Well, That Took A While

Timbercreek, the manufacturer of our house, FINALLY sent out their “fix it” crew, a husband and wife duo, to address our concerns and fix and repair all the outstanding issues with their terrible manufacturing, and the issues caused by the transporting of our house from NC!

It’s been a long wait, having been in the house since early May and here it is October, but they say good things come to those that wait.

Most of the items have been addressed. Here is Shannon putting the finishing touches, paint, on the living room ceiling. Oddly, the living room ceiling sustained numerous cracks in the plaster as a result of the moving of the house -

It’s a textured ceiling, so after the sanding and patching of the cracks, a mop-type brush was used to slap textured paint  overtop of the repairs. Looking today, you can’t even tell where the issues were -

They do need to come back one more time to finish. They didn’t have all the proper supplies in their truck to fix a couple things.

Although, Timbercreek needs to improve greatly on their overall shoddy workmanship and lack of quality controls when building their manufactured homes, they did what’s right and took care of our issues.

The company we purchased the home from, Yurezz, filed for bankruptcy protection not long after we got our occupancy permit. Yurezz was supposed to do their final walkthrough with us to review our issues list. It was scheduled but canceled the day before, which coincided with the closing of all their lots and the arrest of the owner of the company for embezzlement!

At the end of the day, and in the grand scheme of things, we got SUPER lucky and have not been adversely effected by the mismanagement and charades of Yurezz.

Checkered

Here’s a pretty cool looking butterfly. One most might not even recognize as a butterfly because they’re so small as compared to the likes of Monarchs and Swallowtails -

The common-checkered skipper, aka, burnsius communis -

There are oodles of these black and white checkered beauties all along the walking path recently, which is spot on for this time of year; they’re right on time!

They seem to like to fly low to the ground and favor sunny open spaces and are constantly flitting about.

Ankle Biter

OUCH 🤕!

Well, there’s a first time for everything they say.

I had a first today! I got stung by a bumblebee 🐝, YES a bumblebee! The Amish of the bee world - gentle, hardworking and steady, who are reliable, focused and unbothered by the rush of the world, THAT BEE!

It was in the inside of my left ankle. Fortunately, it was through my sock, which is why it was only a little ouchie and not a BIG ouchie. However, it got my attention to say the least!

My first reaction, after swatting the critter off, was to stomp on the dude. But when I saw that it was the lovable bumblebee 🐝 that had caused the pains I let it “bee” and go on its merry way.

Could have been worse for me too, as bumblebees have smooth stingers, lacking the backward facing barbs of other bees. Therefore, their body stays intact following a sting which allows them to sting their target more than once.

Chance are high that had this dude stung me multiple time I would NOT have let it go on its merry way…

Pay Attention

I’ve uncovered a new danger lurking on the walking trail!

No, it’s not black bears. No, it’s not racial graffiti written on the sidewalk in chalk, nor is it the pile of poop that some person (I kid you not!) took the liberty of depositing just off the walking trail, nope! Rather, it’s walnuts! 

The walnuts have begun to ripen and fall and there are oodles of them! Besides being messy, they’re covering some sections of the walking trail -

And they blend in with the falling leaves that are also littering the path. The danger is if you’re not paying attention you risk stepping on one of these walnuts.

Something so simple and innocuous could very well end up being a possible twisted ankle or knee or back, or worse, a break! Also a challenge when your fighting off kamikaze gnats.

Just a heads up and another PSA by yours truly!

It Is Sunday After All

Almost Roadkill

There was quack a back up on Oakdale drive this morning -

Thirteen of these Muscovy ducks out and about enjoying the rainy morning. Crossing the street like bosses without a care in the world.

They were quite a ways away from their home base and playing in the street is not good for their health or longevity -

Interestingly, these ducks are owned by the same family of the runway pig I posted about back in late August, and these are the same ducks that I hear quack, quack, quacking most evenings.

A good, healthy looking flock of Muscovies too. I’m a big fan of the chocolate colored critters.

I texted the owner to give her a heads up. She thanked me, was puzzled at where they were, and told me they were working on building a pen for them.

Pick Me, Pick Me

That didn’t take long at all.

The field corn 🌽 running along a quarter mile of the walking trail is Tusculum was harvested this past week, only took them a couple days -

I need to do some research to understand the process, as I had assumed that the entire corn stalks; ears of corn, stalks and all of the plant, was processed and used for the silage. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Rather, it looked like the corn 🌽 was removed from the cobs and then the cobs and casings were discarded back onto the field, see example below - 

Also, the first pass that the combine made looks like it cut the stalks about one to two feet up from the ground leaving a considerable amount of stalk behind, see below -

When all was said and done, the field is littered with the unused pieces and parts of the stalks and the stalks cut off at ground level. I’m assuming this will all eventually be tilled into the soil and used to feed and enhance the soil for next years crop -

It sure looks different and what an absolutely beautiful day it was yesterday -

I also need to read up on soybean harvesting. The back half of the above pic is a field of soybean, that I’m assuming will be processed soon. It’s interesting, as it looks like they wait for plant to completely die and dry up before picking.

Wax On, Wax Off

Left boot is before and the right boot is after -

Thought it a good idea to finally apply some waterproofing/leather protectant to my work boots today. They’re older and a bit beat up but hoping to extend their life by applying some TLC; long overdue TLC.

I’m ready, let the snow fall…

Mammalian Secretions

So what’s the deal with these East Tennessee kamikaze gnats?? Guessing they’re eye gnats, (yes, eye gnats are a real type of gnat that are attracted to mammal secretions, yummy 😋 ). Can somebody please explain?

Due to a prior commitment I was unable to go for my morning walk, so instead I opted for an evening walk yesterday.

Morning walks are much more peaceful and enjoyable; I prefer that time of the day. It’s quieter, before everything and everybody awakens, and the hustle and bustle starts.

Although, there were more people on the walking path yesterday afternoon and you could hear the roaring and droning of the rush hour vehicles on nearby 107, it was still enjoyable.

That was until the East Tennessee kamikaze gnats came out, and in force they came!!

Those dudes are relentless and what’s the attraction to the face, eyes, nose, ears and mouth, OMG!

In the span of less than one mile I had eaten five (not willingly of course), protein I didn’t ask for or need, dug three out of my left nostril (what a sight, as I was knuckles deep rooting around and trying to stop the sneezing fit), one out of my left ear and was nearly blinded by three others that imbedded themselves in my left eye!

After ridding myself of these ilks, and once the blurry vision cleared and I could see again, I opened my Amazon app and ordered myself one of them thar beekeepers hat and veil combos <wink>. I’m sure I’ll get some side eye and weirdo looks but c’mon safety first!

I have a new appreciation for livestock; horses, cows, etc., as well as deer and other animals that these gnats and other annoying flying pester and bother constantly.

Anyway, I digress, my afternoon walk was relaxing despite being attacked by East Tennessee kamikaze gnats.

Where’d Y’All Go?!

Another post-season disappointment by the Boston Red Sox, and again to our dreaded rivals, the New York Yankees.

Sox bats went cold, so did their offense and overall performance, being outscored 18-2 in just two games. It’s embarrassing really and SO frustrating.

So this FU goes out to, of course the Yankees, but also to the Sox’s too for disappearing yet again in the post season when it matters most.

The better team; the team that wanted it badly enough, rose to the occasion and won, so congrats NY.

Sox, well clean out your lockers and piss off!

Love ❤️ me!

This Invention Is “Nuts”

I picked myself up a pair of these! With Amazon prime day deals upon us, I mean how could I pass this up -

This is brilliant and is right up there with the “Manzier” that Frank Costanza and Cosmo Kramer invented. Of course that was to help deal with back pain and posture issues but this “Testicle Bra” invention could be a game changer for us older men 🤣!

I’ll report back on how well it works after I’ve worn it a few times 😉!

Stay tuned…

Flatulence

So true with gas prices what they are today-

I snapped this pic the other day and thought if only…

Double Damn…

Cut The Crust Off

Marble Foxes No Crust PB&J Ale is a very tasty option to XUL Beer Co PB&J Mixtape, very similar -

They both have the same ABV rating of 6.5% and both a tad pricey but oh so delicious 😋 

Somewhat of a liquid lunch 😉

Pure Laziness

What happened to customer service and taking pride in your job?!

Apparently, it’s too much to ask or expect that the USPS mail carrier would place my package in the plastic bin.

I can imagine the effort to open the gate, take three more steps, then open the bin and place the package inside is a big ask and all…

Ironic that FedEx, UPS and Amazon have had NO issues putting packages in the bin.

A Gaura Sphinx

I came across this dude back in early September, the 8th to be exact. Do you see it in the first picture? It’s kinda hard to miss and I saw it easily from a distance, as I approached. Stuck out like a sore thumb really -

This is a Proud Sphinx caterpillar, also know as a Guara sphinx, which apparently is a fairly uncommon moth in East Tennessee! Their documented range extends from Texas eastward and north to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. So, this was a somewhat rare find in these here parts.

Outside of taking these pics I didn’t fuss with it too much or for too long, as I didn’t want to interrupt its feeding, which is sadly ironic because…

The plant this dude was feeding on is called Gaura and there were oodles of this plant all along this one stretch of the walking trails; the area that abuts Moon Creek. They sat back approximately five or six feet from the trail, just outside of the lawn mowers reach so they were left alone and grew quite tall.

Sadly, the day after I took these pics, the 9th of September, whomever maintains the walking trail drove the entire two mile trail using a bush-hog and cut ALL the brush along the trail down completely, some 15 feet back, which included the area where the Gaura had been growing and thriving, and where this dude had been dining, alas.

I’m guess this dude fell victim to the bush-hog, as did the Carolina mantis, see below, and many other insects I spied the day prior -

If it’s any consolation the walking trail looks greats and is opened up more now that all the over growth had been cut back but to what end?

Folklore or Fact

Well, if you believe old-time folklore, this woolly bear caterpillar’s wide rusty-brown band is indicating we’re gonna have mild winter -

This dude was crossing the walking trail in front of me this morning. I’m guessing looking for a cozy spot to hibernate for the upcoming winter.

Not to be a spoil-sport or anything, and my apologies for being the “bear”er (see what I did there) of bad news but woolly bear caterpillars cannot actually predict the weather, DUH! Rather their distinct coloring reflects their age, diet and the number of molts rather than the severity of  the upcoming weather.

I Can’t Stress This Enough

Edible Starchy Nut Tree - Update

Here’s an update to my earlier post, see link below, about a neighbors chestnut 🌰 tree -

Edible Starchy Nut Tree 

Here it is the end of September and the chestnuts 🌰 have started to turn, ripen, open and fall to the ground allowing me to make a definitive identification on the exact type of tree this is!

Survey says…a Chinese chestnut 🌰 tree

Otherwise known as a sweet chestnut 🌰 tree, which produce delicious, sweet, edible nuts - 

But beware, they’re protected by intensely sharp, needle-like prickles!

I’m not sure if the owners of this tree collect the nuts 🌰 or not. They’ve just started to turn and fall, so we’ll see.

I can’t say that I’ve ever roasted or even tasted a chestnut 🌰 but we’re coming into “chestnuts roasting by an open fire 🔥” season…

Those Are The “Breaks”

Well, that didn’t take long…

So, after spending two hours in the dentist chair this past Tuesday afternoon for step one of a two step crown process, which really needs an asterisk because there inevitably will be some gotchas, making it a three or more step process but I digress.

Here it is Saturday morning, just after 8 o’clock, and as I’m driving to the walking trail I feel something funky in my mouth. Turns out half, yes only half, of the temporary crown that was put in place on Tuesday (not) surprisingly is now sitting in the palm of my hand with the other half still glued in place…for now -

I’m gonna place the blame on this one on that bag of dicks “Murphy”!

Of course, the dental office is closed all weekend and doesn’t open till Monday morning, alas. So here I am with a broken temporary crown that was expected to last two to three weeks, yeah right! Fortunately, I’m not in any discomfort…yet.

It’s been a roller coaster ride with my teeth the past several years to say the least; an expensive, and at times, a painful roller coaster ride!

So for any youngins that might follow along on my silly blog or who happen to stumbled upon it and read this posting, I beg you to please please please please take care of your teeth when you’re young - brush and floss regularly and go to the dentist regularly too to avoid these types of issues with your teeth down the road!

This is my public service announcement for today.

You’re welcome 😉

A New Day Is Dawning

What a peaceful and beautiful morning -

The coffee’s hot, the birds are chirping and singing, the roosters are crowing off in the distance and the sky’s on fire!

Shaping up to be a great Saturday.

It’s chilly 🥶 this morning out on the walking trail, a nice change, and oh so perdy! I have the place all to myself.

Convenience VS Cost Savings

Going through the coupon section of the Publix app this morning and see I that the vast majority of the available coupons, 69 to be exact, are for personal care, health and beauty and cosmetic items. Very few coupons for actual food products. I would never buy the items mentioned above at the market simply because I feel your paying top dollar for them but apparently that’s just me.

Tell me, do people really purchase these items at the grocery store on the regular? I suppose in a pinch a personal care item purchase might make sense, perhaps save you a trip elsewhere but even with a coupon I would think it more expensive versus a store like Walmart.

I say that but have never done the actual research to see. Might I be mistaken?

Prove me wrong 😑!

Let’s Roll

I was looking at a house for sale on Zillow yesterday and was surprised by an installed item in the below bathroom photo (actual picture taken from Zillow listing) -

So do you see it?

Have you ever seen such a thing?

I suppose it works.

It certainly keeps the roll off the floor or counter but does it really work (roll/unroll)?

Creative install or an oops install?!

Thoughts 🤔?

“Served Here, Ice Cold Beer Is”

What’s on tap, hmm 🤔 

Decisions decisions -

One of each please!

Beef. It’s What’s For Diner.

Your ribeyes 🥩 are marinating -

Hashtag NO Fun

I should be referring as a king with all the crowns 👑 I have in my mouth, all the work being done on them AND all the stupid money they’ve cost me, alas!

I spent, literally, two hours in the dentist chair yesterday afternoon, I kid you not, to remove the cracked crown pictured below -

I was given so much novocaine or lidocaine, whatever, that the area is still tingly this morning.

They had to give multiple shots throughout the process because I could feel the drilling at times, ouch 🤕 

This was the first of two visits needed for this procedure and an expensive one too, GRR

Once my new crown 👑 is ready, visit two will be to install it and then adjust accordingly, which will also cost me dearly.

What a rack this dental thing is! A necessary evil 😈 I suppose…