Firewood Delivery

Rob Joanette, Dexter, NY, delivers 5 cord load of firewood to our Chaumont house.

We had 5 cord of firewood delivered on Wednesday, July24. Bought it from Rob Joanette in Dexter. 425.00   for the load. It was hot and humid today. Temp got to 85 here in Chaumont. Was going to work at our Clay St apartment house but Better half called me home before I got started. I was in Watertown but turned around and came back. Her stoma pouch was leaking. We changed the pouch on Sunday. Tuesday morning (today) she had itchy skin and the device was leaking. So we changed it. This was at noon. At 6:00 pm the new bag leaked. This caused great distress for her. Nothing to do but replace it. We should be able to go 4 or 5 days with no leaks. We will see.

Anyhow, instead of going to Class St I spent the afternoon stacking firewood. 

2011 Kia Sedona Gas Leak and New Battery

I charge the battery for 24 hours to no avail. It still would not start my van.

Another repair job on my 2011 Kia Sedona van. Back in May I replaced the fuel pump. Recently I started to smell gasoline after the van idled for a few minutes. The fuel was leaking somewhere in front. I dropped the van off at D&S Garage on Patty Hill, Brownville on Wednesday the 17th.  It was ready on Monday the22nd bu the Better Half had Dr appointment in Syracuse. ( A 2week post surgery follow up with Dr. Dantu.)

Tuesday I pick the van up and it would not start. Garage guys gave me a jump and away I went. Over next couple of days the battery would not hold a charge. I charged it for 24 hours with my batter charger. Still wouldn't start. Battery was shot. Today I bought new one at Walmart for $139.00. Installed it in about15 minutes and the van started up instantly.

By the way, the fuel leak was fixed and cost $97.00

New battery from Wal-Mart, $139.00, 3 year battery

New battery from Wal-Mart, $139.00, 3 year battery, installed in my 2011 Kia Sedona.

The old battery from Auto Zone served me for 5 years.

What Caught My Eye: Sidewalk Shadows, July 6, 2024

Shadows on sidewalk outside St. Joe's Hospital, Syracuse NY. 
photo copyright Gary Walts July 6, 2024

These photos of shadows on a sidewalk  were taken outside of St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, NY on July 6, 2024. This was on the 4th day that The Better Half was a patient there, recovering from surgery related to her diverticulosis / diverticulitis.  It was about 90 degrees with high humidity. I had parked the car on the street was going to add time to the meter when the sidewalk and shadows caught my eye. I present several of them here, including one with a part of my shadow and feet. 

This shot is simply a black and white version of the above.
photo copyright Gary Walts July 6, 2024

Shadows on sidewalk outside St. Joe's Hospital, Syracuse NY. 
photo copyright Gary Walts July 6, 2024

Shadows on sidewalk outside St. Joe's Hospital, Syracuse NY. 
photo copyright Gary Walts July 6, 2024

Shadows on sidewalk outside St. Joe's Hospital, Syracuse NY. 
photo copyright Gary Walts July 6, 2024

Photos from Jerry's Tiki Bar, Millens Bay, NY

Local music legend Tom O'Riley at Jerry's Tiki Bar

Here are some photos I snapped today at Jerry's Tiki Bar in Millens Bay, NY. The place just opened a week or so ago. It's a great atmosphere. My brother Al & I just dropped in to have a beer and check it out. To our pleasant surprise the very talented musician and song writer Tom O'Riley was playing there. So we caught his last set. There was a beautiful breeze coming off the lake that tempered the afternoon heat. It was a perfect northern New York day.

Local music legend Tom O'Riley at Jerry's Tiki Bar

Local music legend Tom O'Riley at Jerry's Tiki Bar

Jerry's Tiki Bar, Millens Bay, NY

Jerry's Tiki Bar, Millens Bay, NY

Jerry's Tiki Bar, Millens Bay, NY

Jerry's Tiki Bar, Millens Bay, NY

4th of July and Better Half is in Hospital

Today is Independence Day, the 4th of July and the Better Half is in St. Joseph's Hospital, Syracuse, NY, recovering from surgery. She had a section of large colon removed after a few years of problems with diverticulosis/ diverticulitis. 

This is the surgery waiting room at St. Joe's hospital in Syracuse, NY. It's and older part of the place and is visually interesting. 

She is doing well and  was up walking around 24 hours after the 7 hour surgery.

Tuesday July 2nd the operation was done by Dr. Dantu. 

Strawberry short cake at sister Sue's

I visited the Better Half in the hospital today and at 3:00 went to sister Sue's place in Utica area.Sister Carol was there as well as Sue's granddaughter E. We had grilled steak, salad, salt potatoes and strawberry short cake. It was all yummy. Headed home to Chaumont about 7:00, arrived at 9:00.

Squirrel Chewing Our Wooden Fence

 Thursday, June 16: I discover a squirrel chewing up the wood fence in our backyard.

Squirrel chewing up our fence. 

It was just after dark and I heard a peculiar sound coming from our back yard. Sounded like wood snapping or banging with a scraping noise. I get a flashlight and discover a squirrel busy knawing away on our fence. A huge amount of it chewed up. The squirrel seemed fixated  what he was doing and didn't try to run from me or anything. I got quite close and he wouldn't budge. Its after dark and squirrels are supposed to be in bed. Why is this one so active? This was all very creepy. Well I snapped his picture and posted it on Facebook that night.  The next morning a Facebook viewer asked if the animal was stuck. WOW! That never occurred to me. A second look at the photo and sure enough, looks like he got stuck between the boards and was chewing his was free. I checked the fence that morning and the critter was not there.

Squirrel chewing up our fence. 

I Play Guitar at Billy Patterson Gala

Friday June 7 I played guitar at the Billy Patterson Gala.The event was held at the Copley House in Chaumont, NY.  Billy was a well known resident of Chaumont, NY having worked at the local grocery store and at The Blue Heron restaurant in the village. He also lived in an apartment at the Copley house. Billy died too young, a cancer victim. It was a nice event. Played guitar outdoors in the garden. It was windy and cool, 60 to 64 degrees. Met some good people, had some great food.

One of Our Grandsons Robbed at Thompson Park, Watertown, NY

City of Watertown, NY, as seen from Thompson Park. It's hard to believe the crime
 that has been happening here in recent years.  photo by Gary Walts

Watertown City Police released the following regarding the robbery of one of our grandsons at Thompson Park: 

Media Release
06/08/2024

Members of our uniformed patrol division responded to Thompson Park on 06/08/2024 at 2:25 am for a robbery. It is alleged that Jayden Holt, Jiovanni Chambers, and a 17-year-old juvenile female brandished a knife at Jacob Shipps, engaged in a physical altercation with him, and stole his money, credit cards, and car. It is also alleged that Jayden drove the victim’s vehicle while intoxicated, struck another motor vehicle, and then struck a stone wall on Park Dr where he was taken into custody.

Jayden Holt, an 18-year-old male residing at 9 Champion St in Carthage, NY, was charged with Robbery in the first degree, a class B felony, two counts of Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, class E felonies, Driving While Intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and Fleeing an Officer in a Motor Vehicle, a class A misdemeanor.

Jiovanni Chambers, a 19-year-old male residing at 395 Gaffney Dr in Watertown, NY, was charged with Robbery in the first degree, a class B felony, two counts of Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, class E felonies.

The 17-year-old female was charged with Robbery in the first degree, a class B felony, two counts of Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, class E felonies.

They are being held pending arraignment in Watertown City Court.

The Watertown Police Department were assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Jefferson County Probation Department, Guilfoyle Emergency Medical Service, and Watertown City Fire Department.

Joseph A. Giaquinto
Detective Sergeant

Stone wall at foot of Thompson Park after car thief crashed Jake's car into it.

Jake went to the park to meet a girl whom he had met online. When he got there he was assaulted and threatened with a knife. Assailants demanded his money, debit card and car keys. They also wanted his phone. Somehow Jake managed to get away with his phone and called 911. Police arrived and a car chase ensued. The robbers crashed Jake's car into a stone wall, totaling the vehicle. Clearly to us Jake was lured into a robbery / car jacking situation. 

It is unbelievable to us that such an incident could happen here. We are thankful for the quick police response and thankful Jake wasn't seriously injured. 

Great Photo of Me Playing Guitar at Watertown Farm Market May 22, 2024

 

Me playing at Watertown Farm Market, photo by Tom Murray

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 I played guitar on the opening day of the 2024 Watertown Farm and Craft Market. It was very warm, over 80 degrees and humid. There was a strong, steady breeze the mad the 2 hour gi was there. I asked him to snap a photo of me. He use Photoshop to change the background into a sunset and the result was fantastic. 

Here is photo after Murray replaced the background with Photoshop:

Me playing at Watertown Farm Market, background replaced with Photoshop.
photo by Tom Murray

Sunday Drive To Lake George and a Narragansett Turkey

       Ron and Al at a stop light in the Adirondack Mountain village of Lake George, NY.

The Better Half and I took a drive to Lake George yesterday (Sunday June 2).We went to Luzerne State Campground where brothers Al & Ron had been camping for 5 days. They rode motorcycles there to attend and participate in a motorcycle show. We went there to haul their camping gear back home for them. It was sunny, mild temps, no wind. A gorgeous day. We left Chaumont at 8:00 and arrived at the campground at noon. It was a most scenic drive through the Adirondack Mountains. We had lunch at a nearby place called Longhorn. Had a great burger. She had a turkey club sandwich. I took almost no photos as we headed homeward immediately following lunch. We arrived at Ron's place in Natural Bridge about 5:30. While they unloaded the car I snapped some photos of a Narragansett Turkey that resides there. The bird spends his time strutting around and showing off his feathers.

A Narragansett turkey at brother Ron'splace in Natural Bridge, NY.

A Bat in the Basement May 26, 2024 and Artsy Photo

 May 26 and I discovered a bat roosting in our basement. He was in same place as previous bats I discovered roosting in the basement. I got rid of it, didn't bother to photograph it. This is the 3rd bat I have found in the basement over a 2, maybe 3 year period. My research says bats enter house from up high, end up in the attic. From there they find there way into the basement and ultimately my find their way into your living space. It's suggested you watch your house at dusk (outside) and try to spot bats entering or exiting somewhere along the roof line, chimney, drip edge, soffit and facia. So that evening I did that became quickly bored. So I snapped some photos and experimented with some iPhone filters and other editing tools. This photo of some leaves was one of my creations. 

While watching for bats at dusk I created this artsy iPhone photo. copyright Gary Walts 2024

Half Mile Trail Walk With Better Half

1/4 mile marker at Development Authority of North Country Nature Trail, Calcium, NY

I took a half mile walk with the Better Half today on the nature trail in Calcium, NY. She has long had a back and leg problems that have been limiting her walking. Her pain and discomfort during walking is abated when she pushes a shopping cart through a store. With that in mind we recently bought her a walker. Today we tried it out on the nature trail. WE made it to the first 1/4 mile marker, trned and went back, executing a half mile. This was a real milestone and morale booster. Especially since she is soon facing some surgery and the doctor would like her to get walking before hand so as to be better prepared for after surgery recovery.

Development Authority of North Country Nature Trail, Calcium, NY

It was a  lovely day after 2 or 3 days of rain. Breazy with a temperature about 68 degrees, low humidity. I also put a couple hours work in at our Clay St apartment house. My phone app says I walked 5,501 steps today.