Chinese Lantern Sunrise

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:34 a.m. - Deputy on patrol found an old grill dumped at boat landing.  Probably dumped hours/days ago.  

7:21 a.m. - Caller reports they believe someone took their medications.  States they last saw their prescription bottles yesterday morning.  They stated that they were home all day and their door is locked at night.  This morning their seven bottles they keep in a box were missing.

9:34 a.m. - Caller asked to speak with a city officer regarding a male who lives there keeps cutting their hair at night.  Caller will be coming to the Sheriff's office to show officer what they are talking about.

10:48 a.m. - Caller reports two males showed up asking about a Ford truck for sale.  There is no truck for sale and now the males appear to be snooping around the property.  Deputy in contact with male who states he is collecting scrap metal that he was given permission to take.  Person who gave him permission was not land owner.  He was advised to remove his vehicle from the property.  He is not allowed to drive and needed to call someone.

11:16 a.m. - Caller states they have been trying to reach their step-mother and have not bee able to.  Would like a welfare check.  Officer spoke with step-mother who states she hasn't spoken to that individual in over a year and wants no contact.  She even changed her phone number as she didn't want him contacting her anymore.

2:00 p.m. - Caller states someone tried breaking into his trailer home three times in the past few days and punctured two of his new pickup tires.  Deputy examined evidence.  Found that caller got a flat tire and drove home on the rim.  Also was having problems finding right key for the door.  He tried ramming a screw driver into the lock and prying open.  Possible aging disability.

2:25 p.m. - Call from resident stating she has no heat, wants a space heater in her room but they said it wasn't safe.  Officer made contact with executive director who advised she will call staff to ensure the heat is at the proper temperature set forth in state requirements.  {I looked it up.  It's 67 degrees.}

2:29 p.m. - Request to check welfare for two juveniles.  Reporting party states one juvenile was on the phone crying to them that they were being picked on and had wet their pants.  Contact was made.  Person at home with the juveniles.  Everything OK.  One juvenile was crying because their phone was taken away.

2:47 p.m. - Call reporting vehicle went into ditch and struck a tree.  Occupant is out of vehicle.  Driver was traveling westbound enjoying a cheeseburger from McD's when he began choking.  Driver believes he passed out and remembers waking up while going through the ditch.

3:06 p.m. - Caller reports a female that keeps going into the street and doing weird things.  Officer contacted female who states they were talking to their spiritual leader and will stay off highway.

3:30 p.m. - Caller reports there is someone outside of his house advising he is the sheriff and he has been convicted of a crime and they want to take him to prison.

5:24 p.m. - DNR issuing citation for hunting without required clothing.  Warnings for hunting in antlerless season without a permit, allowing riding on an ATV in a position not designed for passenger, and failure to transfer registration of an ATV.

8:37 p.m. - Walk-in reports their phone was stolen yesterday.  They have a tracker on it and it appears to be in this area.  Subjects advised they bought and maintained a cell phone for their sister and have had a falling out w/ her and want it back.  Officer spoke with sister who gave him the phone and said she broke it the day before out of frustration.  Appears to be a civil matter.

11:24 p.m. - Call to 911.  Male panicking.  Stating a deputy was trying to break into his house to take him to prison.  Caller informed there were no deputies in his area.  Male relieved that it was not real.  Second phone call; male concerned that his earlier call would cause the Sheriff's office to always tell him the same thing when he calls.  Third phone call: Male called asking if deputies are at his house.  Advised there were none.  He said he doesn't know what to do with the people at his house or the ones he's hearing.  When asked if he has family near he responded his daughter is one of the people who is talking to him.

Yggdrasil

 

Yggdrasil was the Tree of Life in Norse mythology.  I couldn't seem to remember the name so I name every live Christmas tree I buy 'Yggdrasil' and now that problem is solved.  Having a live Christmas tree works well for me.  Sure I have to wind lights around it and drape it w/ garland and hang the ornaments but on a little tree those activities go pretty quickly.  Plus because these live trees are only about five feet tall, it give me a reason to shop for a couple new miniature ornaments every year.  A real tree gives off a fresh piney smell and since it will only be in the house for a week before it goes back out to the workshop, there is minimal needle drop.   Unfortunately, the angel I have used for a tree topper is oversized for small trees and this particular Yggdrasil has a tall leader.  The angel couldn't sit over it and still be supported by lower branches.   Trimming a leader branch on a live tree is a big no-no.  I found a much smaller angel in my box of ornaments that will suffice for this year.  I think the tree is beautiful.   Whip is indifferent.  The cats are fascinated.  So much so, that I had to hang the more sparkly ornaments higher up.  Still, they love jumping into the box I set up around the tree's base.  Nothing like a place where they can pretend to be invisible beneath a curtain of branches and watch for whatever-cats-watch-for.  For me a big bonus of having a live tree is, instead of tossing a cut tree's carcass outside after Christmas, I'll be planting this Yggdrasil next spring in a line w/ Yggdrasil Sr., Yggdrasil Jr., and Yggdrasil the III.

Shadow Box

 

Today is Arabic Language Day.  I'm not sure who celebrates it but I certainly appreciate it's contributions to our English.  The words Cotton, Mascara, Admiral, Racquet, Safari, Coffee, Check, Candy, Caliber, Alcove, and Adobe all are from the Arabic or have their origins from that language.  The Arabs were great mathematicians so we got from them Algebra, Alchemy, Cipher, Algorithm, and the all important Zero.  I learned some general words since stars names are usually Arabic or a Latinized version of it.  For example: the star denoting the tail in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan is named Deneb and the star at the end of Leo the Lion's tail is Denebola.  Both come from the word for 'tail' in Arabic.  Similarly, Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali are the Northern 'claw' and Southern 'claw' of the constellation of Libra (a hold-over from when those stars were considered part of Scorpio).  So I know how to say 'north' and 'south' - at least enough to get my meaning across.  I can also say some body parts because of star names: Marfak (elbow), Ashfar (eyebrow),  and Betelgeuse translates to 'armpit of the giant'.  Never know when that might come in handy.

My Paris Apartment

The company where I get my on-line cards also puts out an Advent calendar each year that I can download to my computer.  This year the calendar is set in Paris.  I have never been a Francophile (mostly because I think the language is stupid) but the calendar is a fun distraction - especially on these foggy days.   Every day starts w/ a vignette about activities around Christmas (this morning it was a bunch of teddy bears skating).  Each day Santa is hidden somewhere on the background Parisian street - waving from a window, drinking cocoa at an outside bistro, in a boat going up the Seine, etc.)  The background is larger than my computer screen so I need to move up/down side-to-side to see all of nooks where he might be.   Click on him and his pic is added to a virtual photo album  There is a blue star on one building which will take me into my virtual Paris apartment complete w/ a view of the Eiffel Tower.  It too is larger than my screen so I need to scroll side to side to see everything.   I can personalize the room by changing colors on furniture, walls, woodwork, drapes, pillows, rugs.   Each day there is another package in the apartment and clicking on it reveals a new game to play, puzzle to put together, or something to add to the apartment decor.  I can pour coffee out of the coffee pot and pop the cork on the champagne.   The tree is, of course, decorated by me also. I made the paper snowflakes hanging from the chandelier.  There are books on shelves I can 'open up' to read about landmarks or the French carols that play in the background.   The apartment is supplied with a cat and dog: they appear in different places and occasionally the dog begs for a treat.   A clock keeps my correct Northwoods time and dongs out the hour, sunrise/sunset occur pretty much when it does here, and even the moon is shown in the correct phase.  I may be a bit too invested in this virtual world though.  Before I go to bed at night, I put out the fire in the fireplace and turn off all it's lights.

Whitetail Doe

 

Yesterday was the Christmas in the Village celebration.  Usually Neighbor Anita and I go but Anita had to attend a different function.   I hit all of our usual spots.  I bopped down to the Fire Station.  All of the vehicles were out of the station and arranged at the edge of the parking lot - just in case they had an emergency.  That left a large space for the various vendors to set up.  I went looking for the lady who does patchwork.  She makes imaginative place mats, runners, wall hangings, baby quilts, etc.  I love them and she made a goodly amount of money off me.  The homemade candy lady was near the front door and I gave her location a wide berth.  I had picked up candies from her last year which were yummy but I really don't need more sugar in my diet this time of year.   Next we would then have stopped off at the village hall to buy tickets for the raffle baskets.  I had seen the baskets when I went in to the library on Thursday.  Had also just bought raffle tickets for the Kiwanis. Among their prizes are a pistol and a massage.  Am hoping the money I paid for those tickets turns out to be just a contribution.   The village puts on a free cookie/sandwich/soup lunch but we bop over to the next town for breakfast.   I stopped there and got a latte and a raspberry almond scone.  Really, really, good.  We had talked about checking out a gift shop up by the cranberry bogs this year.  So I bopped up there and drove  different roads back just to see some countryside.  Today was quite different. Between the early freezing rain, the fog, and my car's back end fishtailing as I turned out onto the highway, it was a slow drive to church, a slow drive back, and then I stayed put.

Heralding the Dawn

 

County Zoning asked if I would be interested in joining the Zoning Arbitration Board.    The Board is made up of 3 voting members and 2 alternates.  An alternate position is open.   There was a meeting coming up and I could attend to find out what it was like before making a decision.  This morning I bopped over to the Court House.   The Arbitration Board only meets when Zoning doesn't issue a building permit and the landowner feels they deserve a dispensation.   The first half of this meeting was to review the results of a judge's ruling from an earlier arbitration.  A land owner had decided he 'didn't need no sticking permit' plus built too close to a road.  Zoning cited him.  He took his grievance to the Arbitration Board and they had denied a variance.  He had then taken it to court stating the Board was biased.  The judge had ruled for the Board of Arbitration.  The Zoning Administrator was advised to continue to cite him until it became less costly to fix the issue than pay the fines.   I had taken a class in variances recently and was pretty sure I wouldn't grant many variances - if any - should I join the group.  The second half of the meeting was to hear the case of a woman who wanted to rebuild a cabin within setback limitations.  A cabin had been built by her grandfather.   Much of the land around the cabin had been sold off over the years and then a new survey moved the lot line 16 feet closer to the house.   Her father had died, probate, a cellar wall had fallen in - anyway, now she felt the best thing to do was to tear down the cabin and rebuild in the same footprint.  Zoning had understood her issues but was legally unable to grant her a building permit because the cabin violated setback rules.  During this meeting the board members asked if there were alternatives (it was a small parcel to begin with and losing 16 feet had caused one violation),  sanitary requirements (the existing holding tank isn't hooked up but Zoning said that was a fixable and separate issue), road snowplowing (snow is already pushed to the opposite side of the road because other homes on that side were also originally built too close to the roadway), traffic (minimal since road is a dead end), etc.  At the end of the meeting the Arbitration Board granted the variance.  I would have too.  So much for my "I'd probably never grant a variance" stance.

22 degree halo

 

Below zero this morning which meant ice crystals in the air.  Made for a spectacular sunrise.   Below zero again tonight.  I'm very grateful for God's gift to the Northwoods - electric blankets.

Picture Perchers

 

This morning I posted a package containing a couple of gifts along w/ a Christmas card for the family.  I got a tracking number for the package and a notification that it should arrive on Friday this week.  We'll see.  That was the first stop for the day.   Next was Recycling to drop off plastic bottles and flattened cardboard boxes.  Had to brush snow off each of the bins before I could get them open.  Rewarded myself w/ a stop at Cabin Coffee for a latte and danish.  I hadn't had breakfast but they could be warmed up for an afternoon nosh.  Hobby Lobby wasn't very busy.  Probably because of the cold and wind that was plastering windshields and windows w/ snow.  Found two mats for the front entry and stood in line behind a lady who was explaining in detail about the year all of the family expected Christmas at her place but she was in the hospital having a baby boy.   I asked if she had named the child "Noel".  She looked at me blankly and replied, "No, Austin."  So much for humor.  Next stop Farm and Fleet.  Again, very few shoppers so got the things I needed  quickly.  It's the only store where the cashiers always ask if I need help putting my bags of dog food/cat food/ bird food, etc. in my car.  A nice gesture but figure if I can pick them up to put in the cart, I can pick them up again to put in the car.   Off to the grocery store.  The store pushes the self-checkout option but I've never been able to do it w/ out making some sort of mistake.   Might as well go to a cashier in the first place.  This cashier asked if I wanted plastic or paper.  "Paper" I said surprised, "I didn't know that was an option here and I'm running out of paper bags at home."  Before I left the bagger grabbed a few more paper bags and stuffed them in along side my groceries.  "Merry Christmas."  he said.   Picked up some lunch and stopped at a little park on the way out of town.  While I ate, I listened to the end of an audio book and gazed out over a frozen lake.   My errands completed and it's not even noon yet.   Life is good.

Woolly Bear

 

I picked up a box of DeBrand chocolates when I visited Connie & Dan last month.  I portioned them out to one a day and have now finished the box.  The chocolates were the 'Cosmopolitan Collection' and each chocolate piece was different.  Eating them was a little like that game we kids played.  One child (usually the youngest and most naive) sat in a kitchen chair w/ a blindfold on and the other children fed them things they found in the kitchen shelves to see if they could tell what it was by the taste (but mostly to laugh at the face made by the poor blindfolded person).  The game I made w/ these chocolates didn't require a blindfold.  I only tried to tell from the taste what extras had been added to each  piece.  Figured out the ginger one quickly.  Really liked the white chocolate over the dark chocolate filled w/ raspberry.  The citrus flavored one had me going for awhile - not exactly lemon, nor lime but some sort of combo.  Finally figured out they had included grapefruit too.  The sea salt on dark chocolate was easy as were the ones filled w/ nuts.  The cinnamon one tasted good but an hour after eating it the side of my tongue broke out into pustules.  I looked the condition up on-line and it suggested a cinnamon allergy.  I've had cinnamon many times before and nothing happened (I even had it when I was blindfolded and sitting on a kitchen chair).  Finally came across one on-line site that said some people can eat cinnamon but have a reaction to cinnamon extract.  Anyway, the chocolates were a fun and daily reminder of my trip 'down south' this year.  

Before Sunrise

When even the sun doesn't rise until 7:30, it's hard for me to get up too.  Maybe that's why Thanksgiving-Christmas-Kwanza-New Years are held this time of the year.  Their celebrations create a lot of motivation to get up and moving.   The last two days I've worked at my desk on Christmas cards.  Circumstantial evidence is strong showing postal service delivery takes longer every year.  I wanted to get cards mailed early.  According to my Christmas card spreadsheet, I'm 80% complete on that activity.  This morning the weather was mild (first time above freezing in two weeks) so decided to clean Mjolnir.  Mjolnir is 'booked' over Christmas.  The last remnants of all those autumnal flies have to go.  Took over the Roomba and while it cheerfully swept up the dead ones on the floor, I looked for tiny corpses in drawers, appliances, the folds of curtains, and between calendar pages.  Took down the window screens and removed the fly strips (and their occupants) from the front door.   I'm conducting a number of experiments this winter and one is to run Mjolnir's A/C split system monthly.  The system loses it's freon charge every winter and it was once suggested by a repairman that I try running it periodically every month to see if that might help.  (Fortunately the unit is not the primary source of heat in that building.)  I turned it on while I was working.  It warmed up the little room quickly, didn't blow out dead flies, and I can report on my Experiment spreadsheet that the system was working in December.   I still have to dust, make the bed, put out towels, and turn on the hot water heater but at least the place no longer looks like the doorstep to purgatory.  Actually looks cozy.

It's beginning to look a lot like Winter

Snow and wind gusts well over 30 m/p/h.  Good day to do inside stuff.  Took down most of the Fall decorations and washed the rugs, throws, runners, oven pads, towels, and dish cloths before packing them away.  Started working on putting out the Winter decorations - it's a process.   Brought out the Christmas cards - time to get a start on those too.  Whip, of course, begged to go outside until I opened the door.  She would sniff at the wind and literally 'turn tail' and come back inside.  Finally, I tossed her outside the back door forcing her to come around to the front door (which she can open on her own).  After that she was content to lay on the couch w/ Dunder curled up next to her and watch the Great British Bake-Off - Celebrity version.  She hasn't figured out that dogs barking on TV aren't really there so this is one show that she can sleep through.  

Olivia and Ian at Thanksgiving

I ordered 4 packages close to the same time (all before Thanksgiving and Black Friday).   Thought it would be interesting to see how long it took to reach me.  First question was if I should start from the date ordered or start from when they claimed they had sent the package.  Decided to start from the date ordered.  It's a known time, everything ordered was listed as being available, and the time it takes the company to pull & package my order adds on to how long before I receive the product.

Pkg A once ordered took 10 days to travel 1,302 miles:    130 miles per day 

Pkg B also took 10 days.  It traveled 1,108 miles:            111 miles per day 

Pkg C took 9 days but only had to travel 294 miles:           32 miles per day

Pkg D took 17 days to travel 2,040 miles:                         120 miles per day 

Special note: The last package went to San Francisco and then on to Honolulu before being turned around and flown back to the North Woods.   I didn't count it's little excursion to our 50th state in it's mileage but don't you hate it when a package is more well traveled than you are?

USPS last day to ship packages to reach their destination by Christmas this year is Dec. 15 (unless you want to spend more for priority shipping).    UPS's last regular shipping day is Dec. 15 also and Fed Ex's last shipping day is a more believable Feb. 13 (Friday).  Just saying, only one of those packages would have arrived by Christmas Eve.

Picture is courtesy Becky Webb.

Sunrise

 

Gun Deer season is over.  Whip's orange vest and my orange windbreaker can be put away for another year. This morning I watched two does slowly make their way across the meadow and move in the direction of the swamp.   After I lost sight of them a buck came out of the woods and into the meadow.  He carefully looked all around and sniffed the air.  Satisfied he moved off in the direction of the does (guess the rut isn't over yet).  Tonight a doe w/ her two fawns came out of the woods to graze along my paths (plants are more tender there).  It's been below zero all day for over a week now so the daily powdering of snow is finally beginning to accumulate (still less than an inch).   Enough snow though so that I can see where the deer dance across my driveway during the night.   Neighbor Pfeil stopped by to talk.  We decided on what to do about the fence between our properties.   He also said his hunting party got three deer this season.    I like knowing some deer will still be around.

Sun Dog

Excerpts from Sheriff's Report:

5:42 a.m. - Caller reports someone cut his dog's chain.  Wants a deputy.  Caller called back to advise that it has to be a deputy he likes because he doesn't allow just anyone on his property.  Dispatch advised they will send whichever deputy is available.  Caller berated officer over phone.  Was told nobody would be sent if he can't accept any deputy which is sent.  

8:58 a.m. - Caller reports three males went inside abandoned building.  Three subjects located and taken into custody.  Eight guns found.  

10:16 a.m. - Caller reports family members are hiding a person with active warrants in the basement.  Subject detained.

12:56 p.m. - Subjects did not pay for their camping spot.  Deputy will be turning report over to Forestry.  Advised individuals not to drive until they were sober.

2:20 p.m. - Walk-in reports someone is dumping things on her property.  There are about 8 toilets dumped there.  Will be getting a trail-cam.

2:44 p.m. - Complainant states her vehicle was hit while parked on a the street in front of friend's house.  Complainant also reports $300 cash and two bottles of whiskey missing from vehicle.

3:16 p.m. - Reporting party requests to speak with deputy regarding harassing mail she received.  Complainant got two separate cards in the mail.  Inside card they state "You could be a better person."

3:28 p.m. - Officer with the Tucson, AZ police department requesting deputy go to a residence and see if they are next of kin of someone who passed away in their area.

4:19 p.m. - Deputy received information that a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms will be hunting.  DNR warden would like deputies to assist.  Deputy made contact with male who is hunting with a cross bow.  No firearms located on suspect.  Hunter states it's his ex-wife who called in the complaint.  He states he's seen her drive past where he hunts numerous times and he would like to not be bothered.  He was informed that she has a right to be on public roadways.

4:30 p.m. - Field sobriety tests on two UTV drivers.  Both arrested.

7:07 p.m. - Female at entrance of medical center going in and out of front door into foyer but interior door is locked.  Staff believe this is related to an earlier incident and female has been hiding in the area.  Officer contact with female who states she would like to be seen by medical staff for a medical issue.  

8:29 p.m. - Emergency room nurse at medical center reports female is not following orders so they are clearing her for release.  She is discharged but refuses to leave.  Officer states she is now off the center's property and advised not to return.

9:57 p.m. - Caller reports her son took off earlier today and is requesting law enforcement assistance.  She believes she knows where he is.  Son not there but was found at another location.  Parent does not want to take him home.  They found another place for him to stay the night.