going down the list of winners starting w/ the biggest winners first.  Every participant came away w/ some kind of prize.  The last group she announced were the adults.  Not many adults participated.   I'd managed to read 5 books in the two months the program ran.  Good for me but I wasn't the big winner for my category.  I did get a prize of two tickets to the local theater - still a very nice gift.  After all the prizes were given out and the parents and children started to disperse, the coordinator came over w/ a metal tumbler for me as a thank-you for being a volunteer during the Summer Reading Program.  I didn't look inside the cup until I got home.  Stuck in there were small gift certificates to Gateway Gourmet, McD's, and Kwik Trip.  Competition is the spice of life but, in the Summer Reading Program, I think it's OK that everyone left feeling like a winner.

Turkey Vultures

I stopped at the store for a couple of things.  As I put my items down for the checkout person, she turned off her OPEN light.  "Oh, I can go to another checker."  I said and reached to gather my items again.  "No, no,  I will check you out." she replies and starts to ring me up.   I was in a pretty good mood - my checkout person not so much.  She was almost done when another employee appeared at her elbow.  My checker explained to her that she had rung up two blackberry cartons instead of one and the bag of oranges had rung up as onions.  I figured my checker must have hit a button to let her supervisor (?) know about the problem.  "We all make mistakes." said the pleasant super and hit a few buttons on the keyboard.  My checker turned to me.  "You are my last customer - ever."  she said in a deadpan voice.  I figured she was retiring.  "Congratulations!"  I brightly replied.  The checker remained glum.  "Maybe?" I added.  "I'm moving to Birchwood and don't want to make the commute." she said by way of explanation.  Not sure where to go from there so  I gathered up my sack of oranges/onions and said "Best of Luck!"  The checker though had turned and was already walking off.  Well ... Birchwood is a nice place.

There are always some denizens of the field that get caught by the scythe blades when hay is cut.   Whip quickly found something dead on our first walk of the hayfield by the house.  It was probably a vole, shrew, or rat cause she only picked it up to ensure it was dead but wouldn't eat it.  The scavengers of the area have learned that when a field is mowed it means food opportunities and they aren't picky eaters.  It still surprised me to watch four turkey vultures circling my field and one by one coming down to roost on the furthest bale out in the field.  I could hear the tractor.  Neighbor Blake was cutting the next hayfield over and they were all watching him.  When he finished it would be AYCE.

Baling Hay

I can't get too excited about the Epstein Files.  The nasty old man is a convicted felon because he concealed hush money payments to an adult-film star and was found liable in a different suit for sexual assault.  It shouldn't surprise anyone if he's listed in the files as a john.  The majority of the voters knew all this but voted for him so it's fairly obvious it can't be that important to them either.   As for other names of elected officials in the files, I would assume they would have been leaked by now unless he could use it as 'bargaining' in getting that person's support.    It was the nasty old man himself that started all of the ruckus when he said Epstein's death was suspicious - maybe Bill Clinton killed hm - all of the information on Epstein needed to be released.  It isn't the only conspiracy theory he's put forward:   He still swears he won the 2020 election (he didn't);  He was adamant that President Obama wasn't born in the U.S. (the birth certificate shows Hawaii);  He said Ted Cruz's father had ties to Lee Harvey Oswald (later he admitted that he said it but didn't really believe it);  Asserted that President Biden was controlled by "People that you've never heard of, people that are in dark shadows" (Biden's aides and cabinet members have all been working in politics for a long time);  Said that Justin Trudeau was really the son of Fidel Castro (what?);  Claimed a plane full of  "thugs in dark uniforms" had recently flown from one unidentified city to another in order to start riots (well, isn't that definitive); During a presidential debate was outraged that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating people's pets  (the Springfield police department said they had nothing substantiating this statement and Ohio's governor called the claim "garbage");   Blamed Speaker of the House Pelosi for the Jan. 6th "heinous attacks" (he quickly changed his tune and pardoned all of the people who smashed into and wrecked havoc on the capital building calling them "patriots").   I could go on.  (Remember all of the crazy stuff he said at briefings during the Covid pandemic?)  I don't even care that he cheats when golfing in his own tournaments.  What does bother me is why people continue to take the crazy stuff he says as fact.

Raking Hay

Excerpts from Sheriff's Report:

1:52 a.m. - Complainant reports someone attempted to slash her tires.  She believes her tire was slashed because it went flat while driving.

9:12 a.m. - Inmate at county jail believes his aunt and landlord have searched his room for drugs.  Inmate is requesting a deputy talk to the landlord and make sure she is aware of his rights as a tenant.  Officer left message for landlord.

9:19 a.m. - Caller reports young neighbor kids keep teasing their dog when it's outside.  Deputy spoke with other resident who was accused of barking at caller's dog.  Resident stated it was her two year old daughter who barks at the dog.  4:43 p.m. - Caller askes to speak with deputy about neighbor making false accusations.  Deputy informed complainant it's true his two-year old was barking at the neighbor's dog.  It's a non-issue as it was a two year old.  Caller was advised he can put up a privacy fence and to call back if there is a continued issue.

11:05 a.m. - Caller who is signing over vehicle title to ex-wife states she is refusing to give him the license plates.  Officer advised ex-wife she has to return the plates as they are in the caller's name.  Officer explained she has two business days to legally operate the vehicle until she has to have it registered.  She can register it on line and print out temp plates.

12:29 p.m. - Caller states they have yard gnomes lined up by their garage and someone moved several of them into the yard and broke some.

12:58 p.m. - Caller from Men's Shelter reports a resident has not been heard from for a week.  Deputy made contact with his mom.  Her last contact with him was a week ago and he wasn't making much sense.  Resident's room was searched and the substance found tested positive for meth.  His vehicle was found in the countryside with the door and driver's window open, key in the ignition, but battery dead.  Nearby properties checked.  Note left to contact law enforcement for his keys and to check on his welfare.

1:12 p.m. - Caller is crying.  States "Kid Rock is trying to kill me" and requested officer to help.  States that Kid Rock is in a white truck and is going to kill her and her husband.  Officer checked truck.  No one inside.  Caller claims he is sexually assaulting her using electric signals and wants to own her body.  She stated he is upset because she turned him away for someone else that she is going to marry.  She was talking to God and Jesus as they are who she was marrying prior and writing the word through her.

1:12 p.m. - Complainant reports tractor stolen.  Property owner returned to property after not being there since November 2024.  Tractor missing is a blue 1947 Ford tractor.  Logged for information.

4:48 p.m. - Town Chairman requested a deputy be present during Stubbs town meeting at 6 p.m.  Deputy reports meeting took place without incident.  Next Day 11:49 a.m. - Caller asked for a deputy to be present at Stubbs town hall during meeting.

6:53 p.m. - Richland town chairman requests to speak with an officer regarding a landowner who put in a driveway without a permit.  Town want's to know if they would be trespassing if they move the sand from the driveway onto the landowner's property.  Deputy told him this is mostly a civil issue between the town and the citizen and cautioned him against going on the individual's land.  However township does have authority over the right-of-way and do what they will with that.

First Cut

 

Neighbor Blake is finally able to cut my hayfield by the house.  He usually waits until after the 4th anyway in order to give the bobolinks and other ground-nesting birds time to fledge.  A few weeks ago I watched the last of the bobolinks fly off.  This year, Blake still had to wait until there were enough dry days strung together so the hay could be cut, dry, raked, and baled w/o being rained on.  It's pretty humid out and I wondered if that would affect how long it would take the newly cut hay to dry.  It doesn't if my experiment is any proof.  I hung my washed sheets out on the clothes line this morning and they were dry within a few hours.  Of course, that's microfiber which dries quickly anyway.  So I washed another load of clothes w/ towels, denim, and work socks and hung them out around 1 p.m.  They dried exceptionally fast also.  Guess a sunny hot day w/ a little breeze is more than enough to overcome a high dew point.

Oriental Lily

 

I like to get errands out of the way early in the day.  They can be a chore but they do get me off the property and out of my normal activities.   This morning first on my list was to find Elmer & Velma Nelson's gravesite.  They lived on a neighboring farm when I was growing up but had moved away when they retired.  Back then, if my parents left for a few days, the Nelson's son Larry would take over milking duties. I remember carrying milk pails for him and talking his ear off w/ astronomical details from Star Trek.  Brother Phil was curious where they were buried.  He'd thought it would be in the graveyard of a church some miles distant that the Nelson's attended.   He'd looked but never found the gravesite there.   When he happened to meet people that had a registry of graves in the area, he'd asked if maybe they had come across the names.  Surprisingly they did find them and they are buried in our village cemetery.   They even sent him a picture from their files of the gravestone.  I bopped over to the Village Hall and asked which part of the cemetery the Nelson gravesite would be located.   They looked through their index of 4x6 cards and could verify that Elmer & Velma had bought plots in the cemetery and what addition it was in.  However w/o getting out the plot plan for the cemetery, they were fuzzy on where to find the graves.  I went to the cemetery and the general area they had indicated.  Phil had sent the picture of the gravestone on to me so I knew basically what I was looking for.   A little walking around (during which I came across the gravestone of other neighbors I knew when I was younger) and I found it.   When Phil arrives next week he can decide if he wants me to tell him where to find the gravestone -or- as I did, go searching on his own.  Maybe a compromise where I tell him if he's hot/cold?  

Bald Eagle

Neighbor Wade came into the library tonight w/ his two kids and walked over to the front desk.  "Bet you're happy Summer Reading Program meets during your volunteer time!"  he said sotto voce and laughed.  Tonight wasn't too bad - kind of a organized chaos.  The children had a couple of books read to them.  Then they could make Lego creations and/or friendship bracelets.  The difference between tonight and when the library used to hold Lego Club is that the parents are here tonight so the children behaved.  I don't think the reason for the good behavior is that the parents are reprimanding their children as much as that the children love having exclusive access to their parents attention so make the most of it.   Snacks were cheese sticks and Oreo cookies which were completely gone by the end of the night.  I left no books unshelved and got home by 7:40.  For me, best night of the program so far.

Christmas Tree 2025

Picked up Neighbor Anita around 8 a.m. this morning and we took off for Winter Greenhouses.   Winter Greenhouse gave us 'bonus bucks' when we bought plants in May.  Those 'bonus bucks' can be used for up to half the price of plants bought in the month of July. I've been using them for the last four years to pick out my live Christmas tree.    Anita wasn't looking for anything specific so when we got there she walked around to see if something might  pique her interest.  I headed for the tree section.  They had some beautiful Larch.   That's another name for Tamarack (basically) and it obviously wouldn't work for what I wanted (think 'Nightmare before Christmas').  There were Inversa Norway Spruce.  Yikes - talk about a downer for a Christmas tree.  A Mugo Pine would make a pudgy roly-poly type Christmas tree but would get lost in the tall grass when I plant it outside next year.  Bright green Balsam looked beautiful but I'd read a paper on which trees would do best in the Northwoods as climate change progressed and Balsam weren't on the list.   Blue Spruce would be a nice change but they are susceptible to a myriad of diseases.  It would be White Spruce again.  There were some small ones and a group that were as tall as I am if you included the root ball.  The tall ones were better filled out and I found one that would do.  About this time Anita came over.   I showed her the tree I was interested in and she gave a little gasp at the price tag.  She turned back to the smaller trees and pointed out they were nicely trimmed.   She asked if I thought I could move the bigger tree from Mjolnir to Haven and back again at Christmas time.  I gave it's bucket  a tentative shove.  It was heavy!  Even w/ a dolly, moving it across the gravel driveway would be difficult not to mention if there was a layer of snow.    An assistant walked over and I pointed to the smaller trees.  "Which one do you think would make a good Christmas tree?"  That brought a smile to his face and I finally settled on one.  He put the tree in my car and wedged it in place w/ two bags of potting soil.  On the way home I was thinking, "Anita had the right idea." My miniature ornaments would show up on this small tree but get lost in the branches of the bigger one.  Also, I think this more diminutive specimen would handle spending the winter in Mjolnir better than the behemoth.  Not to mention that  Anita saved me quite a chunk of change (the big tree was three times the cost of the smaller one).   Note to self: always take someone w/ me when picking out Christmas trees.

Building Storm

Decisions, decisions.  Public Broadcasting (PBS) broadcasts four channels in my state.  The primary channel was going to air the first episode of a new murder mystery series based on some classic books.  The second channel PBS  was broadcasting at the same time a performance of King Lear.  The second channel is for programming created by the state or reruns from the primary channel.  Therefore, this King Lear performance had aired at sometime before.  It's important to watch the first episode of a series to see a) if it's worth watching the rest and b) be introduced to the characters and their relationships.  However, there is little that can compare to a play by the bard.  I googled the murder mystery series.  Critics raved about it (but then so did they on the Magpie Mysteries and Grantchester - both of which didn't do anything for me.)  I googled this version of King Lear.  It was described as "mixed gender".   That usually means some of the traditionally male roles are played by women.  The write up on this one said the director wanted to explore the different chemistry created between a mother interacting w/ her daughters. The play King Lear is heavily about gender roles in the first place (Lear gives up his power to his daughters).  Plus, except for changing pronouns, a female King Lear would speak the same lines as a male King Lear.    I decided the murder mystery was a better bet.  The murder mystery ended earlier so I switched over to the end of the play in case I was wrong.  Nope.  The play was surprisingly worse than I expected it would be.   It takes really bad acting to mess up great writing.

Ox-eyed Daisy

Breakfast was postponed until 9:30 this morning.  I dropped off my car at Mechanic Eric's just before that and walked up the block to have breakfast at the cafe.  Afterward I walked up to the end of the block to drop off the book I'd just finished at the library and took a little time to peruse their astronomy section.  Interesting that a lot of the books they had were the same as I had in my library.  Walked across the road to pick up my mail at the post office and then back past the museum and down the block to the coffee shop for a latte.  Sat at one of the tables while I played Words With Friends.  When the church bells began to ring I sauntered further on down the block, past the barber's/stylist's  place, back to Eric's.   He was having some choice words with the wheel bearings on my Subaru but said to me he was almost finished.  He took a quick drive in it to assure himself everything was safe and sound and handed me the keys.  Once home I thought about it ...I've lived in a large city and in the suburbs of an even bigger city.  Aside from no Indian restaurants, it's  nice to live in a community where you walk wherever you need to go.  The temp is in the 60's the air smells of fresh cut hay.  The sun is shining.  Almost makes me walk out into the field, take a twirl,  and start singing something from 'The Sound of Music.'