Safe

Yes, Mr. Turtle is back where we think he belongs. I had a doctor appointment for my back pain this morning and my daughter picked me up about 10am. She was upset after I told her of the turtle on the lawn and went to look. She saw what she thought was a blind snapping turtle and told me it had odd-looking eyes with fly maggots in the head area. We were running a bit late so we left it there. Two hours later when we returned it had moved into the carport under my car by the back wheel.

 

I called a neighbor who helps me out in such situations but had to leave a message. Later I tried reaching him again and, instead talked with his wife. She just had seen my message when checking her phone and they were not at all in the area as they were visiting relatives in the middle of the state. By then it was 4pm and my back was hurting too much to go out and look under the car to see if it was still there.

I then called a different neighbor/friend who I have known since his birth* to see if he could look under the car to see if it was still there! I didn't want it to die under the car or in the ditch behind the cabin! This man has helped me out with many other things and came right over around 7pm, bringing his shovel. It was still under the car! He took his shovel, turned it over and it was wiggling, thrashing its legs, tail and head so we knew it still had spunk and a desire to live. I'm not saying where, but it was returned to its watery habitat and we think it was just land-locked (lost). He told me that it swam away without any sign of distress. What a good feeing! My daughter has had some of them swim beside her in the lake when she is out there and they have never bothered her at all. 

I was so intrigued watching his actions that I never even thought to take a picture. It would have made a good memory shot for sure. Dang!

*The "turtle saver" man is the first son of my life-long girlfriend, born just  few weeks after my first-born daughter. He's not just a friend, he's family! His wife is also one of my greatest supporters as I adjust to widowhood. It is a wonderful thing to have them living so close by and willing to help whenever I need some. 

This site has some good information about these turtles and why we don't kill them when they come onto land. 

https://www.turtleguardians.com/snapping-turtles-and-your-lake/

Would you believe that I have had turtle soup in the past, with snapping turtle meat of course - right here at the cabin. Mom was the cook! Other family members were contributors in different areas of making of the meal. That was a long time ago but I sure do remember it ALL!

Miscellany

I would like you to see the new angel of 2020. My friend, who still goes to "Our Beach" in SC, creates and sends me a hand-made angel or another Christmas tree ornament every year. This year she made this darling little shell angel. I have a wonderful collection of her annual gifts. (The annual cookie/candy assortment is now gone!)

Below shows a few from the past that she has made.

Now the next piece of news is that the deer at our daughter's home are very evident. Her son and his partner went to help shovel/plow/clean out the snow around their home and she shared these photos. The road had not been plowed very well as they passed through from the hillside and down into her yard for a drink from the pond behind the house. There were many more shown throughout the day. Deer hunting season is over and the survivors are now the hunters for their sustenance. We have tracks all over in the snow beside and behind our cabin as well. 

Even though the Mister did most of the cleaning out of the snow, we still had to have our lawn/yard man come and continue with the work with his ability to use the snow shovel so well. He is a school teacher but schools are closed today so he will be finishing work at several other places around here today.

We remember when the personal snow-plowing jobs were a part of our lives for so many years. Actually it was an essential supplement for our family income and we depended on it!  Remembering back, the Mister was a heavy equipment operator working for the County Road Department and was a very competent driver of large snow plow vehicles 1964-1969.

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Gifts

There are gifts and there are gifts... I'm one of the lucky people who has a thoughtful and caring daughter living nearby who visits and brings food items, both fresh and baked, and can pony-tail my hair! I have a caring neighbor who has been picking up my full laundry basket every week for about eight weeks, returning it clean, folded and delivered. How wonderful is that? Then there is another who brought me two home baked zucchini bread loaves yesterday and, let me tell you, they are soooooooo good. We ate 1/2 one for breakfast already! 

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I also have a friend who lives about 90 miles away who is sending me a book she liked, and some ice patches for shoulder issues. I am really blessed with goodness!

Our Helpers

Along with each of them working a full week at a local wood cabinet manufacturing plant, doing side jobs in carpentry, taking care of her ailing family members and finding time for each other, our grandson and his girlfriend arrived this morning to carry on the beam cleaning and stuff-dusting in this old cabin. We can no longer keep up and do not climb ladders now. What a wonderful thing is is to have "helpers" who seem to enjoy assisting us with the mundane but necessary annual spring cleaning. They did the "other end" in the kitchen area exactly a month ago. Thanks to Alex and Denise we are back in shape here and really appreciate the cooperation they have working together, to get the job finished.

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AOK!

With the help of a wonderful neighbor, the Mister and I are comfortable again. 

This morning after taking me to laundromat, the Mister ran to Lowe’s (35 miles away) and bought a 12,000 btu Frigidaire air conditioner. The old GE was 16 years old and we hope this new one will last as long as we do! Humidity is awful here today. My brother bopped by as the Mister was returning with it and helped bring it into the cabin. The removal and installation were difficult because of the window not being “normal” and additional wood had to be added to make it fit correctly. They got it done and running before bedtime!  Our good neighbor and friend will take the old one home with him for the township pickup on Saturday. The tree limb was removed today as well. Never a dull moment!
(I was so happy to have This great friend and neighbor help to install it, I forgot to turn on the camera flash for the first photos.

click on image to feel the cool