Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Lawn, docks, and
The guys from LSU (Lake Services Unlimited) showed up yesterday to mow the lawn. One of the guys helped me roll the dock frame into the lake. Lacking any more excuses, I added the wood sections so it's now a real dock.
I also got some salvia plants for the pots on the deck (see pot on left edge of photo above). In a couple weeks, they'll be attracting the humming birds that are already haunting Larry's gardens.
Ah, and I saw a pileated woodpecker twice (or I saw two of them) yesterday. Both times they were flying away from me and looked like crows except for that bright read head and the way they landed on the trunks of trees.
In other bird news, I got the new flamingos situated. Ever since we dressed up a couple plastic flamingos in lace and bow tie for our wedding reception, we've been plagued with big pink birds. These came from Oregon (thanks, Carole) and are now welcoming symbols next to Sidetrack's front door.
I also got some salvia plants for the pots on the deck (see pot on left edge of photo above). In a couple weeks, they'll be attracting the humming birds that are already haunting Larry's gardens.
Ah, and I saw a pileated woodpecker twice (or I saw two of them) yesterday. Both times they were flying away from me and looked like crows except for that bright read head and the way they landed on the trunks of trees.In other bird news, I got the new flamingos situated. Ever since we dressed up a couple plastic flamingos in lace and bow tie for our wedding reception, we've been plagued with big pink birds. These came from Oregon (thanks, Carole) and are now welcoming symbols next to Sidetrack's front door.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Work and robins
The weather was absolutely wonderful yesterday.
I got lots of work done while looking at the lake, the blue sky, and the green everything.
A pair of robins has built a nest in the supports under the northwest corner of the deck. Every time I walk by, I scare a bird off the nest. Sometimes when I come out on the deck from the lake room, I scare off a bird. They're probably keeping eggs warm.
Advice, anyone? Should I fence off the area and block the door? Will the poor birds stick around and feed the nestlings if they're interrupted a lot?
This isn't the Sidetrack nest, but a picture I found on the Internet. It's appropriate.
I got lots of work done while looking at the lake, the blue sky, and the green everything.
A pair of robins has built a nest in the supports under the northwest corner of the deck. Every time I walk by, I scare a bird off the nest. Sometimes when I come out on the deck from the lake room, I scare off a bird. They're probably keeping eggs warm.
Advice, anyone? Should I fence off the area and block the door? Will the poor birds stick around and feed the nestlings if they're interrupted a lot?
This isn't the Sidetrack nest, but a picture I found on the Internet. It's appropriate.
Monday, May 17, 2010
There be bears (and beavers)
On Saturday, Gary (over on Big Blake) saw a black bear and two cubs just across the road from his place near the south end of the lake.
On Friday, I discovered that the suet feeder here had been pulled off the tree and pried open. The only non-human critter I can imagine that's tall and strong enough to do that is a bear. That goes with what I think was bear poop in the deck stairs last summer.
And neighbor Larry alerted me to the beaver who's haunting the eastern shore. Then last night I saw it three times as it swam back and forth. Exercise? Looking for food? Looking for a mate? Looking for a dam site?
I walked to Blake School and back this morning. Just 'cause I'm at the lake is no reason to avoid my morning constitutional. No bears on the walk. Thankfully.
It looks to be another beautiful day. Will that make proofreading more difficult? (I'm working on chapter 5 (out of 14) now.
What wonderful luxury.
On Friday, I discovered that the suet feeder here had been pulled off the tree and pried open. The only non-human critter I can imagine that's tall and strong enough to do that is a bear. That goes with what I think was bear poop in the deck stairs last summer.
And neighbor Larry alerted me to the beaver who's haunting the eastern shore. Then last night I saw it three times as it swam back and forth. Exercise? Looking for food? Looking for a mate? Looking for a dam site?
I walked to Blake School and back this morning. Just 'cause I'm at the lake is no reason to avoid my morning constitutional. No bears on the walk. Thankfully.
It looks to be another beautiful day. Will that make proofreading more difficult? (I'm working on chapter 5 (out of 14) now.
What wonderful luxury.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Plumbing and Politics
When I arrived yesterday, the water here hadn't been turned on for the season yet. It usually gets turned on by Mother's Day, so I was a bit disappointed. I had brought along our 21 litre container of water just in case, but I really didn't expect to need it.
Life at Sidetrack without running water is not fun for long. Yes, it's possible to heat water on the stove for doing dishes and washing hands and face. But after a couple days without a shower, I feel almost grungy enough to jump into the cold lake to wash up. And getting up and partially dressed to head for the outhouse in the middle of the 40-degree night is simply no fun.
So this morning I called plumber Larry who has taken care of the plumbing here since before we bought it. In fact, Larry started taking care of the plumbing here as his father's helper about 40 years ago.
Larry was great. He came out on Saturday afternoon and spent about an hour and half priming the pump, filling the water heater, tightening the openings that had allowed drainage last October, and flushing the rust and grit out of the water lines.
And there was time along the way for some political talk. We both knew that casual strangers should take care talking politics and we did. We talked about the ugly details of local politics where grudges and feuds get played out. We talked about the likelihood that Obama would be a one-term president. We talked about the economics of global trade and invisible evidence for economic recovery. And we talked about how Russia went from a Communist economy to an unfree market economy and whether the US was headed that direction too.
It was a good time on a beautiful day. Pileated woodpeckers have been making noises in the woods all around the lake. Pheasants, ducks, geese, and various song birds I don't recognize have been equally vocal. And there are a couple cows somewhere who are anxious to make themselves heard. And I got 2+ chapters proofread. What a great place to be to do this detailed, mind-numbing work.
Life at Sidetrack without running water is not fun for long. Yes, it's possible to heat water on the stove for doing dishes and washing hands and face. But after a couple days without a shower, I feel almost grungy enough to jump into the cold lake to wash up. And getting up and partially dressed to head for the outhouse in the middle of the 40-degree night is simply no fun.
So this morning I called plumber Larry who has taken care of the plumbing here since before we bought it. In fact, Larry started taking care of the plumbing here as his father's helper about 40 years ago.
Larry was great. He came out on Saturday afternoon and spent about an hour and half priming the pump, filling the water heater, tightening the openings that had allowed drainage last October, and flushing the rust and grit out of the water lines.
And there was time along the way for some political talk. We both knew that casual strangers should take care talking politics and we did. We talked about the ugly details of local politics where grudges and feuds get played out. We talked about the likelihood that Obama would be a one-term president. We talked about the economics of global trade and invisible evidence for economic recovery. And we talked about how Russia went from a Communist economy to an unfree market economy and whether the US was headed that direction too.
It was a good time on a beautiful day. Pileated woodpeckers have been making noises in the woods all around the lake. Pheasants, ducks, geese, and various song birds I don't recognize have been equally vocal. And there are a couple cows somewhere who are anxious to make themselves heard. And I got 2+ chapters proofread. What a great place to be to do this detailed, mind-numbing work.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Ta da, I'm back
Nancy gave me her Friday afternoon to take me to Sidetrack. We unloaded the car and I revived the Miata. She drove home. The plan is for me to proofread the ms for the 4th edition of my book.
I'm not sure how long I'll last since the water isn't on yet. How long can I go without a shower? We'll see.
Sorry about nothing but flowers to report on. I'm not doing anything exciting and I wasn't here long enough yesterday to do anything that would get me in trouble.
Just before sunset I got out to walk the grounds and the neighborhood. For awhile I thought I'd missed the trillium. I didn't see any where I'd seen them last year. Then I looked up the hill where the powerline right of way used to be. Aha!
Then I looked around for other blooming things.
Well the mushrooms are sort of blooming.
And the wild strawberries are beginning to show up.
And the lilacs are just beginning to bloom. About two weeks later than home. What's not to like about that?
Maybe more tomorrow. [Thanks to Cafe Wren for the Internet, oatmeal, and good coffee.]
I'm not sure how long I'll last since the water isn't on yet. How long can I go without a shower? We'll see.
Sorry about nothing but flowers to report on. I'm not doing anything exciting and I wasn't here long enough yesterday to do anything that would get me in trouble.
Just before sunset I got out to walk the grounds and the neighborhood. For awhile I thought I'd missed the trillium. I didn't see any where I'd seen them last year. Then I looked up the hill where the powerline right of way used to be. Aha!
Then I looked around for other blooming things.
Well the mushrooms are sort of blooming.
And the wild strawberries are beginning to show up.
And the lilacs are just beginning to bloom. About two weeks later than home. What's not to like about that?
Maybe more tomorrow. [Thanks to Cafe Wren for the Internet, oatmeal, and good coffee.]
