Robin in Snow, Phone Wire Down Again

 

Robin in our oak tree adorned with snow.

Yesterday was very windy, warm temps reaching almost 70 degrees. The wind took down a large, decayed tree limb which snapped my land line telephone wire. The same wire that was taken down a month ago by ice sliding off the roof. The first time the wire remained intact, just lost it's support and fell to the ground coming apart at a splice point. Yesterday the wire was severed in two.

Snow covers tree limb that severed telephone line .

This morning we awoke to 20 degrees, a few inches of snow and more wind. As I was shoveling the driveway I spotted a Robin sitting amid snow covered branches in the oak tree. Now, I have seen plenty of photos of Cardinals and snowy branches, but never a Robin. There was some nice sunlight too. The snow is both beautiful and a nuisance. 

Today was also St. Patricks Day and so we cooked some corned beef and cabbage for dinner. That was most excellent.

PHOTOS: Smoked Pork Ribs, Scanning B n W Negatives

Not a pretty time of year here, but great for grilling n smoking.

Sunday March 15, 2026. I awoke at 4:00am, laid in bed 45 minutes then decided to read for a bit. Reading very often will put me back to sleep. This morning it didn't. FYI I am reading the journals of Lewis and Clark's expedition through the Louisiana Purchase. It's a free download at Project Gutenburg. 

So I got up at 6:00. The day started out windy, grey and cold, 22 degrees when I got up. I scanned some more negatives for upcoming photo exhibition. By the afternoon the sun was out and temp had risen to 49 degrees. Perfect for being outdoors and smoking some St Louis style pork ribs.  The ribs came out great after about 4 1/2 hours in the smoker.

Snow Today, Bat Guy Visit, Scanning Negatives

 

Began to snow at 4:00pm here in Chaumont, NY today.

Woke up this morning to 21 degrees outside. But it was reasonably pleasant. Eric the bat control guy came over about 9:00 and began sealing up some holes and gaps around the house. Just what he could get at without a ladder. He used some sort of clear sealant that's paintable when cured. He applied it with an electric caulking gun. I've never seen one in use before. It works great. May have to get one. 

I've had a trail cam mounted on a ladder pointed at the one way bat tube he installed by the chimney. March 9 at 8:11pm the camera picked up a bat. It was 50 degrees so I guess that was warm enough for the creature to venture outdoors. last video clip was at 8:14. No other activity before or after. Had the camera set up for a few days. 

Otherwise I have lately been scanning some of my black n white negatives from the 1980's. Preparing for a photo exhibit at Ava Smith Memorial Yellow Barn Gallery in Hammond, NY. 

`Bat approaching exclusion tube, keeps the creature from reentering the building.

The Rest of the Rabbit - Photos

Azalea bush leaves, twigs and rabbit remains by our front steps.

A few days back I found a rabbit's foot in our driveway. Well yesterday I discovered the remains of the rest of the rabbit. I spotted a lot of leaves and twigs from an azalea bush scattered about around the base of that bush. On closer inspection I saw hair, fur, and rabbit droppings mixed in with the litter. It appears to me that the rabbit was feeding on the azalea bush when it was ambushed, tore up and eaten by a fox. My what wild life goes on overnight. 

Rabbit remains under the azalea bush.

Rabbit remains under the azalea bush.

Rabbit remains under the azalea bush.

Rabbit droppings and azalea leaves

Rabbit droppings and azalea leaves

Rabbits foot in driveway, discovered it some days ago.

Pest Control Installs One Way Bat Door

 

One way bat valve installed where our chimney meets the eves. 

Eric Jewitt of CNY Nuisance Wildlife Control was here yesterday an found a hole behind our chimney where it meets the eves. He installed a one way bat door that allows the critters to exit, but not re-enter. Over the years we have had an occassional encounter with bats in our house. usually a few years between events. A year ago in February I spotted a lone bat in our attic. This year I encountered a bat in our basement, again in February. We don't think we have an infestation as there no evidence of lots of guano. But, if one or more have overwintered in our attic and found a way from there into the basement, Well... I would just as soon lock them out. 

Pest control guy installs one way bat valve.

Lucky Rabbit's Foot?

 

While going to the car this morning I spotted this animal foot in our driveway. I'm not totally sure but I think it's a rabbits foot. I took a quick snap of it and proceeded to drive the Better Half to Samaritan Medical Center where she was scheduled for an iron infusion. This was at 10:30. When we got back home about 4:30 the animal appendage was gone.

Temperature went down to 1 below zero last night. Today's high reached 32 with sun shine all day. TheBH's iron infusion was an unexpected 4 hour treatment. She had a bad but not uncommon reaction with some swelling in her hands and body general malaise which set in near the end of the procedure. stopped it about 10 minutes early. She previously had some infusions with no reaction, but they were for smaller doses administered over a 90 minute session. Today ny phone counted 3,560 steps. 

Both Kia Sorento Headlights Go Out at Same Time (almost)

 

At left shows normal operation, both headlights OK. At right image shows both headlights need replacement. 

The headlights on our 2019 Kia Sorento seem to burn out frequently. I think this is mostly because the Better Half like sto dive with them on day and night. I've never had them both go out at same time before. Yesterday I was on my way into town and the headlight warning light came on telling me driver side was out. So I go to Walmart and pick one up to the tune of $23.75  From there I went to Home Depot and as I parked the passenger side warning light came on. So back to Walmart I go, returned the single bulb and bought a 2 pack which cost $37.63, saving me $13.88. That's nothing to sneeze at, should have bought the two pack in the first place.

2 Photos: Cake and Soap Bubbles

 

Another day laying low, not being productive.  I am posting a couple of photos that caught my eye recently. Soap bubbles in a coffee cup and a piece of cake. It's a grey day here, temp is 25 degrees. It's 21st day that Nancy Guthrie has been missing in Tucson, AZ. 

Made Guacamole - Not Much Else

 

Pulled pork sandwich with swiss cheese, corn chips and guacamole.

Yesterday I didn't do a whole lot other than make some guacamole. I'm somewhat burned out from all that's been happening, including the BH dealing with some health issues. Weather was in the 30's. Snow and ice sliding off the roof. Today I did even less. Partly too is that I have a hernia that has been bugging me. Usually I goo many days, even weeksand never notice it. But then for some reason it will buldge out and cause some discomfort and remind me I need to get it repaired. Fair amount of rain most of today. High of 36 degrees. 4,001 steps as of 7:48pm. 

Midway through making guacamole.

avacado pieces with salt and cumin prior to mashing.

Diced tomatoes and onions for guacamole

Quick rundown on how I make guacamole.

3 avacados

3 roma tomatoes, diced

1/2 a large red onion, diced

1 or 2 Jalapeno peppers minced

I large garlic clove minced. 

1/2 to 1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon salt

I add salt and cumin to quartered avacados, then halve each lime and squeeze the juice on top of the avacados.  Then I mash them up with a fork. I next add the other ingredients and mix it all together. That's it. Delicious. 

New Furnace Install - Phone Line Repaired

TDS employee Kevin reconnects our phone line.

Yesterday morning, the16th,  (Presidents Day) at 7:30 Three man crew from Bartlett's arrived to install new furnace. Job was completed by 9:30. Went to go to the bank to get cashier's check for $7,000.00 fee and discovered bank was closed because of Presidents day. Also at 9:30 Kevin from TDS Telecom arrived to reconnect our downed land line phone line. 

Today the BH had an appointment to have blood test at 1:00 After that we went to the bank and got check for the furnace. We drove the check out to Bartlett's office in Adams. So those two items have been taken care of.

Temp hit 40 degrees today. I took 5,865 steps. Yesterday it was 6,068 steps.

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

New furnace installed by Bartlett's, Adams NY

Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Repaired

Replaced leaky sump pump hose with PVC pipe. 

Our sump pump was using flexible swimming pool pump hose for water discharge. This hose developed some leaks. Today I replaced that hose with 1 1/4 inch PCV pipe.The nature of the job was such that two sections of pipe would not line up correctly. Solution was to use my heat gun to warm up and soften a section of the PVC allowing me to bend it by hand into usable angle. It was important to get this done because soon the huge amount of snow we have will be melting and flooding our basement. 

Replaced leaky sump pump hose with PVC pipe. 

Replaced leaky sump pump hose with PVC pipe. 

Replaced leaky sump pump hose with PVC pipe. 

On another note ice sliding off our roof this morning took down my land line phone line, Called TDS Telecom. They be here tomorrow between 10 and 11:30 for repair.

Telephone land line taken down by ice sliding off the roof.

Telephone land line taken down by ice sliding off the roof.

Low temp overnight was 14 degrees. High was 34. Currently at 10:45 it's 20. Trail cam set up in basement Saturday night captured video of a bat flying. Camera was set up about 4 days ago and this was only clip I got. It was last week on Sunday evening when I encountered the other bat. 

Walked 9,609 steps today.

Bald Eagles and Dried Out Lime Target

Bald eagles in village of Dexter, NY

Still getting by without a furnace. New install is scheduled for 7:30am Monday morning. Last nights low temp was 22.  Todays high was 36 degrees. I removed more snow from our roof. Did some minor snow shoveling on our sidewalk n driveway.  Went into town around 2:00 for couple errands. On way home I spotted a pair of bald eagles perched in a tree just outside the village of Dexter. My camera failed me in that most of the shots were not sharp. Some of it was my fault for not setting my camera iso, exposure adjustments and focus mode prior to shooting.The photo presented here is acceptable for the record. Used a Sony a6600 and a Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens.  

Dried lime air rifle target. This was a lime that dried out before I got to using it. So I took it outside, placed it in the snow for a target. I thought I was missing it with most shots as it didn't move as it was hit. When I checked up close I discovered I hit it numerous times. I guess the snow offered enough resistance so the fruit didn't move. Also the pellets must have moved effortlessly through it.

Dried lime I peppered with pellets fired from my Gamo air rifle.