AppleAttic Blog

Last Sunday Pam, Becky, and I attended the Luther College Christmas concert. It was great! Projects received attention, including a Mac computer upgrade and finishing of the holiday cards. Let’s jump in!

A heart-felt “Thank You!” to Becky for purchasing the Luther College Christmas concert tickets. We greatly enjoyed the two-hour event that featured several choirs, a jazz number, and audience participation.

We kept talking about the music and reflecting on the various performances all the way home. Luther College is located in Decorah, Iowa, and is about a 50 minute drive from us. For more details about the college and the music program you can open this link: https://www.luther.edu/music/christmas-at-luther

This was the front of this year’s program.

Pam finished the holiday cards and all have been mailed. We have been receiving some cards as well and they are good to see. (Sure beats bills in the mailbox.)

I have completed my Mac computer upgrade for the most part. The older Mac Pro with a 4-core processor has been replaced by an 8-core model and the operating system upgraded to the current version. All software was either re-installed or new versions purchased. The older unit’s hard drive has been wiped and a clean version of the operating system installed. Now I need to take some photos and list it on E-Bay to see if I can recover some of the money spent on the newer unit.

The remaining holiday lights were put up and the tree decorated. Not quite as many outdoor lights as last year, but the cold snap somewhat limits outside time anyway.

Our local birds and squirrels are on “life support” — enjoying the feeders and water dish, giving us many opportunities to keep an eye on their antics. I particularly like watching the small birds at the water dish as they bob up and down while drinking. It’s also interesting to watch squirrels as they drink, head down, while still clinging to the tree. I hope to get some video, or at least a still photo, of these antics.

I continue to search for a spring for the old mortised lock set used on the east door. While this type of lockset was once common, finding parts these days is a real pain. The spring in question keeps the door bolt extended until you turn the knob to retract it and open the door. It is a small leaf spring, and I did create a partial solution by using an old spring from a screen door latch, but it’s not as strong as the original and works only so-so. I may have to double up a similar spring if an original cannot be found. This is the lockset partially disassembled:

Looking on-line to find a replacement spring or lockset has proven to be futile as none of the sets I found, new or used, have the same dimensions, particularly the length of the front plate. Oh the joys of living in an old house…

We observe a slower pace over the winter months. NE Iowa did get a bit of snow last night so I was out this morning to shovel the sidewalks, a task many of our neighbors seldom do. Not that many people are walking, but I generally feel better having our walks cleared and it gives me a bit of outside time and exercise.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Thank you, Canada, for a series of frigid weather “clippers” already this season. Freakin’ miserable outside conditions, with wind chill factored in. Depressing to monitor the weather at the Colorado property (9,000 feet +) and realize it’s consistently warmer in the mountains.

I’m finding it extremely difficult to experience the “joy” of the season; the frigid weather is not helping. The blast of orchestral and choral music at Luther College, on the other hand, offered a temporary lift.

Happy Trails.

A few events have taken place over the last couple weeks. Thanksgiving came and went, we put up some outdoor holiday lights, and the weather turned frigid. I spent some time organizing bird feeders, a heated water dish, and started putting out suet and acorns in various feeders. Changes were made to our health insurance policies. Here are the details.

Pam’s sister Becky came over for Thanksgiving. The day was mostly overcast with a few snowflakes floating by the windows, but the food was excellent and the conversation flowed freely.

Becky brought some of the food and a few belated birthday gifts for Pam, who had fun opening them.

The menu included crock-pot cooked turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, 7-layer salad, cranberry relish, squash, and two desserts: pumpkin pie and frosted angel food cake, both with toppings. Best part: Leftovers for the next few days!

Before the weather turned very cold, Pam and I spent some outside time putting up holiday lights. Normally the temps are still mild this time of year, but a recent stretch of Canadian air featured high temps anywhere from 15 to 20 degrees below average, so outside decorating was necessarily limited.

I prepared the outside feeders last week. The large bird feeder was unpacked, set up, and filled with seed. The birds, including a male and female cardinal, soon took advantage of the free food. We began putting out acorns, salvaged last fall, into the acorn feeder. (The squirrels appreciated that effort!) Suet feeders were packed and hung, and many nuthatches and woodpeckers have already visited them. The new water dish platform seems to be a hit, with both squirrels and birds making frequent stops to get a drink of water.

After the outside chores were done, we moved inside. Pam had made a request of our insurance agent, Steve Heitbrink, to review our supplemental health insurance policies and see if changes should be made. That he did, and we are beginning a new approach to our health care policies.

In the past we each had three individual policies: dental, vision, and prescription drug plans. Steve was able to find an advantage plan that combined these 6 policies into two policies – one for Pam and one for myself. Not only will the coverage be nearly identical, but we will save money and simplify our health care coverages. We really appreciate Steve’s efforts on our behalf. If you happen to live in NE Iowa, check with Steve at Assured Partners in Nashua, Iowa. He is a helpful agent.

Here is a little anecdote concerning Steve’s visit. His mother-in-law was best friends with one of the children who grew up at Heart House; Steve remembers the home from his early days growing up in the area and visiting relatives in Elma. Quite an example of small town networks!

I’ve been wondering what the neighbors across Main Street plan to do with their burned out house (the house burned last July). While working outside recently I talked to the neighbor, and asked her about future plans. She told me the house was going to be demolished and replaced with a ranch-style modular home that was being designed and built. The old place will be gone by the end of December, and the new home moved in after the first of the year. The couple hopes to occupy the home during March or early April. I will have photos of this process as it unfolds; we will have front row seats from our north windows on both floors. I wish them the best of luck.

There are a few other things going on. Pam continues to work on the holiday cards and many will soon be in the mail. I am working on upgrading my 2013 Mac Pro computer, which means I need to buy new software as the old versions will not work with the newer versions of the Mac operating system.

A network upgrade was recently completed: Replacement of our Wi-Fi modem/router. I just got tired of paying the monthly rental of our Mediacom when I could buy my own and save the the rental. A good deal on a used Arris SBG8300 popped up on eBay so I went ahead and made the purchase. The conversion went OK but included a call to tech support to finalize the installation. The new unit has improved out network speeds and TV streaming, so I would call it a success. Total cost, with tax and shipping, came in under $55.00. Our monthly rental was just over $17.00 so the SBG8300 will pay for itself in just over three months.

In the next couple weeks we will put up minimal inside decorations; the holidays are low-key for us and activities will be at a low level. While there is no snow in the 10-day forecast, cold temperatures will persist and wind chills will be below zero quite often. Time to hunker down!

Finally, for Julie, a recent cat photo. (Cats are experts at hunkering down.)

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

The horse and sleigh about to launch off the front porch and into the abyss is an art installation — representing the country as it lurches into the uncertainty and drama of 2025.

Happy Trails.

It has been a quiet interval since my last post. I have a newer iPhone, Felicity and Peter continue with the New York home reno, and it is now late fall. Snowflakes, possibly accumulating, are in the extended forecast. Here is my latest update.

My old phone was an iPhone 6s, purchased in early 2016. A few years ago it received a new battery and had been trucking on pretty well. However, it began showing it’s age, with the battery needing a recharge more and more frequently. Time to upgrade.

I use the Visible network, a subsidiary of Verizon. Going to the Visible web site I was able to locate an iPhone 12 at a decent price, plus get a trade-in for the 6s. The iPhone 12 is not the newest, but still supported by Apple. Besides, I don’t use my phone as much as many people do, mostly for text messages and the Avensa map application (for use on ATV trails).

The switch-over went smoothly. My phone number remains the same and I am getting used to the new home screen and controls. (Pam has had an iPhone 12 for a few years now and is quite used to it.) Hopefully I can go a few more years before another upgrade is required.

Lawn care: A few leaf pickups have been performed, and with snow possible in the extended forecast, that ongoing task may be wrapping up for this year. The pumpkins we had in the yard were delivered to Pam’s sister Becky who took them to a goat farm. Apparently the goats had a good time eating and playing with them.

There are a couple projects being pursued, one to replace our underground water service line, and the other to replace our back door.

The water line may be a lead pipe, or a galvanized line with a lot of lead in it. We have been drinking bottled water for many years, beginning in Colorado, so we are not as concerned with the health aspects as much as we are about the line rupturing due to age. A few of our neighbors have had to deal with that problem and other Elma houses of a similar age have had to have their lines replaced. According to the town water department, Elma began installing city lines in or about 1916 when the first town well was drilled. Because our house is on Main Street we are assuming Heart House was connected in the late teens or early 20’s. (No specific records can be located.) We are waiting on a quote from the local plumbing shop to see what the cost would be to have the water line replaced.

Another upgrade under consideration is the back door. It has never sealed out cold very well and the old-fashioned lockset is becoming problematic. The local lumber yard and installer wants about $2,500.00 for a new door, new lockset, and installation, which is more than our budget for that replacement. Currently I am looking at Big Box stores for a good quality door — costing a bit less money.

Speaking of updates, here is the latest from Felicity on the home renovation project in Lodi, New York.

General activities: Pam has begun working on this year’s holiday cards, a project that takes her many hours. I have begun doing fall maintenance on the lawn gear and vehicles and completed a few other small projects, mostly seasonal stuff such as building a better heated water dish support. (The dish is used by the squirrels and birds.) We had to replace our clothes washer as the LG died, and was replaced by a GE. No appliance stores exist locally, requiring a drive to Rochester to get the new washer. Then I hauled the old one to a recycle center in Charles City. Stuff like that keeps retirees busy.

I am not looking forward to winter; I like my outside time and having some color around the yard. Here is hoping this winter is on the mild side!

Finally, a recent photo of Elmo T. Whitepaws on his (!) favorite bed. (The middle “T” stands for Trouble.)

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Himself does not comment in this forum on politics. The recent conclusion of the national election, where “we” elected a convicted felon to be president, will very likely have personal implications, however. In the expectation of economic upheaval, I’m backing off the Michigan relocation plan for the short term. I anticipate the unqualified and unscrupulous “public servants” going forward will want their greedy paws on the biggest prize in government – the Social Security and Medicare “honey pots.” Cuts in those two programs would impact our retirement funds immediately and aggressively. Time to hunker down, not potentially overextend our budget financially. The prospect of selling Heart House in tiny Elma, Iowa during an economic downturn is just not likely.

Lest you think l’m being overly dramatic, Toby in Nevada is voicing concerns about his Latina partner (US born and legal) being hassled during the coming immigrant roundup. Felicity in New York is worried about loss of medical benefits (for both herself and Peter) through elimination of the Affordable Care Act. Enough misery for everyone – except the cult leaders. Bummer 2025 – the Project and the year.

Happy (?) Trails.

I recently completed a second trip to Michigan to check out potential properties, and had one walk-through. I like to talk to people I meet along the way, both to find out local information and to get a general feel of the area.

Pam has termed these conversations “George Chats” in memory of my father, who also liked to talk to the people he met on trips. So, here is a report of my latest trip along with some results of my George Chats.

There were a total of 12 properties I drove by or checked out. Many were eliminated as “potentials” due to remoteness, overall condition, or physical challenges. (Homes over garages with a lot of steps, for example.) A few were interesting enough to warrant more research, and one was worth a walk through.

The walk-though was on Campbell Road near the town of West Branch. Pam was attracted to it because of it’s walk-out basement, a nice feature for us because it would aid in letting the dogs out for their walks. The property also featured a two-car garage, something many properties lack.

Unfortunately, the house had not been well maintained and would need quite a bit of TLC to bring it up to a higher standard. (I found this to be a common trait on almost all the places I looked at.) The price was high, partly due to the 15 acre lot the house sits on. The lot was not all that attractive, being mostly low and covered in brush, although it did have a few trees on one end.

The listing did have an unusual feature, a hot tub. Realtor: “Hot tub needs a new motor, otherwise works fine!”

I had video-taped my walk through, and once Pam saw the video she pretty much ruled out this place. Note the lack of treatment of any kind on the wood around the tub. This was generally indicative of the lack of maintenance on the entire house.

Another house, probably too expensive for us at its current price, appeared to be in much better shape.

Enough beds and bathrooms, but no outbuilding, this place features a cobblestone driveway and sits on a small rise, overlooking a few farm fields. It may be part of an estate, and Pam will keep an eye on it to see of the listing price drops to a more reasonable level.

One place with potential had a creek bordering one side. However, once I arrived at the address, the road noise became a disqualifying factor. Once again, maintenance had been neglected but the water, outbuilding, and large lot had put this on the potential list in the first place. This is why an in-person visit is so important; you can’t get all the information you need from a listing.

Paved drive and outbuilding, house to the left. Creek is to the right.

It was with some sadness that I recommended this place be taken off the potential list. Once Pam heard the road noise on the video, she agreed.

We will keep looking at new listings, numbers of which are reduced this time of year, and see if anything else of interest pops up.

All along the way I had my “George Chats” with neighbors, motel operators, waitresses, and even a few of the property owners. What did I find out? A few things of interest.

For one, there is a snow belt in Michigan. West Branch, where I viewed most of the listings, is south of it. Grayling and Gaylord, both north of West Branch, are in it. Useful to know.

The major food chain in the area is Meijer (Pronounced Mayor) and West Branch has a large store. Pam was impressed with the pet area:

The store also has a large deli and bakery. Pam had provided me with a list of groceries to check availability of, and this store had everything on that list. (Except Raisin Nut Bran, which seems hard to find in most locations.)

Other odds and ends gleaned from my chats: Rust in wells is a problem, so check the water supply for evidence of rusting pipes. Internet services are generally available, with Spectrum being the most often mentioned. A couple companies offer garbage pickup, although some townships provide this service. Taxes are higher in towns than in townships. Recycling is almost non-existent, although a few places offer walk-in drop off spots. Big Boy restaurants have good breakfast meals. ATV and snowmobile trails are all over the place. Gas prices are average.

I covered 2,030 miles this time around. Econolodge offered the best rates, but the Tri-Terrace Motel in West Branch is a good alternative if you would like an old-school (with a real key!) motel with a small pond out front.

It was an interesting trip, but my general observation is that people are not prepping their properties to sell very well, and some listings are a bit less than honest in their descriptions. People want too much for houses that need a lot of TLC. In short, the “Right House” has not yet made an appearance so the search continues.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

This Michigan trip involved an interesting process. Himself was working from a three-ring binder containing property listings and information. He would send me photos – and text – regarding each listing as he visited it; I would respond by text and also look things up on the home computer in real time. Two or three houses he drove by were not in the binder but, as they were located on one of the routes he would be driving, I was able to text him the property info to spontaneously add those locations to his journey. (That’s how he ended up at the house next to the water, with the road noise.)

I also asked Himself to visit a bank and credit union along the way, grocery stores, even a piece of undeveloped land. (On several occasions, to prove he was on a serious house search, I do believe he produced his binder of instructions as “evidence.”) Plus he did frequent checks of how many telephone “bars of coverage” were available at the locations visited. And I had encouraged Himself to interject his “George Chats” along the way, to garner even more information.

We are starting to close in on one or two specific areas in Michigan with our livability features, which helps me in the ongoing property search. I continue to monitor real estate listings, but expect the search will slow to a crawl during the winter and pick up again in the spring.

Happy Trails.

Last week I was in Colorado, taking in some fall colors and winterizing The Box. I had some good times and a few problems. I took the long way home through Kansas to pick up a part. Here are the details.

I travel to Colorado about this time each year to winterize The Box. This year I was a bit later in the fall than normal, as Colorado is experiencing a much warmer than normal spell of weather.

The peak of “color” had passed by the time I arrived but there were still patches of vivid golds and reds. A few photos are in order:

Our Owner’s Association put up a new sign:

Here is a shot of The Box with the awning extended over my new-this-year table and the ATV.

I did run into a few problems. The refrigerator quit working on LP, meaning I had to run the generator often to keep the fridge cold. (Later I was told there may be a blockage that is keeping the burner from lighting. I will have to check this on my next trip.) Then the generator began “surging,” an indication the carburetor needs to be cleaned. I do have a second generator, larger than the one I normally run, so I put that one in service. (The second unit is large enough to handle the “honey wagon” pump system. It is louder and takes more gas than the small inverter unit I normally run.) I brought the small generator home and will work on it before my first trip back to Colorado in 2025.

I didn’t do a lot of riding on the ATV this time, but did work on a few projects around The Lot. The first was to take down the dog run fencing. We have not used the dog run in several years, and wild animals were getting trapped inside and breaking the fence trying to get out, even though the gate is tied open. The result was a pair of rolls of wire and more than 40 “staples” that were used to secure the bottom of the fencing to the ground.

Another task involved the roof-mounted A/C unit’s shroud, damaged in a hail storm. I had been covering it with a tarp but needed to get the information needed to replace it.

Coleman is the manufacturer, and Mach is the model. I had been in contact with a person on FaceBook Marketplace who said he had some shrouds available, and he confirmed he had a replacement for this one. I returned home through Kansas, picking up the used shroud in Ottawa, south of Lawrence. My next trip to The Lot will include a project to replace the damaged cover.

Pam sometimes ask me how I eat when cooking for myself. I do OK; here is a shot of one of my ham-and-egg breakfasts:

Finally, a couple photos taken during my outings, both from the truck and from the ATV. A couple of these are a bit strange.

This log cabin was a “soddie” with a sod roof, one of the few I have seen in Colorado. The covering, which can be viewed from the back side of the cabin, was about a foot thick with quite a bit of grass on it.

Colorado has many roaming wild horses, and some have – apparently – learned that car drivers and passengers can offer treats from time to time.

Finally, have you ever wondered what an immature pine cone looks like? Here is one just beginning to form on one of the trees at The Lot.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

I finished painting the flooring on the north wrap-around porch. Although some porch spindles and spots need touch up overall, my portion of the porch refresh project is pretty much wrapping up for the season. June – October, I guess I wasn’t in any great hurry. Isn’t a relaxed retirement wonderful?

Happy Trails.

There are a few items of note this time. Pam and I have been working on the front porch, replacing some questionable wood, repairing the railings, and painting. Felicity reports that progress is being made on the Lodi house. A few fall colors are present in the yard. Moving on…

Re: upgrading the front porch. I replaced some questionable quality wood in the floor and began the task of repairing and painting the porch railings. Pam finished her summer project of painting the porch ceiling, and has moved on to adding a striped pattern on the floor boards. This is an on-going project, but here are the results to date.

At this time, Pam has one third of the floor painted — some left to do! I have completed the Main Street side railings and have yet to begin on the east side sections. It would be desirable to have this project finished before the weather turns too cold. (Pam says she’s retired, and if the weather doesn’t cooperate, no rush. There is always next spring to complete the final bits.)

Fall has arrived with more leaves falling and trees beginning to turn color. I picked up a few pumpkins to place around the east porch steps and they add a bit of color to the yard.

The sunflowers came down this past week and Pam has begun cleaning out flower beds, deadheading some plants and emptying some of the “bagged” planters. It is sad to have to begin this work, but other flowers around the place are still going strong.

We have our projects to keep us busy and fall holds many activities for us. Most are routine chores but the cooler weather ahead means more outside time. It is a pleasant time of the year.

Daughter Felicity has sent us a few more photos of the ongoing home renovation near Lodi, New York. The new roof is in place and excavation has begun to install a new septic system. The porches have been rebuilt, with new flooring in spots, and an upgraded support system.

This is Felicity’s latest “old house” video:

Not all is going according to plan, however. Issues with the original electrician, who has serious medical issues and can’t complete his contract, has forced a scramble to find another way to get this work done. This is the guy who was to have installed the heating system as well as wiring the house, so this is a major disruption in the timeline of getting the house completed. We hope Felicity and her general contractor can work out a solution and get back on track.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Seasonal changes have definitely begun. The fresh crisp air hasn’t taken hold yet, still lots of heavy pollen days.

Happy Trails.

Labor Day weekend is over and it is time for a few updates. I attended another antique power show and Felicity posted some new videos of the home renovation near Lodi, New York. No major news, just a few updates, so lets get to them!

Over Labor Day weekend I attended the Rice County Antique Power Show near Dundas, Minnesota. Here I spoke to a couple of people about their collections and enjoyed the tractor parade. Since I have previously posted many photos taken at such events, here are only a few taken at this one.

I enjoyed the outing and viewing the “old iron.”

At different times I have mentioned the outside cats. Here is one of them, Cheeto, taking a nap on a chair located on our east porch.

Felicity and Peter’s work on the Lodi farmhouse continues. Here are a few photos she sent and links to a couple recent videos of the project. There is a lot going on! Occupancy should (hopefully) occur by the end of September or the first week of October.

Other than routine chores, it is a quiet time for us. Pam continues to do some detail painting on the porch and I cleaned the gutter over the east porch which was clogged with dirt to the point it was no longer draining, a job which included the use of the pressure washer. Acorn season has ended so a through raking of the lawn was in order so we can again walk without the feeling of striding over ball bearings. Sidewalks were edged and another leaf cleanup was completed. Pam baked our first apple pie of the season and it was delicious.

The next few weeks should be uneventful, but a Colorado trip is planned to see some color and winterize The Box. After that, Felicity and Peter have asked me to come to New York to help make some firewood and see the house. On the way there and back I will detour into Michigan and view a few homes Pam has identified as potentials. The traveling will be extensive by the end of October.

So that is it. Not major news, but life goes on with numerous tasks that take up our time and keep us busy.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Working on front porch. Working in garden.

Happy Trails!

Even though the upcoming week is forecast to have some of the hottest days of the summer, there are sure signs fall is approaching. Acorns are falling, along with leaves, and late summer flowers are blooming. I have an update on Felicity’s home reno and the town’s power line project. Let’s get to them!

Last year we salvaged three net bags of acorns to fill the squirrel feeder through the winter. Now that acorns are falling, that project is again well under way. Pam took this photo of me “panning for acorns” on the east lawn.

Oak leaves are beginning to fall and it will soon be raking season.

However, fall plants are in bloom, including our sunflowers and hydrangea so there is still color around the yard.

The Grandpa Otts are still blooming and Pam tells me they are producing a huge number of seeds. She will harvest these for next year’s planting.

There are two new kittens running around the yard, offspring from the cat Pam calls Snow. The youngsters are named Blizzard (Bliz for short) and Tornado (‘Nado.)

Plans for this pair are not certain at this point as both are still nursing. And they are semi-feral, meaning they can’t be handled.

I’ve mentioned a local power line project a few times as our local power company is burying power lines around town. A few new poles were put in place, and recently our line was switched to a new pole while several old poles were removed. This cleared many lines from around the neighborhood, improving the appearance of the area.

This next photo is not interesting in and of itself, but does show how our east property line now looks with the old poles and wires removed.

The home renovation in upstate New York continues. Felicity sent this recent photo of the old roof being removed.

There are a couple new videos of the project that were uploaded since my last post.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

We do NOT need any more cats outside; they keep bringing me dead baby rabbits, decapitated squirrels, and play with dead bird bodies in the catio (making a feathery mess). And they don’t get along with each other. This is what makes Cat Ladies “Crazy.”

Additionally, there’s the hassle and expense to have cats fixed. Last year, six neighborhood cats were driven to vets (30-40 minutes each way) and altered at our expense (five spays, one neuter). Three of the six ended up inside. The Universe constantly challenges me by sending random kittens…hello, Universe, I’m actually r-e-t-i-r-e-d from the Crazy Cat Lady business.

Happy Trails.

I recently returned from my annual birthday trip to The Lot in Colorado. My time was spent in a mix of work around the lot and riding ATV trails. Weather was a factor, with several days featuring afternoon rain and night time temps dropping into the 40s. Get ready for a lot of photos!

Without a lot of explanation, here is a group of photos taken along various ATV trails. Check the captions for a few details. Remember, you can click on the photo to see an enlarged version that opens in a new tab.

There are things to see along the trails. Here are a few additional things I saw along the way.

There was a female moose near the beaver pond shown above, but she disappeared into the brush before I could get my camera out.

I took a drive over Boreas Pass as I try to do every year I am in Colorado. (Pam’s mother’s ashes are spread at the top of the pass.) This year construction work limited access to the old section house but I was able to hike around the area a bit.

Back at the lot there were a few changes. I acquired a table and chairs for outdoor dining. Take a look at these photos taken around The Lot.

The only real problem I encountered was a stoppage on Hwy 285 leaving Fairplay. It turns out a Class-A RV had caught fire, closing the road for what felt like a long time.

In general news, there have been at least 3 new houses in the area over the last year, including a new dome home going in right now. This place is just down and around the curve from Sanderling Court.

Although the weather had been dry, I was able to get a campfire permit and enjoyed an evening fire a couple of times.

I cut a few dead trees, started a new brush pile, and cut some firewood. My main emphasis this time was not to do a lot of work on The Lot, but to enjoy getting out on the ATV trails and the cooler weather provided by the high country. I enjoyed the trip!

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Per usual when Himself is on “vacay,” I paint. This time it was finishing detail painting in the second floor bathroom and continuing to work on detail painting on the front/wrap around porch. One project finished, one project ongoing.

Oops, the main floor bathroom sink [stopper and drain] finally died. The pre-purchase house inspection report from five years ago mentioned issues with that sink, but we’ve had bigger fish to fry. The local plumbing shop responded quickly and new parts were installed forthwith. No more leaking, no more inadequate drainage. Works well for the first time since we moved in.

Check in with Felicity on her new vlog, which documents the renovation of the historic property just purchased in New York state. Himself will include the link below.

Felicity’s latest YouTube video: https://youtu.be/thYXDV65uxo?si=AvuWYCEY_XjYubbB

Happy Trails.

This post will cover quite a few odds and ends that have piled up over the last few weeks. Topics include yard flowers, insects, ethanol production, and a health update.

The hot summer weather is taking a toll on the yard, with parts of the lawn starting to brown out. However, quite a number of flowers are flourishing, including the Grandpa Otts, Hydrangea, Phlox, and a few others. Here is how they appear today. (Deb, are you having luck growing your Otts?)

(Hydrangea blossoms begin as white then turn pink over time.)

The hostas are still blooming and one of the lilac bushes is in its second seasonal blooming phase, so there is quite a bit of color around the yard.

A few weeks ago we were watching the Elma Trail Days parade when we noticed a large flying insect in the front flower bed. Online research reveal it was a “Common White-tailed Skimmer,” nice to have around as they eat mosquitos.

In local news, we had known this area of Iowa produces ethanol, used to blend into gasoline. However, we were surprised to learn just how much is produced. “Valero Charles City is a biorefinery for progress, converting around 49 million bushels of corn into approximately 140 million gallons of denatured ethanol and 368,000 tons of distillers grain co-products each year.” (The grain co-products are sold as livestock feed.) That is a lot of ethanol and underscores just how much this technology means to area farmers.

I’ll finish this post with a short medical update. I am now on a maintenance plan to monitor my PSA and testosterone levels as a result of my prostate cancer treatments. Every 6 months I get a blood draw which is shipped to the Mayo Clinic for analysis. This week was one of those times. The results: My PSA remains low and my testosterone levels are slowly climbing back to normal. Good news all around.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

You DO NOT want to mess with cat ladies. Nope. Not a good idea. Trash them at your own peril.

Happy Trails.