Blue Rhapsody

Project for the day was packing away the Lomonosov china tea cups.  They used to be in that tiny cabinet over the refrigerator.  The current refrigerator though is deeper than any of those before and my reach from the stepstool doesn't reach the back of that cabinet.  I even broke a cup when I retrieved them to display in the library this spring.  When I brought them home I put them in the equally little cabinet over the stove's hood.  I can easily reach it but not an ideal place.  I'd prefer to keep in there other things that are sometimes used instead of fragile cups I don't use.  Ordered some quilted cases specifically for packing away cups/saucers and they arrived yesterday.  This morning I retrieved the items from the small cabinet while Brother Brent was making breakfast.  (Yet another reason that cabinet isn't a great place to keep them.)  I matched up cup w/ it's saucer and took a picture.  All of the cups are white w/ a different cobalt blue and gold design.  Before I packed them away I wanted a picture for insurance purposes and so I could figure out the name of each design.  That all went well until I was trying to put names to the pics.  Turns out different sources had different names for the the same design.  I went to the Lomonosov site which, you would think, has the definitive name but even there some names didn't make sense.  Interesting but not a problem - maybe something is lost in the translation from Russian.

John Deere Man

 

Woke up to a storm this morning.  Funny pinging sounds from the ventilator in the bathroom so I'm assuming there was also some small hail.  Still too dark to see anything outside so just went back to bed.  The storm cooled things down and washed the smoke from the air.   Think the meadow enjoyed getting a shower before the start of it's day.

Brother Brent and Sister-in-Law Evelyn are here for a visit.   Earlier in the month they went to Washington D.C. with the church choir to sing at different venues.  Evelyn came back w/ a cough that the smoke and hot temps aren't helping.  Brent got a gleam in his eye when I said I still had to cut the back trails and opted to do that this morning.  He posed for this picture accessorized with his John Deere hat, John Deere gloves, John Deere socks, and John Deere version of Sketcher shoes.  Riding, of course, Svaldilfari - a John Deere garden tractor.  (Thankfully, he didn't mention anything about matching underwear.)

Bouquet

Niece Carolyn's job is as a driver for a flower shop.  Must have a lot of business since  she has an 8 hour work day and she's not the only driver.  As a bonus she takes home the flowers that were tossed because they couldn't be used in an arrangement that day.  She practices making bouquets w/ them.  She gave me some ideas and I said I would try to make my own bouquets from the wild flowers in bloom.  My first effort included daisy's, black-eyed Susans, and bergamot.  Bergamot is in the mint family so my bouquet has an aroma - not exactly flowery, more of a clean scent.  I recognize it from when I was a kid and bringing in cows in the back 80.  This time of year there was always something in the air but I couldn't tell what it was coming from.  Now I know.

Time to tie up some loose ends from my trip.  I left a good on-line review for the florist who made a bouquet for the funeral.  I had set up a pay-by-plate account for the toll roads I used years ago.  I refreshed it with my new car info and was ready to go.  That was easy and paying was easy - almost too easy.  When I brought the system up it showed me my tolls (a whopping total of $6) and showed my credit card info.  "Did I want to pay w/ that credit card?"  I knew I had a different credit card from the last time I'd used pay-by-plate and just couldn't remember if it had asked me for my credit card when I'd put in the car's info.  I'm hoping I did.  A bit scary if they can associate my name w/ a credit card.

Bergamot

 

A storm was coming in around 10 p.m. last night.  Instead of going to bed, Whip and I went out to 'experience' it coming in.  It was out of the north.  I sat on the SE deck side and let my eyes adjust to the dark.  Lightning jumping from cloud to cloud flashed enough light to give a quick glimpse of the meadow before everything went black again.  The front of the storm arrived w/ a sudden wind.  It toppled some flower pots and blew away the smoke in the air.  It instantly dropped the humidity and heat of the day.  We sat enjoying the excitement of it all until the rain put a damper on things and we went inside.  Even better than TV.

I went downtown for breakfast.  No food in the house. plus there was mail to pick up and I could return to the library the three audio books I read on the trip.  I hadn't realized today was a benefit UTV ride.  Downtown was busy and full of UTV's.  No problem getting a table at the cafe but the one waitress was a bit overwhelmed w/ so many people coming in.  Her backup arrived just after she took my order.  Same thing when I strolled down the block afterward to get a latte at the coffee shop.  I walked in behind a group of six but they spread out once they got in the store to look at all of the other things the shop offers.  I stayed focused on making it to the counter and ordering.  The barista whispered that there were two coffee orders ahead of mine and I nodded that  I understood there would be a wait.  Owner Bob even went behind the counter to help out where he could.  I pulled out my phone, played WWF, and she actually brought my latte out to me personally.  (Pays to be a regular!)

Hadn't fixed the bird feeders since the coon or bear had ravaged them early in the week.  Went out to right them and refill.  The shepherds hook that was on the ground hadn't been pulled out.  It's base was still stuck in the ground - the metal pole had been bent.  If there was any remaining question in my mind about coon or bear, the large teeth marks in the plastic seed tube put an end to that.  As a clincher, I mowed the lawn and near-in trails this afternoon and found bear scat.  Not so sure this is a 'small' bear either.

Bald Eagle

Traveled to attend the memorial service for Brother-in-Law Dan.  Saw all of my siblings along w/ many nieces and nephews.  I must like my home.  Left here late Tuesday morning and drove halfway before getting a hotel.  I'd made plans on doing the same on the way back but instead drove all the way in one day.   I've done the same thing the last few years I've traveled to see Dan & Connie.  Split up the trip down but drive back in a day.  

The big change when I got back here is the hay field by the house has been cut and baled.  When I drove up a bald eagle was in the field eating at something(s) it had found out in the field.  Whip greeted me like I'd only been gone for an hour or so.    Dunder couldn't be bothered to get out of the computer chair until I shooed him off so I could sit down.  After awhile Blitz finally poked her head out of her hidey-hole and actually meowed at me.  Well ... someone was happy I was back.

Hophornbeam

 Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

12:54 a.m. - Caller reporting he can hear a male and female arguing, then hung up.  Deputy located a vehicle parked in front of Dollar General which started and left when deputy arrived.  Car did not stop when traffic stop initiated, and drove a few miles before pulling over.  Driver who had suspended license wanted to be closer to home before contact with law enforcement.  He was issued a citation.  Deputy talked to each party separately.  They admitted to loudly arguing but denied any threats or physical contact.  Neither was concerned for their safety.  they were told to call a valid driver to come and get them.

1:20 a.m. - Officer saw a car in parking lot of vacant store.  Vehicle occupant stated she just got done with the gym and was singing in her car.  She does this so her son can sleep.

1:21 a.m. - Caller reports they picked up a male that was walking on highway and dropped him off in town.  Male said he was going to continue walking to Phillips [46 miles].  Deputies out with male on highway and gave him a ride to the next town.

12:32 p.m. - Call from grandparents reporting their daughter ended up in jail last night.  They are taking care of their granddaughter.  The granddaughter left last night with someone she has a no-contact order with.  Deputy at residence and grandparents believe the granddaughter is in Cumberland.  While deputy was looking up names of people in Cumberland, the juvenile came out of the residence.  She was never gone.

2:45 p.m. - Caller states her daughter called screaming and crying and hung up.  Officer in contact with daughter who states she is struggling with being a new mom.

5:08 p.m. - Son called for welfare check on his father who was going to be kicking out his ex-wife today.  her kids put sand in his lawnmower's gas tank and water in his car's tank.

5:16 p.m. - Caller reporting someone laying on the side of the road.  Deputy in contact with adult male.  No need for EMS.  Male said he was resting because he's walking from the County Seat to Greenhouse [30 miles].  He feels fine.  He was asked not to lay in the ditch.  People will call 911 thinking he's hurt or dead.

5:23 p.m. - Walk-in reporting they are being harassed by their neighbor who is making false statements to their landlord and other people.  Asked to have a deputy stop by his home.  The neighbor told the landlord that he was walking around drunk, shooting fireworks at his truck, and peeking into windows.  Reporting party is worried about being evicted.  Not a law enforcement issue but deputy did try to talk with both parties who were unable to act civilly.  He told them to act like adults and keep to themselves.

6:12 p.m. - Request for welfare check.  Deputy met with person of interest who is having a rough time with life.  She was advised to reach out to DHHS and DHHS was notified.

11:01 p.m. - Traffic stop found three people hiding under cargo area with no seat or seatbelt.  Four individuals did not have license from anywhere in the U.S.  One of the five had a valid license from Minnesota.  Two men were laying in cargo area attempting to be hidden.  One sitting in front seat area on a lawn chair had no access to a seatbelt.  Only licensed driver was made to get in the driver seat.  Verbal warnings were issued for all violations due to being unable to identify.  Officer took photos of everyone's identification.

11:30 p.m. - Deputy received report of someone walking down highway all in black.  Deputy located female walking on the fog line wanting to go to Minnesota [130 miles].  Female was given a ride to town and dropped off at Kwik Trip.

Houseplant mushrooms and geraniums

 I kept watering the flowers on the deck once a day through the current heat wave.  Figured they would dry out if I didn't.  In two containers huge mushrooms  appeared overnight.  I think they are in the Lepiota family.  Usually they are sort of parasol shaped but these have been malformed as they fairly exploded upward and around geranium stems.  These mushrooms aren't edible.  They can cause liver and kidney damage or potentially kill.  Fortunately most people wouldn't pick mushrooms out of  geranium containers.  When I mentioned the mushrooms to my Master Gardener sister and niece, they both said watering every two days was enough.   I'm quite happy to back off my daily watering.   While the mushrooms won't hurt the geranium plants, fairly certain having them growing in amongst your flowers is bad form.  

Swamp Milkweed blossoms

 When my heart was zapped last month I was instructed to not eat anything after 2 a.m. that day (my appointment was for 2 in the afternoon).   The anesthetist asked when I'd last eaten and then said, "We would allow a 'little breakfast' but found  people morph it into a large meal."  That phrase came back to me one morning.  I warmed up the last of yesterday's coffee for breakfast.  The bread was on the counter next to the coffee pot and only one piece remained.  Might as well toast that and have it w/ the coffee.  You know what would go well on toast?  Bacon.  I went to the refrigerator for a couple of pieces to microwave.  Hmmm... only one egg left in the carton.  Might as well fry that too.  Remembered I should use up the last of the hashbrowns.  Might as well fry that w/ the egg.   Egg & Hashbrowns - could 'elevate' that (as Chef Ramsey is fond of saying) w/ cheese.  Waiting for things to cook, Sister Connie's admonition to always have fruit w/ breakfast popped into my mind.   Opened the opposite refrigerator door to get out strawberries.  Next to them was the orange juice - just a smidgen remained.  Got that out too and spiked it w/ Sprite.  When I finally sat down to eat  I had a cup of coffee, glass of sparkling orange juice, dessert cup of cut up strawberries, fried egg, hashbrowns topped w/ spicy cheese, and a sandwich of shepherd's bread w/ crispy bacon tucked inside.  Pretty sure this is the kind of breakfast the docs would frown on before a procedure.  

Also ... I need to go grocery shopping.

Bird Feeder Raid

Neighbor Doug stopped in.  He'd been haying all morning and I think was happy for the break.  He said his garbage bin had been turned over and garbage bags dragged down the road last night.  Some seed bags had been opened also.  His thought was coon.  Probably right though dragging a garbage bag any distance sounds kinda bear like.  I've been busy all day and after he'd left I sat down at the table.  That's when I noticed my suet feeder had been emptied.  The mealworm feeder was hanging by one chain.   The platform feeder was empty.   The oriole feeder's jelly cups had been cleaned out.  The tube feeder I used for seeds was on the ground along w/ it's shepherd's hook.  I was also visited by something in the night.  I texted Doug and he thought it could be a small bear (ie. not destructive enough for a big bear but more destructive than a coon.)

Bunny Clover

Thursday night the Town Board voted on a change to their meeting procedures.  Instead of accepting the minutes from the previous month's meeting at the beginning of the next meeting, they will OK the minutes at the end of the present meeting.  That means at the end of each Town Board meeting, the clerk will read the minutes of what just happened, they will accept them, and then adjourn the meeting.  From what I can tell the reasoning for doing this is the minutes can be posted within a month of the meeting instead of having minutes posted that are already a month old.  I believe the impetus for doing this change now is the local paper wants to took at the meeting minutes and publish in the paper anything that might be of interest (or juicy) to their readers.  While Town Board Meetings are open to the public, the public cannot speak during the meetings unless they are on the agenda or are called on by a Board member.  Therefore the best I could do was make a thumbs-down gesture which, if noticed, the board ignored.  A motion to change the procedure passed.  The board asked the clerk to read the minutes of this meeting aloud.  Immediately the first issue I had w/ the change became apparent.  When I was clerk, I took notes in my own kind of shorthand.  I made sure a motion was written down and if it was passed or rejected but the rest of discussions were disjointed words  that I knew I could put a proper sentence around later.  Our clerk read back the minutes as best she could but what she said won't be precisely what is eventually posted.  Probably not a big deal but puts the clerk at a disadvantage and does take up meeting time.  Immediately after the reading of the minutes my next concern about this change became obvious.  The board accepted the minutes and adjourned. So that adjournment motion and it's disposition isn't in the minutes as read since it hasn't yet occurred.  Again, probably not a big deal unless someone realizes afterward there is something else that needs to be said/discussed/ or a member has an issue w/ the minutes as read.   Finally, I'm not wild about the idea of the paper printing something they read from the minutes of a meeting they didn't even bother to attend.  Why not have the clerk post the minutes after the meeting w/ a printed proviso at the end that they aren't final until accepted by the Board at the next meeting?  The minutes could be posted earlier but if the paper wants to write something they find in the minutes, they need to verify it w/ a board member before printing it.

Hemlock flowers

On the  morning's constitutional we were greeted w/ a flock of barn swallows.  Each quickly diving, swerving, and zooming skyward with no order.  Never seemed to collide though.   Like the bobolinks yesterday, I'm guessing the barn swallow chicks just realized "I CAN FLY!" and the parents are just as ecstatic 'cause they don't need to keep pushing food down the gullets of ingrate kids.

 Summer Reading Program tonight.  I ironed on a Plesiosaur patch next to the existing T-rex, Velociraptor, Troodon, and Lambeosaurus.  The Plesiosaur isn't a dinosaur but a marine reptile though it did live along side them in the Mesozoic Era. Should anyone notice a non-dinosaur to my collection, maybe it will spark a lively discussion on the morphological trait that separates the dinosaurs from reptiles.  (Nah.... that's never gonna happen.)  The kids had a book read to them.  Afterward half of them molded dinosaurs out of clay while the other half made a golden colored slime and imbedded a plastic bug in it as if it were stuck in tree sap (later to become amber).   Once they had finished one project the child could go to do the other project so everyone molded and slimed.   Treat was juice boxes and ice cream served outside.  I didn't see any left on the carpet in the library.  I'd offered to give Trevor a ride home tonight so he could stay until the end of the program.  Tonight was also the Town Board Meeting.  I hadn't planned on attending but Trevor had figured we would so he had asked to be on the agenda but at the end.  Not a problem.  Got there a little after 7:30 p.m. and the board was still discussing roads.  Road discussions are incredibly boring so I pulled out my phone and played games.  Got some gossip after the meeting before driving Trevor home.  

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.