What are you doing today?

[GaryE]

@WhistlingBadger - did you bring the tree down with the new bow?

That is cold looking terrain. Every time you post a photo of the outdoors, I feel like I'm watching a western movie. It's very beautiful, but very familiar except it isn't in black and white.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

@WhistlingBadger - did you bring the tree down with the new bow?

That is cold looking terrain. Every time you post a photo of the outdoors, I feel like I'm watching a western movie. It's very beautiful, but very familiar except it isn't in black and white.

Nope, didn't even use stone tools. It wasn't too cold, just pleasantly chilly. Jeans and jacket weather. It is beautiful around here. And yeah, it is pretty western. Fewer outlaws these days, though. Relatively few stagecoach robberies.

 

[anewbie]

After doing water changes i'm just watching my kids:

Gotta say these chocolate are very gentle when caring for kids - they just look at the other fishes funny and they turn tail - no actual contact...

Of couse with the chocolate spawning on one side these guys decided to spawn on the opposite side:

 

[connorlindeman]

I was inspired by @WhistlingBadger to reread Endurance by Lansing. Just finished it this evening. What a great book. If you have not read it, take the time. You will not regret it.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I was inspired by @WhistlingBadger to reread Endurance by Lansing. Just finished it this evening. What a great book. If you have not read it, take the time. You will not regret it.

Just knowing that kind of courage exists (or at least existed) makes one a better person, somehow.

 

[GaryE]

Today, I'm peering into the darkness. I spawned two tetras, one 9 days ago, and the other 7. The eggs and larvae are light sensitive, so I've been blindly feeding curtained tanks. I've seen a lot of glowlight tetra fry, but whether I'll still see them today will be part of the grand unveiling. My successfully spawned and raised Pristella were out in the light at 10 days, and I assume that's my general timing, although nothing can be taken for granted. It's time to put a light on that tank, and check my results.
The undescribed 'red cherry' Hyphessobrycon will get a good look too. Not all tetras are light sensitive, and I'm fumbling in the dark with this process.
In the meantime, it's 7 Am and I want another cup of coffee, but my dog is sleeping happily on my feet.

Yesterday was a housekeeping blitz, so today I'll work on the aquarium club. It's coming together. The goal now is to recruit more 'leaders', to get two more people who are prepared to get things done and expand the discussion of directions. We added a good guy 2 weeks ago, and we'll proceed to electing a 5 person executive. We still need a treasurer and a president.

This is where I discover you've all been telling stories with living in exotic places, and you all live in the houses up the road from here.

 

[Alice B]

I am far down the road from there, lol. Cleaned up 2 more sewing machines for the craft sale. need ideas for things to sew for the table, it's a holiday craft sale

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Just took the Badgerling for a walk and heard an elk bugling. Beyond being incredibly blessed to live in a place where we can go for a walk and hear elk bugling, it was kind of funny. The season for bugling is long past, and judging by the sound--squeaky, hoarse, and unstable--it was a spike bull just trying his voice out, and probably annoying the surrounding elk. Hard to believe that in just a few years, if he survives, he'll be thundering and shaking the woods.

 

[GaryE]

The deer like to sleep in a spot near the driveway, and if I take Mabel out very early, I sometimes disturb them without seeing them. They bugle, but like a bugle with no mouthpiece. It's a loud huffing noise - not very impressive. I'd like to hear the elk version.

Speaking as someone who grew up as a middle of the city, 'the only dirt around here is on your shoes' guy, I feel lucky living surrounded by other creatures. The country isn't better than the city, and both have their charms. I would not have wanted to live here when I was 20. But as an old guy, getting to learn the ways of the creatures around is very fun. Having moved to a different environment means different insects, some different birds, lots of mammals and even different plants and trees.

When I look at all the creatures around, including the fish and plants inside, it can feel like a real wonder to be part of it all.

Urban life is great culturally - there are so many people from so many places, so many foods, languages, musics, storytelling styles, ideas (and available fish...) - that you can spend your life learning there. But people aren't always the most interesting animals, especially in a period like now. I'm kind of enjoying getting to know dogs, deer and seals. I say that even though a 70 pound dog just stood with a clawed foot on my bare toes.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I can do big cities for a little while, but I can't really relax there. After a day or two I find myself longing for the sound of nothing. I know others love the big cities, and they can have my share. I have found it interesting in my travels how many big cities really play up their rural and/or wilderness roots: Denver is always tapping you on the shoulder and pointing at the mountains; urban Fort Worth has statues of longhorn cattle and cowboys everywhere; even St. Louis can't quit talking about the Louis and Clark expedition. It reinforces my theory that people aren't really meant to live crammed close together like that.

 

[GaryE]

I grew up in a generational urban working class culture, going back to the industrial revolution. The ultimate, let's start punching insult was to call someone a "farmer". I had zero interest in driving cars, and I found visits to small towns or the countryside flat and dull. There was no hum, no noise, nothing going on. I still carry the idea that rural life isn't good for people. Cities have become too expensive for retired people, so I've moved out. I'm not sure it was a real choice. Did I jump or was I pushed?

But it's not bad. I doubt I'll be able to accomplish much for our broader society in my situation, so country living is okay. I love the coastal environment, and the company of non human, non rat animals is very appealing. I like where I live.

Are the old bricks redder on the other side of the fence? Sure, sometimes. I get the urge to travel a lot, and walking in cities is something I love to do. I love people watching, and for that, the anonymity of a huge city is great. Other than for going fishing for aquarium species, there is no draw to the countryside for me. The first thing that I do when I have budget and time to travel is look for a city. I think that says something.

I like old cities, and they don't talk up the countryside connection. That view may be more of an American thing, with the young cities.

My compromise is you either live in a huge, teeming city, or in a quiet place surrounded by nature. Forget the suburbs.

 

[connorlindeman]

Todays a day for splitting firewood.
We had a tree company drop a giant log in our driveway last year which turned out to be way too dense to split.
I rented a 22 ton splitter for the day so that should make the job easier.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Interesting, Gary. It takes all kinds. I like wild places; they relax me, ground me in reality, and give me a feeling of adventure and peace combined. But some of my big city friends feel very anxious in the wilderness; one guy said he was very uneasy not being able to hear traffic. It's all what you're used to I guess.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Todays a day for splitting firewood.
We had a tree company drop a giant log in our driveway last year which turned out to be way too dense to split.
I rented a 22 ton splitter for the day so that should make the job easier.

I miss splitting firewood. An hour or so with a splitting maul is good therapy. I'm guessing a hydraulic splitter is pretty satisfying too.

 

[connorlindeman]

.5 lens so everything looks smaller.
That is about an hours work with the splitter. With how rough these rounds were, that would have easily been over 3 hours.