The weather kept up its roller-coaster changes in temperatures. From wind chills of down to -45 to record highs for the date, the last two weeks demonstrated how variable winter weather in the Midwest can be!
We participated in an online auction for one of the neighborhood estate sales. The lady of the house had died in 2022 and we had never met her due to Covid, but she lived just across the alley from us. A few items were purchased. Read on for the details of warm temps and auction finds!
As noted, NE Iowa is experiencing an extended stretch of warm weather. Thermometer readings are ranging from 51 degree highs to upper 20 degree lows, melting most of the snow. We even had some rain, mixed in with heavy (at times) fog, and [the usual] overcast days.
One problem with this is that our Main Street drainage is not good and water pools up at the end of our sidewalks. I took the John Deere rider, with blade, and cleared snow back to the curb so water could drain away from the walks. The Main Street snow ended up around the corner on 7th Street where it is now (mostly) melted. This task ended the water pooling issue, making it much easier for us to walk down the sidewalk and out to the mailbox. The warm spell is forecast to continue for many more days, with highs of 50 at the end of next week, along with a chance of more rain.
Last Monday we visited a house across the alley from us to examine items that were coming up on an online auction. We had never met the widow, Arlene, who lived there during our residence. Her husband, Christian, was the Elma vet for 38 years before his retirement and death in the late 1990s. Arlene had passed away in March of 2022.
I had been observing activity around the house when I worked in the garage; my assumption was the children and grandchildren were settling the estate. Eventually an auction company trailer arrived and the employees began setting up the lots that would make up the listings. This took weeks. The estate auction was advertised in the local shopper recently, and began early this week.
There were a few things we bid on but most went for more than we wanted to spend. Two lots were purchased, though. The first was a lot consisting of old cameras and accessories. The second was a collection of bird houses. Total for both lots came to $16.10.
First lot: Cameras and accessories to be added to my small collection of vintage camera gear.
The second lot is for Pam’s sister Becky, and consisted of several birdhouses.
The one at the upper left appears to be the most detailed and fancy, but all are in pretty good shape. Becky will use them around her home (“Bird Song Cottage”) in Greene.
The other news of the week is medical-related. I had a blood draw taken and sent to the Mayo Clinic. (This was a routine follow-up for my prostate cancer treatment.) The test was to monitor my PSA level and make sure it was not increasing, as high PSA levels can indicate the return of prostate cancer. I am pleased to say the result was the same as the previous 3 such tests at < = 0.10. Normal levels are < = 6.4 so I am well within the range. Good news for me!
We began doing our taxes, not a fun job. Usually we get a refund on Federal taxes but pay something in State taxes. I hope to finish both this weekend and get them out of the way.
That’s it for now. Thank for looking in!
Pam’s Penny
Walking through someone else’s home and poking through their collections made me kinda sad. Just sayin’…
Those squirrels are packing it in. I’m now filling the feeder from the last bushel of acorns collected under our oak trees this fall. When those acorns are gone – sorry squirrels – you’ll have to eat just corn.
AJ (the kitten) spay was uneventful. All good, and it didn’t slow her down much. The three very active kittens remind me of triplet toddlers; they are into everything.
Happy Trails.
Leave a Reply