The Hodaka Club Forum

Well the Old Man returned a few days ago to visit his friends who usually arrive about the same time. Both are early this year, It is a Summer Tanager he says. No one knows how this relationship started but I suspect it's because the Old Man can sit still for long periods of time especially when painting. I guess he didn't appear to be a threat. The bird doesn't seem to like me very well and I only see him infrequently a few times a year. Good sighting here, both in the same place at the same time. Remarkable actually. That's the report for now, I do have quite the painting project coming up soon for the Old Man as the house is needing it.
Max
I really do need a new Hodaka project as I'm running out of things to write about on the Forum. Clarence started it.

Wow a real Dr.Doolittle,that is pretty cool!

I did see the Old Man at our local Farm Store today eyeing the raccoon traps which are a hot item in this area. Seems almost futile with a near infinite amount of Raccoons. I personally live trapped fourteen last year and relocated them past the hamburger stand down the road. That's where they party I've heard. Seriously, I'm not pulling your leg. Last year I actually live-trapped 15 but the last one had four raccoon children wandering around the trap trying to figure out how to get mom out. I let her go, one needs a few raccoons to keep nature in balance. It's when they reach double digits that the trouble begins. I did get a new lock for the Hodaka shed since the raccoons somehow obtained a key to the old lock.

So that's the report, ever vigilant. Clarence's turn.

Max, a good friend of the Old Man.

After seeing the Old Man and all those traps I'm starting to see where the raccoon problem manifests itself. Everyone has traps and raccoons. They just catch them and take them to someone else's place and release them. Then they are trapped again and taken back or to a new place. It looks like the raccoons would get trap shy but maybe they've discovered that trapping just means a free ride to more urban habitat and a new place for mischief, kinda like a bus. A sign of intelligence and order? Maybe it's just entertainment for them. Who knows?

The Hodaka shed lock seems to be holding but the game camera is gone.

Any thoughts on all of this Clarence?

Max

Whew! I did find the game camera not too far from the Hodaka shed. I quickly downloaded the card for possible evidence. The Old Man is always playing tricks and I could prove my case with photographic evidence. Nope, just one selfie of the other suspect, At least the case is solved. Now to try and raccoon proof the camera which might require some thought. We're not just dealing with some stupid animal with no sense of humor here. Just another life challenge.

Maxie

In seems in this case you are being plagued by a Rascal of Raccoons.

He/she almost seems to be laughing at you. I have read that one of the many uses of WD40 is raccoon repellent.I think it would be worth a try so we can see if it is true.

Live trapping raccoons and taking them for a ride in a live trap. Up in Montana bears come to town to eat some apples and get some free desert. The government trappers give them a free ride back to the mountains in a container on wheels, the bears also get a free bonus dinner as they enjoy the ride. Jill my wife,s pet would be a raccoon; Max what kind of hodaka project are you considering??

If you really want to get rid of raccoons, search Golden Malrin raccoons..........

Ha! After five days of mayhem, Mr. Raccoon has been captured but not before wrecking two humming bird feeders, dumping the trash can and stealing a paint brush. My wife was furious and demanded action. I did explain to her that it's part of the description of raccoons; messing with stuff. The problem in trapping this guy is that Mr. Opossum keeps getting caught instead. He's not very bright and you can catch the same opossum night after night in the same trap. Mr. Raccoon's luck ran out. I hope this is the only one but probably not.

Mr. Raccoon's week of terror has ended and I'll be sending the Old Man to take him on a bus ride to see his friends up north, way north this time. Now to reset the trap to see if he had any accomplices and see who has the key to the Hodaka shed.

Max and the Old Man

More fun stuff! Having captured the offender, this seemed a good excuse to drive 15 miles on the other side of the nearest town where the Old Man's favorite breakfast restaurant is and where adjoining ideal raccoon habitat exists. A great breakfast and raccoon release, what a great way to start the day!

Max and the Old Man

Always buy bright yellow gloves so you can see when one is missing. Why did you release the racoon heading to the East?? -------------------- Clarence

So if Maxie casts a shadow to the south at mid-morning . . . (south?) . . . then east is . . .

Always release a raccoon into the wind even if it's the wrong direction.

Ed did pay attention to details if Max cast a shadow to the south in the morning then the sun must have came up in the north. Boy is Max turned around, on the Yellow Brick Road. ------------Clarence

I did not know that one is supposed to release raccoons into the wind . . . and I have stayed in a Holiday Inn (so I should know that?)
Ed

The wind should always be blowing away from your house. Then go several miles upwind preferably crossing one, or better yet, two creeks before the release. The trap should be covered and spun several times before and after the trip. This will eliminate almost all possibilities for raccoon reckoning or at least diminish the chance of return. Cloudy days are best. At least he won't smell his way home. They all do all look alike with mask and banded tail so I don't know if any of this is working but his is how Grandmother told me years ago to release them. This might not be true because Grandfather always wore a raccoon hat and that's the family story.

Max

Last spring I had to hire an Orkin "large pest specialist" to remove a family of seven raccoons whose parents ripped the soffit off an eave of the house and built a nest in my attic. 'A' for industriousness for sure. I asked what was done with the culprits and was informed that there is no place to release them that is far enough away that they wont make their way back and, as such, are humanely euthanized. They must have some mad homing skills.

Well maybe I should report in after the capture of the renegade raccoon. Mighty quiet. Maybe I set an example for what can happen when raccoons go bad. Maybe he was the only bad guy. Hard to think like a raccoon. At least my wife is happy that the Hummingbird feeder has not been violated and that's what counts. I still bet their up to something and the Hodaka shed key is still missing. Just reporting on the situation. Maybe I should put the camera out again, always entertaining and Clarence did start it. Reporting.

Maxie
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Hey Clarence, I hope you don't need the Old Man for a few days for chores. He and I are procrastinated out and have began painting the house, high places for him, low for me. This is what happens when you don't have a Hodaka project. Practical things finally get done or at least started on. We're down to half days in the Kansas heat, just his kinda job he says.

Just checking in. Clarence, have you got the garden planted with my favorite things? Close to tomato time here and the Wife has found a new recipe to make zucs actually edible or even good. I'll try to post a report with photos the next time she does it.

Max and the Old Man

OK, bear with me. Zucchinis can actually be good. Something often discussed on this post. The Old Man has been good help on the house painting project and Eweleen invited him over for dinner tonight. Tis the season to serve one of the main food groups of the home gardener, yes the ever-present zucchini. I admit I was skeptical. This is a plant that Ed uses for mulch. This is a surplus crop that good gardener friends leave on your porch rather than face you. People lock their cars when in town to prevent people from leaving excess zucchini as a gardener's gift. Not bad but always lots. One bushel is enough. Zucchinis are prolific and grow inches a day. Small ones are somewhat edible but the two footers are the ones showing up on your porch or car. Not as good.

Ah, but check this out. Even I was fooled. Eweleen has come up with a way to serve these things that is actually good. A spiralizer she calls it. It turns zucchinis into delicious green noodles with a twist of the wrist. The title is; Shrimp and zucchini noodles in a basil Alfredo sauce. Check out the process. Spriralized zucchini noodles are sautéed with shrimp and other ingredients for a great meal. Wine helps, Pinot Grigio in this case, some in the dish, some to drink.

OK, they seem to be edible, I thought I 'd better tell you about it. It does help solve the zucchini surplus problem. Enjoy. The Old Man said "thumbs up, what kind of noodles are those?"

Maxie

Where can I get a economy spiralizer? Don't say it! If Thunderbird or dandelion wine would work, we could really make this affordable without watering it down too much. We are looking for a catered meal also. ----------------Clarence

Clarence , the package for the spirilizer says "as seen on TV". Seriously.

We have something like that zoo-kini down here. Called kudzu. Prepared with something we call a bush-hog.
Your spiral cutter sounds like a Popiel product. You know, slices, dices, chops.

C'mon Maxie, EVERYTHING is better with Pinot Grigio. It's just that some things require more Pinot than others.

Ed