Mice at camp on the day we closed it up.

A time-tested mouse trap is a bucket partially filled with water.

Mice smell peanut butter halfway down the bucket. The bucket has well over an inch of water. Two years ago seven mice followed each other. On Sunday five mice did the same in one bucket of water. The two previous days only one mouse each day.

Now we have closed up the camp for the season.  Kathy put dryer sheets in some spots as a minor deterrent.   And yes, the water system is disconnected until next May. The pump and the expansion tank are in our warm enough basement. Any water remaining in the pump or tank could expand and cause pump or tank to fail. The under the camp water supply lines should be okay. Recreational grade anti-freeze goes into the traps and the flush. We need to remember and empty any milk jugs that we use to carry drinking water from the spring. The master circuit breaker is off and the refrigerator doors are open.

So, mice are now the winter tenants.

Scheduled actions and plans now behind us.

Scheduled actions and plans months ago, now behind us. 

Sep 6, 2025, fly to the WEST Coast, only to Maryland.

Sep 7, 2025, made it to Portland, OR.

September 8 to 15, River Cruise many numbers of stories (events).

Sep 15 - Sep 18, 2025, Collect Montana, and Wyoming, arrive in Omaha.

September 20, 2025, fly back to home.

With one great granddaughter, I got down on the floor (eyelevel).  Philomena smiled and seemed quite pleased to have someone at eye level to eye level. Age 2 in February. 

On our journey a number of infants seemed fascinated to look at this old person.  I almost don't want to spoil this post, but they had been close to God before birth, and they know I will be there soon enough. I will be on what had been their journey. JUST SAYING. (dlj - 9/24/2025)

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2025, experience first MRI. Don't move, lots of noise for me. Maybe eight different scans. Hoping each shows detail needed.

Off to camp to bring the pump and tank home to our basement. Summer is over.

Honey and I had a fabulous two weeks.  

Moving (renting)1500 miles.

 We did a pick up then drop off a car many states away.

It was a long two overnight journey. 

We collected Montana and Wyoming by our 2015 rules.

Smooth River

 With locks. The Columbia River has four locks and dams prior to the Snake River.

Tonight and tomorrow we go through four Snake River locks.

Three time zones.

 We should adjust because our body clocks are ahead.

West out of Portland Oregon today.

Delayed a day for lightning and airfield ground stops. Wet luggage now and I should say still. But the luggage beat us here.

Now in SEPTEMBER.

The moon is advancing towards the full moon.

Right now the first quarter moon is low in the southern sky. Here at camp, moonset is early. Deer Mountain is between us and the Moon's horizon. The various moonset tables show moonset times, however we need a Deer Mountain time.

The moon is not visible.

 In the days before the and just after NEW MOON.

Now three days out a sliver is low in the west. Each twilight the moon will be further towards the south.

Full moon is September 7, 2025.

No rain in August in much of southern Maine (dust).

 At camp and in the Western Mountains many access roads are not paved. With some rain the potential dust on roads is at a minimum. Not so this year. Also in the city, grass is not lush so dust makes its way unto cars.

More serious is fire potential. So far, any fire in the woods is quickly contained. 

Both of our to and from camp vehicles are back in the city and under shelter. Two car garage. Now near the earlier end of our summer the electric car (SKY), will rest here. 

HEALTH - minor (typical) or start of more??

This afternoon I have an appointment (medical). Since scheduling, the problem has  diminished. More on that at another time. Last week's skin exam gave positive results.

Hot days in Maine are due to modify. We do better in high sixty degree weather. 

In my mind I think about printing a follow on to 'Page Writing and Poems - A Collection'. However after reading a variety of writers this summer, I am on the low end of the writing skill needed.  Stephen King said writers must write a lot and read a lot. Other than this on the fly BLOG my writing is inadequate.

A good day.

 Senior lunch in RANGELEY will continue with a new person in charge.

Excellent roast pork today.

Also, the newly installed chargers in town fully functional today. And at least short term at no cost.

AUGUST

 Two anniversaries.

Today is one --- ahh but a single digit multiple of five. 

Later this month multiply by ten and add a few. 

YOUNGSTERS and well aged on 8/20/1971 plus to get to 2025.

A few days rest from camp.

 Camp for two weeks and then a few days not at camp. 

By August I am healing from various insect bites. In the kayak ants are difficult to corral but even ants bite.

Horse flies, knats, all cause my skin to react.

As summer moves on

 The dam keeper lowers the water level, we get a few true summer days with the bonus of fewer and fewer mosquitoes.

I read a few Rangeley library books and two electronic chargers have fast charge connectors for our all electric BOLT. Short term the chargers are at no cost.

RIP apart an old dock.

 Today I separated two four by four sheets of plywood from two 2x8x10 pressure treated framing pieces. The bottom framing had plenty of rot. The old dock started on four floating logs. After thirty years the logs struggle to float. 

The fasteners were serrated nails. One year ago I ripped my hand using a crow bar to attempt nail removal. Today I drilled around the nails to weaken the plywood and then freed the plywood. Framing timbers have no intention of releasing the nails. 

This demolition proceeds at a snails pace.

Condo to camp

 Back and forth. The middle month of July is time for bigger projects. Mosquitoes diminish, water weeds become a project. 

A fun side event is the baby loon. Parents hang close but we hear calls and pleasant sightings.

My K AND I

 She and I travel to and from camp all summer long.  We have certain days at #20 for trash or food bucket recycling or appointments or Maine State Music Theater.  

Also I am able to charge our BOLT (SKY) at camp but so much faster here at #20. So I am home earlier than K.

A return to camp news.

 Humid conditions mean plenty of moisture for thunder storms.

On our trash run last evening swarming mosquitoes filled the back of the Toyota. Unknown, but attracted by interior heat and the vehicle exhaust.

Projects are smaller and focused so far this season. Kathy had a ton of fire bricks delivered. As an alternative to hard wood the heat should be fine. 

A few years ago my comment.

 She said she wanted to move to Michigan and I said," oh I can get you there.

So with a five days notice she said ,I need to go on Friday.

I was still in Minnesota. 

Tuesday reserve a Penske truck.

Friday pick it up. She did have most packing done.

Saturday after two false starts the 1000 mile drive began.

Ten hours Saturday, ten hours Sunday and we arrived in Holland, MI.

The hard part was done. I returned the truck and found an airport and a flight and ended 8 miles from our condo near midnight.

Monday Uber to Grand Rapids.

Fly two legs on Tuesday.

Many stories missing.

Drive 1000 miles!

 Saturday 9 AM to Sunday 5 PM.

Penske truck unloaded quickly. Turned in on Monday followed quickly by an UBER to the nearest airport. That is where I am now.

The truck was loaded in well under three hours

 Higher vehicle, longer but still  a comfortable length. Now the extended travel starts.

FLY out 6/1/2025 *** FLY back 6/12/2025

 The whole early airport show time is behind us. WE ARE HOME.

Recovery was yesterday when I took a two-hour afternoon nap. Walk this morning and catch up on my various logs are priorities. 

Four GREAT grandchildren.

 We saw them Tuesday to Saturday. Three siblings volume high.

One very cute and attached to in home grandfather.

Motion.

 Four years old. Three others are younger. They are great grandchildren. And two never slow much less stop.

But as I recline the young are comfortable sharing toys.

Checking off early season camp projects.

 Today I worked on a low flow kitchen faucet. Also the kayak launch is ready for testing. A few days ago we burned arm loads of twigs. The chop saw is here for the season. I use it for larger blow down and for finished lumber. 

Sort paper, sort tools.

Thin out scraps of paper.

Examine duplicate tools.

 It is not true that someone else will want to have the same tools. dlj/5/21/2025

Suddenly another Thursday.

 We have a signature.  We have a signing initial.

I do not have a logo. 

I still have my drafting set from 1964 (South Dakota State University). A compass set, triangles and T-SQUARE.  However, those tools work well on a sheet of paper but not when drafting a BLOG.

To occupy time I certainly can sketch a few logos.

One day activity (OR ONE WEEK)

 A mini chain of nineteen stores. It is called RENY's. Kathy walked into six on Saturday and two more on Sunday. The weekend also had two polar opposite weather patterns. Saturday morning was (OH - THIS IS SPRING). Late afternoon and all of Sunday, rain and clouds. A downer.

As a follow up, Portland daily weather observations showed the last six days with more than 0.10 inches of rain each day.

A bit of sun and clouds as I post this.

THURSDAY

 Each day an event.  For us Thursday is trash day. I have gathering, deposit and set out tasks.  This Thursday also happens to start a month. That month is known for a marching transition. A couple biting cooler days, pleasing number of pleasant days, and by exception a day or two of hot 80+ F.

Southern Gospel Lyric

 You don't need to walk on water.

You just need to know someone who did.

When is our first 72F day?

 She asked and we said, with the ocean so near we are not sure.  So now today at noon the TV forecaster's outlook for the next 7 days holds out a chance for Saturday middle 70s.

We will see. 

No matter it is a one and done day.  The month of May should give us a few glimpses of summer days.

Liquid in the trash.

Ten to fifteen years ago I would chastise driver education students if they put half consumed cups in the trash.  

Think about it.  The result will always be a mess. Someone must move the liquid filled plastic at least twice.  

It is so much worse in my home with a sink right there. What was she thinking. Yes, she was a visitor. Shall we say of an age of my vintage. 

With the students I would teach, train and monitor the trash. I would also sigh deeply. 

ONCE a year

 Today was my annual wellness check. My fourth primary care provider in fourteen months. Impressed with a depth of knowledge and listening skills. 

Now a delayed referral to follow. 

One year ago, the provider was no longer with the organization a few days after my visit. 

A lunar month in late March and now also AAPPRRIILL...

 After each new moon I search the sky for my first sighting of the sliver of illuminated moon. Because of clouds for days on end I just now found the moon high in the SSW. 

An APP (Sky View) helped me know where to look.  Of course after sunset the moon is easy to find.

Late March, early April snow at 43 degrees north

 One year ago, we had an April snow and sleet storm. This weekend some sort of mixed precipitation event is likely. Related is the season total snow amount. When Portland, Maine records one hundred inches October to April impact is far reaching. This season half of 100 seems about right.

A Boston journey in a week

Train, room and tickets.

12 then 11

This is the twelfth week (Saturday) and the eleventh day of Lent.

Lent is forty days not counting any of the Sundays.

Mar 5/6/7/8/ days of Lent 1/2/3/4.

So March 17 four plus six plus one equals eleven.

Full moon mild right here.

 We are well south of home. Day time temperatures summer like.

Get rid of paper.

 Just now I tore up a scrap of paper with a 1994 newspaper note.  A one-time date had married and twenty-four years later an alumni brief  listed the couples job move. I had clipped that and kept it.  Why would I keep that scrap of paper? So many other stacks of newspaper clippings are here and there.  Time to attack.

We all have a story.

 Life event stories for the young. Here is a small list:

birth;  birthdays; activities;  first words; first steps.

Young adults:

college plans; college progress; graduation; first real pay.

Aging up thirty-- fifty-- seventy.

POSITIVE travel and special travel.

Not so positive.  We all have these.  The full gamut.

Here in Maine from this writer, resigned a position bounced back okay.

dlj/ 3/3/2025 a Monday.

Each Monday I have a medium coffee. Never using a drivethru.

Often and now add a post on the fly.

 Taxes entered, filed and paid. 

dlj/ 2/26/2025.

A small charge to file Maine State return.

A week.

 Extreme wind Monday and Tuesday followed by cold clear sky.

Thirty inches of snow so far this February.

No snow for two weeks????

 Twelve and fourteen day future weather forecasts are a bit of a guess.  Having said that two Ohio low pressure systems seem to be aiming for the Northeast in early March.  I will have this blog as documentation for myself.

Also as documentation, current Portland Jetport season snowfall is just under fifty inches. 

A second Sunday snow expected.

 February 9 church not open for a storm.  The roads and the parking lot were being cleared. This Sunday looks even worse. Snow all day.

A weekly post.

 Summary of our middle winter (January -- February). COLD.  No record-breaking temperatures but long underwear cold.

Our seasonal snow arrived.

 I use the Portland Jetport reported snow amounts. Each of the last three days snow as follows:

1/31--- 2.6 inches

2/1 ---1.1 inches

2/2 ---1 inch

Small amounts of snow but each event means clean up by shovel and broom.

A new moon so a new LUNAR month yesterday.

 My recent journal where I add only one line per day is based on the lunar month. Each page is either twenty-nine or thirty days from New Moon to New Moon. Both here and at camp I enjoy searching for the very first sliver of the waxing moon. Following that seven days later is first quarter, Full moon and ending with last quarter down to a disappearing sliver in the morning sky. So, if our cloud cover is sparse I will find the thin crescent of the new moon.  That crescent is always in the evening sky. 

old 2007

All eight knives

A few years ago my wife said it would help her if I would empty the dishwasher more often. Many excuses from me including, "oh, I didn't know it needed to run, oh, I thought they were still dirty, oh, we have a dishwasher." In time however, I found a quiet satisfaction in emptying the dishwasher. My most enjoyable mind game while emptying the dishwasher is to remember when she bought the everyday set of silverware. We have lost a couple pieces but still have all the regular knives (all eight). As I empty the dishwasher I look for and count to ensure we still have all eight of the knives. It is something I can hold onto. We are like most Americans. We have a lot of stuff. We are not like some Americans; we do not have costly toys. (Oh, I love your eight bathrooms). One thing we do have. We have a full set of eight knives bought when I still thought a partial set was fine. As she was making the purchase before the wedding I remember asking, "Why are you buying a set of forks, spoons, and knives? We have some forks and only need a couple spoons". I have a lot of respect for those who worked hard and are what Honey and I both agree is rich. Bill Gates, Tiger and Oprah however do not have a full set of eight knives from their wedding 36 years ago. djmaine 9/20/2007

Updated today to 53 years.  dlj, 1/25/2025

An old laptop, a new laptop. Speed with a keyboard....

 The year 2003 in May, my first laptop.  I removed the failed battery in less than three years so it will boot when plugged in. It has loads of photos. 

The year 2012, my second laptop. That one with windows 10 still functions but the file system struggles.

So, April nine months ago I bought number three. Only one minor issue.  When I open my yearly weather EXCELL file the software goes looking for the printer. The printer is on my local network. Up to a minute the message accessing printer displays.

 A solution is to shut off (disconnect) the wireless connection. At that point the EXCELL file pops up (snap). Otherwise, a solid purchase.

A pastor's wife but so much more.

 She passed.  We were at the memorial service.  Her children, her grandchildren all had words of unconditional devotion, care and concern at the smallest and largest level.

Worked full time, mothered full time. 

I found a 1949 Encyclopedia

 Refreshing my knowledge of the Confederate States.  Texas lowest of the low.

Mr. Carter

 He will always be a REAL PRESIDENT to me. 

Is it time? TIME for the first year 2025 entry.

New month, new year and tomorrow is the first Saturday.  

Week one; week two; week three; week four; week five; week six; all the way to either week 52 or week 53.  I decide to use each Saturday as the end of the week. December 27, 2025 is the last Saturday and is the fifty second Saturday. 

December 28, 29, 30, and 31 are part of week one in the year 2026.

The first Saturday of 2026 is January 3, 2026.

For myself I also started a page by page lunar month journal.  To entertain myself I also assign a Crayola color to each lunar month.  This month is the color melon. 

YEAR --- 2025.

Month --- January.

Lunar month --- melon. 

Week --- one.

dlj, 1/3/2025

AMEN and AMEN.