Coyote at Sunrise

Temps reached 60 today so I opened up Sleipnir's garage doors and worked on some geranium plants that I overwintered there.  It was a hard year on the geraniums and where I usually lose a few plants each year I seem to have pots where most of the plants died but a few are alive and thriving.  Not sure why the difference - probably should make some hypotheses I can test this fall.  All winter I've been saving the coffee cups from the coffee shop in the village.  "Compostable" is written in big letters on the side of them.  Why not use them to start new plants? Whenever I'm cleaning up the geraniums in spring, I inevitably snip off a stem by accident or need to prune a plant.   I know that these little bits of plant material, placed in soil and watered, can easily grow into new plants. Usually I don't have places to stick them back into dirt but w/ these cups I can repot them and give them a little extra care to get them going.   Might try selling them for the library's slush fund before Mother's Day.  The garden poles are also stored in Sleipnir and I considered setting them out.  Looked at the forecast.  Nights will be below freezing the rest of the week and one day we might get more snow.  Too early to set out the garden poles and too early for this bout of Spring fever I'm having.  Still it was a nice day, so Whip and I drove into the village for lunch  w/ the car's moon roof open.

Jigsaw Puzzle

Spring fever is beginning to replace Jigsaw mania in my psyche.  Whip and I jumped in Jormungandr to check out the trails.  Most of the snow is gone but there are places which are prone to deep drifts.  One of those places is the north end of Gorgeous Gorge.  The wind screams across the open fields until it reaches the gorge where the earth just falls away.  The wind slows and drops whatever snow it was carrying.  I was glad I'd opted for the tires w/ a more aggressive tread since the snow there was deep and slushy.  We made it through and checked out the pond at the bottom of the gorge.  It seemed pretty low for this time of year but it's level is not based on rain/runoff but on groundwater level.  As the frost goes out of the ground it will probably rise.  Bopped on over to Bifrost.  That's the new bridge Neighbor Blake and Brothers Phil and Brent had made for me across the draw.  Water was running through that and even going over one end of it.  I checked the three tubes we'd put in the bottom.  Two definitely had water going through but the third might be plugged.  When the water level goes down I'll check to see if it can be unplugged.  The top of the bridge was mud so decided not to drive Jormungandr over it quite yet.  Whip and I went back another way and there are no downed trees or other issues.  Well, looks like the deer grazed on the grey dogwood but didn't do damage that the little trees can't handle.  I realize March is way too early for spring fever - at least in the Northwoods.  I'll spend some time going through the greenhouse catalogs and repotting flowers I've overwintered in Sleipnir.

Wild Cucumber seed pod

I ventured to church yesterday.  My cold symptoms had abated enough to not be noticable. While I did refrain from singing - the measured breathing required might have set me off - I did manage to laugh at the pastor's jokes w/o coughing uncontrollably.

This morning I went in to get my teeth cleaned.  I'd been called a couple of days ahead of time as a reminder.  Since I started using a water pic I don't worry about these sessions.  They go fast w/ the most minimal amount of pain/blood.  The hygienist and I spend most of the time gossiping.  Afterward,the dentist comes over to the hygienist's side of the office to give my teeth a quick check up.   Today, after we were done, the hygienist said I could take a seat in the waiting room until the dentist was ready for me.  Different.  When I went in to an examining room, the dentist's aide snapped a bib around my neck and said the dentist would be in momentarily to fix my chipped tooth. I had totally forgotten all about it. At my previous cleaning they'd found I had a chipped tooth.  It didn't bother me but was visible when I smiled and we'd made an appointment for right after my next cleaning to have it fixed.  Oh!  That's why when the office called to remind me of my appointment, she'd said I'd see the dentist afterward.  I'd just thought she was mentioning it because the dentist is an outdoorsy kind of guy.  Often he's not around to give me a final check after the hygienist is done because he's hunting in Alaska, on an extended bike trip, or off hiking some trail.  Didn't take long to make the repair and, as usual, the dentist had wild stories to tell while he worked: A girl who had chipped all of her front teeth w/ her tongue stud;A guy who was traveling to California to have plates inserted into his head so he could screw on horns (he claimed he couldn't find a doc around here who would do it), A man who had a tongue bifurcation so it would look more snake like.  Have to admit, this dentist has the most interesting 'small-talk'.

Blue Jay

I was at the clinic in Churchtown early for my nuclear stress test to see what was causing my a-fib.  First I got an injection of something radioactive  (I asked the name of it but it's unpronounceable and, hence, unremembered.)  I was sent back out to the waiting room to sit for an hour while the stuff circulated through my blood stream.  When I was called back I was asked to lay in a tube while lots of pictures were taken.  Not easy to be still as instructed so I shut my eyes and mentally went through the Olympian gods and goddesses (Greek and Roman) which took over my mind until it finally ended while I was contemplating Japanese vs. Chinese script.  (I could explain how I got there but it's not germane.)  Then I was walked across the hall to a room w/ a treadmill in it - the stress test!   The tech explained that for a-fib the treadmill wasn't going to be used but instead I would be injected w/ another chemical which would produce the readings they required.  She called in two nurses and I kidded the tech by asking if they were there to hold me down.  "Oh no!" she exclaimed, "We all will be taking data."  Which was true.  The tech pressed a button periodically to record measurements from the electrodes pasted on me.  One of the nurses took my blood pressure every minute.  The other nurse seemed there to question me.  Was I warm enough?  Did I have a headache?  Did I feel sick?  Did I feel light headed?  She then repeated the questions again and once more.  The whole process only took six minutes.  I answered no to all her questions but did mention I had a slight metallic taste in my mouth.  That got them postulating among themselves why some people could taste the medicine and others can't.   I piped in that being able to taste it is an indication of high intelligence.  (Google any abnormality and the results always include that it shows high intelligence.)  The three 'sisters' ignored me.  I was sent back to the waiting room for another hour to let the latest medicine circulate/abate.  While in the waiting room, the high keen of a child could be heard from some examination room.  I turned to the lady seated next to me and quipped, "Maybe she failed the stress test."  I got a wan smile in return.   Must remember that while everyone is friendly at the hospital, most people aren't in a joking frame of mind.  After my allocated rest period, another set of pics before I was set free.   First stop - Culver's.

Spring Sunrise

 

A friend and I were watching a horror flick and wondering if we would be brave in a scary situation.  I claimed I would be.   Forgot entirely that I'm a screamer.  Librarian Trevor has the RSV cold going around and went home when I came on duty at the library last night. No problem.  I used to do the library late shift on my own all of the time.   By 7 p.m. everyone had left and I started to close.  Closing process still includes checking the Village Hall's main back and front door to ensure they are locked.  Since the water leak, that half of the building has been closed but there are workmen in and out all day.    Boxes, chairs, and other furniture have been pushed into a barricade so library patrons can use the Village's men's bathroom but they can go no further into that part of the building.   Early on I had found a skinny little path through the barrier which, if carefully navigated, got me out to the Village Hall open area where I could check both doors to ensure they are locked.  Last night I found the Village's front door unlocked.  I dutifully locked it and started the serpentine route back toward the library.  Out of the darkened empty Village Hall a voice came.  "I heard the door lock."  I let out a scream at an octave above high C and pretty sure did a little jump for good measure.   I looked back and could make out Village President Shane w/ a sheepish grin on his face.  He apologized for scaring me while I explained the volunteers still check their doors.  He thanked us for doing it and suggested they could make a pathway for us.  "No", I said emphatically.  "We don't want people exploring in an open construction area."  He agreed and I locked the doors between the library and hall.  Yes, I'd forgotten those days as a programmer when I'd go into work in the early hours and the computer operators would pop up at my cubicle just to scare me into screaming.   (Their form of entertainment.)  Even my visiting brothers can elicit a girly scream from me when I don't expect to see them around.  I suppose there is a chance that, after letting out a blood-curdling scream, I might be brave?

Library Picture

 

When Friends Kathy & Nancy visited, we went to the library so Kathy could pick out a picture to hang in Mjolnir's apartment while she was staying there.  It's a new library program allowing artwork to be checked out like a book.   I thought giving my guests their preference in pictures would be a fun way to try it out.  Should have had Nancy pick out a picture to put up in the spare bedroom too.  (Will have to install heftier wall hangers in there for these pictures.)  Kinda fun to have guests pick out their own 'artwork to sleep with.'

The blizzard is now just a memory and piles of snow.  Everything was open again today and people have been plowed out.  My driveway is passable w/ minor drifting in a couple of spots.  When Whip and I went for our night time constitutional snowflakes were falling again.  Had forgotten the weatherman said it would snow again overnight. After the frenzy of a blizzard, he didn't seem too excited about a couple more inches.  I have started wearing my weather coat.  All winter - even when it was twenty below - I wore a long padded vest and stayed perfectly warm.  I don't know if it's more hours of sunlight or the few days of warmer weather we had but I don't revel in the cold anymore.   Maybe my brain has just clicked my body over to spring - cooler temps are no longer acceptable.

I'm having a little problem adjusting to MeTV replacing 9 p.m. Hogan's Heroes with Golden Girls.  Hogan Heroes had been in that time period for so long that just hearing it's theme music made me start to get ready for bed.  The Golden Girls is OK but doesn't have the same effect on me.  Am hunting around for something else that signals 'sleep' to me.

Jigsaw Puzzle

While my plow guy came Sunday afternoon, by nightfall the driveway was again choked with snow.  Not much I could do about it so I watched the Oscars last night.  Didn't care who won, just what everyone was wearing and maybe to see what opera/ballet jokes Timothee Chalamet would have to endure.  (He will never look as good as Mikhail Baryshnikov in a leotard!)   I actually saw the movie for the first winner of the night.  Friend Kathy reminded me that after the Fair last year we went to see  the movie Weapons that Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for.   This morning I had an oil change scheduled downtown.  I'd made the appointment two weeks ago before any talk of a blizzard.   Around 7 a.m. Whip began to bark.  I looked out and there was my plow guy again!  Not only could Whip and I take a walk but I could make my appointment.  An hour later I dropped off my keys w/ Mechanic Eric and walked against the wind up the block to the cafe.  Had a leisurely breakfast.  Stopped on the way back for a latte and picked up my car from the garage..  Eric said come fall I should consider new tires.  Picked up my mail and headed home.  With this wind it was possible the driveway would drift enough to be impassable.  Stopped at the end of the drive to pull my garbage bin out of a drift.  The garbage pickup guys had indicated last week that since all of the snow had melted I could again put my bin on the other side of the road.  Today though there was only a berm of snow pushed up by the snowplows over there.  Opted to put the bin on my side of the road.  They seemed to understand 'cause later the bin had been emptied.

Plow Guy

Lights on the ski hill Saturday night.   Got a text from a church member saying services wouldn't be held on Sunday.  I went to bed around 10:30 - a few snowflakes falling - that's all.  Sunday morning the driveway was snowed in.   Went out to feed the birds and was surprised at how strong the wind was.  Only activity on the road was the county snow plow going past.  Snow storms are actually quite relaxing as long as you can be dry & warm, have electricity, and no where you need to travel.  Oh ... and you have a plow guy.  Surprisingly my plow guy showed up around 1 p.m. and plowed the driveway.  The weatherman had forecast that there would be a lull in the storm about this time but the winds and snow would pick up again later.  I'm hoping the plow guy's plan is to do his clients in phases of 10" of snow instead of tackling the whole 20" at the end of the storm.  School (and the library) have already announced they will be closed tomorrow.  I'm thinking of calling my electric provider after the storm and giving them an 'atta boy'.  Impressed w/ the wind/snow we had over the last few days that there has been no electrical outages.

Kathy got her Wish

 Friend Kathy had wished to see a snowstorm while on her trip North.  It snowed the night we all got together for our GNO Christmas.  Not much - an inch or two - but quite pretty.  The day Kathy was due to go back to the Big City where her Husband Stan was visiting friends, we had another snowstorm - again a few inches. The roads were quickly plowed so no problem getting her to Collegetown to catch a transport to the Big City.  However, Kathy & Stan decided to not stay over in the Big City for this next snowstorm and headed home early for warmer climes.

The forecast says it's to be a 20" blizzard.  That calls for some storm prep today.  Righted the outside garbage bin that had been blown over in the 45 m/p/h winds of the second storm and weighted it down w/ a bag of refuse.  Easier to find an upright bin in a drift than one on it's side.  No need to go for groceries - the refrigerator is filled w/ the food I'd picked up to eat when I had no appetite and then to feed my visitors.  I filled some pails w/ water to flush toilets and tumblers of water for me.  You'd think that w/ all the snow forecast, water would be the least of my worries but it takes a long time to melt a big pile of snow into a little bit of water.  Topped off the charge on some flashlights and my phone.  For entertainment I've got a jigsaw puzzle.  The stack of wood my brothers cut up for me in the garage is dry and easily accessible.  Washed clothes, dishes, and, for good measure, I took a shower.  It's best to face a storm w/ clean hair.

Artwork

Hadn't planned on entertainment for Friends Kathy & Nancy while they were here.  We usually have lots to talk about and figure out impromptu things to do.  This morning Kathy brought out her card making supplies.  She has a Scottish friend that could use some cheering up and has been making fun cards to send to her daily.  I got out my drawing pad and after a few bad starts (it's been years since I've drawn) managed two pictures of fairies specific to Scotland.   Since these are mythological creatures,  if they don't exactly look like certain pixies, who is going to know?  Kathy lent me her pencils to add some color and said she would send them off to her friend.  Kathy's picture was of a haggis.  Hard to make a drawing of a haggis actually look like a haggis and I suggested other things her picture reminded me of.  (Got me some sour looks.)  Anyway, a rather fun morning.

Balance and Weights

 

Picked up Friend Kathy in Collegetown and Friend Nancy drove over after some appointments.  It snowed much of the afternoon so it put us in the mood for our GNO Christmas celebration.   This year's theme was Constitutional Amendments and we'd each picked at random an amendment out of a hat.  Nancy had picked #4 - Unreasonable Search and Seizure.  She gave a gift of various devices to cover up things people would rather other's didn't know about.  I'm not sure I can be more specific.  Let's just say we were all laughing by the time Kathy had opened the last package.   Kathy had picked out Amendment #18 which established Prohibition.   I received a balance and various sized weights for it.  Prohibitionists had pushed people to maintain 'a balance' in all things.  I also got a vegetable peeler since the 18th amendment is the only amendment ever repealed.  There was also a Distillery Cats book.  Will have to read to find the connection between the spirits industry and pets.    I'd picked Amendment #26 giving 18 year olds the vote.  Nancy got a tumbler with "1971' on it.  That's the year the amendment was ratified (plus people seeing her drink from it will assume that's the year she was born and think she's a decade younger.)   Gave her a baseball cap emblazoned "Voting Prevents Unwanted Presidencies".  She also received a sheet of Army and Navy stamps that came out last year.  The 26th Amendment was pushed through because 18 year olds were being drafted into military service but couldn't vote.  I didn't include the Marines stamps which came out at the same time since the Marines aren't part of the draft.  As usual we congratulated ourselves on our creativity w/ a hard theme.    Next year's theme - Pareidolia.  Should be fun.

Jigsaw Puzzle

Temps will reach 60 today!  I drove home w/ the moon roof open, Fleetwood Mac on the radio, and a latte in hand.  The only thing to make the moment more perfect was if I didn't have a coughing fit halfway back.  RSV has stayed way longer than I expected. 

Got all of the clocks reset for the time change. The grandmother clock in the living room is still 'bonging' one less bong than it should.  It's one of those idiosyncrasies easier to consider endearing rather than to try to fix.

A Little Winter Bedazzlement

 

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

2:31 a.m. - Complainant reports neighbor has been shooting a semi-automatic rifle for the past hour.  Family is unable to sleep.  Neighbor recently moved in and she doesn't know them.  A second call came in about the same issue.  Person of interest identified and is believed to be a heavy drinker.  Squad in the vicinity can hear rounds being fired.  Another call states person of interest emptied two 15-round clips.  He is not striking any buildings.  Rounds fired don't sound close to residence or roadway.  Phone contact with person of interest.  He works nights and had the evening off.  He has multiple guns.  He was attempting to sight in weapons equipped with night optics for coyote hunting and to diagnose an issue with another gun.  He was apologetic and will refrain from shooting in the middle of the night.

3:21 a.m. - Complainant reporting there is someone in her garage.  She doesn't know who it is and they were in her tree all day.  They also broke her bedroom window and are trying to take the roof off her garage.  Deputy reports nothing alleged actually occurred.  Email sent to DHHS.

4:23 a.m. - Caller reports someone screaming east of her house.  Sounds like a woman.  She's heard it twice.  Deputy spoke with complainant.  Walked around her house and drove around the area.  Did not hear a scream.  Officer believes it may have been a fox.

8:19 a.m. - Caller reporting a male trying to steal items from her property.  She told deputy someone has been bothering her.  They came from the house to the west.  Complainant said she knows what he looks like but can't describe him.  He and another person moved her garage.  She knows this to be true but had difficulty explaining how she knows.  She saw these men with winches attached to the roof the of the garage.  She denied being under the influence of drugs or alcohol and does not take any prescription medications.  Caller has been up all night said she slept about 12 hours ago.  No evidence supports there has been anyone attempting to more her garage.

8:28 a.m. - Walk-in to Law Enforcement Center. Complainant reported her husband came home after church on Sunday and was in a rage yelling about the wood stove going out.  Upset children were not doing as they were told.  When complainant stated she took over animal chores he said he should just kill all of the animals.  Male did not threaten her or children.  Complainant wanted this documented in case something happens in future.

10:17 a.m. - Caller reporting a black Ford SUV following them for about half an hour on highway.  They pulled into a gas station.  Deputy spole with caller who provided description of vehicle.  Officer out with vehicle.  Person of interest is a private investigator doing surveillance for insurance.  He provided ID and left the area since he was burned.

3:19 p.m. - People helping a friend move out observed friend's father had a handgun in his pocket.  Friends helping also had handguns in holsters in an open-carry display.  When people were leaving, the father stood outside, pulled out gun, removed the magazine, reinserted it, chambered a round and held the hand gun in front of him in a ready position.  Gun not pointed at anyone, no shots fired.

3:42 p.m. - Caller who lives out of county reporting a female that has called her screaming and yelling about random things.  Caller states it had stopped for a few months and female started calling again today.  She has never met this person before, doesn't know how she got her phone number nor why she keeps calling.

7:54 p.m. - Caller states she was coming home and found a man who fell off his bike laying in the middle of the road.  He was trying to get up and didn't want her help.  Deputy found bike rider on the side of the road.  He was heavily intoxicated.  He was riding home from another town and the reporting party nearly ran him over causing the original fall.  Bike rider is unhurt.  He was told to refrain from drinking prior to riding his bicycle on the highway and was given a ride to his residence.

6:31 p.m. - Complainant who is not suppose to have contact with her son's father is needing to pick up her child.  Deputy contacted complainant who was under the impression that an officer could go pick up her kid for her.  She was informed he cannot do that but is willing to meet her there to facilitate the transfer.  Complainant is looking for a ride and will call back.

Redpolls

Librarian Trevor had signed the library up for an Author's Talk series.  About five times a month an hour long interview with an author is broadcast.  Subscribers can submit questions.  The broadcast can be watched live or later.   The Friends of the Library decided on a pizza party at the library Thursday night - open to all Friends and their guests - to watch the Michael Perry broadcast.  Perry is a local author and his writing is easily relatable to our community.  I was there - though at the front desk since it's my usual volunteer shift.  While I couldn't see the TV screen, it was loud enough to hear as I helped patrons and shelved books.  The Friends meetings are filled w/ how to help the library w/ fund raising.  A great idea for them to have a fun party where they could just sit back and enjoy themselves.

The Village Hall sprinkler system debacle continues.  The sprinkler system was designed 20 years ago as a 'dry' system usually filled w/ compressed air.  Sometime in the past the compressor stopped working and water filled the pipes.  An alert was also added so if the sprinkler system developed a problem, a warning beep would sound signifying that the system needed maintenance.  That obviously hadn't worked either.  The water filled sprinkler system pipes developed a slow leak that apparently had been dripping for some time.  The dry wall and possibly the insulation in that part of the building will need to be replaced.  The men's bathroom has been walled off so it's available for library patrons.  Trevor filled me in on the protocol to be used in order for use by one gender at a time.  Not a problem for our usual number of patrons but in July we will have 30-60 kids for Summer Reading Program.  Trevor is thinking of bringing in port-o-potties.  Just the thought of port-o-potties, little children, and hot weather is making me consider taking a month off from volunteering.