Swamp Milkweed Leaf beetle

The members of the County Board of Adjustment are paid a nominal amount for each meeting they attend.  I actually don't know how much it is but I'm paid $25 for each Town Planning Committee so assume it's around that amount.  The first meeting I attended last year I hadn't even filled out the form requesting payment.  I'd had to be in town anyway.  Yesterday's meeting I had filled out the form for the one hour meeting.  The County Clerk e-mailed me later saying the County's HR department needed some additional forms filled out and sent them to me.  Yikes!  First was a Homeland Security Document to prove I'm a citizen in good standing.  I filled out last name/first name, address, phone, and e-mail info.  Instructions stated I'd have to produce proof of identity too.  Second was an Employee's Withholding Certificate.  I filled out first name/last name, address, phone, and e-mail.  Signed the form.  Third was a Withholding Exemption form.  I filled out last name/first name, address, phone, and e-mail. Again, not much else to it except my signature at the end on threat of imprisonment or fines or both if I lied about anything on the form.  Fourth was a Direct Deposit Authorization form.  Filled out first name/last name, address, phone, and e-mail.  This one wanted a voided check attached.  Fifth was an Employee Emergency Contact.  I only attend a couple (at most) meetings each year.  What's going to happen to me?   Filled out name, address, phone, e-mail and the same info for a primary and secondary contact.    I opened up my emergency to-go bag and took out the pouch where I keep my ID documents.  Grabbed the paperwork and drove to the County Court House.  HR accepted my passport as proof that I was who I claimed and took the rest of the forms.  Requiring this paperwork could prove to be a good test for the county to see if their new employee can fill out forms consistently, follow instructions, and have patience.  My  thought was a good systems analyst/ programmer could make this whole process so much simpler and increase accuracy.

Fixed corn on the cob for lunch.  A cook on a talk show was instructing never to make corn in salted water but to put sugar and lemon juice in the water instead.   The cook made it sound like some new revelation in making great corn.  Actually, that's how my Betty Crocker cookbook says to make it too.  Mom gave me that cookbook around the time I graduated college.  

St. John's Wort

I was met w/ a flock of bobolinks in the meadow this morning.  Maybe the fledglings are flying now because there was a lot of commotion.  I had only seen two males this year and didn't know if the bobolinks would eventually no longer come to this area.  Nice to see a whole bunch of young'uns.

First Board of Adjustment meeting this year.  We only meet when someone has been turned down by County Zoning for a project but the property owner feels there are extenuating circumstances.   Three board members were present so, as an alternate, I wasn't going to vote.   The lot (actually two combined) is.45 acres on a lake.  On the opposite side of the lots runs a road.  When the current owner bought the lots, a house already existed that was only 45 feet from the high water mark - grandfathered in from before the current state shoreline setback rules of 75 feet were established.   The current owner wants to add a two-story garage that will house his boat, a car, and bedrooms above - also 45 feet from the high-water mark.    His reasoning is all of the neighbors have sheds/garages closer to the water than his will be.    The board granted a variance.  If I had voted I wouldn't have agreed.  He bought the property eight years ago so was aware of setbacks when he bought the property.  The issue of fairness is a problem though.  How to justify giving a variance to one person but a few years later (w/ a different board makeup) not granting one to his neighbor for a similar thing.  It would sound like prejudice/inequity even if none was intended.  I'm thinking I'm not going to be a popular person when I do begin to vote on variances.

Summer Sunset

 

Mowed the lawn this afternoon and the nearby trails. The ones reaching further out will have to wait for tomorrow.  Temps into the 80's today.  Mjolnir was now warm enough that I could test out the A/C.   Took awhile but I saw the inside temp fall so it appears to be working.    Got out the paperwork for a County Board of Adjustment meeting coming up and drove over to the site.  It's another of those "I want to build a shed/garage closer than the 75 feet from the high-water mark dictated by county ordinance."   Their reasoning is all of their neighbors have done it.  That's true.  All of their neighbors have.  Even his house is only 45 feet from the high water mark.   I assume at the time it was built the rules were more lax or may not have existed.  I like to be prepared for these meetings but I'm an alternate so probably won't be voting on this one.   When I got home I was busy w/ other stuff and it wasn't until 10 p.m. that Whip reminded me that we hadn't yet gone on our nightly constitutional.  She'd been outside w/ me multiple times this afternoon but she likes the routine of a formal nightly constitutional.  I put her in her light-up harness so I wouldn't trip over her and out we went.  I was surprised that it was still astronomical twilight.   I could only make out Venus low in the west and first magnitude stars of the summer sky.  Think I prefer stargazing in the winter anyway.  Sure it's cold but there are no blood-sucking bugs and you can get to bed at a reasonable time.

Blitzen in holdiay mode

The only thing on my calendar for today was 'Independence Day' reminding me it was a holiday and businesses would be closed.  Yesterday, I'd hustled to pick up wieners and jello so I could make something special for the holiday.  The cashier said I didn't need to rush, the store would be open on the 4th as usual.  Anita called and said Maple Hill Farm had a 30% sale.  We should go today and see what they had.  "Won't they be closed?"  I asked.  "No." she had checked on-line.  I picked her up at 10 and we drove over to the farm.  I picked up my fav scented candle, some tea for guests, and a card I think a cousin will get a kick out of.  They also had another room open where they were selling off used things from around the farm.  Found an intriguing box that I have no use for but liked so much I'll find a place for it.  On the way out, Anita said if we stopped at the Toad House she would treat.  "Won't they be closed?" says I.  "No." they even had a sale on their scones for the 4th.  The Toad House was out of scones but had their wonderful lavender-lemon cookies.  As we drank our coffees and munched on cookies Anita asked if I had checked out the new stained glass place in town yet.   They also have musical instruments and we both thought it would be cool to learn something new.   Neither of us were exactly sure where the store was so we determined to drive downtown and find it for future reference.   As we came up on the Farmer's Market, Anita suggested we stop there.  "Won't it be closed?"  I said.  "No." she could see there were people walking about.  (I'm beginning to wonder whose holiday is this when so many people are working?)   I pulled in, parked next to the Sheriff's car and read while Anita did a little shopping.   Back on the road we didn't find the stained glass shop but we were close to the new playground just opened up so checked that out.  On the way home we went out of our way to see the progress on bridge work  I'd heard about at the town board meeting.  Then we caught the next road after it and circled toward home the backway.   At least Anita and I know holidays are for the pursuit of happiness.

Common Toadflax

 

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

8:13 a.m. - Reporting party states father-in-law is meeting a convicted felon for breakfast.  Reporting party believes alleged felon is going to be defrauding his father-in-law and wants a welfare check.  Officer spoke with person of interest who appeared to be aware of the investment deal he was making, understood the prior history of the person he is working with.  He was informed about fraud and the difficulty with retrieving money lost in these types of deals.

9:43 a.m. - Caller at bank reporting they were alerted by Social Security that they needed to recoup funds from a recently deceased individual's account.  Someone had been using the deceased persons debit card and drained the account after their passing.  Deputy paid a visit to deceased person's address.

10:58 a.m. - Car vs. Tree accident.  Occupant states they are not hurt.  [I bet it wasn't the tree's fault.]

11:27 a.m. - Alarm company received an activation regarding an ATV on fire at trail mile marker 133.  Fire truck responded.  Towing company removed ATV.  Deputy gave driver a ride to his hotel.

1:52 p.m. - Caller reporting he accidently clicked on an ad on his phone which redirected him to a child pornography site.  Since then has been getting threats on his phone stating they're going to report him.  He didn't see any images or videos.  The page prompted him to contact a Joe V.  Caller had phone conversations and exchanged text messages with Joe, who wanted him to send money or he would be in trouble with law enforcement.  Deputy told him this is a scam and he might want to change his phone number and passwords to financial institutions.  Also told him to not answer unknown numbers or unsolicited emails/texts.

5:42 p.m. - Child exchange in front of sheriff's office.  Child's eyes are red and nose is bleeding.  Reporting party would like officer to take photos.  Mother of child stated baby face planted.  Father will take child to ER.

8:38 p.m.. - Call from individual with the FBI requesting a knock and talk with a male.  FBI field office received a video of a group of bikers with a caption threatening to shoot him.  IP address linked to male.  FBI agent not seeking charges, only wants person of interest warned.  Deputy spoke with grandparents of male.  He is known to post nonsense on social media and has been warned in the past.  Deputy spoke with male on the phone.  He denies making the post.  He was told of FBI tip and warned about the post in possible implications.

9:11 p.m. - 911 call from very intoxicated female.  Her complaint was unintelligible.  The only thing understood was  someone was trying to take something.  Extremely intoxicated female told officer at the residence that she believed her lawn mower was being stolen by her sister.  Officer states there was a lawn mower in the garage and the side door was locked.

10:54 p.m. - Male and female at Law Enforcement Center to speak with officer about truck that their son won't return.  Reporting party said he let his son borrow his vehicle in the morning to go to work but son did not go to work.  Reporting party has been asking son to bring vehicle back, son refused.  Male called back an hour later.  Son returned the vehicle.

11:35 p.m. - Officer saw a vehicle park at the end of a street.  Thought it was odd and made contact with male who was upset with officer.  Male made statements consistent with sovereign citizen.  Male stated he was going fishing.  Officer decided to not push the issue.

Birds-Foot Trefoil

 Summer Reading Program tonight.  I added a Lambeosaurus (type of duck-billed dinosaur) to the T-Rex, Velociraptor, and Troodon patches on my t-shirt.  Volunteer Sue came in to help.  She's been out for awhile because her right arm came out of it's socket and, after talking w/ surgeons, has been working on training herself to become left handed.  She monitored the bathroom for us.  The activity for tonight was making dinosaurs (or whatever) out of Legos.  Never underestimate the drawing power of Legos.   We had some children come in that haven't been a part of the Summer Reading Program up to this point. but had begged their parents to bring them in tonight to play w/ Legos.   Volunteer Tom helped w/ the kids spinning the wheel for prizes so I was able to get books checked out, books checked in, and put away.  Everything went quite smoothly until I was doing final closing checks which includes making sure the doors in the Village Hall are locked.   The Village now has a contractor working at renovations on their half of the building after the sprinkler system failure in February.  When I pushed against the back door it swung open.  Yikes!  This happened once before to me so I already knew the library doesn't have a key to that door and the door can't be locked w/o one.    I also knew the village website doesn't have home phone numbers for any of the officers or clerks.  Librarian Trevor had the secretary's home phone number so got hold of her and she came in to lock the door.   Trevor is still sans car and I'd offered to drive him home.  He thanked me for going out of my way to give him a lift.  I had to admit to him I wasn't that nice a person.  I was looking for any excuse to drive past McD's in order to pick up a fried apple pie again before they are discontinued once more.  

Tick count 1.

Elderberry blossoms

I needed to go to Churchville so texted Friend Nancy to see if she was available for breakfast.  Nancy felt our current heat wave was oppressive.  I thought it wasn't as bad as hyped.  I'd run the A/C yesterday but no need today.  In fact, I was sitting on the deck tonight thinking what a nice night it was ... and ... that even the air smelled sweet.  I thought about what was currently in bloom.  Could be the elderberry bushes.  The closest one to me though was on the other side of the house and nearer Mjolnir.  I checked - yes - it was the scent of elderberry blossoms in the air.  Reminded me that yesterday when I was in the village,  I'd wondered if people living there registered the underlying smell of of asphalt, plastic, and rubber? Maybe the heat was making it smell worse than usual.   Out in the rural areas besides elderberry, there are days filled w/ the scent of wild plum, cherry (pin, choke, black), or crabapple in the spring.  Later will be bergamot, goldenrod, milkweed, and corn pollen.   Good smells - they don't cost, they have no calories, they don't make you expend energy, they take up no time - just a quick hit of pleasure.

Tick count 2.

Yarrow

Picked up Librarian Trevor at 8 a.m. this morning.  His car's alternator went out on Sunday and the library volunteers have been giving him a lift to & from work for a couple of days.   It's possible that the cost of the fix might be more than the car is worth.  Then he plans on using the county bus until he figures out other transportation.  The library doesn't usually open until 10 a.m. but Trevor is opening the library early this week to give people an air-conditioned space to hang out.   After I dropped him off I did the few errands I had for the morning and came home.  A utility van was parked in the driveway and I talked w/ the service person.  He was sent out to replace a meter but the meter was working perfectly.  He was just sending a message back to his headquarters that the problem wasn't w/ the meter but probably w/ the billing system.  Same thing the utility help desk has told me for the last three months.  

Turned on the A/C when I got home because the house, though not too warm, was a bit humid.  It's working well.  Went out to Mjolnir to check out that A/C but it's still cool and comfy in there and I'm loath to leave a window open just so I can later check the  A/C.  Forecast is for temps reaching the 80's for the rest of the week so will check it again later in the week.

Tonight was a meeting of the Town Planning Commission.  Finally got all of the paperwork yesterday so went out in the afternoon to check out the three sites we will be voting on.  Can't see any problems w/ what they want to do.  Following that meeting was a Town Hearing on the Data Center Moratorium.  Had a few people come out for it though the Town Board had emphasized this was just a hearing on a one-year hold on any data centers until we knew better what they are.  The hearing went quick and I was home by 8:30.  Whip and I went out on the deck for our usual activities and stayed until the solar lights came on.  

Daisy Fleabane

 No laying in bed after the alarm went off today.  Whip wasn't completely awake when I put on her harness before we went on our constitutional.  I wanted to get our walk done before the day turned hot.  I could tell the humidity was pretty high but when the temp is 70 it doesn't feel oppressive.  Whip didn't agree and slowly walked behind me.  When I finally got out to the box elder tree and turned around  she had stopped a short distance from the buildings.  Maybe I wasn't feeling that warm because I'm not wearing a fur coat.  I walked back to her and did a few outside tasks before going inside for breakfast.  Among those chores was to water all of the plants.  I also filled the bird baths (which the birds won't use but Whip thinks of as her personal water dishes) and the little umbrella ant guards from which the hummingbird feeders are hung (and the birds use as their water dishes).  

As you can tell, I figured I'd be testing out the A/C today.  This spring was cool enough that I hadn't had to use it.    There is a Heat Advisory for the Northwoods today.   Never can remember what the weather service means exactly by their Advisory/Alert/Warning indications but I figured it would be hot.  I closed the windows the night before and the day was overcast.  The house never did heat up and the cool tile floor felt great on my feet. At 8 p.m. Whip and I went out on the deck to listen to my audio book and play find-the-treat.  It felt really pleasant.  This heat advisory is suppose to last for awhile so I'm sure before the end of the week I'll be turning on the A/C and probably grumbling about how hot it is.

Tick count 1.

Yellow Hawkweed

Among yesterday's errands was to stop at McD's.  It isn't a usual stop for me but I'd read that they were bringing back fried apple pies.  I remember them from before the 90's 'baked is better for you' trend hit. Told the cashier I'd come specifically for the fried apple pie and she said, "I don't care for them.  I really like the berry ones though."  Interesting to find an employee to say something negative about one of their menu items.   She was wrong ... the fried apple pies had that crispy outer shell and volcanic apple inside just as I remember.  Perfect!

I've been trying to get all of the outside tasks completed before Monday.  If the forecast is correct we are in for hot temps and high humidity.  I melt easily.  Also picked up groceries which require basically no cooking - salads, sandwiches, and stuff that can be zapped.  Late this afternoon Whip and I jumped in Jormungandr and took off along the trails.  Fun to see flowers that I know the names of and even some I don't.  Everything is on it's own schedule - the elderberry are just coming into bloom but I picked my first raspberry today.  Wild raspberry's are quite small but pack a ton of flavor.

Winterberry blossom

Blitzen is back from her walk-about.  Tuesday morning she wasn't sitting on her pillow waiting for a treat after Whip and I came back from our morning constitutional.  She never misses getting a treat.  I went searching through the house and then calling for her outside.  Monday Whip was in and out of the house multiple times.   Whip usually lets me know when she's opened the door to come back inside.  I  then shut the door giving a quick look out to check that the cats aren't exploring where all those lovely plump birds live.   Blitz must have taken the opportunity and done a runner.   I asked Neighbor Anita to let me know if they acquired an additional calico cat.  Blitzen had originally come from their place as a kitten.  This morning while watering the deck plants, Whip ran around checking out the lawn perimeters.  She stuck her nose in an opening under the deck and began to whine.   I heard a hiss/spit as Whip jumped back.  Could be Blitz.  I put Whip in the house and returned w/ the pillow and water dish Blitz likes.  Put both of them a little way from the opening and dropped some treats atop the pillow.  First a grey head came popping out.  It was Blitz alright but she was in a very bad mood.  Patience.  Eventually the familiar pillow and water dish won her over and she came all of the way out to snack on treats.  I waited until she rubbed up against my legs then picked her up and brought her inside.  She doesn't seem any worse for her four day outing - maybe a little fatter.  So glad she's spayed.

Chives

Third week of Summer Reading Program.  I ironed on a Troodon patch to add to my T-Rex 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.

Tick count 2.

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.