I’m grumpy. Just saw someone bragging about 600+ books. My first reaction was: I have more *chess* books than that. My next reaction: I need to clear out a lot of books, so I can get the ones off the floor and onto shelves.

Let’s play 5 quarters again.

@rohdesign.bsky.social if that was a pass, where was the flag for intentional grounding? Do you get to spike the ball when you’re about to be sacked?

Tried a variation on my oatmeal raisin cookies (never too early to start on holiday treats). Gotta say, this one I don’t like so much. I think the main problem is trying steel cut oats instead of rolled. Thought it would be crunchier; it is, but the texture is just not right. Sigh.

@andybehrens.bsky.social OK, I’ve one for your sob story collection: 4 bench slots, 1IR slot: Rashee Rice (I knew this one going in) Trey Benson Rick Pearsall Mike Evans I think I broke Keenan Allen’s TD streak by starting him. Is my drafting of Chase Brown what put Burrow in the hospital?

🫛This time of year is the hardest time to find motivation. Most of the plants are dying back, getting ready for winter, and I can’t get motivated for that. I’m not ready for it to end, so I really don’t feel like cleaning out the dying vines, etc.

A PSA, since I’m seeing an uptick in scammers: if someone calls, NEVER give them personal info, like SSN, account#, birthday, etc., without verification. And CallerID is too easily spoofed to count as verified. If necessary, hang up and call back on a number not given to you during their call.

🫛🌱 The San Marzano vine made it through the cold snap just fine, thankfully. (There’s about 5 more trusses like this left on it of greens.) Is that pizza I smell?

Just brought in the last of the cucumbers (the recent cold snap did them in): Total yield was about 19 pounds, over half were the Lemon Cucumber variety — very prolific. 🫛

Planted an Itasca grapevine a couple of years ago. New (to me) variety. This year was first (small) harvest. 1. Grows here, but slower. 2. Should have harvested a few weeks ago (fooled by point 1) 3. Tiny and sweet—you can feel your teeth decay. 4. Time to complete that arbor! 🌱

As Veggie season winds to a close it’s been a middling year, 70+ pounds out of less than 35 sq ft. Tomatoes and cucumbers led production this year, but the carrots disappointed (always one laggard). Garlic proved successful after a bad start, so it’ll make a reappearance next year.🌱🫛

Cleaning out a desk drawer, found a thumb drive w/ a bunch of my old (unfinished) writing files on it. One’s a short that is trying to convince me it deserves a longer treatment. Ah, the delusions of the past!

And my phone’s camera has succumbed to an auto-focus bug. For the time being, I have to use my tablet’s camera; it’s like taking a picture with a lunch tray.

🪐 Speaking of which, I have to say Bounty from @jasonpchajek.bsky.social has one of the best opening lines I’ve seen. (No, I’m not telling; go check it out for yourself.) never did get the hang of pronouncing his name, though. The “Pch” combination isn’t among my known consonant combinations.

🪐 Survived @seattlein2025.org. Had trouble finding things; enjoyed what I found. Met up with familiar authors, discovered new ones, enjoyed both. Did the Tom Lehrer singalong. First WorldCon I failed to buy books at, though. Travelled light—old man, lots of walking, no room in the bag.

🫛🌱So, look what I found. The large yellow/white orbs (not to be confused with Lemon Boys) are a new cucumber I’m trying. Not sure how to determine ripeness on those, so I only grabbed a few of them; they’ve proven prolific, at least—taste test to follow. 🫛🌱

@stevefaulkner.bsky.social bunch of folks at @seattlein2025.org stopped me to notice this yesterday: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1... So I sent them your way.

The best part of spending the morning in the garden? Grabbing a light lunch on the way back in. (was testing the carrots to see if they were ready yet—a little slim but almost a foot long, so it won’t be long) 🫛

And now is a fine time to remember I forgot to prune one if the grapes. 🫛

🫛The cucumbers were happy today! 🫛

Living in the largest city in my state, this is how my day starts. I am so lucky and grateful. 🫛

I think I can declare another success. Spent some time and effort attracting some insect predators this spring, and while this morning is perfect mosquito weather (this *is* Wisconsin after all) I’m enjoying tea in the garden without smelling repellant! Heard a wren for first time in years. 🫛

Meanwhile, as the irises and lillies wind down, the Rudbeckias warm up, and the Asters, Phlox, and Monk’s Hood begin to unpack their instruments. I love this time in the garden. (Less than half the Beowulfs bloomed this year, I think I’m going to have to move them away from the Asters.)

🫛 And the countdown begins! What a view for my morning tea! (Eight Immortals Dan Cong, if you’re interested.) These blackberries I planted. I have two others (and two stands of black raspberries) that God contributed, via avian digestive tracts.

@herbygardens.bsky.social is something going on with the 5b feed? It’s showing up almost empty for me, is that on my end, or is it normal?

So, this is from one of my all too-neglected beds. It’s a bearded iris, Beowulf by name. Like it, so tried to acquire some more, was told by one source it’s rare. How can I verify that? If so, I’ll just have to get more the old-fashioned way, by letting the plant do it for me. 🫛

Spending a quiet hour or two reading and planning the day, when I sense something near my foot. Look down and I see a baby bunny < 1/3 the size of my foot. I reached for my camera, and he left a sonic boom in his wake. Adding a wildlife camera to my shopping list. 🫛

Three straight days above 50, time for the tomatoes to start making an appearance.

So, just to encourage me, while I was laying out a hummingbird garden, I checked the veggies, and grabbed my first two radishes. And noted some of the garlic I gave up on is coming back! 🫛

Between Charlie, the aconites, the croci, and the grape hyacinths, spring around here starts with a serene blue tint. Then the parrot tulips wake up, and decide it’s too quiet. Soon after, the bleeding hearts and columbines will make enough noise to wake the Lilly’s, and no one will get any peace.

Added a new strawberry to the bed; it’s ahead of its compatriots in leaves, but some of them have blooms. And behind the garage the lawn is filled with Creeping Charlie. Yeah, it’s a weed according to some, but I like the blue tint it gives the place. 🫛

I’ve a lot of respect for how Park packages their plants. Ordered a bare root Iris. Most bare roots arrive dry and hard, need a lot of soaking to rouse them. This one was wrapped so tightly and carefully it was still damp and flexible when I unwrapped it! Good job, folks! 🫛

Reminding myself to have a camera even just when at the bench. Soaking new strawberry plants when I get rapid wing flaps near my ear — like a large moth or huge bee. I turn and I’m looking a ruby hummingbird in the eye. Sorry friend, didn’t expect you back, yet. Nothing’s ready for you. 🫛

Is it the way my day is going, or is PlantNet down?

Today’s agenda: Top off the last raised bed, Dig 2 more Damascus Roses (to pots, they’re taking over a bed, fighting the Monk’s Hood) Figure out where to move yet another volunteer Black Raspberry (gave up trying to cork the birds’ butts) Plant 2nd radishes and first carrots Tighten Grape trellis. 🫛

Potted on the first batch of tomato seedlings; I’m always pessimistic they will grow, but somehow they always do. Also this year’s blueberry experiment is looking promising. Full on leaves on the one inside, buds appearing on the one outside. Slowly it’s waking up. 🫛

And this: youtu.be/QtMdiY4YiSY?... We should have listened, Pete.

I’m in a bit of a mood, today. youtu.be/5mU5ef-zFyw?...

Woke up this morning with this in my head: youtu.be/nXThM-IcnLU?... Julia Ecklar, if you’re with the range of this, thank you from the bottom of my heart and my tear-stained face. Still remains one of my favorites of all time.

I am, according to the map, 5b but 6 blocks outside of Zone 6a yet I’ve never successfully overwintered a hardy hibiscus. (Dense clay soil here, I can cut a circle with my shovel and lift an intact plug 8-12” deep.) waiting on last year’s result, looking for ideas for this year’s experiment.

This is why I take every warm moment God gives me for spring garden prep. Less than 48 hrs ago I was cleaning pots and potting berry bushes in a t-shirt. Today, this is what the potting table looked like: 🫛

While cleaning up and recycling soil from last year’s potting I cleared away some leaves before dumping & found these little guys and set the pot aside. It was unmarked, in a tray of failed tries, no recollection of what I tried to grow there last year. Wonder what it is? A Stonecrop, maybe? 🫛

@keithedwards.bsky.social Irony Lives. Watching your Bernie in Kenosha video. At precisely the point where Bernie mentioned Musk at the inauguration, YouTube’s algorithm broke for an ad, and it was not only a political ad, but a political ad leading with the image of Musk w/ chainsaw!

And the next set of Olla pots arrived. Tried a few last year, best tomatoes yet. So, given the Tangerine-Tainted Tyrant’s Terrifying Tarriff Tendency, I figured I needed to roll out full coverage for this year’s garden! Hearty endorsement for Olla pots here! 🫛

Restoring an old Stanley/Bailey 27. Anyone know where I can get a chipbreaker the right size (2-1/8” wide)? The original blade/breaker was replaced with a 2” Craftsman set from the ‘60’s. Looked for new, but it appears neither Hock nor Veritas make that size, nor does Stanley anymore. #woodworking

“Since I first gained the use of reason my inclination towards learning has been so violent and strong that neither the scoldings of other people … or my own reflections … have been able to stop me from following this natural impulse that God gave me.” ~Juana Ines de la Cruz

Going to be interesting to see what happens to the tool market, now. Most power tools have significant amounts from China or Mexico. Veritas is Canadian. It looks like tool buying will get more expensive. Might be a good idea to buy from existing inventory if you need something. #woodworking.

@rasterweb.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy do you know if anyone has the old Web414 videos? Got nostalgic for one I was in and I can’t find it online.

And the first chess master I ever beat in a tournament game died this week. Gonna miss you, Bill. And that raspy chuckle.

I used to think we were in Asimov’s Foundation And Empire, specifically the story of The Mule. But more and more I suspect it’s actually chapter 26(?) of Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, the conversation between the King and the Duke coming to mind, especially.