One of my favorite night sky images, shot in the Chihuahuan Desert. This is a single frame image, no stacking or double exposure, all done in camera and on-site. Those are 12-14' tall Giant Spanish Dagger Yuccas, side lit by a semi-tractor as it turned a bend. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekNforNights

Prepping #theMicrofarm 's 3 tall raised garden beds for cold weather. I bent & installed 1/2" EMT conduit in 1/2 hoops to support UV resistant greenhouse cover. Inside that will be last year's red Pex hoops supporting IRAD greenhouse cover, creating double-walled protection. 1/ #SanityGarden

Have I told you how much I love our vegetable garden? I've started 2nd plantings of rutabaga, red and golden beets, beans, cabbage, and 3 types cukes. Time to get new metal hoops made and cover 'em up before first freeze. Collards, tomatoes, & peppers all still strong. #theMicrofarm #SanityGarden

Happy PTSDay! This is the coolest thing I've seen all year. I first learned of the Pythagorean Theorem in grade school geometry, then again from gramps, though put it into practice in my teen years as carpenter's apprentice. Perfect for making sure you have square corners. Only time this century.

Man, oh man, this pulls at my heart: "I felt a surge of disappointment. I had to make things good, make them special. You never demanded this of me but I felt it like an internal clock, memory ticking like a metronome." Daughter, violin, goodbyes, long road trips & sudden discovery, all the same.

Using one photo already on your phone, what is the announcement tomorrow at 2? Uhh, we're not sure but have mixed feelings about finding out...

Morning Ritual These two weren't expecting me, evidently. An every morning ritual, the cat bats the dog about the head with both paws in rapid fashion & the dog bobs and weaves, lunging in with nips and nibbles. A chase then generally ensues, sliding and skittering across old floors. #theMicrofarm

Going Vertical Dusk in the #SanityGarden at #theMicrfarm with L-M-R views of the walk-through arched trellis that goes back about 20 feet. Going vertical with even sweet potato vines (far L in 1st image) helps me maximize what little footprint we have. Huge success. When all the squash & tomato...

WAITING FOR JACK Vermont Cranberry Dry Beans. . . anyone ever try them? Though I planted these late as a fall crop & don't know if they'll mature before hard frost, I'm excited to have them in the #SanityGarden here on #theMicrofarm. Strong & vigorous, they emerged two days after planting... 1/

A Girl & Her Carrots She sure loves her carrots and comes in with a huge wide smile wit bunches like this. These are Scarlet Nantes – very sweet when pulled at the right time. She's a peas & carrots girl, for sure ad simply adores growing both. #theMicrofarm #SanityGarden #Maine

From #theMicrofarm #SanityGarden. 5 jars of fermented goodness. L>R: 1qt Beets w/carrot, garlic, & dill; 1qt Sweet Sauerkraut w/cabbage, carrot, & garlic; 3qt jar of Half-Sour Pickles, Brooklyn Deli-Style; 1qt of straight sauerkraut; 1qt of Half-Sour Pickles. All from the garden! #GetOutside

#GetOutside #LeaveItBetterThanYouFoundIt

Yep, this is good, especially these days.

And. . .CABBAGE! First year: not too shabby. I can hardly wait to make my own slaws & sauerkraut. I adore good sauerkraut. I have red cabbage growing, too, and am putting in another bunch of green cabbage to see if I make it before hard frost. #theMicrofarm #GetOutside #LeaveItBetterThanYouFoundIt

To distract from the always bad, sad, news: ONIONS! Pulled early this morning from raised bed #1 in the #SanityGarden here on #theMicrofarm, approximately four dozen onions of various sizes & colors lay drying in the sun before going to the curing rack, then storage. So good, so tasty. #GetOutside

The Kiddo's birthday was last month. Instead of spending $85 on cut flower arrangement–as I usually do & been disappointed–I spent same amount on perennials & one arrangement of annuals (local kid raising $). So, 10 two-qt perennials to divide up & plant. A new tradition is born on #theMicrofarm.

Simple, easy way to help someone, and gain a good bit of knowledge about movies, casts, film awards, and more. I enjoyed taking a bit of time to look through @lisa-catara.bsky.social's IMDB page and associated links.

Harvest from #theMicrofarm #SanityGarden, most all from just this morning, including: cukes, patty pan squash, Poblano, Hungarian, & Jalafuego peppers, Sungold cherry tomatoes, Carnival squash, hybrid landrace squash, Golden Zucchini, collard & cabbage greens, green beans, yellow and red onions.

Oh my...this art installation is both amazing and so clever. Inspiring, to say the least. #ART #floralart #bloomscrolling

To my Cumberland County, Maine friends: yet another bad ass thunderstorm system moving through. This one, so far, has dropped quarter-sized hail with winds up to 60mph. Just skirted #themicrofarm and is moving fast and out over the Atlantic. More coming behind it. Be careful out there.

From #TheMicrofarm Sanity Garden, 1st harvest of garlic this morning. Organic German White Hardneck, planted last Oct, were the first to emerge in early spring and proved to thrive best. Now to hang & dry for a few weeks to dry & cure, then store. Also ready are both Music & Purple Hardneck.

Gorgeous.

I helped Kiddo & her pal get set up to go camping with a bunch of my adventure gear. Felt good to handle it, clean it, & get it ready. I miss the road. I miss not having a destination. With #themicrofarm being quiet, I'm having a summer ale & cranking favorite tunes: youtu.be/Nl17t3ERqkE?...

Morning Music... Do we even know why we are fighting? So take your eyes off of me And look upon the churning sea Driving towards the daylight Running from the midnight Trying to get my way home Running from the spotlight Trying to find the daylight Trying to get back home youtu.be/2cl_Xi9h4GM?...

Can't say I disagree. We have whole generations that know nothing other than the seductions of a digital life.

#TheMicrofarm Call it symmetry, geometric precision, or the anatomy of Squash Bug's egglaying, the simple wonders of nature never cease to make me catch my breath. Would that humankind be so simple, uncomplicated, & marvelous to behold. #LeaveItBetterThanYouFoundIt #GetOutside (more in alt)

For those with peanut allergies... FDA recalls Ritz cracker packs nationwide for mislabeling; affected cartons may contain undeclared peanuts. Check pkgs for best-by dates from November 2025 through January 2026. www.eatingwell.com/ritz-cracker...

Let us not forget the importance of beauty in art and art's history of helping us to not forget and how it can help us connect with the universe around us. ====== #ArtHistory #GetOutside #MoonandStars

Don't know about you, but I'm blue, so let Pandora play 4th of July "summer anthems." Music always affects my state of mind. Wasn't working that great, then John Mellencamp's R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A (A Salute To 60's Rock)...that's the official title, came on. Great vid: youtu.be/SgtmStUrXMQ?...

The Kiddo wore black to work today, same as Jan 20. In Portland when picking up free pavers, then grabbing a #10 loaded at The Quality Shop, unprompted chat with strangers was about the Big Budget Bill, it's awful impact, absurd escalation of ICE funding & the closing of nursing homes. #NewAmerica

American Knots I get the feeling an awful lot of people are going to feel just like this in coming months. The Kiddo found this yesterday afternoon. It had tied itself into a knot. I'm trying not to take it as a sign.

TRIMMINGS! From 2 days ago in #themicrofarm gardens. Piles of freshly trimmed cabbage & swiss chard leaves & #harvest basket with trimmed rutabaga, turnip, & beet greens. Our 3 long tall raised beds continue to be a boon & the 6 new long lower raised beds are proving just as useful. #GetOutside

Been a week. Time for some musical ref interlude. I'm lookin' at you, @johnmurrell.bsky.social ... you've always been my fave cohort in things past, musical and otherwise. This at the start of a fun thread from @pinetreeactivism.org: bsky.app/profile/pine...

#TheMicrofarm Doings I lashed together three 7' Alder poles into a tripod for climbing peas & was surprised how much I missed my wandering America days. I'm thrilled my Rutabaga & Beets are doing so well. I love 'em. More in alt-text. Have I told you how much I love my raised beds and gardening?

What an amazing image. Enlarge and study it...if you've ever walked around Times Square in NYC, this is mesmerizing in its ability to render how small we are in the greater scope of it all.

My personal thrill of the day (says a lot that's all it takes these days) is that local #Hannaford grocery stores now carry #DukesMayonnaise. #IYKYK "It's got twang" and I love it. Hannaford is proud of maintaining their Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policies. I recommend supporting them. #Maine

A lil update from #themicrofarm near the coast of Maine. It's late, I'm bushed (who knows where that comes from?) though felt compelled to post as a bit of antidote, even if only personal, to the current madness in our United States. The #microfarm and gardens are salvation. More in alt-text.

RAISED GARDEN ART ---- Started late, ended late. A day's work, and I'm pleased. I'm fussy. Creating these wired arches was a fun, long, challenge. Then spent an undue amt of time setting solar lights just right. I LOVE this image; very H.R. Giger-ish to my mind. #GetOutside #themicrofarm

We will not win the battle for democracy if those in the pro-democracy movement prize caution over taking risks. We cannot permit ourselves to be deterred by the defeats and public criticism that are inevitable along the long path of restoring democracy. Now is the time for fearless leadership.

Found a week ago in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. What kind of bird lays single eggs this large and round? This is going to be a crowded nest.

This is a terrific scheme for picking up litter. I especially like the suggestion in comments that "We need these in the White House."

One of the best accounts at Post.news, in my opinion, was The Conversation U.S. In their wide ranging posts from established experts in a variety of fields – all based on science, solid data, and sound research – I could always count on reading about and learning new aspects to topics of interest.

Good piece on George Wendt’s Norm on Cheers. George Wendt died today, at 76.

Clear right. Clear left. All good on #themicrofarm. Time for a ride now, right, right?

And now for something completely different. . . Great song by a favorite artist, John Gorka. I Live Where the Bottles Break, 1991.

The General is a demanding taskmaster. He think I should work faster. See reply for his penchant for keeping things on track and organized. #themicrofarm

Well. . . now I know how much wind it takes to knock over a 2/3rds full gallon can of stain resting on 5gal buckets. Evidently the wind caught the plastic sawhorses, which fell into the buckets, and the whole thing went ass over teakettle. At least I got 4 stained. Got more stain. #themicrofarm

For all you Mamas out there: ======================== v^v* HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! *v^v ======================== Without you, we wouldn't be here! 😘 Here's a Spangled Fritillary and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in last year's pollinator garden on #themicrofarm:

The deluge finally stopped here on #themicrofarm. I'll stain the new raised beds, line w/roofing tin, set in place, adjust layout, fill 'em up & get 'em planted. Come harvest time, we'll refill the curing rack I made for our pantry. We'll double output, I bet. Rack w/ part of last year's harvest:

Seriously. Who among us has not been touched by the life and sacrifice of our veterans. So proud, so silent, many of them, for reasons most of us can only imagine. Anyone in Maine organizing a local stand-out or march?