Saturday, May 14, 2016

Picture my Week

Our family was invited to a cabin with some friends. It was a really cute and cozy place. It made off the grid/small house living look appealing. An added bonus was the breath taking views that the camera really didn't do justice to at all. Then listening to the history of this place made it even more special.

 
We've heard about the IRS phone scam for some time already, but it wasn't until this week that they started calling us. Persistently. Up to six calls a day, each time threatening that this is the final notice. They come from three different numbers, but this one amused me for some reason. Didn't they stop to think that IRS agents probably don't make calls to people about their taxes while using a cell phone?
 
 
 It continues to be cool and wet. Buddy has been spending time perched on the back of our couch staring longingly at what could be, if only it became sunny and warm.
 
 
On Thursday afternoon Rosebud and I ventured out into the rain to an event she had really wanted to attend. We came up behind an Amish man delivering a load of flowers. It was a welcome splash of pretty, and Rosebud quickly snagged several pictures of it.
 
 
 At the event, there were quite a few mallard ducks calmly waddling about. This one seemed really tame, and came right up to us.
 
 
 We were introduced to Wickles. All I can say is ....... where were they all my life? So very good! I usually pass on pickles. I don't care for dill pickles, and the sweet varieties aren't that special either, but these .... I could eat them three times a day.
 

Then there was this guy. Wood peckers are pretty, but there was no way we wanted this one to drill large holes into the tree in front of the house. We had to chase the persistent thing away. There are plenty of trees to choose from in our area, so there's no need for him to damage ours.
 
 

18 comments:

  1. Live the rainy photos!

    We've had a few million of those weird phone calls lately too. Maybe the scammers are working overtime. I've heard about it for years, but this is the first time we've been on their call list. I just hang up.

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    1. I either don't answer them at all or hang up as soon as I hear what it is. Several times they have left messages. Desperate little things, they are,

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  2. That woodpecker, a pileated, is such a beautiful bird. They are very shy and don't come out of the woods too much ( around here at least), but they are visiting our bird feeder and it is a joy to watch them. All of the birds are very hungry still - once summer gets on they will not need to eat at the feeder anymore. Anyow, the woodpecker only pecks to get bugs and that is what is attracting him to your or anyone else's tree. We recently had to have our yard dug up for a water pipe project and one, of two, Japanese maples had to be taken down It was a small consolation to discover it was full of bugs and would have died soon. We never noticed any problems with it. I am not saying bugs will cause a tree to die off - depends what sort of bug etc... Just that trees do have bugs and the woodpeckers want to eat them.

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    1. I don't blame them for chasing the woodpecker away. They can really harm trees, even if it's bugs they're after.

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    2. No woodpeckers were harmed by scaring it away. It left when we opened the door.

      I did a post a while ago where I shared pictures of damage a woodpecker did to a tree. Not something we want in the tree in front of our house.
      Woodpecker Damage

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    3. I wasn't thinking you hurt the bird. The pecking they do for food is not the destructive stuff they do that you pictured, which is often related to territorial/breeding stuff which goes on thru winter to spring. They can be pests. Interesting study for homeschooling kids! We put out inexpensive suet cakes for the birds. They are fun to watch.

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    4. That does sound like a fun study to do. I'm already gathering things together to add to our regular curriculum for next year. I'm thinking that doing a lapbook on woodpeckers would be interesting. :)

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  3. What a lovely place to go and spend time with your family and friends. Being off the grid every now and then is a really GOOD thing. It continues to be wet, wet, wet and windy here in the Peoria, Illinois area as well. Unseasonably cool. I'm like Buddy... looking out the window dreaming of sunshiny days to come... hopefully. What's in the Wickles?

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    1. Wickles are slightly sweet, and delightfully spicy because of the red chili pepper they add to each jar.

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  4. We've been getting those annoying IRS scam calls too. Being on the Do Not Call list doesn't help for the. I suppose anyone trying to scam people really doesn't care if the number they're calling is on the list or not.

    How fun to have a pretty duck come up to you. Did you feed it?

    I'll have to look for Wickles now. I love pickles, and if non pickle lovers like these, I'm sure I would love them.

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    1. No, we didn't feed the duck.

      I hope you get to try Wickles. They're surprisingly delicious. (A word I never use to describe pickles!)

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  5. We've been getting those annoying calls too. I just hang up on them. Your day looks anything but ordinary. I love how you find splashes of fun even in the gray, soggy days.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. I wish there was a way to stop those calls. I checked into it, but the website the IRS wants you to fill out a form to report these calls ..... well, I wasn't quite comfortable filling it out.

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  6. No IRS scams here as yet, but we persistently get people calling about computer support. Loved the pictures! Beautiful area you are in, even if the weather of late has not be cooperative!
    Barbara, blogging at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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    1. I don't mind rainy, foggy days, but the rest of the family is ready for warmer temps and sunny days.

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  7. Not only will the IRS not contact you by cellphone, they won't contact you by phone at all. I've had 3 IRS inquiries in my working life - nothing serious, just questioning something on my tax return - and every time, the questions came by US Mail.

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    1. I wish every one would realize that. Sad to think that some people will get scammed by these people.

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  8. The loads of plants going to an auction up the hill from us brings smiles these rainy and foggy days. We've seen an increase in the rather large "hoop houses" on Amish farms around here. The auction seems to be growing :) I love watching the same wagons full of pumpkins in the fall.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.