April 3- Warm Day, Forgotten $600 Receipt, Bat on Camera

Yesterday, April 3, 2026, was finally a warm, mostly sunny day with temperature here in Chaumont, NY hitting 70 degrees. It has been a cold winter and a cold spring. Knowing that the night time temperature was going to be 40-50ish degrees I thought some bats may exit into the evening air from our attic. I had 2 trail cams set up. Both mounted on a ladder fairly. One close to the chimney entrance, the other one down low showing wider field of view. The lower camera with wider view captured 2 videos of bat, about 2 hours apart. The closer camera captured nothing. I have them set up again this evening. 

I came across one of my reporters notebooks from 2017 on this day too. Flipped through it quickly and stopped on a page that had a hand written receipt from someone named Francis V...?? Can't decipher the last name. It was dated October 21, 2017. It's for $600.00 and also say "1-Lot"

I have no recollection of this. No clue what it was for. 

I really can't make out the last name. Velvia, maybe? Don't know.

$600.00 receipt from Francis R V??? What did I buy?

Family Archive Photo: Brother Ron Pulls Car Engine 1987

Scanning negatives recently with a Plustek film scanner.  Pictures here were taken in June 1987. It's brother Ron and friend Tim "Gringo" Gonseth. They were swapping car engines at Ron's house on Mundy St., Watertown, NY 

NY Governor George Pataki at Jefferson County Fair

Gov. Pataki & Sen. Wright at Jefferson County Fair 2001. photo copyright Gary Walts 2001

I've been going through my archives and scanning negatives. The picture here was taken in 2001. It's NY Governor George Pataki and NY Senator James Wright during a visit to the Jefferson County Fair. The family in the picture is Heather & Dave Shipps with their son Jake. I feel it's a classic picture of American politics.

Nice Day Today With a Grandson

Ice bubbles caught my eye today.

I had a most wonderful day today hanging out with grandson Stone. We met at Garland City Brewery in Watertown at noon. Had lunch and a great conversation about Artificial Intelligence (AI). He had his laptop and was able to demonstrate facets of what he was talking about. He is very excited about the potentials and ramifications of it. I was enlightened. His understanding of it is impressive. After lunch we drove out to son Troy's cabin in Lowville area. More good conversation and reminiscing. 

The ice bubbles caught my eye at Troy's place. I didn't work the subject in my usual way so feel I could have made better images. 

Troy's cabin in Watson, NY, near Lowville.

3,402 steps today. 32 degrees today.

Winter Lingers, Painting, Phone Wire Repaired (Again)

 

The TDS Telecom guy, Kevin, replaced severed phone line at our Chaumont house.

Yesterday it was 5 degrees when I got up. We had some sunshine and daWhile he was ,y was nice. The TDS Telecom repairman showed up about 12:30 and replaced the downed phone wire. While he was doing that I was painting the small pantry area in our house. It's the space between our kitchen and bathroom. During all of that I continued to scan some of my black n white negatives, mostly pix of the Labrie Farm Family from 1986 and 1998. 

1986 photo from the Family Farm Series. One of many I scanned,
prepping for photo exhibit in July.

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.