This afternoon I'm going to cut another tree, while waiting to see if roofer shows up. Just got back from UPS. The girl said UPS is sending me a package. But it says it's being shipped to Vacuum Center, Eden, NC. Did they get mixed up? Have to wait until Monday to see if I get a package now. I wanted this to be over today.
Still no label from UPS. Just out of curiosity I looked up the delivery address of the tracking # they emailed, in Eden, NC, on Google Streetview. It's a tiny sewing machine and vacuum shop in a section of town with mostly vacant buildings. I think they got mixed up and sent them the label. The roofer cancelled because he couldn't find his measuring wheel. At least he called. Rescheduled for Wednesday. This maple right in front of the porch is the one that worries me. It's about 10" in diameter, and the wind blows off the lake toward the cabin. Trimmed some branches I could reach after this picture. The 3rd maple (out of the picture to the left) is leaning away from the cabin and doesn't obstruct the view much. Will leave it another year. Maybe the beavers will cut it. Lol Trimmed up the big cedar to the right instead since the saw was working well. Will clean up the mess another time. Ran out of steam. It was a beautiful day today. Just as I was leaving a large bird dove into and out of the lake, then shook off the water while flying. How did he do that? I think it was an osprey. They dive for fish. Wish I had the patience and equipment to sit out there all day and get some good pictures. You can't really see it in this tiny video, and right into the sun. He didn't dive again. Just playing around with videos. (better full screen on YouTube) Cell phone keeps rebooting when I recharge it. Tried a new battery, but it didn't help much. Got to force myself to get a new one (tomorrow?)
Two more jobs finished. Called Electrolux and they sent the label. Got the part sent off. New Smartphone --- Samsung Galaxy S10e. They even had one in stock. It's the smallest of the newer models. Supposed to have a much better camera. So far, I like it. The only thing I don't like is it has a non-removable battery, but the new phones are almost all like that now. Old phone lasted 4.5 years with one battery replacement. I'm learning to get with it, and join the new disposable generation.
Spent entirely too much time last night setting this new phone up the way I want it. The charging cable looks like it goes in either way. I don't see a difference even with a flashlight and magnifying glass. I think I better get one of those wireless charging pads, before I tear this thing up. ps. It's amazing what this thing can do if you want to do whatever it is you can do.
Advice on Keeping Frogs (and Other Critters) out of Your Toilet "When you tell people you've had frogs in your toilet, their first assumption might be that you also have bats in your belfry. " [I've had both now] "Judging from the frequency of news reports and personal accounts of recent years, the most common animal to enter a home via the toilet is a rat. Frogs are pretty high on the list, too, presumably due to their amphibious capability." Please, no rats.
Today is mystery solving day. Got the frog mystery out of the way, and that made me think about the plowed and burned circle we found in the woods. Had to be turkey hunters, and they must have been planning to come back again sometime. They had to get the key to the gate from the power company. After I called the company, word must have gotten around. How to Attract Turkeys with Fire! . Burn Day Booger Bottom, Georgia. "Controlled burning is one ... of the best ways to attract turkeys." I think there was one other mystery, but I can't remember it now.
I had set today aside to do nothing productive. Not much going on, but at least I learned something. Back to the grindstone starting tomorrow. Electrolux is a Swedish multinational home appliance manufacturer headquartered in Stockholm. It is consistently ranked the world's second largest appliance maker, by units sold, after Whirlpool. This is the little repair/sales shop where my vacuum cleaner part is going. I found it surprising they would use a little shop in Eden, NC, for warranty repairs. Population (est. 2016): 15,376. In the 1960's the company successfully marketed vacuums in the United Kingdom with the slogan, "Nothing sucks like Electrolux". The informal American meaning of the word sucks was already well known at the time in the United Kingdom, and the company hoped the slogan, with its possible double entendre, would gain attention. When automobiles first became popular, Electrolux saw a possibility for publicity by building cars shaped like vacuum cleaners. These vehicles attracted a lot of attention when they drove around the streets of Stockholm, Berlin and London. Construction of Electrolux cars, Heilbronn, Germany
I'm starting to get a little worried about this deer. If it's the same whitetail deer it should be about 9 months old now, so it must be a female?. Doesn't she look too thin? Internet says female whitetail deer in the South can be as small as 77-100 pounds. (best viewed on YouTube theater mode) I've seen her in this small pasture with the goat about half the times I've been there, but she wasn't there the day I tramped all over looking for Rusty, or I would have stepped on her, so I know she has been out. Why does she keep hanging around?
Yesterday I decided on the spur of the moment to do window SILLS on the front porch. Found a pile of leaves stuffed behind the mini-blinds in one window. I feel like a wild animal competing with others for a place to stay. There are no window sills in the main part of the mobile home. Oh, and the ceiling fan/light in the living room stopped working.
I would love to have a helicopter for one day, and some concrete pyramids, to drop in the lake... after the pine pollen has settled.
Someone named Lee in Eden received the vacuum cleaner part yesterday at 1:41 pm. The package went through Columbia, SC, Raleigh and Greensboro, NC. I've been to all those places. I really enjoy following the UPS tracking of packages. I'm thinking of sending empty boxes to people in remote places, just to track them. Could that be considered a hobby? Speaking of hobbies, I've been hearing this loud thumping noise, over and over, in town lately. My neighbor is practicing hatchet throwing. Into a large piece of wood attached to a tree. It never lasts very long. Today I'm supposed to meet the roofer out at the farm around 3 pm or later. I'm inclined to hire him. He was recommended by Fence Man. I just want to get this over with.
I remember that episode. That looks just like the wood thing the neighbor has mounted against the tree. Will have to check if there is a picture drawn on it. If he's using a tomahawk, not a hatchet, and no picture, I guess it's just a hobby.
Tomahawk-throwing is a weapons skill that is practiced by some just like skeet-shooting or target shooting. Axe throwing is also an event in many of the lumberjack competitions. We took down our dead "matriarch" tree that has been a dominant fixture in our landscape since we moved in and probably at least since this house was built. She finally died from beetle damage and the state wants as many dead or dying trees taken down this month. I couldn't finish the job yesterday as I don't have the stamina I once had, but will finish cutting it into firewood lengths today.