First Long Weekend Of The Summer

Otis and I decided to do this first of many long weekends a little bit differently. We chose to stay home instead of going to the trailer. Even the weather was co-operating for the weekend. Well maybe still a little on the chilly side during the night for our comfort level. Nothing that the propane heater could not have taken care of.

I still had some yard work that I wanted to get done. Seemingly a little bit on the slow side of getting anything done these days. Un-Explainable pain being the main culprit for not getting things done when I had really planned on.  Plus thinking that if I am slow at stuff at home I am going to be slow at stuff at the trailer too. So maybe a few day trips just to get everything set up before we stay over.

Once we are there, I loose time to Otis as he has to have his ball time or he gets himself into a mood where he wants to run away from home and go visiting at the house in hopes of someone paying attention to him there. The thought of him making that journey by himself now is just not something that is ever going to happen. Not that he doesn’t know his way, but he likes the horses and sure as sugar he will venture under the fence to go say hi. I am terrified that he would end up getting trampled as all of the horses seemingly like Otis and all have to come and see him. If it was one or two at t time might not even be so bad, but the whole herd of 30 come at once. I have seen them come from the far side of the field to come and visit Otis when they see him snooping around at the gate.

The summer is long so we have lots of time. I have a ton of planting to do when we go during this week both flowers and veg. And then there is the hauling of water, cleaning the winter dust and hiding insects out of the trailer. Setting up the Solar, the TV antenna and the list just goes on and on.

So we are taking it one day at time right now. Suppose to be rain starting tomorrow thru to Thursday.  So I think we are looking at a couple of day trips to do inside trailer stuff and then making the over nights commence on Next Friday or maybe even the start of the following week.

It’s not just me late arriving, the Humming birds are still not there, they are at least two weeks late this year, I even think it is longer.

Between relaxing and getting the last of the yard work that I want to have done it is actually really nice weekend. Otis and I have the house to ourselves with the exception of my house mates animals, but they are no bother to me. We all snuggle up in bed together and watch the TV before bed and fight out for our spots in bed before sleep. That is two dogs and a cat and me in a double size bed. We work it out and everyone is happy when we get up in the morning.

All of you having your first long weekend of the summer, I hope you have vast amounts of fun. Be safe. Be careful out on those highways.

Bacon and Spinach Doggie Treats

Otis likes these, unfortunately I for the life of me can not remember where I got the recipe. It is not my creation and wish I could give credit where credit is due, but can’t as I don’t remember. How ever I want to share one of Otis’s favorites.

Bacon and Spinach Doggie Treats

3 – 4 Strips Cooked Bacon Chopped

1 Cup Oat Flour

1 Cup Brown Rice Flour or Corn Flour

1 1/2 Cups Clean Spinach Leaves or Chopped Frozen Spinach

1 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Large Egg

1/2 Cup Cold Water

Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper

Mix ingredients (if using fresh spinach, chop very fine) until dough forms.

Scoop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto Baking sheet.

Bake approximately 25 minutes, until cookies are backed through and lightly browned top and bottom

Allow to cool, store in an air tight container in refrigerator or freezer.

Another favorite of Otis’s is dehydrated Pumpkin, cut into little 1/2″ X 1/2″ cubes.

 

What Is Wrong With People

I have been following a story on the news coming out of Ancaster, Ontario.

What would seem to be a normal, harmless way to do business has turned into something so far from reality.

A young man with a young family, put an ad in two publications to sell his truck. Leaving his cell phone number for prospective buyers to reach him.

On this past Monday,  he had a response to his ad. Shortly after nine in the evening two men arrived at his residence to see and test drive the truck. This has been the last time anyone has seen him. Leaving behind a young wife and baby.

There is more to this story, on the Sunday. These same two men showed up at a business in Toronto looking at a very similar vehicle. Took it out for  a test drive with the owner and returned to the place of business. It is felt at this time that it might have been the physical size of the this owner that may indeed have saved him from a really bad outcome.

On Monday night the truck was seen in another city shortly after the test drive had started. On Thursday I believe the owner’s cell phone was found in an industrial area in another city.

With the great work of the many police forces working on this case there has been some great progress made. Because of the cell phone a  lot of back tracking has been able to have been made. The suspects cell phone records were able to be brought up, which led the police to the first truck test drive. Giving added information about the suspects to aid in their capture. How ever the suspect’s phone has been turned off since Monday night.

Today Saturday an arrest has been made of one of the suspects. Unfortunately the missing man has yet to have been located. Police are not saying if the truck has been found. Nor has the second suspect been identified or apprehended.

While never giving up hope of finding the missing man alive, the search continues.

I feel so bad for the young wife and baby. This sort of thing just doesn’t happen in real life. What they must be going through.

How could something so innocent turn out to be something so horrible. What kind of people would even dream up some thing like this.

What kind of way is this to steal a truck? Why would you need to take a hostage? Why not just find out the location of the truck that you have you heart set on and get it under the cover of darkness, sight unseen. No one gets hurt.

What the fuck is this all about.

Lesson learned here. There are obviously right ways and wrong ways to place an ad in a publication in order to sell something. Who would ever dream that such an innocent act could turn into something so devastating.

While I hold out hope that this young couple will be reunited and very soon. I have to question what kind of sick fucks we have rising up in our society.

I wish God Speed, that with the help of the public, media and social media that the police forces are able to locate and reunite this family. I pray that no harm has come to this young man.

What could possibly gone on with these two suspects that would turn them into this kind of animal. What can possibly be gained by taking a hostage in this nature.

So far the police forces involved have done a great job. Thankful beyond belief that they have stayed the course and have not given up hope. Great job by the Men and Women in Blue for a job well done and hopeful that the outcome is a happy one for everyone involved.

A Real Burr Up My Butt

I am slightly agitated at the moment.

I just read an article in the news about an incident that took place yesterday in the next town over.

A lady had stopped at a stop light and the driver of the car behind her got out of his vehicle approached her vehicle and smashed the drivers side window with a hammer and then proceeded to punch the lady in the face. Then went back to his vehicle and drive away. Thanks to some witness’s calling the police this fellow was arrested a short while later and charged with assault with a weapon, assault and driving while under suspension. The assumption on this is that it was a case of road rage.

All that put aside. When does the message get out. How far does this need to be taken. I see ad’s on TV from some retired judge from some where in the US that is now back to being a lawyer. What does this fellow practice? Well, lets get out there and defend drunk drivers. “Even Good People Make Mistakes” BullShit I say.

How many people need to die at the hands of a Drunk Driver or a Driver under the influence of an substance? And we have people out there defending them. I have an acquaintance who is now on his third charge. Two DWI’s under his belt and now another one pending in the courts. All proud of himself that he has a lawyer that defends judges and police officers that have been charged with the very same.

He doesn’t get it. He is an alcoholic and admit’s it. He goes to AA meetings regular. He admits to drinking and driving. Yet fails to take responsibility for his actions. All to willing to blame it on his being and alcoholic. “You know it’s a sickness” Well the sickness did not put you behind the wheel of that car.

As I have said in a past post, this is a really touchy subject with me. Having lost a relative at the hands of a drunk driver.

In my view the penalties are not stringent enough by a long shot. Perhaps we should do away with the driving while under the influence charges and go straight to attempted murder and murder charges. That is in fact what it is. There is no difference to me than placing a loaded gun in the hands of these people.

I know that I would get a lot of flack for my opinion on this, but facts are facts. So what if good people make mistakes. You are willing to do the crime then pay up buddy.

And now we have the clowns that go through the system and the lawyer did not get them off, they get the penalty and then go out and continue to drive any how. You know damn well that this clown does not just limit his driving to his sober moments, but he is out there driving while under suspension and under the influence as well.

The penalties need to be re-thought along with the charges. This shit has gone on far beyond the point of acceptable. It is time to drop the hammer on these people. Jail time and I mean lots of it. Like I said, attempted murder if you are caught and have managed to not kill or injure anyone and murder if you do. With the penalty being the same as it would be for each of the fore mentioned  crimes.

Maybe then, just maybe the message would get out, that this is not acceptable behaviour.

My apologies to those whom this post might offend, as I am sure that there are many.

Rainy Days Are Made For Day Dreaming

My housemate seems to be a bit behind in the news. She asked me the other day if I had heard about the Mars One Project. Well, yes of course I had. That is right up my alley. I try hard to follow all space related topics.

I really wish that I were 20 or 30 years younger and in much better health. I would so apply for a spot on one of the not so far off spots to be an astronaut. Just the thought of being one of the party of four to settle on Mars.

Many would say that is nuts. A one way trip. Giving up every thing, friends and family here on Earth. Not really so nuts in my view. I mean just how the hell do you think we are here to begin with? Some one at some point gave up a lot to make this a place for us to live. A journey possibly as long as the seven month trip to Mars, to venture into totally unknown territory.

As for giving up people and things, well that would have to be a sacrifice that someone has to be willing to make.

Eight years of training, a seven month journey to start a new life for many to follow down the line. It starts with four and two years later joined by another four. Eventually assuming all works out there will be many many people joining.

To late for me, I am too old to be of much use on a trip like that now. But it certainly is a wonderful dream to have.

I mean it is not really all that different from what I am doing at the trailer. I am making a self sustainable place to call home. Totally off the grid. Just me and Otis. One day I will have everything accomplished that will allow me to live there year round. Time and money. When you are on a very limited budget, so far below the poverty line and still able to get one piece of equipment at a time through making sacrifices, you are able to get there.

Living on Mars you need to have self sustained accommodation, no different than at the trailer. Other than the fact I don’t need to provide breathable air. I still needed to provide myself with power. In my case Solar panels and batteries. I have a start on it. I still require a couple more panels and a bigger battery bank, but it is started and enough to provide for me comforts for warmer weather living. Water, means digging my own well. A few more propane tanks would be nice. These are things that come one at a time.

I have been gifted a derelict trailer to salvage and out of there I am able to get a full trailer size bathroom, a full size propane (3 way fridge) as well as a propane furnace and pressurized water system.

As I have to renovate my 1974 trailer this is actually a great thing. My trailer is small and with the addition of these things the living space will actually just be large enough to accommodate Otis and myself. A place to sleep, a place to sit and read or work at a table. A small space to relax. A full bath and a full kitchen.

While this would be out of the question for many, this is what I look forward to. My days of needing to have the monster home and show off all the crap that I have acquired have come and gone. To me living in a tiny space and being very at home is what it is all about.  Not all that different from the Mars One Project.

Not everyone is cut out for that type of life. I for one enjoy my own company. I like my freedom, I like not having to be accountable to anyone else.

My love of nature, photography and having a computer to be able to put the two together.

One day at a time, one piece of equipment at a time. If anyone has a dream, it is possible to get it to come to fruition. Patience and determination. Can make this a possibility.

If you have a dream, work it through and make it happen.

It’s Official, Spring Has Arrived.

Today was one Fantastic day! Even Productive.

Started the day, sitting beside the pond, listening to the water fall and drinking my morning coffee. Of course that is not complete unless Otis is running around like a crazed fool playing ball. Oh it is unbelievable how much joy that simple thing can bring to that little boy.

After the coffee I got out my solar panels that I had purchased in January and set about making the frame for four panels to be joined. That took a couple of hours to get done including mistakes and redo’s. Set aside to let the glue dry.

Next project was to see if I could repair the lawn mower that gave out on me at the end of the summer. The collar that holds the blade onto the spindle of the motor broke, flying out from under the machine and taking a huge chunk out of my shin. The mower would not run properly after that. I am assuming it was a balance issue. I had found a replacement collar in the garage a couple of weeks ago and kept it in mind that it may fix the problem.

I made the change with no success. The collar fit on the machine how ever the blade would not fit on the collar. Brainstorm!!! There are a couple of derelict mowers in the shed so I checked them out and was able to salvage a collar from one of them. Installed and held the blade. Two hips and a Hooray!!! The back yard lawn has had it’s first cut of the season.

More Ball Playing with Otis while I had a coffee and relaxed for a bit. Then comes supper time for the spoiled child like creature that spends every waking hour at my side.

After all this I put away all my tools and mess from the day long adventures. I got out the new frame for the solar panels and installed the panels onto the frame. Nicely done!! Tomorrow I will do my wiring and it will be ready to take out to the trailer for installation. Yippee!!! power at the trailer, no more reading by flashlight or having to drag the batteries up to the barn to put on the charger.

I suckered Otis into letting me cut his nails outside. This is normally a general no way, not gonna happen type of deal. Otis prefer’s to be laying on my bed for this activity with lots and lots of treats. Today the treat was the ball. Cut the nails on one foot and then toss the ball a half dozen times. Move on to the next foot and soon all done and Otis seemingly none the wiser. Quick and pain free without the yanking back the foot.

It would seem that today proved to be to much for Otis. He has come in from the day’s activities and gone to bed. Snoring up a storm and having wonderful dreams. Little whimpers and the feet going a mile a minute. Otis has been waiting so long for this day. A beautiful day to be had totally out doors.

Now that’s what we are talking about. It’s Official, Spring Has Arrived.

Honest Dad, I’m Not A Spoiled Little Boy

Otis showed a new side today. I had to go out for a couple of hours this afternoon. So before heading out I made sure that Otis had been out just in case. Not that he has a problem with accidents in the house. Just something that we have done since day one.

Otis how ever got this confused and really thought that we were going out to play ball, easy mistake to make as I rarely go out. Otis being all ready for me to through the ball. I left him in the yard while I got myself ready to go. I go to bring Otis back in and he is still standing in the same spot waiting for the ball. I called him in and he was not happy, came in never the less.

Upon my return home, the first thing I did was to let Otis out again, it has been a couple of hours. Otis is out, I prepare his meal and go out to get him to come in for dinner. He comes in reluctantly and then in no uncertain terms lets me know that he is not going to eat his dinner. He has bigger and better things to do. He sits beside his bowl and stares at me. Fine with me. I made my dinner and ate my dinner and did my dishes and Otis is still sitting at his bowl and still staring at me.

All for the sake of the damn ball. I gave in. I took my after dinner coffee and a cigarette sat on the bottom step of the deck and tossed the ball. We played ball for about a half hour until I was chilled. We came in, Otis is all content, he got what he wanted and it was no okay to eat dinner.

But Honest Dad, I’m Not A Spoiled Little Boy!