Happy New Year!

Best wishes for the new year! We can make this a more enjoyable year!

Updates

I took advantage of the snow on the ground to burn brush piles. Most of the debris burned. I stacked the charred remains in front so they get sun to dry them completely. I'll burn that pile another winter!

I have one pile left to burn this year. It's large and under the trees so I'll ignite it during a snowstorm. I'd hate to set fire to the canopy! It looks like the next daytime snowstorm will be in the New Year.

Revere Beach

A friend showed me the beach where he was raised. It's dubbed America's First Public Beach. The sand is gravelly, but not bad for New England. It is a naturally-occurring area, carved out by the glaciers. One section is very shallow and the other drops off quickly. Below are some photos:

Site Updates

I've added nine films to the GRS database. Also, I added a line in the entries that provides the age of the work. It's interesting to see the age of these movies!

Happy New Year!

Postscript

I forgot to report that I saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra the day after Thanksgiving. The show was really fun. Lots of lasers, lights, and smoke machines. If you are unfamiliar with this Tampa-based group, let me write that it's a combination of electric guitars, singers, and a small ensemble of string instruments. The string players are local, which is a cool idea. Here is one shot and another one !

Updates

I've trimmed the daisy plant and wormwood to the ground. (They had wilted.) The three thyme plants, which I started from seed this spring, are still showing green leaves. Albeit, some have turned red. It's amazing considering that it has been in the teens overnight!

During the short time when there was snow on the ground, I burned almost a third of the brush piles. I'm always amazed what little is left!

I have been doing some structural engineering for a spring/summer project. Details will follow.

I did construct a "wishing well" to protect my water-well head. Previously, I had Styrofoam around it. OK, it doesn't look the greatest; however, it cost nothing but a little LPG to run the power tools. Oh, and the shingles were spares from Mom. Take a look:

Site Updates

I've added 11 films & one series to the GRS database. Merry Christmas!

Updates

I'm staying here for the winter. I looked for work somewhere warmer but, despite an interview, no luck. It seems that businesses are trying to figure out what the federal government really means by the latest mandate. This decision should be left to the individual or the business. But, that's socialism.

The positive side is that I'll be able to burn most of the brush piles on my lot. I've lost count of them! Also, I can trim the perennials as they wilt. Only the hops and grapevines have gone dormant. I'll continue to work on the lot. I have some projects to plan. Finally, I can help Mom through her first winter alone.

Still no mice in the camper! I check for new holes twice a week. Since it's cold, they should have bedded down elsewhere until spring. The camper is winterized. Hopefully, there will be no problems in the spring!

Site Updates

I've added seven films & one mini-series to the GRS database.

Also, I added a quote:

Nursie, men love women. Even more than that, men love cars!
Lord Alexander Hesketh in Rush

Enjoy!

First Frost

First frost for me was last Saturday night. The daisy plant is still going strong, though the other perennials are going dormant.

I'll need to drain the camper of water in a week. I figure that I have until the overnight lows dip into the 20s--when I'm not there--, which they aren't supposed to do so until the week after next. We'll see, though

Site Updates

I removed the years from the latest additions as shown on desktop version of the GRS database. It was a bit too busy in that small block. The mobile version is unchanged, since it looked alright.

Grapevines, Hops, Thymes, Daisies

Overnight temperatures have been in the 30s, so the plants are slowing. The thyme plants are still growing. I hope that they make it through the winter, because they are impressive plants!

The daisies continue to bloom. Several individuals have complimented them. They have grown a lot in one year! Here's a spring image of them. And a shot of them now.

Camper

The camper is still free of mice! It took me a few years, but I managed it. The only problem is that the furnace isn't working reliably. I have traced the problem and will order a replacement part in January.

Shipping Companies

The other day I spoke at length with a FedEx delivery man. He said despite not carrying any Amazon.com packages, many of their drivers are working seven days a week. Also, I've seen the UPS drivers on Sundays.

The Postal Service

So, may I ask why the delivery times of the Postal Service are increasing? The time has almost doubled, as judged by transit times for Netflix DVDs--yes, I still get discs in the mail. Several days I even had no mail service. I don't mean that I received no mail. I mean the mailman didn't drive his route.

You may say who needs the USPS? I do as do many others. We still receive paper bills and mail checks.

There seems to be those in the media and the government who want to see the Postal Service go away. They claim that it should be a profitable business.

It's not. It was always subsidized by the taxpayer, a carryover from the Colonial Post Office.

(The British government didn't mind, because by 1760, the postal operation in the colonies was profitable for the first time.)

https://www.history.com/news/us-post-office-benjamin-franklin

How else would it be possible to have a reliable letter service for a fraction of the actual cost of shipping? Don't believe me? Figure the cost to ship a letter with FedEx or UPS. And no, the Internet is not a reliable alternative to the mail.

Definitions

Ironically, those who wish to abolish the Postal Service seem to advocate the transfer of business from private hands to those of the government.

That is the essence of Socialism. From Merriam-Webster:

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

When I recited this definition to a friend, she said, "no, that's Communism". Nope, here is that definition:

2 capitalized a : a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the U.S.S.R.

b : a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communism

(I don't mean to bad-mouth communism with a lowercase "c". It can work for a small group of individuals. Look at current communes in Vermont and Maine. This form of government holds the first definition at Merriam-Webster:

1a : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
b : a theory advocating elimination of private property

An ideal promoted by Hippies was, of course, communism.)

Back to the big bad, capitalized--ironic, huh?--Communism. Are you surprised by the definition? I, too, was when I first discussed Communism and Socialism with an intellectual who escaped the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

He told me that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was established as a Socialist state with the intention of reaching a workers' paradise where no government would be necessary, communism.

Unfortunately, those in power (e.g. Stalin) wouldn't give up control and work towards the original idea of a workers' paradise. Hence, the second definition of Communism, with a "big" C

Semantics aside, either Communism or Socialism, is contrary to the established definition of the Republic of the United States.

That brings up another popularized mix-up of definitions. The Republic is a form of government run by elected individuals. They represent the citizens. Democracy is a form of government where the citizens get together to govern themselves.

Clearly, the U.S. is a Republic and not a Democracy. I wonder if this mistake is intentional. Wouldn't it be good to shift the attention from the elected officials in Washington who rarely seem to please the people?

A downfall of the most famous Democracy, Athens, is Ostracism. The people of Athens could collect to "vote an individual off the island". If an individual received 6,000 votes, written on ostraka as a secret ballot, then that individual was exiled from the city-state for a decade! In 400 B.C. that would have been about 6% of the population.

Site Updates

I've added five films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Grapevines, Hops, Blueberry Companions

The growth of 'vines is slowing. The leaves are already starting to drop off. It is autumn! We've already seen 40-something-degree overnight temperatures. Several spurs did make it to the ground, which is excellent.

The hops are all healthy and decorating around their pots with leaves. I need to build a trestle for them. Next spring sounds like the time!

The thyme, which is the companion to the blueberries, is thriving. All three spots are expanding dramatically. Impressive for starting from seeds!

The Wormwood bush is filling in (another seedling). The daisies are doing spectacularly well in the vineyard! I purchased them from Agway

Plans For 2022

Gosh, is next year really 2022? I feel like I'm in the future! I've cleared a bit more area to the east of the solar arrays. (This is opposite the vineyard and apiary.) I've been unearthing stones and encircled the "Magic Carpet" Thyme with stones. I've big plans for the 400-500-square-foot area.

Also, I have more seeds "in-camper" for next spring. I've learned how to protect them. I have copper mesh that I'll surround the seedlings and probably also use it to cover their view of the sky.

Please, keep visiting to learn what I will plant next year!

Camper

I've been working a lot on the camper, also. I sealed gaps with fine steel wool and Gorilla Tape--love that stuff! I even had to tape gaps between the screens and the windows!

As you may know, a mouse can squeeze through a gap of only a quarter of an inch. Think about that. Get out a ruler, if you must. That's why I've been so busy.

Fortunately, I can say that the camper is free of mice! I put out snap traps baited with peanut butter and no action for two weeks. Never "snapped" a mouse, in fact.

Don't say mice have rights; because, you'd change your tune once a mouse eats you favorite item and then poops all over everything else, discoloring everything at the best!

I just finished cleaning the mess. It took days! Now, I will watch for new holes and immediately screen and duct-tape them.

The latest challenge has been condensation from the aluminum windows soaking the insides of the walls. Like a cold bottle of beer, the windows collect moisture, and it drips.

Hmm. That's a difficult problem. I directed water from the exposed parts of the window frame into the drainage area. What about the surfaces inside the walls? I've no access.

Dessiccant is the answer! I'll open a tub of absorbing salts whenever I close the windows, or it's excessively humid. Sure, it's a bit wasteful; however, until they make plastic framed windows--and I looked--it'll save my walls.

Site Updates

I've added twelve films and a TV program to the GRS database. This batch includes a favorite from my childhood. Enjoy!

Grapevines

Some of the spurs are nearly at the ground. Not bad considering that this summer has been the wettest one that I can remember!

Apiary

I've decided to resume keeping honeybees next spring. Mom has purchased a hive, so we'll have two hives and share the honey.

I cleared an area adjacent to the vineyard, with morning sun. I encircled the area with the electric fence. I connected a larger deep-cycle battery, and the small solar panel has no trouble keeping the fence energized. Here's a photo.

The fence is really only a precaution, since the apiary is located near the street. It's above the road by three to five feet and blocked by the stone wall, so no danger to pedestrians. Also, the hive entrances will be the fartherest from the road. The hives will be placed on either side of the battery box. I doubt that anything will attack the hives with the passing cars.

Wildlife!

I know a number of folks with trail cameras. Most of them place them in their suburban yards. I'm fortunate to be able to place mine deep in the woods. As can be seen by these animations from last year: one and two.

July marked two more exciting visitors: three and four!

Site Updates

I've added ten films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Grapevines

The grapevines have been growing like mad. I need to tie them every other day. That's a task that takes more than two hours!

It is worth it. As you know, I've trained the vines to ascend a green post. Simple enough. Then, I trained the two canes (or stems) to spread apart horizontally. Currently, I'm training spurs to grown down. Yes, away from the sun.

I've been tying them in unusual ways and using weights. In my case, washers. Though, I have exhausted my supply of washers and will be switching to nuts

If this explanation is confusing, then I'm not surprised. Examine the marked-up photo available by clicking here.

The two canes grow vertically then split and grow apart (black lines). Then, spurs (red lines) are encouraged to grow downwards by ties (not highlighted) and weights, which are circled in blue.

When the vines are mature, I won't have to train. The grapes will grow on the spurs (red lines) and be easy to harvest at eye level and lower.

Please note that I'll allow the spurs to grow till they almost touch the ground. Spacing of the spurs should be about six inches, which is about what I'm experiencing.

Of course, living in a challenging area a cane (black lines) could be killed during the winter. In that case, I would train another cane from the rootstock (not shown), vertically, along the horizontal cordon, before enjoying the time-consuming task of training the spurs (red lines) towards the ground.

Other methods employ shorter canes and vertical spurs, since plants reach for the sun. The trouble is that that method makes harvesting difficult. After a long growing season, I want the harvest to be as simple as possible!

Rain!

Currently, it's raining like mad. It's a good test of my sealing of the camper roof. Hopefully, there won't be any damage to the grapevines either!

Update

Mom's house is just about fixed the way she wants it. She's been taking over so I can work on my place half time!

Grapevines and Others

Most of the grapevines are growing well. Several have filled out the horizontal wire (cordon) and are growing spurs downward. These spurs will almost reach the ground. Next year the grapes will grow on them. Take a look at this photo.

Two of the three hyssop plants, which I started from seed last year, are displaying flowers. Here's a photo of one of them. The plants are the companion for the grapevines.

The companions for the blueberries are doing well. The hops are growing well. No flowers yet. Maybe next year?

Camper

I replaced the main burner on the water heater, and it's running well. The LPG generator, which I use to pump water, developed a fault. I diagnosed it, and the part should be delivered today.

I removed the A-frame from the roof of the camper. It looks better. I sealed the holes so it is now waterproof.

I've sealed a number of openings through which mice could enter. I think I've got them all closed. A mouse can squeeze through a quarter of an inch, so it's not easy! The water heater and the furnace had several openings! Mice could even climb down the air vents for the plumbing!

Also, I have replaced broken fixtures on the exterior and am trimming window seals. Next on the list is to clean the windows inside and the blinds.

Site Updates

I've added ten films and a TV movie to the GRS database. Enjoy!

What I've Been Doing

Here's a list of what I've accomplished since I last posted:

Replaced rotten boards in sliding door

Diagnosed and repaired tumble dryer

Built stone wall around lily garden

My Lot

The camper had two water leaks. A pipe blew (due to incorrect winterization--oops!). The pressure regulator of the water heater needs replacement because it leaks a little. I am also going to replace the burner tube. The heater has a tendency to not fire immediately, and I'm mostly sure that it's caused by inconsistent gas/air mixture.

The grapevines are doing well. I am training two canes (stems) per plant to climb to the horizontal line. Then, one will go left and the other right. A few canes are almost at the horizontal lines! Here's a shot of the vineyard. The daisies are doing very well, also. They are in the right corner of the 'yard.

The companion plants are OK. The hops are now growing and showing larger leaves. I wonder if they'll flower this year. The wormwood plants are alright. One may be getting too much sun. We'll have to see.

The black raspberry plant is producing more canes. It's partly surrounded by wildflowers. Maybe they'll co-exist? Take a look here.

Site Updates

I've added three films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

What I've Been Doing

Here's a list of what I've accomplished since I last posted:

Grass is really taking off!

Sold two leaf blowers

I'm getting caught up!

My Lot

A few of the hops plants, which I potted and put outside are responding well. The others seem to be in a state of shock. If, at least, one female plant survives, I'll be happy.

I planted two examples of three different rootstocks last autumn. Unfortunately, only two of the six survived. That's not too bad since they were planted in the forest. (Critters dig up just about everything!)


The left image is the Wild Yam and the right is the Mayapple. The Yam is growing on the edge of the clearing that I made for the solar panels. The 'apple is growing deep in the woods where there's partial light.

Grapevines

All the grapevines are growing very well. On sunny days they can grow about three inches in a day! I tie the canes and eliminate excessive foliage every other day.

I learned from my mistake and am training not one but two canes. They are tied to the vertical stake and will split off horizontally once they reach the wire. A couple are almost there already!

I've removed a few bunches of flower buds from the vines. Recall that I need to give the plants at least three years before they can support grapes.

Do you wonder what a new flower buds look like? Take a look here.

Site Updates

I've added three films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

What I've Been Doing

Here's a list of what I've accomplished since I last posted:

Spread grass seed & fertilizer

Added more lime to kill moss (total >700 lbs!)

Repaired grout of bathroom floor and tub walls

"Refreshed" (painted) dirty grout

Dismantled and mostly disposed of a broken lawnmower

Felled dead hardwood in backyard

Recycled three tires

Switched two leaky wheels on Andy's vehicle

My Lot

The grapevines are growing well! I removed flowers from one vine. They need to focus on building stems and leaves. The canes (stems) from last year didn't survive all the way to the top; however, new growth is springing forth part way up.

The blueberry bushes have fertilized flowers. Berries soon!

I potted nine hops plants that I started from seed. As long as nothing eats them, I'll be able to select the females when they show flowers. (Male plants fertilize the flowers, creating poor-quality hop cones.)

I planted four companion plants for the blueberries. The thyme seedlings aren't much to look at yet. Also, I planted two wormwood seedlings in two different types of soil. It should be interesting which one does better.

"Inflation" Checks

Ready for the inflation? It's coming. What, you thought the "inflation" checks--what I call the stimulus checks--weren't going to be repaid? Ha! More dollars chasing a static supply of goods means increased prices. Recall basic economics?

What frightens me is that the federal government will probably enforce price locks on goods. That drastic measure would not only cause panic-buying and shortages, but would shove us farther down the road of socialism.

A nation where the wealth is held and dictated by the government would be very foreign to many of us. Then, the politicians would have total control. You don't need an SUV. It's wasteful. You don't need a 2,000 square foot house. Three families would better use the space.

Now is the time to be vigiliant of the oppression of government. It does not have your best interest in mind. It's comprised of a group of individuals who, for the most part, only want to enrich themselves.

Site Updates

I've added ten films--including a new favorite--and one TV program to the GRS database.

Enjoy!

What I've Been Doing

Here's a list of what I've accomplished since I last posted:

Sold riding lawn mower

Cleaned underneath deck

Killed and removed most of the moss

Painted hallway walls

Installed floating floor in the hallway

Removed shower door because couldn't stop leaks

Repaired & painted bathroom walls, trim, and doors

Sanded, stained, varnished chair legs

I've found more work that needs to be done. Keeps me busy!

When I shattered the shower doors for easier disposal,--yes, it is as fun as you think!--the glass crackled for a long time. It reminded me of hardwood embers cooling down in a fire.

My Lot

My grapevines are budding! I worked in my vineyard yesterday. (I always enjoy saying that!) The blueberry bushes are also budding. Even the Japanese Maple is unfurling leaves.

The catnip and hyssop plants survived the winter. Hopefully, they'll grow a lot this year!

About half of the seeds that I started inside have sprouted and are growing. I'll upload photos when I move them to my lot in a couple of weeks.

Site Updates

I've added seven films to the GRS database.

Added the quote:

Whiskey is just liquid sunshine
sign outside an Irish Pub

Enjoy!

What I've Been Doing

As I have posted, I'm back home helping my mother. I'm catching up. Here's a list of what I've accomplished:

Cleaned & organized workshop & garage

Got riding lawn mower to run & drive to get it off the front yard

Raked & removed all leaves, thatch, debris from entire lot (1/3 acre)

Applied 400 pounds of lime to kill moss & ready ground for grass

Trimmed bushes & removed suckers from trees

Repaired water leak on pick-up truck

Patched & painted ceiling

Repaired dry walls

Sealed leaking shower door frame

Patched hollow door

Sanded & stained baseboards

Sanded & painted ventilation system registers & return vents

There's still about half as much to finish; however, I'm getting into my stride with the work!

My Lot

I took time to clear most of the leaves and all the flowerbeds. My brush work last year paid off, because I didn't find much new brush from the strong winds.

Site Updates

I've added five films to the GRS database. This batch includes a new favorite film! Enjoy!

SARS-CoV-2

Today, I met an upbeat person who views the current virus in the same light as me. And, I thought I was unique

The cashier at the filling station smiled and said that she's trying to "get people to take their masks off." I agree, as there was already a plastic barrier between us.

I do not wear a mask unless I must do so. Before you call me names, allow me to explain my reasoning. This virus is going to get to all of us eventually. The mask was useful to slow its spread. That time has passed. Unless one has been living in a plastic bubble, you have been exposed to this thing.

Also, I would rather breathe in a few viruses than paper fibers. Furthermore, there is a reason why we exhale gases. They shouldn't be artificially kept near our faces where we'll breathe them in again and again.

My final reason is that I have already overcome the virus, and I wish to spread antibodies any way that I can. Yes, I contracted "the deadly scourge of 2020 and on" in January.

What COVID-19 Was For Me

That's when I was staying with Mike in Arizona. Yeah, back when I didn't go much of anywhere. I would visit the grocery store (masks mandatory), the liquor store (masks mandatory), and the filling station (outside payment). Yup, I was such a socialite!

Mike felt guilty when I came down with the illness. He, personally, couldn't separate any symptoms from the effects of hangover. Obviously, it didn't affect him too much!

But what was it like, you may ask? I first noticed that I was infected--will I become a zombie?--was when I commented to Mike that my beer tasted funny. I cited the change of air. He didn't say anything. I think he knew, but--well, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer occasionally--I kept living my "popular" life.

A day or two later, the fever arrived. It brought dizziness. That disorientation was the worst part. Standing from a squatting position made me reach for a stable object to steady myself.

The fever was pretty high. I don't experience fevers often. The previous time was in early 2013. At that time, I was so oblivious to being ill that I 'phoned my mother. That fever was so high that I was confused. My fever from COVID-19 was lower. It just lingered for longer.

Once I recognized that I was ill, I started popping zinc. I took a 50 mg tablet four or five times a day. This action, I feel, propelled me to recovery. (Recall that I extolled the virtues of zinc for reinforcing the immune system?)

While I continued to live my usual life, albeit in a truncated format (i.e. shorter walks and no visits to the shops); at the peak, I took a nap. I never take naps. Never, ever. The last time I took one was when I was so bored of being quiet for Mom. That was in the mid '80s.

It took about three days for the dizziness to subside. The fever broke early the second day. That event was strange to me, because I never run a fever.

What I really hated about the illness is that it slowed my consumption of alcohol. I couldn't drink as much gin and beer. Sheesh, what sort of microscopic life doesn't enjoy alcohol! (Pun intended.)

"Just Say No" & Smile!

This illness should serve as a wake-up call. It should not be a source of fear. Do not let the media make it something to fear. (Fear is a useful tactic to allow control.) Rather, now is the time to change your diet, exercise regularly, and foster a positive life.

So, I do not wear a mask--unless I must--because I care about others and wish to build a herd immunity. Take off the mask and smile!

Busy

I've been helping my mother with all sorts of things. It's a lot of work, but we're making headway.

I've worked a little on my lot, namely rebuilding wood piles and moving a couple to allow for future planting. Oh, and I trimmed and added pH-lowering stuff to the blueberry bushes.

Site Updates

I've added nine films to the GRS database. Enjoy!

Back in New Hampshire

Family troubles meant that I had to return home sooner than the spring. Good news is that I was able to burn brush piles on my lot!

The New York State Thruway no longer has toll takers. Now there are overhead gantries that photograph license plates. The state is supposed to send the toll in the mail. Of course, I haven't seen it yet!

The spacing and multitude of the cameras would lend itself to average speed cameras. This nanny-state invention is known in Europe, but not here. Hopefully, New York won't figure it out too soon!

The drive back was dicey. I got stuck in one of the icestorms. Freezing rain is very dangerous! At one point, each of the two axles slipped. That's unnerving at 50 mph.

One good thing that came out of the dangerous trip was that I stayed at the midpoint of Route 66. The motel was fun, too!

Site Updates

I've added five films to the GRS database and a new quote:

We're not sinking. We're taking on water. And despite how that sounds, there's a difference!?
Captain of the Sea King in 2-Headed Shark Attack

Please, enjoy them!

Day Trips

Mike and I visited Bouse where the Army tank crews were trained to fight World War II. There's not much left except a few vehicles and the concrete supports for the gas tank (?) for the filling station. These supports are behind the Mazda. Take a look at the shots that Mike took:
Also, we drove to Flagstaff. There's an Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHV) Area where we had climbed cinder cones and descended into a crater.

This time around there was too much snow! And how much is too much? I think you may be surprised!

Site Updates

I've added seven films and two TV program to the GRS database and a new funny photo:


Please, enjoy them!

Forgotten

I forgot to write that Only the Brave was filmed about the Granite Mountain Hot Shots.

Happy New Year!

Mike's Creation

I removed the hideous satellite dish from Mike's house--with his permission of course. And since we're both conserving money, he used it to create a fire pan. Click the thumbnails for photos:
Two legs are old coil springs from his Jeep. The other legs were made by cutting an old Jeep steering component in half.

Oh, and it works well, as you can probably see. Yup, no stones caught fire in Mike's backyard

Day Trip

I have wanted to visit the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park since last January. This park celebrates the heroism of the 20 Prescott-based firefighters and commemorates the sacrifice of 19 of their group.

Descriptions for the photos are below the thumbnails:

Parking lot / Ascent from parking lot / First plaque on trail
One of several benches / View of Route 89 / Typical trail conditions
Fatality Site from ridge
Stitched panorama of Fatality Site
(The crosses demarcate where the bodies were found.)
The trail took us a little longer than three and a half hours. It's an "out and back" hike. We passed quite a few people. I guess we're in better condition than we thought.

Site Updates

I've added five films and one TV program to the GRS database. Please, enjoy them!