Fire in the Field

 

I named the bridge that Brother Phil and Neighbor Blake put in 'Bifrost'.  It's named after the burning rainbow bridge from Norse Mythology.  Thought it funny.  The rainbow is often referred to as a bridge in many other culture's myths.  The Vikings must have thought a plain old rainbow was too wimpy for them 'cause they had to add that it was afire also.  Today I mowed the lawn and recalling that the weatherman had said there might be showers tonight, I decided to cross Bifrost with  the mower for the first time and mow the back 40 trails.  After a month the bridge had dried out and settled in - crossed it w/ no problems at all.  When I made it back home I noticed a florescent green truck parked on the road about where the lilacs are.  Odd place to park since someone coming over the hill might smack into the back of it.  I put Svaldilfari away, let Whip out, and got a drink of water.  When I came outside again, the truck was gone.  Didn't think about it until Neighbor Doug asked me if I had seen all the excitement.  He sent pictures of a fire in the field just to the east of me.  Lots of farmers are working on a second cut of hay and so is Neighbor Blake.  He had cut and raked that field but had someone else baling it this afternoon.  From what Doug said, a bearing stuck causing the machinery to overheat which set the hay inside of it on fire.  The fire department came out w/ water trucks (think that might have been the green one I noticed) and put the fire out.   Right next door and I missed it all- kinda Viking worthy though.

Pictures from Doug Dearhamer.

Grey Dogwood

 Town Planning Commission meeting tonight.   Lately, we've only been reviewing permits and anyone who was building during the summer had already put in their requests during the winter and spring.  The permits we had tonight were for a temporary logging road and for a house/garage.   I bopped over to Bennor Road where the house/garage would be built.   Looked like they were ready to begin.  I then drove to .6 miles west from the end of Singer Road.   A rough road already existed (made by a caterpillar from the tracks) and connected across the right-of-way to the town road.   At the meeting we OK'd the house/garage permit but I put up a fuss about the logging road.  Anyone should know that making any changes to a town road - like adding a driveway - needs an OK from the town ahead of time.   Would it impede the town's brusher, grader (it's a gravel road), or snow plow?  Would it cause flooding of the road (there was no culvert)?  Would it cause a car tire to get caught in a rut?   The other guys agreed.  Turns out this logger has done it before and the town had warned him that time.  We vetoed the logging road permit.  Of course, we are all appointed - not elected.  The commission sends permits on to the Town Board w/ our recommendation.  It's the Board that will have to decide to put a chain across the access, impose a fine, or, once again, send a 'strongly worded' notice to the logger.

Sunrise through a Jack Pine

 I can see the sunrise from my living room.  Noticed it this morning.  That means the arc of the sun has moved enough to the SE sufficiently to shine through the windows.  I'll be able to watch sunrise (and sunset) from the house until next year's vernal equinox.  It also means sunrise is occurring later.   When I was working I usually went into work before the sun came up and I swore when I retired I would make sure I watched every sunrise.  Tried to do that when I first came back here but it's rough setting the alarm clock to 5 a.m. to see the sunrise and then going back to bed.  This time of year I'm already dressed and ready to greet the dawn when it arrives at 7.  Anyway, the cooler weather sunrises are way more interesting than the warmer weather ones.  Cool weather causes sun pillars, Chinese Lantern stratification, Fata Morgana, halos, and sun dogs.   Always something to look forward to w/ the change of seasons here. 

Find My House?

Wednesday I looked out my bedroom window and saw a white spot in the hills.  The ski hill surely wouldn't be making snow in these temps.  My binoculars resolved the white spot into a ... tent?   Of course!  This is Leaf Peeping weekend in the county.  The ski hill was planning on serving food up top  - probably use a tent for that purpose.  Taking the ski lift up the hill to see the colors has become such a draw, the ski hill owners start their weekend festivities on Friday.  I was there early enough to be the second one up on the lift.  Fantastic views of the neighborhood, weather perfect, no crowds.   I knew I could see the tent from my place so stood near it and tried to locate my house.  Couldn't find it.  Good, no need to close my drapes when I go to bed.  On the way back home I passed a new B&B just around the corner from the ski hill.  Our town's zoning committee had given it a permit earlier in the year and now there was a "Open House" sign - for Saturday and Sunday.  Neighbor Anita agreed to go w/ me on Saturday morning.   We got there at 11 a.m.   The original open house sign had now been amended to state "Noon to 5".    "Let's go see if they will let us take a look anyway." urges Anita.  That was all the prompting I needed and we drove in.   The owners were outside and welcoming to strangers (their 5 month old Burmese Mountain Dog wasn't so sure).  The first floor is an open living room-dining area-kitchen.  A hallway leads to a bedroom and a bath (with a huge shower).  Upstairs is another bedroom and bath.  It's got unique touches here and there and open cabinetry.  The view behind the cabin is beautiful - a small pond and directly behind it the back side of the ski hill.  Quite striking.  There is the little issue of being just feet from a cemetery.   The cemetery is small and old and not as well kept as I remember as a kid.  It is possible renters might not realize there is a cemetery at first.   There are no windows on that side of the house.  In the short winter daylight hours snow might cover the grave markers.   In the spring and summer there is a wall of greenery between the properties.  In the autumn ... well ... being next to a graveyard might actually be considered a plus.  Location - Location - Location

Red Tailed Hawk

 I'd hoped that my state wouldn't lose any radio stations when the Federal Government decided to remove funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB).  Just heard that a radio station north of me has one more week before it stops broadcasting.   It's not part of the National Public Radio system (NPR)  though at times it uses some of their programs.   The Native American tribes in the northern part of the state own and run it.   It was created in the '80's when there were armed standoffs between the Native Americans and anglers over spear fishing rights.  The tribes used the new station as a platform to explain treaty rights, share information about the Native American community, and facilitate communication with their non-Native neighbors.   Talking, understanding, and a Supreme Court Ruling eventually resolved that situation.   Since then the radio station focuses on local news & activities, rural living, and highlights indigenous culture.  Operating in such a sparsely populated area is difficult.  The station can't survive on just member donations and grants so CPB had provided 40% of their funding.  I believe hearing different perspectives can only strengthen peace and neighborly relations.  How much will we lose when we fail to invest, protect, and enable alternate views?     My current elected representatives believe we should all listen to only one voice (no matter what inane stuff he says.)

Sneezeweed

When I reported in at the library for volunteer duty there were books piled high on the desk.  Librarian Trevor told me that since around 1 p.m. on Wednesday the Internet service the libraries in our consortium use has been unavailable.   Updates he received were full of IT alphabet soup but pointed toward a routing issue.  There is an off-line system which allows libraries to check out books - it can be reconciled with the real system later.  It can't, however, check books back into the system.  As he was explaining how to use it an update came through that a 'band-aid' was in place so the system was again working - but very slowly.  We checked and, yes, the system was working, and, yes, it was slow.  I signed off.  All the libraries were probably trying to use it.  Instead I worked on inputting statistics which is an entirely different file.  I finished w/ those around 5 p.m. - just when most libraries would be closing.  Our library, though, has chosen Thursdays to stay open until 7.    I signed back on and was rewarded with a significantly faster response.  Was able to check in all of the piled up books, pull the books requested by other libraries, and reshelve our books.  Caught up just about closing time.  Had enough time though to print Trevor's pun-of-the-day on the white board:  "BOOKKEEPING: The profession of people who don't return library books."

Yellow Parasol Mushroom

I last saw a hummingbird on Monday last week.  Since then nothing.  Will wait another week before taking those feeders down and storing them for the winter.  I'll also clean out the seed and suet feeders and set them back out when it gets colder.   Right now there is too much food around for the birds to be too interested.  I can relate.   I picked enough wild raspberries this morning for my cereal.   Picked some of my grapes too which are fully ripe and absolutely delicious.  Saw a hazelnut in the middle of the driveway so went out and picked those still remaining on the bushes.  I'd checked at the beginning of September but thought they could use a little more ripening.   If the nuts fall off though I think the rabbits are getting them (hence the lone one in the driveway).  I'll have to be more assiduous about figuring out the perfect time to pick.  Still got a bucketful.  Walked around to the back of the stockade where the apple tree is located.  The apple tree fruits biannually - one year no apples followed by a year of lots.  This is an on year so picked a bucket of apples too.  I've been watering the pots of geraniums I put in Sleipnir every other day.  Today I found this yellow parasol mushroom growing out of a pot.    Time to back off on watering to once a month.  By the way - despite the name, this mushroom is not edible.  Hazelnut stuffed rabbit - hmm - will give that one some thought.

Headed South

Autumnal Equinox.   I finally finished washing all of the summer stuff.  Last were the rugs I had in the foyer.  They are thin w/ a rubber backing - suggested cleaning method was to rinse off w/ a hose.  Good time to also get the Labor Day job of cleaning the sewer filter out of the way.  Using two crowbars I was able to move the concrete top off the sewer far enough to unscrew the top of the filter.  When I pulled it out it was as clean as it could be w/ the exception of a few sand particles near the top.  I dropped it back into place.  The filter isn't suppose to require cleaning.  Back wash from when the pump stops pumping waste water out to the mound should flush it.  When it was first put in I did have an issue w/ it and the plumber suggested cleaning it once a year (which I upped to twice a year since he originally told me the sewer wouldn't need a filter at all).  The new sewer sucker guy told me this spring there was a second filter in the middle partition of the sewer.  I considered looking for and cleaning that one too.  However, since I've never cleaned it before opted to bypass it this time.  Used the hose to clean the foyer rugs and left them in the sun to dry off.  That's the last I'll need of the hose this season.  Rummaged through the brother's workshop and found a suitable wrench to remove it.   Rolled up the hose and put it in Sleipnir.  While I was there finished setting up the plant tiers and arranged all the plants on them.    Good start for the season.

Wild Plums

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:30 a.m. - Caller states she woke up when she heard running footsteps near her window.  She looked out to see her vehicle lights on and three individuals were in or near her car.  She yelled out the window and they took off running.  Nothing was stolen.  Neighbor's camper door was open.   Officer cleared camper and secured door.

10:46 a.m. - Caller reports female kicked in her door.  An individual owed her money.  Female took a nut dispenser and pumpkins from her house.  She took the nut dispenser because that is what she was owed money for.

11:14 a.m. - Caller reporting theft from vape store.  Wants to start an eviction of female living there.  Female states she took money out of the shop till to pay for gas to go to work.  States she was part of the business and the taxes were in her name.  Deputies told caller that female will not be arrested as this is a civil issue.  He has to go through the eviction process.  He was transferred to the clerk of courts.

12:52 p.m. - Caller states a "new young kid on the block" is hunting on her land.

12:59 p.m. - Owners of residence contacted law enforcement about concerns with a tenant they are evicting.  After tenant was informed of eviction, dispatch was getting calls from various out of state locations with reports that tenant was being held captive, that there were dead bodies in the freezer, and other persons were tied up in the basement.  A welfare check on the house revealed reports were false.

1:37 p.m. - Caller reports Automotive Store won't let her service dog at the business because their dog is there.

3:42 p.m. - Officers flagged down by male in parking lot.  Male was to pick up packages that he sent to a female but she won't give them back.  Packages contain $300 of sex toys and we wants them back.  Officer explained this is a civil situation since he bought them for her.

3:57 p.m. - DNR fire requested for quarter acre grass fire.  Individual using his car to rake a field.  Hay got on the exhaust causing a fire.  All on private property.  No buildings close.

6:47 p.m. - Traffic stop of driver operating dirt bike on public roadway.  Driver told not to drive on public road without a valid license.  Driver stated he can because vehicle goes under 19 m/p/h.  Driver was told that's not true.  It is against city ordinance to operate an unregistered ATV.  Officer told driver to walk the bike home.

8:48 p.m. - Complainant states his son and his son's woman were at his house threatening him verbally.

Winter Berry

Friend Nancy showed me how to fill my car tires  on a Monday.  On Friday the 'Tire needs Air' idiot light came back on.  It wasn't cooler weather that caused the tire pressure to go down.  Drove to a nearby Kwik Trip and filled them up again.  On Monday, the idiot light was back on and I bopped over to Mechanic Eric's.  He put air in for me and thought it might be the rear driver's side tire.  He's always very busy and since it appeared to be a slow leak he asked if I could wait until Friday for him to look at it.  This morning I dropped off the car and walked to the cafe for breakfast and then to the gourmet shop for coffee.  When I returned to Eric's he showed me a very long thin nail he'd pulled out of the tire.  Said he'd seen a few of these lately.   Went to the pharmacy to pick up refills and then on to Churchtown.  I needed a new appliance and wasn't looking forward to shopping for one.  I'd written down on a slip of paper all of the pertinent requirements - height, depth, width, what I wanted it to do, what I didn't want it to do.  The salesman balked at my requirement of color.  "White is considered passe now.  There is a better selection in stainless steel." he told me.  Stainless is OK but not a good fit in my house. Best he understood that.   "Stainless steel sucks." I replied.   Found an appliance that should fit all my requirements but I'll have to wait.  It needs to be ordered in white.

Swamp Milkweed

As I've said before, I put things in my Amazon virtual cart during the month and only when I reach a certain amount or really need something in the cart do I submit an order.  Whenever I check what's in my cart an "Important Message" at the top of the screen lets me know if anything in the cart or saved-for-later items has changed price.  At the beginning of the month I added a well-known name brand Christmas ornament to my cart.  It is made exclusively in Ireland.  Since then, every time I checked the cart that item's price goes up by four cents.   Not much money but once I realized what was happening I have been checking often - sometimes multiple times per hour - and it's another four cents costlier.   The ornament is now two dollars more than when I put it in the cart and the price is still increasing.  Curious, I googled the brand.  Nothing extraordinary: the brand wasn't sold, the factory didn't burn down, the workers aren't on strike, the item hasn't been discontinued, and no famous football player went on a talk show to wax eloquent about his collection of the stuff.    I assume the added cost is an offset for the U.S. imposed 15% tariffs on the European Union.  Despite the rhetoric, it is the U.S. public that pays those tariffs.  (Actually, I'm surprised anyone would claim otherwise.)    Wish Amazon had the guts to follow through on the idea of showing added cost caused by the tariffs.

Thornapple fruit

As of October, my bank will no longer send me e-mails w/ the monthly activities on my accounts.  First I stopped in at the bank to verify that the e-mail was indeed true and the web site in the e-mail was accurate.  Yes.  The teller offered to help me sign up for on-line banking then and there but I said no.  Figured with all of my background in IT this should be a cinch.  I sat down at the computer and got on the site.  Quickly found where to sign up.  First it wanted my username.  I haven't needed a username w/ the bank before but many sites let m use my e-mail address as a sign on.  Nope didn't like special characters.  I looked around on the website to see if there was any guidance to what is expected in a username.  Nothing but that it was a required field. (Duh)   I tried my first name and surname. Nope didn't like spaces.   (Yeah, suppose spaces are special characters.)  I tried just my first name.  Nope but no notices this time about what was wrong.  Finally entered something the system liked.  Then came the password.  I use a formula to figure out my passwords but the screen wouldn't allow what I came up w/ so I had to pick something new.  Since I'm not allowing the password to be saved on the computer will have to remember it.  (hopefully)    The next screen was for three security questions.  One question was "Name of best friend".  I've long had a problem w/ the concept of "best friend" so that one took some thought.  (My personal issue ... not the system's.)  A couple of long diatribes of legalize that I had to agree to and then a screen asking what on-line services I wanted.  'View Only' wasn't an option.   Found one that let me see my monthly activity but also transfer money on-line.  Not something I want to do now but might come in handy someday.  Then of course, the activation code sent to my phone that I entered on-line to get everything started.  I went back to the home screen and signed in.  Worked OK.  However, when I went back on-line a few hours later got the notice "We are having technical difficulties.  Try again later."  I'm being pulled into modernity kicking and screaming.

Dunder

The first movie I ever watched was "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."  We didn't go to movies while I was growing up.  When I went away to Baptist Bible College, however, a boyfriend had a car and invited me to a free showing of this movie at a different college.  Had to get a dispensation from my Resident Assistant to go off campus but managed it.    I vividly remember the movie's music, humor, cinematography, as well as keeping a running count of the number of people shot -  though the details of the boyfriend du jour have faded.    It was Robert Redford w/ his half smile that caught my attention the most.  Enjoyed many of his performances through the years: "The Electric Horseman", "Sneakers", "The Sting", "All the President's Men", "Barefoot in the Park", "Three Days of the Condor" as well as his memorable Twilight Zone episode.   He starred in other notable movies I haven't seen.   Will search on TV this week for other of his performances to watch - a reminder of what good acting can be.  Shouldn't be hard to find one.

Javelina

 

I sat down to watch the local noon news.   The weatherman showed two fingers of thunderstorms racing northward - directly toward my location.  I checked the radar on my computer and it claimed the fingers would reach here in a little over an hour.  It did also indicate the storms would pass on either side of me.   Found that hard to believe since the storms were less than 30 miles apart.  I raced outside to take off the clothes on the line.  They were dry anyway.  Then I revved up Svaldilfari and started mowing the lawn.  On my list of things to do today was 'mow lawn' and I really wanted to get something off my list.  Bright and sunny still outside but I could hear the low rumble of thunder.  I put on my sunglasses but once I got going the dark clouds took over the sky.  I mowed the lawn in sections - front, side, other side, back - thinking if I was stopped by rain it would be easier to tell what had been mowed later.  Lots of thunder and some lightening strikes (kept mowing though thoughts of "The Bad Seed" ending were in my mind).  Finished mowing everything and came inside.  Believe it or not, except for a few sprinkles, the thunderstorms did pass on either side.  Well, at least everything is mowed.   Unless there is an intervening frost, I won't need to do it again until October.

Picture taken by Kathy Novey near McDonald Observatory.