Lance-leaved Coreopsis: orange tickseed 2024-05-02

Orange flower growing in sand.

[Lance-leaved coreopsis 2024-04-28]
Lance-leaved coreopsis 2024-04-28

Now there are three blooms.

This Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is native to eastern north America, although I don’t recall ever seeing this orange tickseed before. Continue reading →

Snake in the bricks 2024-04-02

When I moved this piece of steel roofing so I could park the truck there, a thin black snake looked at me startled.

Then it ran towards the bricks, then into the leaves.

[Snake in the bricks and in the leaves]
Snake in the bricks and in the leaves

I think it’s a southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus). Am I right? Continue reading →

Solar panel spring cleaning 2024-03-30

Once a year, we scrub off the pine pollen that builds up into a paste on our solar panels.

[Spring cleaning of old and new solar panels 2024-03-30]
Spring cleaning of old and new solar panels 2024-03-30

That’s all the maintenance they require.

[Old (2006) 20 solar panels]
Old (2006) 20 solar panels

Youtube playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLk2OxkA4UvyWjnmPf2_IoWUZMzvzlsvT&si=UUEQp_GztriKw28n Continue reading →

Arrow wants a treat 2024-01-23

Arrow is making a speedy recovery.

[Arrow wants a treat]
Arrow wants a treat

She has ehrlichia, which is a tick-borne disease. Supposedly if you catch it in the acute stage, which it appears we did, antibiotics will cure it.

Your dogs don’t want ehrlichia, so check them for ticks.

It came on very quickly. Continue reading →

Chimney cleaning 2024-01-06

Every year about this time, I wonder, why is the wood stove smoking so much?

I took the stovepipe off the top, but there was no creosote in there.

Finally I looked up at the roof. Yep, chimney screen completely clogged up.

Just like 2019, 2020, and 2022.

[Clean chimney screen]
Clean chimney screen

That’s the after picture.

I didn’t take a before picture, because I was busy trying not to slip off the dew-wet morning roof. Maybe you can see my white knuckles in the reflection.

-jsq