Good morning, I slept in as I couldn't seem to settle last night. Morning routines, meet and greets, and other odds and ends finished, and I'm just brewing my coffee.

The skies were very smoky yesterday, partly cloudy now, with a number of small local fires. However, there's less today and only a few over ten acres. The heat will decrease with a rainy Monday and thus a return to the seventies.

The fire at the wildlife sanctuary had been a prescribed burn and is holding at 36 acres.

Amy, that's the same bird we call a plover.

We have the same like-minded people here, no one is more important to them other than themselves. My first couple of hospitalizations were due to people believing I was lying. Then they were angry when they had to pay for my hospitalizations. We have the line breakers and the parking lot creeps too. Arrogant people who think the world revolves solely around them.

They've already taken down the hallway handrails and the next step is to tear away the hallway walls, both sides, in a six-foot width by length to expose the pipes, and then inside the apartments. They do a vertical section, fifth down to first, each time.

Jane, I don't envy trying to keep ants out. The only ant species we have here are carpenter ants, which are very destructive as they eat wood.
 

And now I here we are home to another foreign stinging ant. I don't remember if it is African or Asian. They are small and thin like a needle, which is why they are nicknamed needle ants.

Forgot that Juneteenth is celebrated today. So,   Happy Juneteenth everyone!

Good morning..
 We finally had a nice rain almost heard the garden sigh..

Still no vehicle and I hope we get it back today. Yesterday morning a knock on the door at 7:30  found our neighbour there with two hot drinks and a dog cookie for Jesse!! Nice to have thoughtful neighbours.

Jane, those little stinkers get into everything!!!

Patricia, there is a wee bit of a difference between the plover and Killdeer. I found this.
Killdeer and plovers are both shorebirds, but Killdeer are easily distinguished by their two black breast bands and a rusty-orange rump visible in flight, whereas most other plovers, like Piping Plovers, have only one breast band. Killdeer also tend to be larger than many other plover species and are often found in more open, human-altered environments, like parking lots and sports fields, rather than just beaches.
How to ID Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover and Wilson's Plover
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Killdeer:
Size: Larger than many other plover species.
Breast Bands: Distinctive double black breast bands.
Rump: Rusty-orange rump visible in flight.
Habitat: Common in a variety of open habitats, including agricultural fields, lawns, and even urban areas.
Voice: Known for their loud, distinctive "kill-deer" call.
Other Plovers (e.g., Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover):
Size: Generally smaller than Killdeer.
Breast Bands: Usually have only one breast band, or none at all.
Rump: Not typically rusty-orange.
Habitat: Often found on beaches and shorelines.
Voice: Vocalizations vary by species, but generally not as loud or repetitive as the Killdeer's call.
In essence, if you see a bird with two black breast bands in a less traditional shorebird habitat, it's most likely a Killdeer.

MG, not east picking out furniture , maybe someone will help you put together the ones from a mail order?

OLM, we have friend that park in the handicap parking and they do have a placard. They walk hand in hand into the coffee shop, if you didn't know you would say they are fine....but he is almost blind.

Time to get busy.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

I see MaryPage posted a short note on Shout Box last evening.

Today, I am going to attempt to take my porch rocker to Community Aid and stop in at the furniture store. We are having a couple of days in the 80s. The next seven days after that the weather wizards are predicting mid to high 90s. Right at this very moment, they say it is 64^o. 

We've had a few days in the 90's already, and more predicted this coming week --- and it isn't even summer yet.

MG - Thanks for letting us know Mary Page posted. I don't usually look there.

Good morning everyone! Its 51°F, cloudy and forecasted to be 15° colder than yesterday.

Yesterday was a fun day for the guys. Ron, Justin and Joey did woodcutting and Justin got to run the Kubota hoe and forks. Joey got to take the 4 wheeler. They cleared 6 huge blow downs from the road on the 80. Then they returned for lunch. While they were over there they had left the front gate open and we had a hot dogging teenager on a 4 wheeler come flying down the driveway into camp. He claimed he was lost and not "hot dogging." He thought our driveway was a road...🤨 Granted, Ron's earthwork/road building looks far better than the county road, but one would have thought the multiple, blaring "No Trespassing" signs would have clued him in. Alex and I routed him out, no shots fired and I refrained from releasing Kato onto him. My daughter was seriously worried about that, though just as worried about him poisoning me with fumes. I told her I'd discussed with the game warden my strategy to make them think I was a little crazy and dangerous, and word would get around so they'd stop coming. My game warden thought it was a great strategy and has even promoted it.😁 Its been working. This kid (17) was using a GPS locator to get somewhere and saw the drive, and figured even if it was posted he could go so fast no one could stop him. The trouble for him was, it ends at camp. It does not "go through" like he assumed. He lucked out. God was watching out for me. The wind was behind me so his fumes didn't get me. He could have been in a whole lot more trouble. As it was I just put "the fear" into him, and let my daughter play "good cop." She believed everyone of his lies. He told quite a few. He saw us and didn't stop, he intended to speed on past. Only he wasn't sure which way to go and stopped only to read his GPS locator. He tried to bluff me saying he had permission to be here. He was out collecting soil samples for someone. They all say they have permission to be here. 😂 Bad choice! Anyway, my daughter and I went back up and closed the gate behind him. After lunch the boys all had target practice.

Kato is telling me I'm out of time, and need to put him out so the kids will come over. I wanted to respond to everyone else and will later if I have the signal strength. I didn't last night.

Just one thing, Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They chew it up and spit it out. You can see piles of flour looking sawdust outside their nests. I think its called floss. Something like that. They are tunneling to build nests.

Good afternoon,  All.  Just checking in after not having much to talk about for a few days.  It's hot here, too,  and supposed to be even hotter next week with the temperature forecast to hit 100 deg on 2 or 3 days.  Just hope the AC doesn't fail.

Take care, All.

Good morning all, it's going to be hot again today, however, starting Monday, we'll have the rain back and temperatures back in the seventies.

All morning activities are finished and Farrah is back on her tree watching the two pigeons cohabit on our balcony. And the company is busy outside my door, tearing into the wall to expose the pipes.

Amy, we have two types of Plovers, Semipalmated and the Killdeer.

I'm also allowed to park in handicapped spaces, however, with my eyes, hypotension, and general unsteadiness, it's not something I could use. I was somewhat surprised when they mentioned it...

MG, thanks for letting me know about MaryPage's post.

OLM, the problem occurs when they tunnel into someone's home or business, as happens.

We had that dangerous arrogance often when we had a cabin on the Salcha river, people would break in to spend a night or two, often leaving us their empties. Once, they broke in and cleaned their catch, leaving all the feathers and gore for us to clean up. This was also with all the no trespassing signs.

Phyllis, how nice to see your post, right now with all the back and forth of building repairs, inspections, and whatnot, I would love to spend time elsewhere, but with the Solstice parties and events gearing up, it wouldn't be much difference unless I could fly out.

I've often noticed different posts about summer beginning at different times, depending on who posts. I found something that clears it up.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/meteorological-summer-vs-astronomical-summer-explained/1780019

Hi everyone!
I have a few minutes while they are all in the camper eating, its 55° Very windy with gusts to 25 m.p.h., threatening rain.

Hi Phyllis👋🏼 Good to see you! I hope your A/C doesn't give out also!

Today is their last full day. Ron and Justin went down to town and emptied Rhinos again. While they were gone the Gkids started a game of pushing over smaller dead trees. They were having a bast. I needed to eventually cut them down and thin the forest so I didn't mind. They carried everything they could manage to the slash pile. 👍 After lunch Ron took the boys on the 4wheelers back to the 80 to continue mending fences. Alex has started packing and loading for when they leave tomorrow. They'll all be headed to Ron's family reunion, then home.

Patricia, carpenter ants wreck horrific structural damage with their tunneling!

About your cabin, there are a bunch of youtube guys that make videos about how they help themselves to other people's wilderness cabins. Makes me so angry! They always claim the cabin's "abandoned" or the owners "like strangers to use it in their absence." Not bloody likely?😤🤯🤬

Good morning..

Starting out at 48° and heading to a T-storm later on. We are heading into fry weather in the next few days.

Going to take a lot of brush that was cleaned up (more to do ) to the dump. Thinking all too soon they will stop taking it due to fires. Then home to cut the grass before the rain.

Picked the vehicle up yesterday and got good news ,the bill was way less than I thought it would be and a friend has  6 months in clear of cancer Certainly made my day!

Jane,how are you?

Better get going, time flies faster than I work!

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good morning, 9:00 here and 68 for a present low and heading to a high of 88.  Last night, I would have kept the windows open, but I live close to the center of the city and everyone was out until very late celebrating the solstice with competing microphones and crowd noises. At least I'm not on ground level, with people going hither and yon!

Morning routines, meet and greets, everyone fed and seemingly awake. I've got one food box pickup for a neighbor and then plan to perhaps meet Ruthie for lunch and some light browsing. Neither of us have quite decided if we want to see what's leftover from all the solstice sales or keep our money, ourselves.

OLM, I'm acquainted with carpenter ants, it's the only type of ant we have and there are several homes on the historical register with a constant battle with said ants.

You would think the people destroying cabins would be well known to police if they're filming themselves and faces.

Amy, I'm glad you got your van back and with a lesser bill!

Our fry time ends Monday, with a possible thunder shower, and rainy Tuesday and Wednesday.

On a different subject, Bald Eagles mate for life. But, first they have to test a potential suitor with a death spiral...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EU6BPZAUhOo?feature=share

Patricia, They don't show themselves "destroying" the cabins. They show an "abandoned cabin" in the "wilderness" somewhere. Typically in mid winter. They narrate how people like them to use their wilderness cabin, or they welcome it, and they typically omit disclosing how they enter. I've heard them say they're left unlocked. They never show that. They cut to a scene, later where they're making themselves at home inside and using the owners provisions. Its the really nice cabins that I think "Yeah right, the owner wants random strangers in there!" I'm not on my property during the winter. People have assumed "Its abandoned" and absconded with stuff, even stuff locked down! The second part is that LEOs don't have time/resources to monitor internet videos. They'll do something if the property owner brings it to their attention. But will most property owners think to scour the online videos to hunt down the vandals?

Perhaps, they should. The duck hunters, who cleaned their game in my folk's cabin, were caught by fingerprints lifted by a police friend of my dad's. My dad was, at the time, foreman of the city garage which handles all city maintenance, garbage pickups and street work and repairs.

The cabin on the Salcha river was isolated. To reach it, at that time, you drove 65 miles to the bridge and then 45 miles by riverboat to the cabin.

About eight months later, one of their prints showed up, and the guy, when arrested, couldn't wait to give up his two buddies upon discovering the charges he alone would face. One of them had just joined the air force, so that career went down the drain.

They had not only dressed the birds, in the living area, but also stabbed the island my mother had stuffed and cover sewn, as well as gouging the floors.

Good morning.

Lot of rain last night along with sheet lightening. Starting off at 71° at the moment heading into oh my gosh weather!

A day of welcomed rest here.


Patricia, any word on Claire?

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Our weather start off seems similar to Amy's. Very dark and rainy as I got up, but supposed to clear and go up to 95 later. Right now I have my night time lighting on here.

ok I'm trying this again!

I'm having computer problems.  I can't get o to do anything right now so I don't know if this will work. Cathy will be over today and maybe she can fix it. If this works I'll be back after I walk Cooper and try again. I wish you all a special day!!!

Good morning, we've cooled down a bit, 54 for a low and 84 for a high today, with smoke from the area fires. Air quality is low. However, temperatures on Monday will begin cooling down into the seventies with some expected showers.

"In the past two days alone, 65 new, lightening caused fires have been reported following a week of widespread thunderstorms and persistent hot, dry conditions. As of 8 p.m. Saturday, 276 wildfires have burned approximately 78,500 acres."

I've been watching the war news on TV with some trepidation, I have no idea what will come next.

Amy, no real news other than she seems to be shutting down, very anxious at times. Nothing like the strong, steady woman we knew before. They think they have a dog for her to provide emotional support.

Jane, I hope Cathy will be able to fix your computer.

No one here since 11 O'clock this morning. Anyone must be busy. Gonna be a hot one tomorrow.

Good morning...

Anyone feel like bacon? Time to flip over and let the heat do the other side. Starting off at 67° here and all I can say is thank goodness for a/c!

Outside work can wait till it behaves, lots to do inside. A nip into town to drop off dead batteries and inquire about a requisition. Getting all my ducks in a row before another appointment for hubby.

I know one shouldn't want to hurry time but Wed can't come soon enough. Our phone/internet company is coming to change the internet service. I hope it is better than what we have now. Told the rep that Icould likely hand deliver a message sooner than what I could sent on the net so we shall see.

Meals in this hot weather are light ones, salads, sandwich or soup. I think a crockpot meal is in order for supper tonight.

Jane, did you get your computer fixed the way you like?

Enjoy your day ,stay safe and stay cool.

Same here, Amy.  Heat advisory already this morning and that will last through tomorrow, at least, and probably most of this week.  It is supposed to go to 98 degrees today and 100+ tomorrow. I am pulling out the crockpot, too.  I feel sorry for people who have to be out in it.  The city has set up cooling stations for those people who don't have access to AC.

9:00 O'clock here and it's already 88°.  Lots of water out for the wild life. In here the A/C is already cranking away.

Good morning!
It's 40°F and sunny here. Definitely not a "bacon day" here Amy.🙃 I read about the heat wave hitting the plains through the mid-west. I hope you all stay cool.

Terrible about the fires Patricia! 😨

Good to see you Phyllis, Rick and Jane. I hope Cathy gets your computer fixed soon Jane.

Saturday evening after their Reunion Ron came back. Yesterday we worked on the tiny house. We finished the wiring in the bed room, and the east wall in the loft. We pulled the wire for the north wall. Ron installed the final rafter for the loft, and began the collar ties for the dropped ceiling over the great room. Then he cleaned up his tools and left. It was a busy week. I came in and rested. Today I begin cutting up all the dead saplings the Gkids toppled. I need to fill waters and start laundry. 

Good morning, after reading all earlier posts, I feel like a slacker. Morning routines, meet and greets and everyone's washed fed and watered. No coffee as yet.

Yesterday, it got to 88 and the smoke, as it is today, hung heavy over town and two of the close areas reached GO on evacuation orders. We do have a gun range on the south side, just outside city limits that has a small fire burning so the only clear side is northwest. Today, the heat wave is cooling, with needed rain due through Friday. The weather folks say rain is due in two hours.

I'm sorry that the lower 48 is beginning a heat wave, but glad ours is ending. When you live in a boreal forest, in the arctic, summer fires are becoming the norm. However, in the past, everyone came to us. Where do we go?

Good evening everyone!

I hope you had a cool, lovely day! The sun is on its downward journey to meet the ridge to the west. The sky is still hazy from a weekend fire (also west of me). I did get a good start on cutting up wood. I did get laundry started and waters filled. I finally cut the blobbed out expanded foam around the windows. Ron brought the tool. Then swept the tiny house. There was a column of brown dust or smoke rising a couple miles west of me in the early afternoon. I called it in. It disappeared not too long after. If it was dust from equipment, I'd rather be safe than sorry. That sums up my day. I hope you are all well.

Good morning..

Well this is a pleasant surprise,lost internet last night and thought it would still be out!

Working around home today,if weather permits may do some outside work. Just looked at the temp and it is 74° so forget the outside work.

OLM, I miss my P38 but now have an electric chainsaw to do what little needs to be done. Son gave us an electric log splitter for blocks that need trimming.Makes work so easy now.

Patricia, we cry for warmer weather here and now that it is here wish it to be cooler.

Jane, how are you doing?

Better get going, I slept in and now need to catch up!

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Quote from: Amy on Yesterday at 08:01:22 AMPatricia, we cry for warmer weather here and now that it is here wish it to be cooler.

Warmer does NOT mean HOT. We started at 78° at 7:00 O'clock.

Good morning Amy, Rick and all!

It was 45°F at 6:00 a.m. this morning. Its up to 49° and supposed to reach 78° as a high, where some of you are starting.

Amy, My chainsaw is a 40v battery powered, 16" bar, from Greenworks. Love it! I've been wanting an electric log splitter for a couple of years. What brand is yours?

Rick, 😂 so true!

Not much to report this morning. I just finished checking the news, my mail and drinking my coffee. Need to get started on dog chores and wood cutting.

Good morning, sixty degrees at 10:06 am. We've dropped over twenty degrees and the skies are still smokey, and we're still surrounded by fires both large and small, plus bustling with refugees.

The closest large fire is the Gilmore Trail fire, which has prompted the most level one and level two evacuations. The cooler weather will help and while we only had one rain instead of the expected thundershower, we're expecting more rain tomorrow. It's safe to say the heat has broken, and we're back in the mid-seventies.

And, it's safe to say, we cannot have hotter temperatures in an old growth, boreal forest, without consequences.

Morning routines, meet and greets and feeding and watering everyone has been done and coffee's in hand, so it's time to see how everyone here and on the wider web has been up to.