First snow for autumn of 2024 in Cincinnati, OH
RichC | November 21, 2024
The first autumn snow of the year marks the beginning of winter in my book, but since I still would like to rake up the rest of the leaves and get a final grass cutting, it would be nice to have one more warm-up and dry sunny day. For now though, here’s the dusting of […]
Our regular Red Fox is looking much healther on the Fox Cam
RichC | September 12, 2024
Back in July, the Red Fox who regularly is spotted on my Wyze Cams was looking unhealthy. I did some research and diagnosed that the fox likely needed to be treated for mange. The treatment was to inject a small amount of ivermectin into meatballs and see if I could get him or her to […]
Disappointed with Wyze as a company lately. Could be a fluke?
RichC | August 3, 2024
As a provider of fair priced gadgets for the last decade, the company Wyze has impressed me … that is until recently. As their product mix expanded, their quality control and hodgepodge marketing has started to slip a bit. After the “socket cam” on a garage lamp failed in June, I called to check on […]
Surprisingly bold Red Fox lounging in our front yard last week
RichC | June 8, 2024
As rural turns to even more suburban, the bolder some of our wildlife is getting. Last week a slender fox appeared on our security Wyze Cam and instead of just passing by as usual, opted to lounge for a few moments ‘midday’ in the front yard. Very strange behavior for the coyotes and foxes that […]
A Cardinal keeps triggering the Wyze Cam and Panera Inflation
RichC | May 25, 2024
No matter how I set the trigger, our friendly cardinal regularly triggers a warning on our Wyze Cam. He is enjoyable to watch and so I really don’t mind it. On the other hand, I DO MIND the price increases hitting Americans at the gas pump, grocery store and restaurants … not to mention nearly […]
Semi happy with Wyze Cam Plus but now $2 more/month
RichC | April 10, 2024
We have been using the economical Wyze Cams to monitor things around home for a few years now, along with leftover Canary Cams … and our old school original wired security system. I do like the way these inexpensive cameras have held up and are improving, but the speed and notification tweaking of their Wyze […]
Wyze Cam Smoke Alarm notifications and spring has sprung
RichC | March 30, 2023
It may not be pretty with the old mulch, leaves and dirty sidewalks … but spring has sprung in 2023. The old-ish bulbs are up and the buds are on the magnolias and lilacs. On another subject, I’ve contacted Wyze about one of my newer cams triggering a RED “Smoke Alarm” message which definitely caught […]
The MB 300d Turbodiesel was out for the first time in 2023
RichC | March 26, 2023
After a quick charge of the battery, the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300d Turbodiesel woke from its winter slumber and headed to the grocery store. I had forgotten how much different the old headlight are in comparison to modern lights … or perhaps it is just my aging night vision? Anyway, the driveway Wyze cams caught […]
Tech Friday: Wyze Cams satisfy my gadget addiction
RichC | November 18, 2022
My older Canary Cams are still working but will eventually be retired as lower priced and higher quality Wyze Cams and Wyze Cam3s have become the “go to” products to fill my gadget addiction. On Wednesday a male cardinal trigger one of my cams and it reminded me to check on my subscription, re-read the […]
Repairs: Contemplating an electric pool pump motor rebuild
RichC | September 16, 2022
Besides noticing that a new school bus driver has decided to use our driveway as a turn around spot (should not be “the norm”) … I took apart the old 2017 pool pump motor. Last week I replaced the old motor with a new one (again) suspecting the shortened life (in my opinion) is due […]
Wyze Cam Motion Alert: An alien lifeform?
RichC | August 13, 2022
Well … perhaps not, but it did catch my eye. Each “sunny” morning the sun rises in the east and peeks through the trees. If there is wind, the movement as shadows cast on our driveway trigger a motion alert. On checking the driveway Wyze cam 3, a strange alien shape appeared on the driveway. […]
Keeping delivery trucks and van on our new driveway #TBT
RichC | November 11, 2021
Our driveway project is semi-wrapped up, but the landscaping company has yet to deliver our topsoil and river rock. The Creech’s rep did update me with a tentative date later this month, so we shall see if the weather holds them back again? I finally moved the construction cones a couple weeks ago and we […]
The Wyze cam sound detector picked up a strong thunderstorm
RichC | July 13, 2021
The downside of having self-monitored smarthome security cams, sound sensors, door triggers and motion detection at the Florida condo in Delray Beach is that one never knows what will set it off. Usually it has been a flash of light or in a couple cases a slightly weakened battery on a sensor. Yesterday though, even […]
Tech Friday: Look what arrived this week – the Wyze Cam 3
RichC | January 22, 2021
It was back in November when everyone was Black Friday shopping for gifts or ording Cyber Monday items … that is when the inexpensive security camera company Wyze, sent me an email about their new camera and motion detection subscription. At the time I was struggling with way too many notifications after the company lost […]
Tech Friday: i-Device Wallpapers .. the Bompa edition
RichC | May 29, 2020
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The Canary (cardinal) security cam alerts are driving me crazy
RichC | April 6, 2020
Thought I would add a late day animated GIF to the blog … partially because these Canary alerts have become a normal annoyance by sending text message alerts and partially this cardinal is cute. Hopefully he will grow tired of “looking at himself” and find a female cardinal who he can impress! Also while sending […]
The flag halyard fails again and Old Glory comes flopping down
RichC | February 29, 2020
We have had a problem with our Amazon purchased halyard on our flag pole instead of the rapid flag degrading as usual – as can be seen on our WyzeCam security mp4 video (below). This is the second flag halyard we have had fail in the last couple of years; next time I’m going to […]
Winter weather, driving and fun babysitting Annalyn
RichC | February 8, 2020
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Testing Amazon Prime deliveries using Key for Garage #video
RichC | January 15, 2020
A year or so ago, I “was” planning to give the Amazon Key service a try by having shipments delivered to the condo in Florida when we are not there. So I purchase a smart lock and then realized that Amazon didn’t offer Key delivery services in Delray Beach. I sent it back as I […]
“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” … but not like this! #video
RichC | December 21, 2019
I love these motion-sensing Wyze Cams … Now what if someone happened to be coming to the front door? Yikes … although more than likely it would just be funny.
An old newspaper clipping and a great summer job #TBT
RichC | July 25, 2019
When talking about the wide spread damage in the Dayton area by a tornado earlier this year with the guys putting on our new gutters (Raspberry Pi cam picked up one of the guys’ legs and tweeted it to me) … I mentioned that I once did some tornado repairs in my hometown. I couldn’t […]
Happy Birthday to my brother and remembering his trees
RichC | May 21, 2019
An odd subject line to be sure, but several “Native Ohio trees” grown by my younger brother Ron were planted in the back of our property and they always makes me think of him. Today is his birthday and wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday. (photo from Raspberry Pi cam yesterday 5/20/2019 … reminds […]
The wet, heavy snow might be too much for the John Deere?
RichC | January 12, 2019
The Raspberry Pi Cam photo automatically captured the backyard snow during a break in the falling snowflakes. The storm was well forecasted, so decided it was time to put the snowblower on the old John Deere 330 diesel tractor. I hope the wet snow will “blow” as my preliminary shoveling has me thinking it might […]
The snow is here, but the Pi cam still shows an autumn sky
RichC | November 29, 2018
The weather has turned this week with temperatures in the 20s and our second snow in Cincinnati for winter 2018-19 (here’s first). My automated Raspberry Pi cam regularly tweets out a photo with this one still looking like an autumn sky … or perhaps winter since the sun looks pretty low in the southern sky? […]
Mid-November must be time to rake leaves in Ohio? #TBT
RichC | November 15, 2018
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Thoughts on remotely resetting or rebooting network hardware
RichC | June 16, 2018
Frustration in tech land! Power out – now the cable modem or router won’t reboot properly! If you haven’t following along with my updating the progress on the Florida condo, I’ve been adding bits and pieces to “home automation” besides the normal “construction updates” to the kitchen (and eventually bathroom). Most of it has been […]
One of our narcissistic doves seems to like taking a #selfie
RichC | March 28, 2018
We have a couple of Canary cams in our home and they constantly trigger for one thing or the other. I’m still having problems with one of them sending “Person spotted in Away mode” which usually means my iPhone has not been detected as being “home.” I’ve tweaked the setting, played with masks, double and triple […]
Single guys in Hawaii. What could go wrong?
RichC | November 18, 2016
My son Taylor and his buddy Cam heading off this Friday morning on a trip to Hawaii. They have been planning a backpacking trip after locking up permits to hike the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast on Kauai since spring. One of their college friends works and lives in Honolulu so they have […]
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.