HIPPYVALLEY

I use an old-school rain gauge. I also always double check my mercury thermometer against my low end weather station.

70/66. Not exactly crisp fall air.

It’s interesting because myself and others around here have noted a distinct lack of yellow jackets this year. Maybe it’s just particular to this area but you never want to see a pollinator species thin off, even if they are jerks with wings.

Red meat is my favorite land based meat. Grilled to perfection with grilled veggies and potatoes. Side salad. Yum! All things in moderation. Meanwhile 58/54. Hoping rain and showers are minimal out here the next few days. Enjoying the drier days.

Years ago, when I was more involved in the study of Chinese and Japanese healing arts and to some extent martial arts, I ate a lot of interesting things at "family and friends" dinner gatherings. It was a huge insult to turn your nose up or dismiss something based on appearance or what you thought it was. Most of what I tried was delicious or at least palatable. A few things were a complete gag reflex. I was naive at the time but now I consider myself fortunate to have had traditional meals with Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian families. I was at dinner party in Kyoto Japan, eating amazing Sashimi and then the chef/host brought out huge live shrimp that he cracked and cut down the middle and handed us with a delicate smear of wasabi and soy. I threw back a shot of Shochu rice liquor, closed my eyes and politely ate something that was moving a few seconds before. It tasted fine but took some fortitude. I can't remember the Japanese term but they are called "dancers' due to the moving legs as it's handed to you. Chinese jellyfish salad was an interesting experience in terms of texture. Some of the Korean vegetable and egg ferments I've tried have been intense. Not good if you have a date the next day. Overall, in terms of Asian cuisine, Japanese is my favorite. Also very healthy food outside of the fried delights from the street vendors.

I'm in my 50's, work at a brewery and drink beer daily. I just try to keep to a reasonably healthy diet, maintain a relatively low emotional and mental stress level and get out in nature. My doctor says it seems to be working for me. IMHO stretching is really important as you get older. Take time to chill out and stretch your connective tissues.

@HimoorWx Great pictures! Hoping for an England and Ireland trip next year with my wife and child.

Nice Monday morning SmackDown in the markets.

They also eat fewer processed, preservative laden foods, have less stress, eat enzyme rich fresh fruits and vegetables and get outside in the sun and fresh air more.

Ya’ 67/53 dry em’ out

Not a drop here thankfully. Nice to get a few dry days in a row in.

No storm action here. Partly cloudy evening. Currently 67/63.

Partly sunny 73/60 here.

You probably want to wait it out a bit. Don’t try to catch a falling knife.

I usually make it until mid October with the daily shorts.

Mangled flakes on the deck of the abandoned gondola lodge on top of Sugarloaf.

I agree, wiring and major structural can wreck you in an insurance claim if not signed off on by an inspector. i’ll continue to do my own plumbing and if I spring leak I’ll eat the damages if necessary. It makes you wonder how many illegal tree houses there are in Massachusetts...?

Shark Bite quick connects are awesome, if you use them correctly. They brought DIY plumbing to a new level. Also legally questionable in MA even though every hardware store in the state carries them. Sweating pipes is a pain in the ass but I’ll still do it if the pipes are going to be enclosed behind walls. Shark bites are only rated for a 20 year gasket life.

Oh, it’s definitely not tied into my septic system. Lol I love plumbing projects, I find them quite satisfying when they are done and not leaking. I can’t recall any of my relatives ever using a licensed plumber for anything. Three generations of Polish and Lithuanian immigrants who always did all of our own everything. It’s just kind of absurd that a homeowner can do electrical work in their house but not plumbing. I see one as far more dangerous than the other.

So I was just talking with a friend of mine who is a general contractor. I was telling him about how I just installed an outdoor shower and how I usually do all my own plumbing projects. He told me he does the same but it is actually illegal in Massachusetts to do your own plumbing! I never knew that. He said you are not even supposed to change your own faucets. WTF? Strong plumbers unions I guess? edit: oh' yeah, apparently outdoor showers are also illegal in MA. Lol.

Yup, good summary!

Slow motion market meltdown. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/16/the-stock-market-is-undergoing-a-slow-motion-deterioration-with-pockets-of-shares-down-20percent-or-more.html

I grew up in Cambridge and spent many adult years there but I have a really difficult time going near cities now. 12 years in W MA has lowered my crowds and traffic tolerance.

Framingham has a bigger population than the entirety of Franklin County which is 700sq/mi. Think about that.

Had to be, his station would not be covering Barre Vermont unless aliens had landed there.