tunafish

That is pretty unconventional but very cool. What a neat symbiotic relationship. I don't think that's feasible in suburbia, but I wouldn't mind a neighborhood cat taking an interest. There was one hanging around a few years ago that looked stray. It made a run at the hens, ha.

You will love them on days like today. The energy use and efficiency vs windows units is night and day. 87/66

What I assumed to have been brown rats that ate my carrot crop last Fall turns out to be Eastern Meadow Vole. I've got a lot of them. They carry ticks and will hurt the garden again if I don't deal with them. I'm not dropping rodenticide, and trapping proved ineffective last year. They have a 20-25 day gestation period and once you trap one in their run, they stop using that run. Other than predators (hawks, ermine, snakes), is there anything effective on these things? Anyone had experience with them?

Debated this myself earlier. If I open windows it won't be quite cool enough, so put the inverters on 64 and Quiet. With the outside temps relatively cool they won't run a lot, but the air circulation when they do is worth it.

Last dry Saturday was 4/19. brutal.

2.27".

At the kids soccer game in the rain. Made 3/4 the way through the game before we had several claps of thunder. Not a single person - ref, parents, coaches - considered calling the game until I said something. Total f*cking morons.

3.03' event 5.17" MTD

Over 3" now, on top of the 2"+ from earlier in the week.

Last year, we had a large area we were transitioning from 100% grass/weeds to rougly 75% shrubs and perennials and 25% grass. -Sheet mulched (Mow grass as low as possible. Lay overlapping cardboard, wet it, then top with compost, soil) the entire area late July last year. -Planted shrubs and perennials in the September. -Put down winter or "dormant" grass seed in late October. The grass seed just started sprouting a weeks ago. First time trying it, we'll see how it comes in. But essentially no weeds. I'm convinced sheet mulching is the most effective at turning grass/weeds into new plantable space, with minimal weed regrowth. In 6 warm seasons we've turned about 2/3 of the half acre lot from grass into plantable soil. Lot of work but better for us, pollinators, environment, and property value.

That's my threshold - once the clover flowers, I mow - probably 2nd/3rd week here. This year I am pulling Dandelions, taproot and all, as I see them flower. Pollinators get a day or two. Not the ones getting choked out by grass or clover (I juat get the flower before it seeds), just the ones that are dominant flora in their space. They've claimed too much territory for my liking. Tried corn gluten for the crabgrass this year. It's been time in the past, but I want clover and grass taking over the dandelion space, not crabgrass.

The wussification of America. Sad!

The fact that PWM is only 7" short of your total is telling.

You're young. Don't look. Not worth doing to yourself.

Is there data for the climo sites on days between measurable snow (within D/J/F/M)? I think we were at 35 days 2/16-3/23. Prob not a record but feels damn impressive.

Yes he's at 29°, couldn't convince him to go check the glaze, but he said precip had been light. He's got a big dumb white pine over a 200 year old farmhouse so ice (and wind for that matter) is always a concern. Parent in-laws in Henniker are at 600 ft, 31° and they've been in that steady band, not sure if heavier rates will mean more accreciation though.

My BIL is just above 1K on an east facing hill in Deering. How siggy ice is he in for?

Tough realization of how early it is in the Spring season.

3.4" will do it for PWM as we're over to a spitting mix. I heard the first Spring Peeper as it started to snow at 05z last night. Dumb thing is now in a vernal slush.

They'll learn eventually. It took several years but now I have my neighbors trained. They follow my lead w/r/t driveway stakes, parking cars in garage, clearing right after the changeover to rain, not sweeping the sand off the sidewalks and driveway on 3/15, etc.

2.1" new at 12z for PWM.

First flakes and 40/13 in PWM.

I have gas left in my tank. I'm not above using the snow blower on 3" of junk in late March.