Thursday afternoon the Suzuki Jimny Dirt Rat was filled up with some expensive petrol. Did I read that number right? AU$2.34 / Litre or US$6.22 / Gallon for non-ethanol blend unleaded. From memory, that price is up there with the highest I’ve ever seen. Hardly cheap is it? Fortunately the little vehicle has a 40 Litre / 10.5 Gallon fuel tank and it travels a goodly distance on that quantity. The even smaller and lighter Suzuki Swift Dirt Mouse goes even further again, on less. The news that day included an article decrying how bad large vehicles were for pedestrians in accidents. The cynic in me suggests that the drivers of such large vehicles probably have other safety concerns on their mind. Advertising however, can be subtle. But whatever the case is, we may well be witnessing the end of an era for the societal preference for large vehicles.
After filling up, we travelled to the nearby town. With no cows, goats or sheep happily grazing here, fresh milk comes from the supermarket, and that’s where we were headed. I’d thought that the price of diesel was way expensive at the petrol station on the quiet country road. I thought wrong! The servo in town was selling diesel for AU$3.01 / Litre or US$8.00 / Gallon. Ouch!
Hard to know where all this is headed. On that note, a person with a curious mind, reads predictions here and there just to keep abreast of the latest thinking on the issue. Turns out, opinions range all over the shop. The apocalyptic end of the spectrum amuses me the most. A few minutes ago whilst enjoying a tasty meal of excellent sliders (a small burger) where we’d made the vegetable patty and focaccia buns from scratch, with fried eggs laid by the chickens only a few days ago, a video played in the background outlining how computers are going to come and kill us all. Apparently the tech bros are responding to this threat by constructing doomsday bunkers surrounded by vast swaths of fertile land – like they know diddly squat about farming! I loved the comments to the video, and one from @Zamboro struck a chord: “Infiltrator units with living tissue coverings will get into those bunkers. I saw it in a documentary called Terminator”. So very true.
My beliefs as to the future don’t extend to such flights of fancy. Having seen 10% unemployment in the 1990’s recession, and as a young bloke scrambling to get any work, I have personal experience of economic disaster. Demand destruction is a real thing! We’re all more likely to go broke with high fuel prices, than end up in a never ending urban war against the computers and their dastardly killer robots. Mind you, the Terminator was an awesome film, scared the daylights out of me. As to the tech bros and their doomsday bunkers though, they’ll probably eventually run short of diesel, just like the rest of us. And seriously, if they think they can grow food by downloading some instructions off the interweb, good luck with that dudes!
This stuff takes a lot of knowledge, practice, observation, then getting back into the fray and implementing what you’ve learned. Neither Sandra or I were born on a farm – we had no idea about life on the land back in 2008 when this journey was begun. But we do both have natural curiosity, and a lack of fixed opinions on this stuff. What works and why? – are the questions which have guided our actions and systems here.
Forget about killer robots and dystopian urban warfare. Regular readers will recall the three week running battle with feral mice some months ago. That story ended up with a messy scene in the bathroom. We sure did put an end to the tiny rodents breaking into the house in future. That took digging trenches around the outside walls, and then backfilling those with cement. Despite their persistence, we can state with certainty, that the twitchy nosed little nuisances, can’t tunnel through concrete. And that is a fact!
However, last week we relocated the summer kitchen to the area where the dog enclosure used to be. It’s got a nice wide veranda and more importantly is out of the afternoon summer sun. There’s a lot to like about it. But have we lured the rodents to that part of the house? Hard to know. They may not be a problem at this time of year anyway. What I have learned about rats and mice is that attempts to break into a house, shed or vehicle occur during early to mid Autumn. They’re looking for an easy winter feed, plus a site for a snuggly warm nest – and from their perspective, a modern house meets all of those requirements.
Makes me wonder if those bunkers the tech bros are constructing are rodent proof? They might not be. Who’d think of that problem? What a fine joke it would be if those folks survived the killer robot onslaught, which they helped to create, only for the rats to eat all of the food stores and seeds. Oh the irony!
Back to reality though, for I have actually been thinking about the mice near to the summer kitchen, mostly because we have not yet done the trenching there.
Earlier in the week I removed the large gravel placed along that side of the house, just to see what was going on.
The large gravel looked ugly too, and wasn’t all that useful at keeping the rodents out from under the house. As you can see in the above photo, the area has had the rock chunks removed. I discovered that we’d only cemented about two thirds of the ground near to the house. I placed some heavy timber posts against the house so as to thwart the rats and mice until the remaining third of the job is done. That should work for a while, maybe. They’re tricksy beasts, as the bunker lovers may soon discover.
The large gravel was scraped into a neat pile in the former dog enclosure.
The material is proving very useful in and around the long line of steel rock gabion cages. They make for a very solid all weather surface which can be walked upon.
As previously mentioned, we’re constantly trialling different systems just to see what works. Drainage has always been something of an issue in the area near to the summer kitchen. Turns out, years ago, for some unknown reason, which has been suggested by Lewis as: Being a good idea at the time, we covered over the pit with soil. This has actually proven to be a bad idea. In very heavy rainfall, water can wash under the house and that is not ideal for a timber structure no matter how well treated.
The drainage pit was rediscovered in the clay, then cleaned up, as was the 150mm (6in) pipe. The system was tested, and found to work perfectly.
The thing is, to get water from that area to flow naturally into the pit, we have to remove an enormous quantity of soil. We’re up for that. This work does however present the opportunity to use the excess soil so as to create an entirely new path. We just have to finish up a few of the other projects first.
At the beginning of the week I split a few boulders into large rocks which are very useful for retaining soil on path projects.
Saturday the weather was glorious. A truly beautiful early spring day. We hauled plenty of those large rocks back up the hill.
After many hours of hard work, about half of the rock wall on the uphill side of the path in the above photo had been completed.
The steep garden beds on the uphill side of that path are split into two by a concrete staircase. Both have quite fertile soil, and we’ll use them as overflow vegetable beds, plus seed production. For that purpose we need to grow a lot of plants to ensure that the seed remains genetically OK. We’re not quite sure how it will all work out, but with two large beds, one may even be rested up and allowed to go weedy, whilst the other is in use – crop rotation being a thing.
Hopefully that path project gets finished this coming week.
A local artist appears to have used their skills to highlight just how bad the road surfaces in the wider area have become. We live on dirt road, so it’s always bad, but we’re used to that. Turns out, this state of affairs has become quite the shock to people used to nicer amenities. Regular readers will recall that we broke a wheel on one of the cars recently which cost $800 to repair. As would be expected, other locals appear to have enjoyed vehicular issues as well. On a related side story, it baffles me as to why the state goobermint would announce just prior to an election, that they’d cut funding for road repairs in rural areas.
It was amazing, we noticed this artwork one day, and the road was repaired the next. I’m astounded that the local council can react so quickly. I don’t know what all the fuss is about, the depiction was stylistic rather than anatomically correct.
And speaking of roads. Someone ran over a wallaby and left the poor marsupial for dead in my front yard. It is not a busy road. Anyway, that’s never happened before, and I recall during the health subject which dares not be named, that there was no roadkill anywhere around here. My gut feeling suggests that the forest critters will rejoice at the prospect of higher fuel costs…
The weather here is warming, but it’s still early days in the growing season, and the plants are doing their thing, albeit slowly. Even in the greenhouse where you’d imagine the soil would be warmer again, growth is still slow. That’s what medium UV energy (the sun’s ultraviolet radiation) looks like. But at least the cool loving radish seeds mostly all sprouted and are producing adult leaves.
The grapevine cuttings continue to amaze. All seven are now producing leaves, although they are inside the warmer-than-outdoors house.
For some reason, asparagus grows really well here, although it demands a decent feed of quality compost fertiliser mixture. We harvest fresh spears most days from now until February.
We missed that the Globe Artichoke had produced two tasty chokes, and now they are a bit too big to consume, which is a shame. It is worth noting that this plant is highly variable and so if the chokes being produced aren’t good, then pull the whole thing out and start another. Once a good eating quality choke is obtained, you can divide the plant into clones.
The earliest tree fruits, Apricots, have appeared this week.
Almonds are also developing, but they take longer to mature than the apricots. This year I noticed several local species of insects pollinating the flowers, which is a relief given all of the pressures the European honeybees are under.
Onto the flowers:
The temperature outside now at about 10am is 6’C (42’F). So far for this year there has been 915.8mm (36.1 inches) which is up from last weeks total of 914.2mm (36.0 inches)
Comments
41 responses to “Maze”
Yo, Chris – The end of a preference for large vehicles? Well, maybe, until the price of petrol goes down. It’s happened, before. Many times. But, maybe, one of these times, it won’t.
“Terminator” as a documentary? That is just too funny. Hmmm. A series of 5? I don’t think I’ve seen them all. I may have to see if our library carries them.
If the tech bros are smart, and I expect their experience of the real world is rather dim, they’ll round up a couple of farm families, to take care of that end of things. I can see the ads, now. “Wanted: Future and Potential Serfs and Peasants.”
It all starts with the drainage. Or, something. 🙂
The rock wall looks quit substantial. And, very handsome. Future archaeologists will declare it, some sort of “ceremonial way.” 🙂
The radishes, grapes and asparagus are banging along. That’s interesting about artichoke culture.
The apricots and almonds look promising. I hope the frost you had forecast, didn’t eventuate.
The flowers, as always, are lovely. Particularly the roses. Lew
Hi Lewis,
Agreed, one of these days, the economics of super large vehicles, won’t make any sense whatsoever. It’ll take a while, yup, and from some perspectives, the ability to wake up each day and enjoy the drive is very definition of sustainable. That was what the charity mugger was trying to tell me. We were disagreeing about the time scale.
Some of the comments to articles and other things on this interweb like utoob, are comedic genius. If I were a stand up comedian, I’d scour those forums for material. I’ve not seen all of that film franchise either, but did enjoy the first and sequel. So quotable.
Hehe! You are so naughty for suggesting the peasants and serfs bit, but I like where your brain is taking us! 🙂 It could well be easier selling them food in exchange for precious metals or ammo – such things have happened historically. A hungry person has little bargaining power.
At the least I hope to utterly confuse future archaeologists with the rock work here. Headed down to the forest edge today and split some boulders. It was a tad windy and during the work I kept an eye on the many tall trees and remarkably heavy branches looming overhead. Survived that risk! And brought back 16x large rocks up the hill and dumped them on the path. Doing that took activity most of the day, so they’ll get installed in a few days time.
We seem to be mostly on top of the growing season, and there’s no rush from what I can discern – although being wrong about plant timing is a thing! 🙂
Tomorrow morning will be the true test for mid season frost risk. Already outdoors the air is calm, the skies clear and 4’C / 39’F. Brr! Still the trees emit warmth at night, so it may freeze in the open paddock and miss the orchards, but I don’t really know how it will roll at this point in time.
The mosaic is impressive in scale. It’s huge, and I can’t imagine would be commissioned by just anyone. It’s interesting that the building was suggested to have been re-purposed as the public Baths of Trajan. I guess the up-keep on the digs would have beggared whomever was footing those maintenance bills. Makes you wonder how much of our infrastructure will be around and look in two millennia’s time?
Interesting, and did you note that the historical Roman road data set, contained a lot of uncertainty? Still, such work is indicative of what may have been. And the use of the granite stones reminds me of the crazy paving used here. It’s an identical use of flat granite rocks. See, the best ideas are other people’s! 🙂
Sure, but how many of the folks who garden in your plots, even realise that deer may be consuming their edible produce / flowers? And agreed, the big herbivores can take things a little bit too far. You may wonder why I’m improving the defences with the fencing in the large citrus enclosure? Had a good look today to see whether any forest critters were bothered by the err, improvements. Didn’t discover any undue acts of vandalism.
The suspicious mind considers the minor elementary fact that where there are does and fawns, there may well be stags. 🙂 I now rest my case having properly chopped some fine logic.
Man, I’ve never encountered a green salsa either, and thanks for the heads up. Yeah, some of those Solanum family of plants can produce fruit with interesting taste. Physalis peruviana (Cape gooseberry) is something that grows well here. It’s got a sweet flavour, but with a tomato after taste. I hear you about the citrus notes with the tomatillo.
Thank you for the introduction, as I’d not encountered Robert Service before. True, but Mr Service managed to incur the ire of the Russians regardless, so they’d not be inclined to translate the other way around. A fascinating individual, with a sharp eye and ear.
Well done you for working the system. One has to know the rules. 😉
It barely made 50’F here today with a bit of rain early this morning. Over the next few days though, we’ll catch up with your most pleasant 68’F.
The article explained a lot about why the houses are allowed to fall into the sea. Who knew that there was a return on investment for allowing that to occur? It’d probably be better for all to simply relocate the houses in the first place, after all the costs for cleaning up the ocean are externalised onto the wider community anyway. But I can certainly appreciate how the situation has come to be. I don’t believe that there would be insurance to cover such risk down here.
Cheers
Chris
Yo, Chris – I forgot to mention, I think the (literal) street art, is a Banksy. 🙂 I lean on my previous experience, as an art history major.
Maybe you buried the drain, as you thought a small child might fall in. Or, that the clown from “It” was living down there.
I see there are six movies, in “The Terminator” series. And, our library has all six … although only in 1-3 copies of each, scattered across 27 branches. I may start watching them. Also, there’s a two season series, “Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles.” Who I think is the mom, in the series.
Our high yesterday was 72F (22.22C). Our overnight low was 46F (7.77C). Our forecast high for today is 73F. We’re supposed to get rain, on Thursday. But then clearing, for a few days. If these are the autumn rains, it’s kind of on and off.
Master Gardeners were here, this morning. They’re beginning to wind it up, for the year. They’ll probably be around for another month, depending on the weather.
Nero’s Golden House, was quit the establishment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domus_Aurea
As a very unpopular emperor, his “works” were destroyed or covered over.
LOL. The trick is to co-opt other peoples good ideas, claim them for your own, and make money off of it. Maybe you could patent the idea of granite paving stones. 🙂
My Dad could quote a lot of Robert Service. Gosh knows where he picked it up. He also knew all the naughty versions. The paraphrasing.
What’s interesting about the east coast houses on the sea, is that a lot of them were bought generations ago, when they were cheap. Passed down through families, without a lot of “means.” I run across references, to such “legacy” houses, from time to time.
Dawg and I went up to the Club, yesterday morning, and visited with Carl, the retired nurseryman. He may have prostate cancer, and is beginning that whole process. Get this … our health “care” system in action. His doctor referred him to a place to get a scan. Nope, they don’t do them and referred him to a second place. Nope. A referral to a third place, which will do the scan. But by that time, he’ll have to reschedule a visit to his doctor, as, the results won’t be back. If it is prostate cancer, there’s fast, and slow. As far as the slow goes, usually you die of old age, before it gets you.
Dawg and I went up this morning, to visit with Terry, the retired fireman. Well, he was out. Throat cancer, which is being treated, but he had some chemo and wasn’t feeling all that chipper. Adam swung into action, and got his shift covered. So, we still saw a lot of folks, and Dawg got her people fix.
Parking is a bit of a problem, around the Club. The college is quit close by, and I’ve been using their lot. BUT, school started today. The lots are full. I found parking, pretty easy on a close side street. College runs a four day week, so, Fridays, evening and weekends, it shouldn’t be a problem. Just working out the details … Lew
Hi, Chris!
You made wise choices when you bought those particular cars. I can’t tell what kind of mileage my old Honda gets because its odometer hasn’t measured since it hit 165,693 miles. I can’t figure out why it isn’t more since it’s a 2003 car and my parents did make some fairly long trips in it over the years, and my Dad commuted to the next town over, to work. She eats oil a bit, but that is to be expected.
“Infiltrator units with living tissue coverings will get into those bunkers. I saw it in a documentary called Terminator”. That is funny, though the topic is not. You know I didn’t watch The Terminator, right? I was just a young pup then. I rather liked Arnold in his early movies. Did you ever see him as Hercules in “Hercules in New York”? Funny as a crutch.
You have a priceless phrase with this: “a lack of fixed opinions”. One of the most valuable things needed for survival.
Oh, what a thought – bunkers (now – not everybody’s bunkers, one hopes) invaded by mice. Did they think to bring a cat into the bunker? Did they bring cat food in case the mice run out? Or mouse traps, maybe? Flea powder might be a good idea, too. Speaking of fleas – does your crew ever get fleas? Maybe from dog school?
Nice re-purposing of the large gravel.
Where does the water that goes into the drainage pit end up?
Today I called our local health department and asked them if I could come by to pick up a copy of the record of where our septic drain field is. I know where it is, but we want to know exactly, because a greenhouse is going up over that area. It is one of the portable ones, so it wouldn’t matter much if it landed right on top of the field, but I want to know for sure. For some reason, I have no record in my files.
Anyway, they no longer keep records at the health dept., even on a computer. That has been jobbed out to someone else and I am waiting for them to send me an email with a file in it.
There are a lot of nicely squared off rocks involved along that path. Just luck?
No, an alien artist drew that, er, thing.
I only have 5 radishes. I guess the stinkbugs have been at them. You’d think they’d be busy looking for winter quarters, though some of them are, as I am meeting them inside the house. It’s a shame that you missed the artichokes.
Those are really handsome new grapevines. Well done!
The plum blossoms are heavenly, as are all the flowers. Thanks!
From last week:
Our possums are cat-sized, too – with scary, needle-like teeth. Maybe that’s why Mr. Baby and Petey the Possum got along.
Some of those Scottish Kelpies are horse monsters, and some of them are beautiful naked women. What gives? What the artist felt like painting that day?
Thank you for the concrete advice. Maybe I’d better not stock up.
Pam
Hi Pam,
The Japanese sure know how to build reliable and economic vehicles, and Suzuki (and Honda) are exemplars of that fine lost art. By the way, that distance is quite a number of times around the planet, which speaks volumes as to the build quality of the machine. As to the oil use, older Honda motors I believe have a reputation for that and it’s all part of the normal wear and tear of a precision mechanism which has ultra fine tolerances – which itself is an impressive achievement. If you’d asked me to walk that far, well, I couldn’t! Who could… 🙂
What? Ah your film education is as sadly lacking as my own, although truthfully the Terminator left me with nightmares so probably best avoided. The reality with the arty-fish-al stuff is not as scary, thankfully, it seems rather inept to me. On that note I once read a job application resume which mixed up the word ‘inept’ with ‘adept’, and kind of set the scene from that point onwards…
OK, I’ll check out the trailer for the film you mentioned, as I’d missed that one. Oh my! What a hoot, and clearly English was a second language in those days. Yeah, funny-as. Seriously silly.
Thanks, and it pays to be fleet of foot, and also opinion don’t you reckon? My views are perhaps more deeply concerned about what works, than wasting time on day dreams. Although, on sunny (but very cool) early spring days, the sensitive soul can observe the canines at rest on the veranda in the energising sunshine, and wonder what goes through their minds. Could be quite profound. Have you encountered dogs (or cats) that were far smarter than their peers?
What do modern architects know of day to day interactions with rats and mice? And hey, I’ve long wondered about the Black Death in the 14th century Europe and why there weren’t more farm cats in those days? Would have saved a lot of rodent drama, as you alluded to with the bunkers. Nope, no fleas, and I’ve not encountered the pesky scratchies and biteys for several decades. The occasional blood sucking tick can be a minor problem, but no fleas. And it has been consistent across all manner of dogs and houses. They’re not treated with chemicals either, and truly I’ve no idea why this may be. Possibly the food, or living conditions, maybe a combination of many things. Dunno. Did Mr Baby ever get fleas?
Thanks in relation to the re-use of materials, and nothing goes to waste here. The large water pipe for the drainage pit exits into the shady orchard – good for the fruit trees there.
Did you end up finding out the location? To be honest, if they don’t know, and can’t tell, the field could possibly be relocated. The health dude here was a pain at installation time, and despite not being required to do so, made us double the leach fields – which have never been used from what I can observe. But what a cost he inflicted on us that day… There are inspection traps here which tell you pretty much where the water runs.
Those naughty stink bugs, may they end up with a nasty case of indigestion! Radishes are too lovely for the likes of those critters. The insects may be naughty, but clearly they are clever to strike hard for an indoors winter abode. The name does not suggest friendly aroma-free inhabitancy.
Yeah, it’s hard missing out on the chokes, which are delightful boiled with bay leaves. The grapevines hopefully aren’t required, but best be prepared to harden my heart to remove the fungus inflicted vines. No point growing plants which require serious chemical treatment each year.
With the square edged rocks, I specifically hunted out a boulder which showed promise (and did so again yesterday). Work has been a bit feral and I might not get to the rock wall tomorrow, but Friday is a public holiday for the footy finals. Might finish the rock wall job then.
It’s astounding what a bit of outrage in these agitated days can achieve with piling on the outrage at the crude depiction. The state goobermint is worried they’ll lose at the next election due to concerns over potholes. Look at how bad the road is in the image.
Respect to the memory of Mr Baby and his friendship with the toothy Petey. How’s the memorial area coming along?
As to the concrete advice, it’s better to have the stuff on hand and not need it, than need it, and can’t get it. Just has to be kept dry. If I may add, shortages are easier to deal with, when other folks are pining for whatever it may be.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Lewis,
I defer to your expert opinion in this matter, but note that the authoritas removed the offending, offence, in such a bout of rapid activity that the elusive UK artist probably barely was able to either confirm nor deny its existence. Man, it’s gone… Someone in that area, is thinking outside the box, although I first read of this kind of thing originating from the UK, so your origin story may hold some water. 🙂 As an art history major (respect), what was your opinion as to the accuracy of the circles? It’s a remarkably abstract rendering, although in this instance one comprehends the larger message of the artist, which was (as you also noted): Pennywise was ‘ere!
It’s true what you say, drains hold a certain sense of dread due to that story. And clowns are always scary. Oh well, in order to improve the flow of storm water, a dude has to face his demons. Mr King’s clown ain’t so frightening, maybe… 🙂
Are there really six films in that franchise? Oh my, the latest instalment was sort-of well reviewed, but didn’t do so well at the box office. However, it appears to have received the nod of approval from Mr Cameron. I’d probably stick to the first two and leave it at that, but is merely an opinion.
By the way, Tony was a fine redemption tale, although the book suggested that it wasn’t entirely a bed of roses from that final scene onwards. The concept of the sin-eater was really eerie, for there are people in that zone. The guy was portrayed as having an animal magnetism, which some people do. Although it is worth noting that some dogs have been known to bite, and are best avoided. Thanks! 😉 Fate flipped on the toss of a coin.
You know, your overnight lows are starting to inch towards the first frost of the cooler half of the year. The daytime sounds lovely. It was cool and sunny today 12’C / 54’F whilst this morning was a light frost of 2’C / 36’F. The ice was a mere dusting in some areas, and fingers crossed that the trees hang onto their developing fruit. That’s the plan, anyway…
Did paid work, and a bit of running around today. Had to call the nice telco again, and made three different points of contact, and have heard nothing. I guess the message I’m getting from them is that my business is to small to be bothered with. Oh well. I’ll forget about all that and move on with my life. We’re intending to kick off the ad in the local paper tomorrow. Should be interesting, and I spoke with them today, and their keen, we’re keen, and so we’ll see how it goes. I’ll try it out for three months, and the cost seems reasonable enough to produce a return on investment, maybe. 🙂 We’re old school, so why not go full-on old school? The gargle results now are a bit weird for me with arty-fish-al responses, so why be involved with all of that? It doesn’t necessarily appear to me to translate into clicks on interweb sites for new business, but dunno and am not a fan of the new format.
I guess your garden winds down for the winter, but from last year I reckon there were only maybe two weeks in your area where the outdoor conditions were really horrid freezing (from my perspective!), although I could have misremembered that. What’s your estimate of the last frost date in your area?
You’d imagine that the Domus Aurea would beggar any kingdom, and it reminds me of the story of the construction of the Taj Mahal. One such building was enough to bleed the kingdom dry. Unpopular with whom is the question here! Interestingly, despite the poor reputation, Nero was meant to be popular with the common folk of Rome. That is very suggestive. The Domus was reputed to have been stripped of its finery in the decade after Nero’s death.
Oooo, I like where you’re going with this super nifty get rich quick scheme. Mind you, granite paving stones may prove serious longevity, but people nowadays want smooth road surfaces… I heard a rumour that there are class actions in progress allegedly due to injuries resulting from… potholes. Who knew?
Those were the days when poets could make a living and earn a reputation. Mind you, some popular music lyrics seem an awful lot like poetry to me. Heard a natty line from almost 30 years ago on the radio today: “Despite all my rage. I am still but a rat in a cage!” I can sympathise with the rat in the cage bit, but rage, yeah what me worry? Is it doggerel?
Yeah, many of the owners in the article suggested that the house had been in the family for several generations. When housing is treated as a speculative asset, such legacies quickly fade. I dunno how I feel about the issue, if a bushfire swept through this area and the house was uninsured, nobody would compensate me for the loss. In some other respects, insurance is meant to cover unanticipated events, and the sea is a hungry beast and if the places are condemned due to rising sea levels, then is that the trigger for the insurable event? Looks that way to me.
Oh my, that’s so not good about Carl, although it is a remarkably common affliction for older gentleman. My grandfather went via the fast route with that cancer. Fingers crossed that Carl is doing OK and can ride it out.
Sorry to hear that you and H missed Terry, and well, that’s not great news. Glad he’s getting treatment, that’s a bad one, and makes a person pretty ill. Had a neighbour who went through that radiotherapy and we talked a fair bit about the experience.
Still, H met her adoring audience and probably needed a nap afterwards (once she’d calmed down). 🙂 Is there any coffee update from the Club? And seriously I’m wondering, are you intending to hold off on the home coffee on those days? Curious minds want to know!
A four day week – nice for some! But yeah, nice one figuring out the local competition for car spaces.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Chris,
A happy Alban Eilir to you!
What a month it’s been for heat. Through yesterday, it has been the hottest September ever in St. Louis, in 153 years of collecting weather data. The link below shows the data for each day as a graph with the average and record highs and lows also shown for each day during the month, which I think makes the point better than plain numbers. The pink triangles are the daily records set during the month.
https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=lsx&tab=cliplot&sid=STLthr&view=monthly&month=2026-09
Fortunately a cold front passed through Sunday evening, bringing cooler temperatures and some rain. The long-duration heat has put us close to if not actually in moderate drought territory. I need to gift the big oak tree next door some water out of the rain barrels. We have more than we’ll need for the next month or so, by which time I’ll drain the barrels for winter.
Even here, where gasoline and diesel are cheaper than in most if not all of the US, we are feeling the pain of $4/gallon gasoline and $6+/gallon diesel. Some people begin holiday shopping this early – wonder how the already-high prices, and the possibility that they will rise even more as the increased cost of diesel fuel works its way through the supply chain, will affect holiday consumption? Many businesses don’t break even until the end-of-the-year excesses.
Meanwhile, the big ag farms are harvesting maize and soybeans. Both did well in this area at least, as we had enough rain until about a month ago, and the seeds were already set and growing by then. Whatever happens to agriculture in the midwest US next year, at least this year things turned out OK. But a lot of farmers don’t have the ability to absorb the increase in the cost of diesel fuel that we’ve experienced this year. Next year’s spring planting may be the earliest indication of serious issues in the Midwest.
Claire
Yo, Chris – The Revenge of Analog, chapter … whatever. 🙂 “Playboy” magazine is bringing back a print edition. LOL. I didn’t know they had discontinued print. Back in 2020. I didn’t bother to read the article.
Another article you might find interesting, is about people taking freighters, to travel. Especially, down toward the end, where it talks about a solar / sail / hybrid freighter.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/cargo-ship-tourism-voyages
I’d say the street graphic was made by using … stencils. Which can be reused, so, you might see more of that piece of art, around. Even Banksy relies on stencils.
So, I put the first “Terminator” movie, on hold. The library has two copies, kicking around, but both are checked out. Some people are of the opinion that the first two movies are worth it, and skip the rest. But, being a completist … 🙂 Also, there seems to be a bit of lively debate, as to which order to watch the other four in.
I saw an old trailer, and last night, watched, “The Great Wall.” Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal. 2016. The library still had a copy, kicking around. Two guys from Europe, in the 1000s, travel to China, to try and steal the secret of gunpowder. There are dragon like, monsters, attacking the Great Wall. I watched, “The Making of…” Wow, the sets and costumes were just … lush. Cast of thousands. And, lots of martial arts stuff. It was mentioned that some of the extras and stunt people, were recruited from the Shaolin Monastery, which as a martial arts person, I’m sure you’re familiar with. 🙂
Your paragraph that begins with, “By the way…” makes absolutely no sense. Unless you managed to round up a copy of “Tony.” Ah, yes, “Sin Eaters.” I vaguely remember an old “Twilight Zone” episode that revolved around an Irish sin eater.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin-eater
Our high yesterday was 72F (22.22C). Our overnight low was 54F (12.22C). Our forecast high for today is 70F. Our “official” last frost date, is April 28th. Most of our last frosts seem to fall in April. But, looking at my calendar records, we had a 33F night, on May 10th. But a hard frost on April 30th, of the same year. That was a La Niña year. Yes, last year we had an unusually warm winter. With hardly any frost, at all. I had a hard time, determining first and last frost. Outlying areas got frost, in town, not so much.
LOL. When I got back from the Club, yesterday, I noticed that someone had whacked off three of my asparagus fern branches, that had spilled out of the tub. Turns out, Ted the Master Gardener was “cleaning up” the walkways. No harm done, really, as there are plenty of branches, that I’ve mostly staked up. But, I gave him gentle hell, anyway. 🙂
And, a surprise. I see a golf ball sized pumpkin forming. I doubt it will make it, to any size. The leaves are beginning to die back.
I really think I’m losing it. I’ve been so concentrated on keeping the deer off, using urea and soap chips, that I completely forgot about blood meal. 🙁 Well, I deployed some last night, and we’ll see how it goes. The green beans are still struggling, what’s left of them. There are some blossoms.
Screw the telco! Can I say that? What will you do if you’re overwhelmed with business? I’m sure there may be some separating the wheat from the chaff.
It’s hard to tell from the remaining historic accounts, but Nero seems to have lost the support of the common people, toward the end of his reign. A lot of it may have had to do with the number of people, displaced after the Great Fire, in order to build his Golden House. He also erected a 30 meter tall statue, of himself. “The Colossus of Nero.” Later emperors modified it, to be the Sun God Sol. So Nero lived large and lush, while the common people suffered. Not a good look. Current politicians might want to take that bit of history, into account.
What’s doggrel and what’s poetry? I suppose it’s in the ear of the … beholder? Mostly, I think (sweeping generalization and personal opinion), poetry used to appeal to more of a large section of the population. It made sense. Often, it told stories. I figure about 1920, a lot of it ran off the rails. There was high brow poetry, and low brow poetry. I guess you would see that, across the arts. Realism in painting, vs abstract art.
I’m not going to the Club, today, so, I’m having a couple cups of coffee, at home. Terrible habit to get into. 🙂 I wasn’t going to go to the Club, tomorrow, but, they’re going to be testing the fire alarms, here at the Institution. I think Dawg and I should get out of Dodge. Although I don’t like not being home, when people are going to be entering my apartment. Oh, well, the price I pay for reasonable rent. Lew
Chris:
Happy Equinox!
Oh, yes – Bob the Tailless was smart as a whip. He could always get out of any enclosure and he spoke fluent English (being American), I mean he actually had a vocabulary of many words and even taught some of them to another friend down the road. He was the dog everyone called Super Crazy.
It is an interesting mystery as to why your fluffies don’t pick up fleas. I reckon you are right that it is their diet and overall good health. No, Mr. Baby never had any fleas in the 5 years I knew him; don’t know about before that.
Amazingly, the health department had sent me a diagram and PAGES of pertinent information regarding the process of installing the septic tank and building the drain field – before I went to bed yesterday (the same day I applied). Now, that is efficiency, I must say.
Hotdog! The footy finals! A blast from the past.
The little memorial garden can’t even start until my son specifies a place, something not in his agricultural plans, yet with some sun. Then somebody has to put up 6 fence posts – 4 corners and 2 for a gate. I can do the rest. I have put up posts and fences before, but I think it may be beyond me now. Depends on the rocks and tree roots, which I am having a terrible time with in the bank in front of the house where I am planting more daffodils.
You’re right, and at such cheap prices I should get some bags of concrete just in case.
I thought of something else every bunker should have, especially in relation to mouse habits: A fly swatter. In fact, several, just in case. They don’t take up much room. Wait! Let’s up the game a bit:
https://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-fly-and-insect-swatter-63681.html?hftm_sc=3055&hftm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23914512664&campaignid=23914512664&utm_content=194118216941&adsetid=194118216941&product=63681&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23914512664&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4fFuN9XqKXqtgfMYO99XhcV5&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzsjVBhC3ARIsALnMv4kr87QZb-_yneJu1nOwan8vnjdFTV302O-TzD9wknmmbEkePhMacoYaAiGfEALw_wcB
Not so long ago you mentioned an egg dish that you like to eat cold. I have found one, too: Giant Zucchini Pancakes. They’re actually giant fritters (fried), but pancakes is what I first named them. They taste like quiche and are just as good cold as a snack.
Pam
Chris:
Smashing Pumpkins. They did some good stuff and were the only major band I ever got to go to. But they got the rage wrong. It does no good at all.
Pam
Chris,
I’m paying about $5.30 per gallon of petrol now. Diesel fuel is getting prohibitively expensive, so I’m glad I don’t have to buy that. I pity the truck drivers and farmers who use diesel, however. Of course, that will catch up to our pocketbooks too, eventually.
The last day of summer hit 30C. It wasn’t so warm today and should be a bit cooler Wednesday before a final 27C day Thursday. Maybe some light rain Friday.
The greened up lawns have been growing. Had to mow the back on Sunday. Probably hit the front on Wednesday. That might be the last mowing for the season. Then it’s back to hedge trimming.
Terminator was a documentary? Wow! They hid that well, made it look like a doomsday sci-fi thriller. Wow, I’d never have thunk it was really a documentary.
Then again. Skynet. Starlink. And what our supreme leader now calls “superior intelligence”. If it’s called that long enough, my brain might grow an “inferior intelligence complex”. 😉
So, let me see if I have this right. Superior intelligence (SI) is the same as artificial intelligence (AI). Or SI=AI. There is an “intelligence” (I) on both sides of the equation, so those cancel out leaving us with S=A. Or superior is artificial. Wouldn’t that mean that “superior” is an artificial construct? So nothing is superior, which implies that nothing is inferior. So all things are equal. QED
I remember the 1973 Arab oil embargo and accompanying economic difficulties. Been a few others since then too, right? Petrol and diesel prices getting too high will cause a lot of ginormous problems.
The techbros will not be immune. The numerous large data centers outside Quincy, Washington (in Grant County) are causing problems there. The two hydroelectric dams on the Columbia are run by Grant County, sort of. They produce enough electricity to power a half million homes. Grant County population is slightly more than 100,000. Because of the data centers, the two dams can no longer provide enough electricity for their customers. And Quincy’s aquifer cannot meet demand either, so the city is trying to get the Feds to allow them more Columbia River water via a dryland farm irrigation program so that there will be adequate drinking water in Quincy. The data centers rely on diesel for back up generators. As the water supply and power supplies cease to be adequate, even the projects of the techbros will feel a pinch. All things being equal, as (cheekily) proven above, will eventually cause a huge slowdown for even the data center and robot controlled places.
All else being equal, why can’t I get into one of those survival bunkers? If nothing else, I ‘d like access to the seeds. At least I know how to use many of them. 😉
Not only the mice. Feral mice, feral rats, cockroaches and snakes. Bacteria, viruses. Ya know, on second thought, I’ll take my chances outside any of those techbro survival bunkers. Things could get very ugly in there.
Even if you have lured the rodents to the new summer kitchen area, I have full confidence that you will deal with them appropriately. Your considerable experience should be able to allow a quick pivot to the new conditions. If all else fails, you can always go full Bill Murray from Caddyshack on them.
And all is right with the universe! That photo of you and Ollie at that old drainage pit proves it. You are wearing The Hat. Summer cannot be far behind for you if you are wearing The Hat. I grew up wearing similar hats.
I had a university maths teacher for two calculus classes. As he couldn’t draw anything even close to a circle on the old chalkboard, he needed to go to art school to learn how. (Hint: he never ever attended art school.) He would draw something almost completely unlike a circle, then say, admiringly, “By definition that is a circle.”
He also had difficulties demonstrating graphing, his attempts to plot alleged data points so that a curve could be drawn through the data points, well, they were a bit better than his attempts at drawing a circle, but still disastrous. Yet, every demonstration was filled with at least one data point that met his definition of “If you draw the data point huge enough, it will fit on the curve.”
Seriously, though, he was a very good instructor. Very good. When I moved on from his junior college courses to the hardest maths teacher at Eastern Washington University, I found that the “hardest” teacher wasn’t that difficult compared with the “By definition that is a circle” prof I’d survived elsewhere.
That poor wallaby. Yes, higher fuel prices, less traffic. Less traffic, less roadkill. Less roadkill, happier critters.
That’s actually an example of the knowledge of good and evil. Higher fuel prices are evil for the fuel users. But higher fuel prices can be good for the critters due to less traffic and less roadkill. What’s good for the critters might be evil for the fuel users. Alternatively, what’s good for the fisherman is evil for the trout.
Hmmm, all things being equal, as (cheekily) proven above, would there be a scenario in which the trout catches the fisherman, turning the fisherman into fish food? Am I getting reasonably close to proving that black is white and white is black? If so, I better be VERY careful at the next zebra crossing.
DJSpo
Hi Pam,
Lucky you, and yeah the mid 90’s were a fun time despite the many hardships. I liked the band too and still have the Siamese Dream album. They had a wistful charm which was hard to grasp don’t you reckon? 1979 and Today were faves. Rage is over rated, better to be super chill and keep a cool tool. Go on, which was your fave? The world is a vampire, set to drain… 🙂 Unless you stay one step ahead that is!
Happy equinox to you as well! We had lovely weather down here the past two days, cool and sunny. Alas I’ve spent the hours indoors on paid work hankering for the solar energy just out of grasp which is waking the plants up from their winter slumbers. It was a bit touch and go the past few days as a light frost settled two mornings in a row. Youch!
Clever dogs comprehend the English language, and respect to Bob the tailless. Derision is a choice, and perhaps Mr Bob’s frustration was expressed by incomprehensible acts that he was being dissed – thus the super crazy bit. You were clearly onto his level and knew the colour of his soul more thoughtfully.
Sir Scruffy was kind of like that, and changed the circumstances of all other canines whom followed in his footsteps.
It’s been at least a quarter century since fleas have been an issue, and honestly I’ve no idea which variable in the dogs living experience, altered that. I’m learning and implementing as time moves along.
Nice work! And now you know where the leach field exists – and its extent. I’ve often wondered if I could make use of that permanently green plant material, but then the local forest critters may miss out on the regular easy quality feed. They spread the goodies around via their poop.
🙂 No doubts your son has fifty plans for your land. I so get that, and sympathise. It is a truth universally acknowledged that there are only 24 hours in a day! Oh Pam, sometimes when digging I encounter Moby rocks, and/or old tree roots and there is no shame in an honourable retreat. Those things are tough as.
A rather handy device you linked too, and if you recall, a more basic manual fly swatter was used to put an end to the mice. Sandra said of that moment of pure rodent smiting, that I uttered some naughty words which can’t be repeated due to breaking my own house rules! I’ll bet the tech bros neglect to include those, or rodent traps. Do’ ‘no ’nuffin anywhoo… 😉
Pam, a nice idea with the pancakes. You can substitute zucchini for potatoes in a moussaka and it tastes pretty much the same. Yum!
Cheers
Chris
Hi Claire,
So nice to hear from you and a happy Alban Elued to you and Mike. Mind you I prefer the Light of the Earth with the promise of the growing season to come! Tell you what, the past two mornings I’ve been on total tenterhooks! 2’C with light patches of frost… All of the early fruit trees show signs of tiny fruit, and it’s seriously touch and go right now. Walked around with the dogs this morning in the cold air just observing things and hoping for the best.
Claire, your weather records read like a bit of a nightmare to someone used to the cool-as down here, and you’d have humidity! Over 20’C overnight here in summer happens regularly, but it’s rarely the average. You’re not quite at the tropics stage either because you get those monster cold snaps during winter. And the dry was not lost on me either. You have sandier soils from memory, and they’d need a bit more rainfall than what you’ve just experienced.
For your interest, I’m re-reading Steve Solomon’s fine book “Growing Vegetables South of Australia”, to which he’s referring to the island state of Tasmania which is different from the mainland where I reside. It’s an appropriate book though due to the altitude above sea level here which pushes my climate 7 degrees latitude south. The current chapter is all about dry gardening and appropriate plant spacing, and I’m trying… Ain’t always easy, and Sandra has a preference for intensive, but is coming around to the idea that more space = more produce. Tank water however is a finite resource. Your town water is a wonderful thing, and a crutch, which presumably has its origins in that big ol’ river.
Oh yeah, you have to drain the rain barrels so that they don’t freeze and pop the plastic. A big old oak would appreciate the drink in those conditions. You’ll be happy to know that the oaks here are enjoying themselves and waking up from their winter slumber.
High fuel prices act like a tax on every activity. None are exempt, but truthfully, when I was a kid, nobody travelled around that much anyway. Maybe I’m jaded a bit too, and have lost all desire to see beyond the next horizon – I mean there is a lot of activity going on all around us, which isn’t strictly necessary. But yes, farmers as the trade now stands, have little choice but to use astounding amounts of thousands and thousands of litres of diesel fuel. If memory serves me correctly, history suggests that across the centuries prior to industrialism, 90% of the population were involved in subsistence agriculture. In the long term, how else can we avoid that future?
Oh yeah, early rain, and then dry during the harvest period, is like the best outcome ever. Fertiliser is an issue as well, sorry to say, and all that stuff has to be hauled by truck. More problems than my brain can encompass. Eventually costs for food will increase, and please excuse the pun, but that outcome is baked into the cake!
I must say, that I learned so much from the book: ‘The Intelligent Gardener’, and it blew my mind and assisted this place so much. Thank you for the recommendation. I loaned the book onto a friend who also gardens, and upon receiving it back, he looked mildly stressed! Oh well, to me the words ripped apart the generally accepted ideology. I can only but imagine what you with your background in Industrial chemistry took away from it. 🙂 Thanks again.
Cheers
Chris
Hi DJ,
Worked late tonight, but on the other hand, it’s nice to be a productive member of the community!
Your fuel costs up in the PNW are always up around what I’m kind of paying for non-ethanol blend. Makes you think carefully about just heading off into the wild blue yonder, doesn’t it! But as I mentioned to Claire, my desire to travel just isn’t there any more.
And oh yeah, truck drivers and farmers are doing it tough, and those costs are going to be passed on. Last I checked, people do not do that work for purely charitable purposes. 😉
Far out! Your summer weather has been rather horrid temperature wise. At least the fire risk has reduced, and hope that the folks on the Rez use the winter months to clean up the wider area. Better to do the work now, than wait until a monster fire does it for us all.
We finish the seasons on the start of the month rather than the solstice / equinoxes, although does it really matter? I think not. Hope the sun’s bite feels less harsh now?
Hehe! We mow here,
we mow there,
and here a hedge trim,
and there a hedge trim,
Everywhere a use for carbon steel!
It’s not good is it? Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Man, some of the comments with utoob stuff is just pure comic genius, and that one about the documentary made me laugh hard. It’d be funny if tech-bros weren’t salivating at the thought of reproducing the movie…
He did not, did he? Really? The software just doesn’t seem that bright, sorry guys! Look, I read a delightful observation that the gentleman understands how to navigate a bankruptcy proceeding…
Ah ha, but A comes before S in the alphabet. Proving it is better. But then there is logic to your logic – as commander tuvok once wisely stated. Although I’m stuffed if I know what he was on about, and that is the problem with Vulcan’s and their descent into mysticism.
That’s the wonderful thing about age, you have experience with the past, and know that things can get bad, dire even, but there is still wonderful enchiladas to be sought out, and dark beer is well worth the effort. Yes, very good indeed. Those delights remain affordable, even in the hardest of times. And good companionship! 🙂
Oh man, those things make no economic or community sense to me. They just don’t, but people love this arty-fish-al stuff. It’s just another expression of laziness and a desire to outsource one’s brain. Hey, what do zombies yearn for? See… It’s zombie economics, you read that here first.
And that’s the other thing about bunkers – so what are you going to do when the food runs out. It always happens. And there are some interesting articles about the weird bacterial and fungal growths which stink up space stations. As a species, we’re meant to deal with here, because it’s us, and there’s no separability.
Hehe! Nice one, and Bill Murray was the funniest thing about that film, the rest… Although I dunno what it says about me (and possibly you!) but I really enjoyed the film when younger. I guess tastes changed, but I never felt that change about the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or Monty Python films. Dunno. In fact, I quite enjoyed Tom Hanks in the naughty comedic Batchelor Party film, which he appears quite uncomfortable about nowadays. I’d have taken the pay too.
Yes, the hat rules! But you know I’m left hankering for a bucket hat made from terry towelling. The collection is not yet complete, is it? That was what Loki was wearing who so inspired me and caused the cardboard food plate to be swept up into my face – and he laughed. Fair enough too, it was funny.
Very amusing, and you were lucky to encounter an inspiring professor. It was a good line too. Did I ever mention that the grammar school accounting teacher, was also the disciplinarian master? It was him who I got know during after school detentions, and he had a rough as bags persona, but was actually quite a decent human being.
The wallaby was an unwanted surprise, but these things happen. And yes, the fisherman also use an extraordinary quantity of diesel. Hmm. I like the sneaky Hithchhikers reference too. Respect.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Lewis,
You know, it’s funny you mention that about that magazine, but I saw an article in the news that the English singer Charli XCX was going to do an err, spread, and wondered what that was all about. You know, those magazines also were a forum for aspiring writers. A dude / dudette has to hone their art, earn some crumbles and pay the bills too. I miss the days of AU$300 for 1,000 words. It was a decent hourly rate and the competition for publication kept a person sharp. Hope the magazine does well. Interestingly, the singer has worked very hard for a lot of years in the club music scene to get to where she is today.
Ha! I’ve read other accounts, and this was hinted at in the article – which only take on board the necessity of passengers, when there is an economic need to do so. Oh yeah, this form of travel will come back, I’ve no doubts about it. Passengers are considered a lucrative pain in the ear for the crew. I did rather enjoy the descriptions of the white glove and dressed up formal dinners with the captain and officers. And as someone who doesn’t get sea sick, even in rough-as water, I’d not skip on a meal either. Man, an old campaigner never knows when or where the next meal will be served. Thanks for the link. Fun stuff. A more civilised form of travel don’t you reckon?
Nice thinking with the stencils as that had not occurred to me. And interesting that Mr Banksy uses them as well. It’d take a lot of skill to get the form just right. I like your thinking, and will keep my eyes open to see if this trend catches on. It might. Has anyone tried such things in your part of the world?
Hehe! Oh my, I believe that neither of us should wade into such muddy cultural wars. Who cares what the order should be. Oops, hope they don’t come and get us! Did I just write that brutally honest critique of sociological silliness, or was it your idea? We should let H decide who owns that one… She may be biased though, as you’re closer to the dog treats.
The Editor called the nice insurance co today to talk down the house premium. Did you know, that you can get a discount for having a dog, if you ask about it? Apparently an Australian pig hunting dog presents something of a challenge to intruders. He is a bit scary if you didn’t know him, I guess. Oh anyway, treats… So as she was calling them up, I rudely interrupted her and said: I’ll give you a Lindt chocolate ball if you get more than $100 off the premium! That got a smile.
I’ll have to check out the trailer for the film, and Matt Damon is a versatile actor. Yes, that monastery has been heard of, even down here. I’ll mention the words ‘grasshopper’ and if you know, you know! 😉
You know the sin eater trade was a good way to give the outcasts of a community a role. Adding a bit of ritual and theatre to the performance would have just upped the ante. Some years the individual would be doing a brisk trade.
Our temperature tomorrow will be about the same as yours, yeah. Except your overnight was warmer. 2’C / 36’F this morning again, and with a light frost. I’m not certain that the thin-ish ice made it into the orchards, but Ollie and I had a good look around this morning. The old dog’s a bit crunch on cold mornings, but doing really well for his age. Your town would have a bit of the heat island effect I reckon, which may account for some of the frost difference? Dunno though.
Oops! Not good, but the asparagus spears will be coming to a close anyway soon for you. Out of curiosity, I forget, did the garden bed eventually fill up with the ferny fronds? Hope next spring you get a good supply of spears. Yum! And don’t forget the salt. Ted might have been a bit of sick of being whacked by the wet fronds of that plant… They do tend to fall over around the edges.
Your gut feeling is probably right there, especially if powdery mildew is on the leaves. People spray the leaves and go all feral and stuff about the fungi, but it’s really marking the end of the growing season for those heat loving plants. Just not enough light in the day now for you from what I’ve read. Even in the greenhouse they’d only get a week or so more.
That’ll learn the pesky deer, and hopefully scare them silly. I’ll be curious to hear what effect you’re noticing with the blood meal – which isn’t readily available down here, they mix the bone meal into it as well.
You just did say that! 🙂 Well, we don’t take on every new client put it that way, mostly because life is a bit short for dealing with folks who are acting like what my grandfather used to walk around calling everyone, me included. At least the bar for his expectations wasn’t set too high! 😉 Yeah, the wheat from the chaff is a good way to put it, but over a couple of decades you kind of know what business in what situation has longevity. Two people can run exactly the same business, in entirely different ways. Tell you a funny story, I got into this gig because I was hoping to sit in a back room and plug away on numbers and systems, and discovered that it is mostly about people. The back room is my happy place! 🙂
Ah, how unfortunate of Nero not to have read the room. Always unwise not to be aware of burdensome policies which impact upon people who are being squeezed to pay for them. Kind of creates resentment if you ask me.
I much prefer realism in art, sorry… Ook! Although I get the impression you do as well. Impressionism was quite good too, lovely hints of activity and wonderful settings.
Yes, I’m told that you may be going into the pits and fires for those coffees – and hopefully we can catch up there and have a good chat. 🙂 I’d be annoyed if they burnt the coffee though, wouldn’t you?
Agreed. It’s not nice having strangers wondering around one’s abode. Nope. Worked late tonight man. Oh well, it happens.
Cheers
Chris
Yo, Chris – You asked about the time changes. I saw an article, yesterday. In our Congress, the House has passed a bill, to maintain the Daylight Savings Time. It’s gone to the Senate. And, they are in session. If they pass it, it goes to Fearless Leader, for a signature. Although, that may get tricky, if it’s held hostage for … who knows why. But, even if so, no signature for a certain amount of time, and it becomes law, anyway. The time change will be, the first Sunday in November. Which, this year, is the 1st. If the Senate doesn’t act.
“I only buy it for the articles.” 🙂 Often heard, back in the day. I did like the interviews. Even Pres. Carter was a subject. Where he admitted to “lusting in his heart.” 🙂 I do believe Mr. King, published a bit of fiction in that magazine.
I don’t know how many writers and artists, I have read about, who worked freight ships, to keep afloat. In their “salad days.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad_days
Nope. Haven’t seen any depictions of penises, laying about the streets.
Well, as “The Terminator” has to do with time travel, it might get sort of confusing. A general idea of order, to inspire clarity, might be handy.
A promise of chocolate, would make anyone smile.
Our high yesterday was 70F (21.11C). Our overnight low was 46F (7.77C). Our forecast high for today is 67F. Prof. Mass has an interesting article about bird migration, and radar.
There are a lot of ferns, that have popped up in that half barrel. Both from the root I planted, and the seed.
Some people are interested in working in libraries, or bookstores, because they think all they have to do is sit around and read. Ha! I say! Ha!
H and I are about to pull it together, and get out of Dodge. Minor picking up and stashing of this and that has been accomplished. Lew
Chris:
I guess it’s a tie between “Tonight, Tonight” and “1979”. It’s been such a long time since I listened to them.
It seems like you’ve had an unusual amount of frost lately. Yesterday the high here was 25F colder than the high of the day before and it is staying like that for a few days. With rain.
I do remember the manual fly swatter and I fully expected you to be knighted for those acts of valor. The fluffies must have connections . . .
We have been doing our fall cleaning, which we tend to get to more often than spring cleaning. It’s a good idea while it is raining. The figlets are all snug in their greenhouses.
Pam
Chris:
Oh, heck – I’m glad Claire mentioned the rain barrels. We’ll need to be draining the hoses soon for the winter.
Zombie Economics. I read it here first.
Pam
Chris,
Oh, we didn’t hit the horridest temperatures much this year. It was more of getting above average temperatures early. Worse was the lack of rain and the months of very arid humidity.
They had thought Friday might be very wet. Now maybe some sprinkles and another windstorm. The Princess has to make a day trip to the Rez Friday. Memorial service for a close friend. In part of the burnt out area. She should have the wind behind her on the way home.
Meanwhile, Friday afternoon and evening are the setting up for our carving show followed by the judging. The show is this weekend.
To me the starting dates for the seasons are arbitrary. The seasons are just labels. The reality is when the days are shorter, there is less sun, more rain, some cold temperatures, ice and snow. Then things warm up and plants start growing again and there is rain. Then the rain stops, the nights are much shorter, it gets dry and hot. After awhile it starts to be less hot, then rain starts again, leaves fall, maybe there’s frost and early snow. More rain. Then repeat. Labels aren’t really needed.
Sadly, the poetic part of my brain is on vacation again. I am unable to improve upon your mowing poem.
I got done with today’s mowing of the front, which is on the east side of the house. I quipped to the Princess that I finished mowing the “east meadow”, as it looks very much like a meadow due to the variety of grasses and other plants. She rolled her eyes, wondered, “So what do you call the backyard?” I quickly replied, “That’s the west meadow with vegetable plots.” Her response was “You’re weird. Are you trying to sound farmerish?”, whereupon she returned to her reading. I was impressed. An insult and a new word all at once. 😉
I can already envision it. “Techbros, The Movie” coming soon to a theater near you. I understand that it is going to be a mash up of the Terminator movies, Animal Farm, 1984 and Wag the Dog. In other words, some will mistake it for another documentary. 🙂
Well, actually, Fearless Leader called AI “Superintelligence”, not “Superior Intelligence”. Seriously. For real. UGG
Yes, A comes before S. If it is better, it is only because “All letters are created equal, but some are more equal than others”, as was clearly spelled out in that classic book “Alphabet Farm”.
Yes, the wisdom that can come from age and experience. The sun will rise. Listening to the birds is still enjoyable. The dog enjoys going for walks and other outings. Friends are still to be treasured, enchiladas are still a worthy meal, and it is hard to beat a good dark beer.
Would the Three Stooges have been immune from zombie attacks? After all, they could always boast about their “slightly used” brains.
Agreed, we’re not meant to be cooped up perpetually in climate-controlled capsules. And they’re not thinking about something else. The peasants. When the techbros and whoever go and lock themselves into their bunkers, well, wouldn’t some of the peasants know where they went, then pile a bunch of rubble against the doors, blockading them in? Somebody would know where the doors and emergency tunnel doors are, wouldn’t they?
Caddyshack is one of many movies that didn’t age well. The last time I watched it, I realized that the only reason Bill Murray was funny in that movie was that the rest of it was so entirely stupid and humorless. Of course, that was also about the time that the City of Spokane was having problems with ground squirrels at the Finch Arboretum on the west end of town. Yes, they were literally feeding explosives into the tunnels, exploding them underground to release toxic gases. Yes, much of the community was wondering why they didn’t simply hire Bill Murray.
I knew you’d catch the Hitchhikers reference.
DJSpo
Hi Pam,
Oh poopies! Your brief-ish super-serious cold snaps during winter would be challenging. Draining out the hoses and rain barrels wouldn’t even cross my mind as something to do, so the mention was timely for yourself. Is it uncomfortable heading outdoors during those glacial moments, or do you get used to it in the depths of winter? I’d miss the fresh but-not-growing greens from the garden which would perhaps be bothered by all that frozen air, snow, ice and stuff.
And that was the moment the old brain began working. It turns out some serious researcher had already used the zombie-economics label. Phooey to that, and yet again the best ideas have already been taken. This is what being late to the party looks like! 🙂 Has the late timing made any difference, other than bringing you and I a bit of a smile and chuckle? I don’t think so. The idea of zombies on a rampage during an economics conference, has a certain sort of raffish appeal.
Yeah, three mornings this week of light frost. You know, I’ve been sort of holding off planting out the potatoes for that reason, and might get to that job on Monday. That is the plan anyway. A heat loving annual garden here, can be started too early in the season – and that is a problem.
1996 was a good year, despite the undertow. Tonight, tonight is brilliant. Yes. I knew the song but it had slipped my mind, and had never seen the video. Thanks for mentioning it, such joy. And the string backing is awesome.
As it cools in your part of the world, the weather is warming here. 68’F and very pleasant. Did about half the day of paid work, and then skipped out and grabbed a gourmet pie and ice cream for lunch. Hardly the food of champions, but they were so tasty. Lamb and rosemary pie for your info.
Thank you for recommendation, and the miceies got smited bad at 3am that night I sure can tell you, and proper grammar being not a thing at such moments! I blush now to think of the language used at that encounter, but err, feelings were somewhat strong.
Might finish up that rock wall tomorrow, it being a public holiday and stuff.
🙂 Inside tasks, for indoors weather. I’m with you too, in spring the need to hit the outdoors is far stronger. Good to hear that the figlets are safe from the weather. Too much rain can be as problematic, if not more so, than too little. The figgies are springing back into life here.
Cheers
Chris
Hi DJ,
Your description kind of says what a slowly warming climate looks like. The snow season in the alpine area of this continent was abysmal, although there was heaps of rain. Apparently the temperature at Australia’s highest weather station (1957m above sea level) reached 16’C today (a new record). It felt warm here too at 20’C which was quite pleasant: September heat records shattered at Australian snow resorts
The Professor mentioned that your area, east of the Cascades, would be in for some of the winds which swept over Oregon. Hope you get some rain too, even a little bit helps, and that your lady is untroubled during her journey. The wind behind collects in one’s metaphorical sails and speeds on the destination – or at least saves some fuel. I’ve observed that in vehicles.
Sorry to hear that your lady lost a good mate. It’s always hard burying such lovely people. Please accept my condolences for the loss.
I was thinking today about additional plant spacing in the garden reducing the need for watering during the summer months (nod to the Tasmanian author and keen grower, Steve Solomon), and realised the same could apply to the forests, here or in your part of the world. Ah, grasshopper, before treeing an area, first ask: How many trees can the land support in a bad year? Might not be as many as grows – trees being much like humans, optimists and probably over doing things.
Good luck with the show, and did you enter in anything? Hope your conversations with the judges are fruitful, and that the 3D printed stuff matter was sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction. Just between you and I, it’s been remarked upon elsewhere that a result where all parties walk away, and nobody gets everything they want, is a good description of an equitable conclusion. 😉
We’re of a similar mind. The seasonal labels are at best an abstraction, and at worst a poor guide. You do know that you’ve just asked people to live more consciously, don’t you? What does this moment suggest should be done at this location is possibly a step too far for most. Respect.
Thanks for the kind words, and may your creative juices flow, when you are ready. Unfortunately, I am afflicted by an earworm. The world is a vampire. Set to drain… The pitch of my voice is such that I can do a very close copy of that catchy song…
Ha! Beware of using the word meadow, for the lawn purist cops might come and get us all! I’m so with you though, a meadow is a wonderful thing, be it east or west facing. Very good too! And yes, we all must deal with candid observations of our lady’s with aplomb. Mind you, yours was an apt technically correct description. I profess a natural inability to multi-task, which always earns a groan.
All very true, but the tech-bro reality is probably closer to the Office Space movie – the dreaded tps report cover sheets: Office Space (1/5) Movie CLIP – Did You Get the Memo?. To this day, I still can’t quite comprehend how an employer of Sandra’s gave her free tickets to go and see that film. Like, did they not know what it was all about? Probably not… Oh the irony!
I reckon the entire concept of superintelligence is closer to the tps report cover sheet reality. Sorry…
Oh that’s good, alphabet farm. I bow to your ingenious greatness. Thanks for the laughs.
Yeah, Alfred E Neumann had it right with the words: What, me worry? Admittedly, at the time I read those fun magazines, worry was a thing… Age tends to dull such urgencies on the bigger issues. The more personal concerns, are still and always worrying, but that is the natural human condition.
You know, it was my impression that since the Three Stooges were lampooning the rest of us by their sheer foolishness, they were probably smarter than all of us. It’s a theory, and I’m still working on it… But on that basis, it raises the awful question: Can zombies be fooled by acts of dumbness? Admittedly, this was trialled in Sean of the Dead.
Well exactly. We’ve got a whole bunch of super fertile farm land, why not lock the tech-bros in the bunkers and enjoy the largess? Your suggestion is most wise because with a bunker, the door always has to open outwards. It’s the same problem with castles in that it is easier to bash the doors down if they open inwards. The whole bunker thing is stupid, wouldn’t it be easier to simply make peace with the remaining locals?
I know! Bill Murray was awesome in the film, and the chocy bar in the pool scene was great too, again Mr Murray. The rest was a commentary on the values of new money versus old money, and it was all just awkward.
The arboretum is beautiful. What a lovely place and I’d sure go and visit it if in the area. If I may, allowing dogs into the place might assist with the ground squirrels? And hadn’t heard of that species before. Yeah, such critters are a nuisance, but, they also aerate the soil for free. I dunno, gardens are a living environment, not a cemetery and you should see the craziness that all of the forest critters inflict upon here. Wombats are most excellent diggers I can assure you, and have no concerns as to aesthetic considerations. Echidna’s tend to dig under the very large musk daisy bushes, probably hunting grubs. I won’t mention the timber of that bush because it is a fine lovely smelling grain which has been used for carving. Oops. Yeah, critters gonna do.
🙂 And you thought I was asleep. It’s simply not true, I was only half asleep – it being a long work day yesterday. But I’m onto your stuff! Remember the tps cover sheet! Hehe!
Cheers
Chris
Hi Lewis,
The old brain began cogitating upon daylight savings time. Down under some of the larger states do not observe this annual spectacle. Interestingly there is much derision from those whom do, such as what I’ve heard others say: “Oh no the curtains will fade with the extra light” or other nonsense. Such words are particularly aimed at rural people. Hmm. Wikipudding put a more logical explanation on this reluctance by rural areas to adopt this policy in pretty simple terms: “unpopular, especially with farmers because DST meant they had less time in the morning to get their milk and harvested crops to market.” Clearly urban folks had forgotten how the food arrived upon their plates. Ah, the wonderful world of descent into abstractions…
Presumably the large supermarkets bypass this much older market system by contracting directly with large farmers. But such markets still operate.
It’s also of interest that the Germans were the first to introduce the policy in WWI in order to save fuel for night time lighting… Interestingly, your country trialled the year around experiment during the 70’s oil crisis. Didn’t end well with dead school children. What a hornets nest. Will the latest instalment get past Congress? From a long enough time perspective, does it really even matter?
The Professor has suggested that your part of the continent is in for some pretty nasty weather, which may fortunately run a bit south of you. Could get windy, cold and wet. Hope you and H dodge the wet stuff falling from the sky on your walks.
Yeah, that’s what they used to say about being caught with that particular magazine. Who sowed that idea? It’s quite clever really as it holds a nub of truth. And that’s the thing isn’t it? In between the occasional nudie photo, there was a whole heap of good text. One pays for the other, from a business perspective. Hehe! Yes, that is indeed what the: ‘On Writing’, book suggested. But, the skills learned getting into that tightly contested publishing vehicle, would teach an author to market a product to which the audience responded positively. There are a few genuine creative freaks, and not all talent is equally shared, but Mr King did make a most excellent point, in that practice can improve most writers.
Oh! I’d not realised that the term ‘Salad Days’, harked back to the Bard himself! Well, I never, and had thought that it had something, or other, to do with Brideshead Revisited. Of course, the sisters had not read the book – why would they have? – but they sure did go nuts for the series in the, what was it, early 80’s? I was unsure what it was all about, and in fact was too busy earning mad cash, doing sports and being drowned by school homework – to take much notice. Frankly speaking, rather than dwelling upon the past glories or otherwise, I’m simply happy to be around. It’s a workable philosophy, although your opinion may vary wildly.
Clearly standards are higher in your part of the world! The Puritans never held much sway in a country which began its current incarnation as a place of incarceration! The trickster is strong down here. Anyway, the entire pothole issue is becoming a bit of a political headache for the present goobermint, and the rural folks are rather unhappy at the short-shrift they’re receiving. I can field the $800 repair bill, but not everyone living out of the big smoke, or the much smaller regional cities can. And really big projects are on the go in the big smoke with benefits accruing there, and there is so much debt. Basically, it is a mess of a situation.
Just between you and I, some of the lesser asphalted rural roads will eventually be returned to dirt, and the gooey stuff will get crunched up and used to repair potholes in more affluent, err, big smoke like areas. I don’t see how this future can be avoided. And there are a few dramas with diesel fuel right now. Decline is so much fun…
Oh, I’d not thought of the film franchise from that perspective, but yes, I agree with your observation. As you previously noted, there are opinions on that subject as well!
Yeah, the Editor enjoys Lindt chocolate as a rare treat, and somehow unwittingly I’ve become involved in that process. A friend recently offered me some supplies, and I had to politely decline. I’m in a tricky spot already with this, because if I up the supply, it’ll be appreciated, but there may be blame too. Hmm, yes. It’s complicated, so I’ve cut the Gordian Knot with this whole issue and produced a schedule. The Editor likes lists…
The weather here was exactly the same, 70’F and quite pleasant. Did about half a day’s work, and then headed off to grab a gourmet pie (lamb and rosemary) and ice cream for lunch. Good stuff. Such foodstuffs caused a food coma crash afterwards… All very nice. The overnight low was warmer here than at your place. 59’F this morning.
Alas, rain is in the forecast. The plan tomorrow (a public holiday for the footy finals) is to try and finish the rock wall which was only half done last week. It’s a plan… Report on the outcome tomorrow!
Good stuff, and all those asparagus ferns will be capturing the sun’s energy and storing it in the thick root systems. You’ll be harvesting spears from there in about six months.
We’ve all been there haven’t we? Ah, to dream, the impossible dream – and then we learn about how to work with the general public, sort of. 🙂
Hope the inspection and general nuisance wasn’t too bad?
Cheers
Chris
Yo, Chris – I ment to mention, you’re title for this weeks post. “Maze.” here, tis the season of corn mazes. We have two or three, in our county. Usually, with adjacent pumpkin patch. I couldn’t find an article, that might not be behind a pay wall, but do a search for … “Dolly Parton corn maze.” You will be a-mazed by the photos. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes. Urban rural divide, which you touched on, several times. Time change, roads, food distribution.
As far as the time change goes, I suppose there’s just as many pro arguments, as con. Depends on your perspective. Me, I’ll just be happy not to suffer temporal whiplash, twice a year. And, I tend to work in my garden, later in the day, or early evening. So, for me, it works out.
I wonder if all the time changes, across time and space, play hob with astrologers casting charts? Hmmm. Open post at Mr. Greer’s this week. I might just ask.
Supermarkets, as far as sourcing, are really a mixed bag. A lot of their stuff comes from wholesalers. Or, for some stuff, sales reps come in and actually keep the shelves stocked. But, direct from farmers? Not so much. Probably due to one less invoice to keep track of, and, less traffic on the loading dock.
Our high yesterday was 66F (18.88C). Our overnight low was 46F (7.77C). Our forecast high for today is 64F. When I took Dawg for a walk, this morning, I told her it was probably our last dry walk, for awhile. Big green blobs, on the radar, moving in from the coast. And, the wind is rising. We might get a bit of a breeze.
I only buy it for the comics. 🙂 It also launched the careers, of a number of comic book artists.
Hmm. “Brideshead.” Over the decades, I think I saw both televised versions, and, perhaps, read the book. As far as theme goes, it’s practically a genre. Poor boy from undistinguished background is apparently taken on by a rich, connected family. They seem to dote on him, for one reason or another. But, sooner or later, he is made aware of the hard fact, that he isn’t one of them, will never be accepted, and how did he get those funny thoughts, anyway? I’ve read that plot arc, over and over again. They’re really cautionary tales, of not knowing your place, and getting above your “station.”
I swung by the library, yesterday. The new “Evil Dead” is in my stack. I predict a popcorn night, in my near future. But not tonight.
Well, I don’t have a list, but do have my after lunch rotation, of two Lindt chocolate squares, a small handful of walnuts, and a small handful of pecans. Let’s see. Yesterday was pecans, so, today it’s chocolate. 🙂
My dinner, last night, wasn’t near as interesting as a lamb pie, and ice cream. Rice and seeds, a can of “seasoned Lima beans,” diced garlic, and frozen broccoli and carrots. So, what’s in this? I took a look at the ingredients list. MSG and salt. Which I know bothers you, but doesn’t me. No thirst or desire to take on extra water. 🙂 “Seasoning,” No exploration of that. Probably, proprietary, or something. Or, perhaps shifts according to changing costs. And, a bit of bacon grease.
I’ll go easy, on harvesting any asparagus, next spring. A mix of seed and root, but early days for that patch. I saw geese, yesterday, heading south. And heard some more, last night. Dawg and I flushed a couple of deer, away from the gardens. Deer and I had a stare down, across the back lawn. They blinked first, and moved off into the woods. Dawg didn’t make a sound. 🙁
We hung out at the Club, until near noon. Saw a lot of people I hadn’t seen in awhile. Dawg got enough attention, to hold her for awhile. By the time we got home, the inspection was over. I couldn’t tell that anyone had been in my apartment, But, basically, they stick a head in and make sure the siren is blaring and the psychedelic light show is up to snuff.
And, from the Wonderful World of Archaeology, a Roman mosaic, that included the family pets.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/stunning-2-000-old-roman-063600502.html
A dog called Ocean (maybe he peed a lot?) and a cat named Emerald. How cool. Lew
Chris:
I am a person who likes the cold; I suffer terribly (outside, not inside with AC) in the summer. I have planted greens 4 times since late summer. Some don’t come up at all, some are eaten by these new stinkbugs. Generally, by now I’d be eating some, even once it starts freezing. It’s driving me nuts. The corn is still looking good and I have been eating the mid July-planted pole beans. And – I wasn’t going to mention it, lest you get queasy – but I have started harvesting sweet potatoes and they are stupendous; many are gigantic. So I guess they like black plastic. I haven’t tasted any yet, though . . .
Phooey. You could have cashed in on that. Zombies, but only at an economics conference (you were perhaps thinking of Switzerland?). And only if I don’t know anyone there. Fat chance.
Lamb isn’t often served around here. Do you see it quite a bit?
Oh, yeah – footy finals!
Pam
Chris,
Oh, man, I remember one ski season that was bad all over the western US. 49 Degrees North outside Chewelah, Washington, is where I skied at the time. There was barely coverage atop some rocks at the top. Snow ended before getting to the bottom, where it turned to mud. Sort of like that picture of the lower Perisher area. Yet, it had better snow than many of the fabled resorts. Skiing was okay, but 49 Degrees raked in record profits as people came from Colorado and Montana to ski there, such were the overall conditions elsewhere.
The forecasts keep changing the amount of rain expected. We will get something, which will be welcome. And wind. That is still in the forecast. The Princess has driven in worse than what is expected but will be very careful.
The person died a year ago. By tradition, there is a memorial service one year later. So, that’s what this is.
Back in the day when my friend and I rode our bicycles to university in Cheney, a series of thunderstorms was in the area for our ride home one afternoon. We had a hefty tailwind and were routinely cruising at 50mph on the shoulder of the interstate. We avoided the rain. It was a lot of fun.
Thanks. The new show chairman seems to have everything under control. We appear to be on track for a few more entries than last year. I’ve got a pyrography thing entered in Advanced level. Silhouetted trees with a Sasquatch in front of them with the caption “Ew People”. I’ve got a carving a entered a level down in Intermediate. It’s got a canoe I carved, a block of wood I carved into a rock. Two of the weird heads that I carved will sit atop the rock looking at the canoe. (I call this style “off-kilter carving”.) It is entitled “Used Tippy Canoe and Tylers Two”.
That’s a play on the 1840 Presidential campaign slogan which was used by William Henry Harrison and his running mate John Tyler. Harrison was the general who won a battle against some Natives on the Tippecanoe River in 1811 and gained the nickname “Tippecanoe”. The slogan was “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”. I doubt that the judges will know this, but I had fun with the carving and the title.
Pictures will eventually appear on your doorstep, er in your email. Eventually.
Oh, humans tend to label things so that they don’t have to be conscious. Bread and circuses and all that. We can kid ourselves that we actually know something if we can provide the correct label for a zillion things.
I remember one time when I was riding the old mountain bike in Riverside State Park. I was going slowly up a steep trail and heard a screeching overhead. I was near a tree that the top had fallen off, a large nest sitting up there with babies in it. The mother was quite agitated that I was so close. So I turned about and rode away. When mentioning the story at the job a few days later, I was asked what type of hawk was involved. I replied, “Hawk angry at human too close to nest. Hawk big enough to rip face off. That kind of hawk.” Seriously, the fact that it was a red-tailed hawk was irrelevant to the episode.
Lawn purist cops? Wow, they would make a fortune in Spokane. A lot of people don’t take care of their lawns at all. At least calling it a meadow indicates that something might actually be growing other than thistles. In fact, if I were to come up with a formal plan that meets City guidelines, I could get some money to help offset the cost of landscaping and removing some grass. But those programs require plants I’m not interested in.
Making peace with the locals would entail actually talking to people, people who behave differently than the techbros act. That’s not something the stereotypical techbro is good at. It’s a lot easier to build and stock a bunker and move in.
The Princess and I used to visit the Arboretum each autumn during the changing of the leaves. Spectacular. Growing up, we visited there multiple times a year. It was a great place for active children to run around and see many different kinds of trees. I actually learned something. That arboretum is very beautiful.
DJSpo
Hi Pam,
I like the cold weather too, but the heat doesn’t bother me so much even when it pushes past 100’F. Such conditions are what we all have to endure from time to time. It was warm, smoky and humid today – an uncomfortable situation. Finished up the far end of the rock wall, and by a late lunchtime felt pooped out. Fortunately after lunch one of the water pumps needed fixing because an electrical contact had corroded. By the way, I sprayed the repair with lanolin…
Well, hey, the little portable A/C unit + sun shields have made a massive difference to the inside temperature of the house during summer, so I hear you about that, oh yeah! A wonderful technology, and looking at the meters on the power system, the thing uses surprisingly little energy. 🙂 Go thee hard and enjoy!
Some err, unsolicited thoughts about your seeds for the greens which didn’t germinate. Apologies in advance. 😉 If I had seeds which failed to come up four times, I’d be looking for a new seed supplier. Seriously, you may have been sold a pack of duds, or your own saved seeds have deteriorated to the point where there is no vigour. I’m real sorry to say it, but start all over again. I generally expect a 90% germination rate from seeds.
Now of course, you have lots of water from the well, so we can rule that out, maybe. But here is a question for you. Did you grow the same variety of plants in that soil in previous years? I know. I know. I do so bang on about crop rotation, but it is a thing, and also a matter I struggle with – mostly due to not having the garden set up the way it could work. The rock wall that was mostly completed today is part of that crop rotation story. But if you raised the newly purchased seeds (not from the same supplier) in a new part of the garden, you may be surprised?
And Pam, oh my, you may crack it, but those pesky stink bugs can apparently live in and under mulch in winter. Sorry, but get thee rid of thy mulch if that stuff sits on the soil surface at your place. Ook! People love mulch, and I did too once long ago, but no longer. The rolly polly’s love that stuff too. And slugs…
Thank you for your kind compassion, those tubers just make me gassy and I’d blow up like a helium balloon. You’re very lucky to have the enzyme in your system which can break those starches down. Enjoy!
I like how your brain works, and yes, the Dav-ee-os folks could use a little bite or two from a proper zombie infestation. And you raise an important point, what we manifest for others may come back to err, bite us. I’m unworried, that lot will reap what they sow, and we need but do nothin’! 🙂
If you get a chance to roast a lamb leg, I’d recommend it. The meat has a sweet flavour, which is very pleasant. Sheeps are lovely critters, and real survivors, mostly because they can dig up and eat plant roots. When I was a child, nobody ate beef, it was all lamb this and that, and probably a whole bunch of mutton. 🙂 It’s fallen out of favour these days, but may make a come back as hard times bite.
Yup, footy finals eve. No point going anywhere… 🙂
Cheers
Chris
Hi DJ,
Chewelah Mountain has some good summer hiking trails too. You’re so lucky to have such large mountains at high elevation near to your home. The conditions sound ideal for skiing. And that’s the thing isn’t it? The snow surface for the sport only has to be good enough. They use a lot of snow making machinery up in the alpine areas down under these days, and get this, the same equipment has been used to fight bushfires. But yeah, one winter can be very different from the next.
Best wishes to your lady who is journeying in less than ideal conditions. The forecasts down here tend to be more accurate for wind than rainfall, but then I’ve watched from this eyrie, in dry years rainfall running down the freeway which follows the valley floor – missing this side of the mountain range. It happens, and the mountains exert an influence, not always beneficial. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow.
Thank you for the explanation, and I’d forgotten that aspect. Many cultures follow such practices, and I believe such was the case with the Indigenous folks in this area.
Oh my! Bicycles at that speed can be an exciting and exhilarating experience. And yeah, without the tricksy lithium batteries and motors these days, such speeds are hard to achieve. Your tail wind would have been just so, with a downhill gradient I’m guessing. The fastest I’ve been on a bicycle is 40mph and it felt alarming – mostly because I rode motorcycles had this awful knowledge as to what might happen to me if I fell off without all of the leathers and helmet… A lot of these things have a mental dimension to them don’t you reckon?
Very good, and respect for yet again challenging the values of your judges. Probably could use a bit of a shake-up. Nice work. The Sasquatch sounds like a fun entry, and you’d imagine that other branches of the human species would look upon the self described ‘sapiens’ as bad news. 🙂 I’m a bit lost though, but sense a cogent reference which escapes the ol’ brain. What did you mean by the ‘Tylers Two’ – ah, I see and thanks for the elaboration!
Harrison was a very strange and very odd fellow. The irony of his demise was that he appears to have ignored basic precautions against the weather. There is a lot to unpack in that long and winding story. I like your style with the carving, but was wondering as to the expressions of the faces for the two weird heads?
And I look forward to receiving the pictures. Hope you do well in the event, or at least confuse the daylights out of the judges – as previously mentioned, they can stand a bit of that I reckon.
Well, yeah, exactly! You’ve hit the most important question of all: How much do we really know? Comprehending the name of a black hole, wouldn’t be anything like the same experience as if you found yourself in a spaceship sucked into the thing. My gut feeling suggests the rate of survival in that instance would be negligible, but at least you’d know what the monster is called… A comforting final thought.
You’d be amazed, but the local magpies do that swooping thing to folks in the city, although without the more extreme elements some of your critters can do. Those birds often show off their young to me, and the fledglings make a heck of repetitive racket, until the parents literally go and kick them and roll them upside down. The world of bird is tough-as. Chastised, the young birds get back up again, and continue with the racket.
Really? Those sort of funds usually have strings attached, as you kind of alluded to. Not my bag either man.
The whole tech bro thing will blow over in time, although the road will be long and painful. There are already plenty of fractures in that story, and my gut feeling says that it will go splat in an unpleasant kind of an economic way.
🙂 Lovely stuff and such places are works of beauty. The trees do teach, if we can but listen.
Finished up the far end of the rock wall today. 23’C and smoky from (I’m guessing) planned burns way to the west of here. Quite humid too. There’s probably another day’s work on the wall. I’m struggling to know when to prune the trees, because they need a couple of days of warm sunny weather to heal the cuts. Oh well, it’ll happen. It’s meant to rain tomorrow.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Lewis,
You know, I’d thought that you’d mistyped the word maize, but no, that is a literal Dolly corn maze, or twenty. Very impressive and thanks for the laughs, yes quite droll! The English were clearly feeling the pressure and possibly responded with a Pumpkin mosaic of David Attenborough breaks world record. Hardly five acres though, is it? Oh, and I note that someone has allegedly fallen and died at the infamous Hanging Rock, just on the other side of the range. Strange energies there.
Hehe! There has always been an urban – rural divide in our culture. It happens.
Man, I’m so with you, and it takes a few days to get over the jet-lag feeling involved with the time shift. The whole clock thing is an abstract concept anyway, which is why we get the temporal anomaly whiplash. It is just getting up earlier which presents the big dramas. Oh well, there is no debate about it all in this state.
Good thinking, and I see that you got a response. I’m intrigued by Mr Greer’s readings and compare them to events as they unfold. There’s lots of interesting activities going on all around us. On that note, we finished up the far end of the rock wall today, and I did manage to squash a finger at one point, but should be OK. The path is looking pretty good, but there’s another day of work to do next to the house water tanks, before the job is completed. Me tired tonight, but pleased. The air was quite warm and muggy today, and smoke moved in from planned burn offs in the west of the state and into South Australia. It happens.
The supermarkets are an interesting story, and I can’t say for sure how they manage their logistics and inventory. It would be a nightmare of a problem to resolve. One of the big ones down here apparently famously handed the problem over to software… Dunno it seems risky to me, but what do I know? I’d imagine the big farmers deliver straight to the distribution centres.
One of the questions I ask of folks reaching for efficiency, is whether that goal produces a resilient outcome. It’s one of those situations where it’s OK if everything works perfectly. You’d have noticed that the real world is far from that halo model?
Dude! It was warmer here today. What, only a few days after the equinox, and the batten has already been handed over? 🙂 23’C / 73’F. Tomorrow will be back to the description of what you’re also experiencing weather wise.
The Professor mentioned in his blog that you and H are in for a bit of wind, although I had the impression (maybe incorrectly) that the worst of the storm will run south of you, maybe… Hang onto your hat, anchor down H, and dodge the rain!
I’d not known that about the comics in the magazine, but yeah, it’s a good spin on the previous saying. Have to check into this… … Deep dive ensues.
The genre is real, yes. And yours was a cogent summary of the situation. The Atonement film in 2007 had that same narrative, and of course the family unfairly turned on him, thus the eventual atonement – which seemed like a pretty hollow gesture to me. Made for a good film though. I like that core lesson you’ve raised, yes, a cautionary tale.
Sadly the Evil Dead folks got all serious. Ash was a genuinely amusing protagonist. Now are we discussing Evil Dead Burn, or Evil Dead Rise? Oh goodie, there is an ending with a scary-possibly-large-wood-chipper in the fifth instalment! Oh you’re in for some fun, and popcorn of course. Honestly, if I dug up a weird looking old book like the one in the film, I’d send it onto Mr Greer, he’d know what to do with it, maybe… And hey, it’d be on another continent, and this may prove to be advantageous. 🙂
I’m a bit dodge on lists, despite their usefulness, so glad to hear that you manage the choccie / nut rotation without them. After the one list to rule them all week – that thing nearly did me in. Far out. Nope, some lines can’t be crossed. We never see pecan nuts down under.
You’re clearly made of stronger stuff with this tolerance for MSG business. I’m impressed. Man, don’t look or think too closely about whatever seasoning actually means. Could be rather surprising. But you’re probably right, it’s a catch-all phrase for whatever tasty stuff they could chuck in that could be afforded druing that month of production. And a dash of bacon fat would add some pretty tasty notes to the dish.
Had the Spanish omelette for dinner tonight. The chickens are on the lay at this time of year, so we have to do something with all of the eggs. Yum!
Fair enough with the asparagus, and you’ll know when you can begin harvesting the spears in quantity. We had some grilled today for lunch. It was a public holiday today for the footy finals which are being held tomorrow (Saturday). Just the day to stay at home and work on rocks.
H has some wild stock in her breed, and that lot know herbivores in their DNA. And it’s impressive that she did not bark. I never had troubles with deer when Sir Poopy was around and his breed was raised to herd reindeer – not all that different. Your deer will be watching for you both next time – they learn.
The inspection could have been worse, and glad you and H dodged the craziness of the lights and noise. Still, the devices serve a purpose.
Yeah, the mosaics were awesome, and there was some sort of mention that the Roman’s didn’t keep pets as we do nowadays. Do you know what that was all about? Emerald the cat looked quite leisurely, whilst Ocean the dog was bouncing around.
Cheers
Chris
Yo, Chris – I was never too confused by maze and maize, but “corn” as a catchall term for grains, threw me, early on. Especially when I run across phrases like, “The Romans imported huge amounts of corn from Egypt.” And I’m thinking, “Wait a minute. Columbus didn’t sail the ocean blue, until fourteen hundred and ninety-two.” 🙂 But, I got it sorted.
Wow. That’s some pumpkin mosaic. I’m sure The Great Pumpkin, will visit Hampshire, to take a look. 🙂
In one of those coincidences, I just picked up a book from the library. “Don’t Go There: A Tour of the World’s Most Sinister Spots.” (Ocker, 2026). I haven’t had a chance to take a good look at it, but Hanging Rock isn’t included. Maybe there will be a volume 2? Some places just have bad juju.
Yup. Always been a divide between rural and city. Although there seems to be a lot of “Delusions of Country.” 🙂 Hence, the saying, “All hat and no cows.” Or, movies such as “Urban Cowboy.” Pretenders to a subculture. Happens a lot. Remember “week-end hippies?” And what’s with white-boys with dreadlocks?
I saw what Mr. Greer had to say. Makes sense. I suppose I could make a comment, about turning the whole thing over to a i. 🙂 But won’t go there. I think the best charts are probably from people who have a high intuitive sense. People. Real people.
I saw your comments on Greenland. There’s a parallel , here. Some of our most red, conservative states (No government at all!), take in far, far more in government funds, then they send to Washington.
Sounds like you’re banging along on the rock wall. Literally. But, oh, that finger!
Our high yesterday was 64F (17.77C). Our overnight low was 54F (12.22C). Our forecast high for today is 61F. Weather, we’v got it. H and I got lucky, yesterday. Our early evening walk had just a few raindrops. And, we hit a clear spot, at midnight. But I don’t think we’re going to be so lucky, this morning. Forecasts were for wind in the mid-20s mph. And, they finally got around to putting a “wind advisory up.” But when I got up and checked the weather, we’d had gusts of 44mph. It’s a couple of hours, later, and gusts are back into the mid 20s. But it’s still raining. I’ve been putting off walking the dog. She seems happy, still having a lay in. But sooner or later …
The book, “The Goldfinch,” was a bit about a rich family, eventually crapping on a poor boy. So, we even have the American version. 🙂 Then there was the Booker Prize winner, in 2004. “Line of Beauty,” by Hollinghurst. I think it was also done as a miniseries.
The DVD I have in the stack, is “Evil Dead Burn.” I’ll get to it, eventually. I’m still slogging through “Stranger Things.” Season four. Only one more season to go!
I mentioned that the library has ordered in a lot of documentaries. Also, quit a few of the “Great Courses.” Those college lectures on every topic imaginable. Oh, Including, “Great Tours: Australia and New Zealand.” Which of course, I put on hold. 🙂 And, a Great Course on “The Inklings.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inklings
When Dawg and I went out, last night, I flushed three deer away from the gardens. I think they’re after some apple falls, which are nearby. After sitting on the garden wall, for awhile, and contemplating the moon, Dawg and I retraced our path … to discover the three deer had returned. Were they surprised when we reappeared.
Sometimes, I have a hard time remembering what I had on the previous days rotation. 🙂 Last night for dinner, I wanted something simple. So, I had three tuna melts on English muffins. I also had some cherry tomatoes, to squeeze in, along with the tuna and Swiss cheese.
I don’t know where that off comment about the Romans not keeping pets, as we do, comes from. Remember when we did a deep dive, into Roman tomb stones, erected to their beloved pets?
Well, there’s not getting around it. Time to take Dawg for a walk. Lew
Lew:
That Roman mosaic was so stunning. Imagine having that on your floor.
Pam
Chris:
Sorry to hear about the smoke. That can make a lovely day uncomfortable. Did you spray the lanolin on before or after the repair?
I love advice – thanks! For each type of green I used seeds from at least 2 different places, generally one from home-saved and one from a supplier, different suppliers. So beside home-saved, there were about 5 suppliers. It’s very mysterious except that I have caught the stinkbugs eating the few that came up, and the pack of 4 cabbages that I bought in town already started. I wondered about slugs, but I have seen none.
Crop rotation is a great thing and I try very hard to follow it. Some were planted in the same place, some weren’t.
Please tell me more about mulch when you have time. I use quite a bit of it.
Never worry about vengeance. It will be taken care of somewhere.
I have liked lamb okay the one or two times I’ve had it, but I thought mutton was terrible. And now you may say “Too bad, so sad for you.”, but I have a thing about eating lamb or veal; baby animals. I don’t know why. We didn’t eat either at home when I was growing up. I guess the grown ones aren’t as cute.
Pam
Hi DJ,
Hope you are doing alright, and that the show proceeded without a hitch. The Professor mentioned that the strong winds had even reached your part of the state, and that a few houses were without power.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Pam,
The smoke is par for course down here once the weather warms. I’m kind of used to it, but the conditions aren’t ideal and I appreciate your kind words.
The lanolin was sprayed (and some strong surface insect spray too – the only time I use that stuff) onto the repaired components. I’d expected that the electrical connection was meant to be shielded from the rain, but it has been a very wet year. Condensation can be an issue. The replacement part will last longer with a nice dose of sticky lanolin.
Oh my! What a pest you have on your hands. I’d not appreciated that the Brown marmorated stink bug was a fairly new insect to your part of the world. Far out! OK, so it is a sap sucking beastie – thus the damage to your seedlings – and fruit. Seems like few insecticides are fully effective, but there was some evidence that the local critters are beginning to learn how to consume the insects – but that takes a lot of time.
The Portuguese millipede used to be a nightmare here, and eventually a local nematode learned how to eat them. That nasty little critter also exuded a toxic stink. Nowadays it is just another background critter turning wood cellulose into poop for the benefit of the soil.
Oh goodie, it’s in New Zealand… OK, I’ve got some bad news for you. Stop using mulch. Get rid of the lot, rake it up and burn it before winter, all of it. The canny insect hides during the winter in both houses and also such toasty warm protected spaces as mulch, and then hibernates. The ash will make a good fertiliser…
One of the main strategies I use against dastardly eaters of the plants we produce is to eliminate the opportunities for their housing during the lean time. It sets a hard limit on their abilities to cause a general nuisance.
Anyway, I got into gardening with the idea derived from others that mulch will solve all of the worlds problems. It may do so in some areas of the planet, but not where you and I reside, sorry to say. A good rule of thumb is that trees eat woody mulch (the remnants of trees) and vegetables eat poop (the remnants of vegetables). Don’t feed mulch to vegetables is probably good advice given those rotten stinky bugs. Oh well, what do you do? Lewis tends to bury kitchen scraps into his soil in order to add back the lost minerals, and that’s probably the cheapest way to go.
Thank you for saying that, and people caught up in a cycle of vengeance, live and die by the sword. There are better ways, as you already know. 🙂
Oh no, there you are incorrect. At home, we don’t eat any meat, veal, lamb, or otherwise. I know what it all means, and veal is the sorry to say, by-product of dairy and cattle farms where only the best males are kept. Lamb, well, how many rams does a farm need? Probably not that many.
In local farms I see the winter and spring lambs frolicking around in the rich grass, but know what it means for them.
Funnily enough, down here, lamb chops were a staple when I was a child, but people likewise frowned at consuming veal. They say that disconnect is a real thing. 🙂
Dunno about your perspective, but our compromise on the entire subject is along the lines of Michael Pollan’s advice: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” We came to that same conclusion on our own before I’d even heard the author’s words.
Theoretically speaking, if I decided in a post apocalyptic world, to consume only hunted meat here – after a year or two, there’d be no forest critters left around these parts. People can be a bit silly about this subject. Oh well.
The footy finals hit the Melbourne Cricket Ground today which is a stadium that holds 100,000 people. The plumbing for that place would be a nightmare, although that is another story. The local performer Kylie did an astounding pre-game show (I watched a while ago). I used to be a voting member of that hallowed Club, but gave it away so that someone more enthusiastic could benefit. Anywhoo, I went into the big smoke to have lunch with friends and talk some fun rubbish. Had a blast too, and the traffic was quiet due to most eyes being on the big game.
I wonder if some of those stink bugs reside the winter under the figgie pots in your greenhouse / poly tunnels? I’ll bet they’ll be hiding there.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Lewis,
Agreed, the constant ancient references to corn bamboozled me too. Was there trade between the Romans and the Aztecs / Mayans and other indigenous Americans? Turns out like you noted, the English describe all sorts of grains as corn. That lot were also fond of applying the word apple to all sorts of fruit – how unoriginal. But it may also have been a clever marketing ploy to get people to try the new produce in the first place by giving it a familiar name? Dunno.
Yeah, we’ve got this ‘ere new yellow grain. Called corn, it is. Jus’ like ta other stuff, ya can grind it into flour. Go on, give it a go mate, or treat it in lye and then boil it up and ‘et it. Look, sure, it’s not rye is it friend, but you know, check out the size brother! You canna go a ‘rong with this ‘un!” And so it would have gone. 🙂
Truly, those early references baffled me too. And what is weird about the word, is that the newer big yellow cob grain kept the moniker. Like, how does that even happen?
Very funny, and the Great Pumpkin should be celebrated, next month actually. And best of all, the pumpkin is a ginger. Yes, it’s true! I so loved the Peanuts cartoons. Mr Schultz, as was Jim Davis (Garfield) were admirers of another dog cartoon from the two islands just over the Tasman Sea: Footrot Flats. There was a film from 1986 titled: ‘Footrot Flats: The Dog’s Tale’. Quite fun too. It would be hard to find these days.
Ooo, the author J. W. Ocker has just the right look for someone who writes intriguing tales of strange objects and places. Hope the book is good, and Hanging Rock does have some odd energy to it. Way back in the day, my mother used to take us as small kids to the horse race event held there on New Years day. It was the mid 70’s and we used to run feral and knock ourselves out.
Here is some history and old photos from the rock: Vintage Victoria – Hanging Rock Racecourse. I note that there was some theories that the rock was once a sacred place – which I can well appreciate.
Ha! Ah yes, that would be most cheeky, but also raise the spectre: What does this arty-fish-al stuff, really know? Probably not as much as they reckon, is my best guess. And exactly, intuition is not a gift that everyone has.
I know that you’re being serious, but the entire Greenland episode amuses me, if only because it is the sort of crazy long shot, that your country historically has specialised in. I mean, look at Alaska, who knew it would yield the fuel for the ‘morning in America’ business? Without the North Slope oil fields, that would have been all talk.
And we have that issue as well with some states benefiting more than others from federal goobermint largess. Super weirdly, that card was played at a by-election recently over in the state of Western Australia, and didn’t seem to make a poop of difference. Perhaps what I would take away from that result, was that people on the gravy train, often don’t realise their good luck. Why One Nation victory in Western Australian state by-election is a big deal. The current Prime Muppet was dubbed in the article: “WA’s daddy” for backing in its clearly unfair GST largesse GST is the national 10% goods and services sales tax collected by the federal goobers and then re-distributed. And despite the largess, they still lost the seat.
Thanks. And the finger is feeling better today, although I continued to stretch it off and on for most of the day. Possibly my friends may believe that I’m stimming, but no, just trying to keep the digit flexible. Oh! We all caught up for lunch today in the big smoke and had some good food and a fun chat fest. The weather was miserable though, cloudy, cold and drizzly. A nice day to be indoors. It’s 5’C / 41’F outdoors right now and feels freezing after the recent run of warm and dry weather. Brr!
The Professor wrote about your extreme weather, and it sounded pretty bad, and wouldn’t have been a good day to plan an ascent on Mount Rainier. Oh my! Glad to hear that the winds have died down somewhat, but a lot of people sure lost their power in your part of the world. Who cracked first with the walk in that weather: You or H? My money would be on H, dogs can be a bit careless with excursions into the wilds.
The dogs here have a bit of cabin fever too after today’s foray into deepest, darkest winter.
Oh yeah, the Goldfinch! Of course. A great film. Both are dark tales in their own way, a kind of gothic squalor hangs over all of the relationships.
How are you enjoying the series ‘Stranger Things’?
Hope the Inklings documentary is good, and such intellectual get togethers are fun, although despite being out of bed of a Tuesday morning, a pub is an unlikely place to find myself – but then they were young and of promising talent and probably made of sterner stuff! For your interest, today’s rough general topic was a wide ranging discussion on the subject of privacy in the age of the interweb. Very interesting too, and the crew often does fascinating digressions before then returning to the core.
Well done you to surprise the deer a second time. That’s what I observed with them too in that the big herbivores have a low opinion of us humans. Either that, or they can’t imagine why we aren’t sticking to our usual behaviour! Nice work.
Man, last week was a bit blurry for me too, and fortunately we take lots of photographs of the activities around here. The squooshed finger is of course a solid reminder as to yesterday, but it would hardly be ideal to repeat that memory method, would it?
The tuna melts sound pretty tasty. Yum!
That’s why I mentioned the attitude in the article to the subject of Roman pets. It seemed like a big call to me, and I’d imagine that there’d have been plenty of families in those days who enjoyed the company of their pet snakes – used to hunt rats and mice, probably quite effectively.
Ha! You broke first before H. It happens. 🙂 I went out before with Ollie and Dame Plum and far out it felt cold. Tomorrow’s forecast is drier, but with a top of 52’F. A few warm days of spring, and I’m already over winter… What’s a dude to do?
Cheers
Chris
@ Pam – Well, it would be a real conversation piece! 🙂 Lew
Yo, Chris – Trade between the Romans and the Aztecs / Mayans? Well, maybe. 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Columbian_transoceanic_contact_theories
A lot of the plants from the trans Atlantic exchange, were a hard sell, early on. Tomatoes were thought to be poisonous, and pumpkins and corn only good for animal feed. Because, what good could come out of the colonies? 🙂 Potatoes were also, problematic. But they had a champion!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine-Augustin_Parmentier
“Footrot Flats,” sounds like a lot of fun. I checked E-Buy, and, sorted for what’s available in the US. 127 entries. Mostly books, though I noticed things like placemats.
The Hanging Rock Racetrack article was really interesting. Definitely not the Ascot, but more a fun days out for the more middling folk. I noticed carnival rides, were mentioned. And, maybe, the sighting of a UFO! 🙂
“…don’t realize their good luck.” And, occasionally, vote against their own best interests. I think there’s a lot of change, afoot, in politics. Worldwide. When you don’t listen to people, or ignore them, they’re likely to get loud.
Our high yesterday was 59F (15C). Our overnight low was 45F (7.22C). Our forecast high for today is 64F. After yesterday’s wild weather, we’re back to a few nice days. Maybe a bit of rain on Tuesday.
Well, the highest wind gust, at our airport, was 44 mph. There didn’t seem to be much damage, here in Chehalis, but Centralia was a different story. Our lights didn’t even flicker, where they had some power outages.
Behind the Club is an alley, and, down the block a bit, and across the alley, a tree came down. It’s leaning against a two story garage, and it’s going to be difficult to get down, as there are several wires underneath the top of the leaning tree. And, I took a slightly different route home from the Club, and saw a tree down, next to the Centralia Library. I don’t think it damaged the building, but cars are usually parked in that vicinity. The brick you can see through the tree, is the library.
https://chronline.com/stories/in-focus-wind-wreaks-havoc-in-lewis-county-and-beyond,408911
“Stranger Days” is pretty interesting. Lots of twists and turns, in the plot.
I was in the odds and ends aisle, at the yuppie discount store, and picked up a rechargeable flashlight. 500 lumens. Well, once I got it home I discovered it’s got a “type C” recharging cable, that needs another bit of kit to get the power from the wall to the cable. Who knew? And, the switch is a bit hinky. But, it was charged up, so, I took it on our midnight walk. And, of course, didn’t see a single deer. Lew
Chris:
The brown marmorated stinkbug has been here (and still is) for quite awhile. This new one is a harlequin stinkbug. The stinkbugs we have hide everywhere, but their favorite place is in the house – if they can get in. All winter I find them nestled in closets and clothes and cabinets. That is neat that something has taken after the Portuguese millipedes.
I am back at making compost from kitchen scraps, etc., the problem always being how to keep wildlife from marauding it. My favorite method is to bury it in the beds like Lew, but now there is the black plastic . . .
Oh – I see what you mean about the lambs and calves. Early this morning the gentleman farmer next to us was separating the year-old claves from their mothers. My gooness those poor mothers do bawl. I know what’s up because they do this every fall.
I have heard of Mr. Pollan’s statement. I entirely agree. I miss being a vegetarian, but I can’t seem to make the transition back because of health concerns and I never eat out, so I can’t indulge in eating meat that way. Ah, well – it will eventually sort itself.
I ask myself frequently: If there was no store (or neighbor) to buy meat from, would I just give it up or would I really begin eyeing the deer and the squirrels (and the 2 turkeys I saw walking down our road yesterday)? Partly, I’m not sure that I could manage to process a carcass. I dabbled a bot with roadkill on our road and it wasn’t easy. I least I lived without meat for 8 years, so I know some options. And I like vegetables!
There now – you got some enjoyment out of footy after all!
Ate my first (and maybe only) ear of homegrown corn/maize. It was delicious with only salt and pepper.
Pam
Hi Pam,
Oh my goodness! Those tricksy stink-bugs come in all manner of forms, and please do keep them in your part of the world. I checked out where the harlequin stink-bugs over winter and sorry to say that the word ‘mulch’ was mentioned. Ook! The wood lice down here enjoy similar conditions, however they stay out of the house. Do you have any theories as to how the pesky critters sneak into the house? It would be almost perfect hibernating conditions, so like the mice and rats, there is incentive to break in.
Yeah, one of the local nematodes worked out how to eat the stinky Portuguese millipedes, and now they’re just another background critter – mind you, there are a lot of those. I’ll chuck some insect photos in the blog tonight.
I so hear you about the wildlife digging up buried food scraps, and that happened here as well and the wombats thought the stuff was a wonderful treat. At a friends place I spotted a deadly snake slithering into a compost bin, and decided that this other form of making soil food, is probably not a good idea. 🙂 I chuck the lot into the worm farm, which has the benefit of being mostly sealed. Pam, I dunno, the forest critters may be smarter and more ruthless than us?
Yeah, I hear the mothers bawling too, and they’re a long way away in the valley. Maybe I’m overly empathetic, but genuinely, there aren’t enough forest critters up here to survive on a high meat diet.
Pam, everyone has different requirements, and a lot of the plant material we consume is grown far away in warmer climates. Look, I’m no purist, and just do what works for you is my way of thinking. Mr Pollan may have found something which works for him, and became a bit err, evangelistic, but in photos he looks a tad too thin in my opinion, as does his skin. His message is valuable though.
I look at my own hands, and the fingers and palm are meaty and full of muscle. There is thin, and then there is too thin. But exactly, all will sort itself out, in the end. Historically, we’ll all return to the average.
Like you, I’ve little to no skills in that area. I know! But truly, you’re asking a much bigger question: How much can any one of us be across? The old timers recognised that it takes a village, to raise a village. Maybe two decades ago, could have been more, I went to a friends birthday and he’d raised a pig and then roasted it – and the meat was superb. Could I do the same, maybe, but it’d be like learning a whole new set of skills.
I much prefer cricket. Only the English could develop a game which goes for five days when there may be a draw as an outcome. All very gentlemanly. And I do enjoy a good music gig, and envy you having seen the Smashing Pumpkins, but I see your stake and raise you: System of a Down.
Yum! The stuff is sweet is it not? Yummo!
Cheers and better get writing. Oh my, I’m so late this evening…
Chris
Hi Lewis,
I’m always surprised at how modern scholars tend to look down upon the ancients. I mean, if the Polynesians could survive the enormous crossing of the Pacific required to get to Easter Island, of course they’d have landed on the coast of South America. To me it seems weird to think that they’d have just pulled the plug on further expansion east. Although admittedly the technology required to survive such a voyage would have been very impressive, but not beyond their capabilities. But if a safe intermediate port was there, they’d have headed further east for sure. The thing is, the lower east coast of South America is quite arid and like the Vikings confronting the North American’s after such a long voyage they’d have been at a disadvantage in any encounter with the locals. It is possible the Vikings wouldn’t have comprehended the simple blimey Vitamin C, and the English often trashed quite sick crews, from something as simple as scurvy. And then there is fresh water to consider…
What it probably gets down to is, was it economic to expand further into that region? The Polynesians settled New Zealand, and it’s not all that far from there to Australia. Yet, they’d have encountered well established locals. The English had guns, germs and supplies when they went places.
I’ve read that reference to pumpkins being only good for animal feed. Au contraire! And in that Frenchy spirit, Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was a great. Fancy feeding the bloke potatoes in prison. His general health would no doubts have improved. Sadly early on he suffered the fate of Cassandra, in that he was right, but few believed him. It appears that a failed wheat crop won him the gains that common sense and strong arguments never made. Thanks for the introduction, and he’s an interesting person.
The animated film is quite good, although I enjoyed the many books, sequentially numbered. A fun story with engaging characters. And with two sheep dogs and a pig hunting dog, sometimes I wonder if such stories impact upon the brain in unknown ways? What’s your take on that? Ook!
They had coffee there over a century ago. How’s that for civilised in the bush, and the track still looks like that today. I see the extra-terrestrial mention piqued your curiosity too. Given it was the 50’s I’d suggest that some sort of test flight was being conducted, but then there was the mysterious and ethereal 1975 Peter Weir film based in the area. Was Miranda abducted by aliens? Nobody seems to know… But I do recall that the strong sniff of the world of the Faery was strong with that film. And the rock does have a weird vibe to it. I can confirm that.
Well that is the thing isn’t it? Of course, politics is merely a human method for dividing the goodies and prescribing the costs. Why people forget that is beyond me. And that in a nutshell is the entire rural – urban tension. Sometimes the ball goes your way, other times a person is left on the bench to wait out the game and pay the playing fee. History suggests this occurs over and over again.
Getting loud is one thing. Getting organised is an entirely different aspect to correcting imbalances.
It was freezing again here today. Barely made it past 52’F and was cloudy to boot. Crunched up a fair number of boulders way down on the forest edge, then brought the liberated large rocks back uphill and ta-da, finished the rock wall. Me tired, and am running seriously late. Oh my, it’s almost 9pm… Ook!
Whoa, trees leaning on buildings, or stuck up in other trees are very, very dangerous. Nice colour bricks, and the little blue car may not be usable…
Good to hear, and I’ve only heard positive things about the series.
Yeah, you’d think that all of these USB connectors would have the same plugs, but no. More waste. Hope you enjoy the flash-light, and we’ve got a really big one which turns day into night. Sometimes useful.
Cheers
Chris
Yo, Chris – The peopling of the world is an interesting topic. But, someone finds an interesting bit of kit, and then the academics argue about it, for decades. I don’t know if you’ve run across some articles, about the foot tracks in our national park of White Sands? It’s pushed back the peopling of North America, by several thousand years.
Parmentier was an interesting cat. Another one of those doctor / botanists, that I seem to be running across, a lot, lately. One wonders, “Who ate the first … (mushroom, oyster, etc.). 🙂
I’m sure there’s all kinds of stuff, sloshing around the brain. Below the surface. In storage. Who knows when the old neurons might fire off of each other.
Our high yesterday was 64F (17.77C). Our overnight low was 45F (7.22C). Our forecast high for today is 67F. I’ll pass along the article, on Tuesday, from the local paper. For a fuller report. We haven’t made the national news. It’s all taken up with the wild weather on our NE coast.
Rocks? Admit it. This guy was your inspiration. 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Cheval
If you search “Palais Idéal, France”, and check the images, there are a lot of them.
I hope it’s not to hard to find the USB convertor. I seem to remember that there were some, around the check stands at the grocery. We went out last night, armed with our high beam, and, of course, saw no deer. We did see a couple of moogies. Seems to be a lot of them around, right now.
Well, we’re headed for the Club. Visit with Uncle Carl. 🙂 Scott finally made contact, and, he was having computer problems. He might show up, this morning. If I think of it, I’ll swing by the library in Centralia, and check out the damage. Lew
Chris:
I’ll get back to you tomorrow, but – oh, wow – System of a Down. You win.
Pam