Another Sign of Spring - more snow

Finally started my taxes.  It's on my things-to-do-by-month spreadsheet as a February activity but I couldn't seem to get motivated.  Strangely, it was a call from the Town Chairman that finally provided the impetus.  Chairman Steve asked me to work on a special project for the town that needs to be finished by mid April.  I figured he'd probably called around to a few people already and no one was interested in working on it. ... so I agreed.  I thought about it for awhile.  Realized I didn't have a clue on what to do.  Figured I'd better get anything that needed getting done early before I had to figure it out.  That includes taxes.  Downloaded the tax forms.  Checked the internet to find out if I should take a tax credit for the down payment on the solar panels I made last year (answer is 'No, take the entire cost off in the year the system goes live').  Got the forms together and have made a first sweep through all of the items.  I saw from my notes that I did the same thing last year - planned on doing them in February, did them in March, and sent them in April.  Will see if I can better that by sending them out before the end of the month this time.

Spring arrives

We had no snow from the latest storm that, at one time, was forecast to drop 8". That may be the reason some Olson Solar guys showed up.  Whip alerted me to someone in the drive so I went out to greet them.  I'd agreed to being a 'fill in' spot if the solar company had a team that couldn't work at the planned location for that day.  The company has it's own messaging site and I'd been told that next week they would be contacting me to arrange a time for the electrical team to come out.    This company is based out of the Collegeville area which did get a snow dump.   Might be why I was getting them early and w/o notice.  They were installing conversion boxes on my electrical backboard and the collectors on the back of the arrays.  There is still trenching that needs to be done in order to connect the collectors to the conversion boxes but the company wants the ground frost free before doing that.  Then there will be an independent electrical inspector and the power provider's OK before turn-on.  This morning I woke up and realized I have questions before the system goes operational.  If there is an interruption in power is there anything on the system that needs to be rebooted?  Are there master switches I should be aware of?  Do I need to keep vines from growing up the support structures?  (That one's probably a yes.)  Will have to start making a list since some questions are easier to answer on-site (and who doesn't like starting a new list.)

Colorful Sunset

 

Brother Phil suggested that the U.S. Postal Service should be privatized and I remember saying I didn't think that would be a good idea.  I'm probably wrong on that point.  Remember the Christmas card I sent to a cousin in Missouri?  I sent it out December 6th and it didn't arrive until mid-January.  I sent out a card to Texas Monday of last week.  I asked for tracking on it but didn't think much else about it until this morning when I was ready to send a card to Indiana.  I checked the tracking number of the Texas card - nope, it was still sitting in Fair City where it had directly gone after leaving my local post office. I handed the card I was sending today to the Post Mistress and again asked for tracking.  I explained the delay w/ the other cards.  She related that the main postal center in Fair City had, late last year, removed some of it's sorting machines to economize  and that caused a backup of semi's w/ packages waiting to be sorted. If I understand what she said correctly, the postal service raised the price of stamps to buy more efficient sorting machines in order for the mail to move faster but those machines are now off-line in order to save money,   She said if the cards don't arrive I can petition the postal service for the cost of the cards.  My mail not arriving on time is of a concern to me but a more pressing issue is absentee election ballots.  State law is that absentee ballots have to reach the municipal clerk by the day of the election - having a postmark from before the election doesn't count.   Should a ballot get stuck in the postal system those people will lose their vote.  The Post Mistress assured me that the envelopes containing ballots can be stamped at this post office, put in the P.O. Box for the local municipal clerks, and don't need to be sent to Fair City for sorting.    That works for local people voting absentee but for those people out-of-state, their ballots still rely on the whims of the U.S. Postal Service.  I am not happy.   Reminds me that I'm also not happy because I also have to apologize to Phil since I insisted my state was part of the Louisiana Purchase (it wasn't).  

Robins are back

Picked up Friend Nancy Tuesday morning and we went out to breakfast in Churchville.  We both had things we needed to shop for but that didn't seem any fun.  Instead we went shopping at stores that are fun  but where we didn't really need anything.  After I dropped Nancy back off at her place, I went back to Churchville, did the shopping I needed to do, and drove back home through the hills listening to my latest audio book.  There was a snowstorm forecast for that night so I picked up some groceries, my mail, and a latte for the next morning.  Washed and dried clothes on the line and put tape over the PVC pipe by my front door.   The PVC pipe is the in-ground holder for one of the garden poles.  I take the pole out during the winter since it's right in line w/ where the plow guy plows snow.  I cover the top of the pipe at ground level w/ a little bit of brightly colored tape to keep it free of detritus.   I noticed blue tape in the snow mound plowed up last month.  The plow guy must have scraped it off w/ his blade.  I couldn't find the PVC pipe though - there was mud scraped flat and frozen across the area it should be.  As the frost went out of the ground, the top of the PVC pipe reemerged and I got into a habit of leaving my walking stick in the hole - an easy way to keep stuff out of the hole and the walking stick stuck up marking the spot.  If we have snow coming though  I can't leave my stick where the plow guy would shear it off so more tape across the pipe opening.  It's now Wednesday noon but still not a flake of snow.  I'm keeping count of how many remaining snowfalls there will be this season.   Folk-lore has it that spring arrives after it snows on a robin's tail three times.  Curious to see how close to reality that is.

First Red-Winged Blackbird

 Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:05 a.m. - Deputy observed vehicle crossing center line.  Deputy initiated traffic stop.  Driver arrested for bail jumping, possessing THC, possessing counterfeit phencyclidine/methamphetamines, operating with restricted controlled substance in blood (5th offence), resisting an officer, disorderly conduct intimidation, possession of drug paraphernalia.

 2:03 a.m. - Life 360 reported a crash detection.  Call to individual advised everything is OK.  Deputy located vehicle 25 yards off the road.  It struck a tree, no occupants, good amount of blood on the air bag.  Deputy followed blood trail and foot prints to where driver was picked up.  Driver had a decent cut on nose - believes it might be broken.  Denied EMS multiple times.  Driver admitted to taking the corner too fast and losing control.  She states she lied to dispatch because she didn't want to wake everyone in the house.  She plans to remove vehicle.

9:35 a.m. - Caller to 911 asking very strange questions and provided strange information such as "having children and wants to know if they're on file."  Questions attempted by dispatch received odd responses.  Caller was told to call back on the non-emergency line.  Has not called back.

10:16 a.m. - Traffic stop on a vehicle driving left of center.  Elderly driver stated he was taking advantage of the sand down the middle of the road.  Deputy states road was somewhat icy but not a danger at the speed he was driving.  Deputy had to pull off the road when they went by.  Passenger yelled at deputy saying "Come on now I have a doctor's appointment!"  Verbal warning for operating left of center.

10:44 a.m. - Caller states neighbor on opposite side of road is pushing snow from his driveway across the road and into ditch on their property.  Deputy informed caller that there is no state statue that prohibits this unless snow is left on roadway.

10:57 a.m. - Caller states the residence is owned by her but a male has been residing there and she lives elsewhere.  She was evicted from where she was staying and wants to live at the residence she owns.  She wants male living there to leave.  There is a no contact order between them.  Caller advised that law enforcement can't kick him out and she will have to go through the eviction process to have him removed.  Caller given info for emergency places to stay.

1:54 p.m. - Complainant states they sold a vehicle and the new owner didn't re-register it.  Now complainant is being fined for tolls on that vehicle.  The buyer, a known individual to the seller, has sent some money to pay for the tolls but not all.  Buyer has since blocked complainant.  Complainant was advised to contact the toll agency to explain situation and to cancel the plates through the DMV.

4:06 p.m. - Caller reports something is stopping traffic at intersection.  A car being towed by a driver who admitted taking back roads due to having a revoked driver license and no insurance.  In transit the brakes failed.  They jack-knifed and the vehicle on the car dolly came off.  With help from Good Samaritan the vehicle was loaded back on dolly.  Driver failed field sobriety test and was taken into custody.

4:28 p.m. - Caller states someone hit his mailbox and left a dead animal inside the mailbox.  Deputy inspected - mailbox post is bent/broken but mailbox is still attached.  The dead animal is a taxidermied fisher or something similar.  Photos taken.    Caller was informed that it would be difficult to figure out who did it without a witness or camera footage.  Caller states he will be installing a camera.  Caller wants this incident recorded for information.

9:54 p.m. - Caller reports all street lights from the park to the Church of Christ are out.  Officer advised street lights are all operational except for the light by the caller's address.

Setting Full Moon

 

The pastor's sermon was on 'Call and Response'.  Brought a smile to my face since I'm not that receptive to repeating rote sentences at specified times - especially in church.   The crux of his message though was about calling to Christ and his responding.  The pastor's sermon was maybe 10 minutes.  Enough time to only hit the highlights of his subject but then not so much to belabor the point.  I had marked the readings ahead of time but I read beyond the verses indicated.  Came across a passage urging when feasting to invite the poor and helpless since it is more Christian to do something you know won't be reciprocated.  A friend was just telling me her congressman ends all of his missives w/ references to his Christianity.  Even Vice President Vance invoked 'ordo amoris' in defense of more strict immigration laws.  As w/ disagreements down through time, everyone claims God is on their side (but rarely concerned if they are on the side of God.)  The Ancient Greeks did it too except, since they had multiple gods & goddesses, there were plenty to go around and each side just picked one.  Suddenly it was the ending prayer and we all stood to leave the church.   I wonder if preachers know that each person in the congregation hears a different sermon?

Sunrise

I attended this month's Town Board Meeting for two reasons: (1) the April 1st election was on the agenda so I wanted to be there if they had any questions or if there were any changes and (2) I would be getting paid for working the primary election last month and it would save the treasurer the cost of a stamp.  Though not on the agenda, the Town Board allowed the school board chairman and the school's maintenance person to give a presentation about the two referenda on the next ballot.  I'd heard she was hitting every town board meeting she could this month in order to get the word out to vote for the school.  After the presentation the meeting continued w/ the next item on the agenda "Correspondence".   The village had begun it's own garbage pickup service last year and sent a letter now asking to expand it into a small portion of the town roads that are next to the village.  I brightened up and the town chairman must have noticed.  "Yeah, Susan, I thought you'd like that part."  Their rates are lower than any of the other pickup services, it's managed through the Village Hall, and rates are the same for everybody.  The board likes the idea since the village uses smaller trucks than the other garbage haulers so wouldn't damage the roads as much.  Maybe they would consider someday doing the entire town?  That got the Board griping that there had been sightings of the current garbage haulers driving town roads during the weight bans.  The meeting ended on a happy note.  This year the town is 125 years old.  Will probably have a celebration at the Town Annual Meeting w/ cake and punch and photos of the town through the ages.  I haven't been successful in getting the 4H nor the school art program in motivating kids to take pictures the town can add (and therefore publicize) the Town Website.  Maybe the celebration is an opportunity?

Amaryllis

 Temp in the low 70's today.  Nothing like it to make me think of planting.  Of course, March is way too early in the Northwoods to do that.   Brought out the amaryllis that have been tucked away in my bathroom since just before Christmas.  Their leaves had died back during the winter  but now each pot has green shoots and one has a bulb emerging.   I'd split them up originally w/ the thought of giving one pot to the library for their sale.  My problem is I know that most people toss these plants after they've bloomed.  I've had my original bulb for more years than I can remember and it's been a faithful bloomer - usually twice a year.   Even after the blooms are done, the cats love to take sun naps hidden behind the long bending leaves.  Guess a person can get too attached to even plants.   I also moved Yggdrasil outside - setting it by Mjolnir's garage door.  It's been inside that garage since it did it's holiday gig as a Christmas tree.   I'm not sure it's a good thing if the root ball freezes solid at this stage in it's young life so I keep it in Mjolnir at 45 degrees and in as sunny a spot as I can.  However to a spruce tree there is nothing like being out in the sunshine and rain. I opened up the garage door on Sleipnir where the geraniums are overwintering.  Actually warmer outside than it was inside there (I keep that building at 45 degrees too).  Repotted some strawberries.   Feels good to do a little 'green thumbing' today before the cold returns tomorrow.

Lunar Eclipse

My niece had sent me a message asking if I would be watching the lunar eclipse last night.  It would occur late in the night here and I had checked the sky when the dog and I did our nightly constitutional - high hazy cloud cover.   I woke up around 3 a.m. to a heavy low rumble: either far off thunder, the railroad company was moving around train cars on a siding four miles distant, or my 'head explosions' were acting up again.  One of the motion detector lights was on so I looked out the window.  Nothing on the ground - probably a passing rabbit.  However, I could clearly see stars overhead.  I'd check on the eclipse progress.  Past prime but there it was - the full moon w/ a big chunk missing.   Decided to see if I could get a picture.  Out on the deck sans shoes (but I did put on a bathrobe) I monkeyed w/ my tripod and camera. Kinda eerie in the dark when I heard the owls start calling to each other and then a long protracted coyote howl.  Whip, though, was sitting attentively at the edge of the deck watching over the meadow.  Not sure what she would do if something threatening came lumbering out of the woods but still comforting to know she had my back.

Full Moon in a Vernal Pond

The dental hygienist and I always talk about local doings when I'm in her chair. We live in the same Town so there is always something.  This time our discussion was about the school referenda coming up in the next election.  The hygienist was on the committee that decided what changes the school must have/should have/would like so while she worked on my teeth she filled me in on the decision process.  She was happy to know everyone I'd talked w/ about the referenda would be voting for them.  She did say that on Facebook some people claimed their taxes would go down if they didn't need to pay for the school anymore.  (Don't know where they got that idea since the kids would be bussed to another school and they would be taxed based on that school system.)   When the dentist came in to check my teeth the discussion changed to retirement.  I've gone through a few of the dentists in the area and didn't want to break in another one.  He asked how long I planned to live and I said I had enough money to make it to 100.  He assured me that he planned on working for quite a few years yet and he'd do his best to stick around for me,  He added that  I had the teeth of a 40-year old.  Not sure what that meant but it seemed funny at the time.  I don't just have his word that he's not planning on retiring soon.  He upgraded the office equipment since my last visit.  No more spit sink!

Ice Bubbles in a Vernal Pond

 

Had a lid I that needed cleaning but didn't know how to.  Yoda Brent's words wafted back to me, "YouTube for that there is."  Sure enough there was - just a shot of someone's hands while a disembodied voice explained each step.  Worked perfectly once I knew what tools to use and what sequence to use them.

I was hanging rugs out on the line to dry this morning when I heard Sandhill Cranes calling.  Later in the morning I'd swear I heard Canadian Geese.  The silence of winter is giving way to noisy spring.

Still not watching the TV news.  I tried to again but there were threats flying back and forth, countries arming themselves, the stock market falling.  Went back to getting my news from TMZ where it's all foolish gossip but they freely admit it and laugh about it.

Leveled up again in Words w/ Friends.  I'm in the Epic Book section and this time the book is the Mahabharata.  I'd tried to read it once before while I was at Honeywell but after a couple of weeks realized it needed more concentration that I could give it and still work.  This time the library copy I chose is heavily illustrated so - similar to a graphic novel - if I don't finish reading it all at least I can look at the pictures.

Red Bellied Woodpecker in the Lilacs

 

Neighbor Anita called to ask if I wanted to go to Maple Hill for some shopping.  Maple Hill isn't a mall.  It's a farm located between the village and the County Seat.  They built a small out-building  where they sell produce, things made by local artisans, and other stuff like that.  They are having their annual spring open house next weekend so we figured this would be a good time to go before the rush.  There were a few other people shopping when we got there but they finished quickly and went off to the barn to see the new lambs before leaving.  I picked up an evergreen scented candle (they always have some), rice, cheesecloth, and a dish towel w/ cows on it.  (I suggested he give me a discount since it included 2 Jerseys but omitted a Guernsey.)  He had eggs at a good price too so Anita picked up three dozen.  We then bopped (hopped?) over to the Toad House to see how it was doing under new management.  Turns out they are now open more days, longer hours, and the food is still excellent.    A nice outing for a late winter day. 

Gold and Purple Finches

The roads were clear of snow.  The sun was shining.  I was listening to my new CD of Il Divo singing pop tunes in Spanish (maybe Italian, I'm not sure which).  I had finished what I needed to do in the village.  I drove back home w/ the radio volume on max, the car windows open, and the wind in my hair.  Who cares if the temperature is 37 degrees outside. Spring is around the corner and life is good!

Living Room Windows this morning

 

The snowplow guy arrived at 3 p.m.  One of the few times I wish he had waited longer to plow me out.  While it had stopped snowing by that time the wind was still blowing at 20 m/p/h gusting to 40.  I could see snow curtains being blown across the fields and that made me concerned that the driveway might drift shut again.  We'd received 8" of snow so there was plenty to blow around.  Fortunately, when Whip and I took our nightly constitutional, the wind had calmed somewhat and the driveway was still open.  From the plow guy's tire tracks, he'd had issues getting traction in multiple places.  The roadbed was pretty sloppy.  Road Weight Bans had started on Monday (i.e. the frost was going out so the ground was spongy) and it had rained most of Tuesday before it became cold enough for snow.  Looks like the next few days will be above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night.  That means two things: (1) since the frost is going out of the ground, this snow melt will be absorbed instead of sloughing off into ponds and streams; and (2) it's maple syrup gathering time.