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1000 results for “tiny_bus_stop”
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Electric city bus sales overtake diesel in Europe in 2023. This marks the first time that a #ZeroEmission technology has become dominant in a road transport sector in Europe.
Phase out internal combustion engines.!https://theicct.org/electric-buses-europe-may23/
#ClimateAction #EVs #Buses #ICE
Image: Heavy #FossilFuel #Traffic on the tiny #UnnamedCreek bridge #Bellingen #RosesRoad #GlenifferRoad #Roads made #Unsafe ##CountryRoads -
Something Surprising Happens When Bus Rides Are Free
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/opinion/free-bus-rides-mamdani.html?unlocked_article_code=1.L1A.-VTN.A4m163H2hzed&smid=nytcore-ios-sharefrom #NewYorkTimes #NYT
[shareable gift article]
Feb. 13, 2026Free buses? Really? Of all the promises that #ZohranMamdani made during his #NYC mayoral campaign, that one struck some skeptics as the most frivolous leftist fantasy. Unlike housing, groceries and child care, which weigh heavily on New Yorkers’ finances, a #bus ride is just a few bucks. Is it really worth the huge effort to spare people that tiny outlay?
It is. Far beyond just saving riders money, free buses deliver a cascade of benefits, from easing traffic to promoting public safety.
If free buses strike you as wasteful, you’re not alone. Plenty of the beneficiaries would be people who can afford to pay. Does it make sense to give them a freebie? Yes, if it improves the life of the city, just as free parks, libraries and public schools do. Don’t think of it as a giveaway to the undeserving.
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Car Security System Monitors Tiny Voltage Fluctuations - As the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as a lock that can’t be picked. Howe... - https://hackaday.com/2023/07/25/car-security-system-monitors-tiny-voltage-fluctuations/ #transportationhacks #securityhacks #voltagedrop #voltagesag #security #can-bus #vehicle #voltage #car
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Just to be aware there is no bus service at the #Luton Mid stay carpark need to walk the 15 minutes to the #LutonAirport - tiny sign as you enter the carpark stating this - Oh dear - not good in the snow - don’t know how many people have been caught out here!
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If I ever even hint that I'm getting a PM91 bus ever again please find me and smack me upside my head. Hard!
It was an adventure to be fair and I saw tiny places I've never seen before.
"Careful with that milk Effie."
"Don't be drinking that half bottle all at once Sandy."
"Do you need a hand with your messages Irene."
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@xavi
You will always need bus and display drivers for this; either loaded as part of your project, or a #MicroPython firmware with a drivers built-in.#QSPI is 'Quad SPI', a very fast display bus. The #ESP32 micropython port does not support this natively, so you need a driver for that.
It may get added in the future, See discussion here, etc:
https://github.com/orgs/micropython/discussions/14333#discussioncomment-9219699You also need a driver for the SH8601 itself (this will use the QSPI bus).
Have a look at this page; which has a pre-compiled, non-lvgl firmware supporting your board + display.
https://github.com/dobodu/Lilygo-Amoled-MicropythonPersonally; I think you want to go the #LVGL route anyway; It's more of an ecosystem than just a set of display drivers. You get the tools and libraries to use the display effectively, as well as the hardware support.
Micropython itself does not build in any drivers or features for this sort of display. It has basic framebuffer support but this is intended for tiny OLED's etc. Not large color displays. Indeed, a framebuffer for this display would be 688K in size.. larger than the system RAM.
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@xavi
You will always need bus and display drivers for this; either loaded as part of your project, or a #MicroPython firmware with a drivers built-in.#QSPI is 'Quad SPI', a very fast display bus. The #ESP32 micropython port does not support this natively, so you need a driver for that.
It may get added in the future, See discussion here, etc:
https://github.com/orgs/micropython/discussions/14333#discussioncomment-9219699You also need a driver for the SH8601 itself (this will use the QSPI bus).
Have a look at this page; which has a pre-compiled, non-lvgl firmware supporting your board + display.
https://github.com/dobodu/Lilygo-Amoled-MicropythonPersonally; I think you want to go the #LVGL route anyway; It's more of an ecosystem than just a set of display drivers. You get the tools and libraries to use the display effectively, as well as the hardware support.
Micropython itself does not build in any drivers or features for this sort of display. It has basic framebuffer support but this is intended for tiny OLED's etc. Not large color displays. Indeed, a framebuffer for this display would be 688K in size.. larger than the system RAM.
-
@xavi
You will always need bus and display drivers for this; either loaded as part of your project, or a #MicroPython firmware with a drivers built-in.#QSPI is 'Quad SPI', a very fast display bus. The #ESP32 micropython port does not support this natively, so you need a driver for that.
It may get added in the future, See discussion here, etc:
https://github.com/orgs/micropython/discussions/14333#discussioncomment-9219699You also need a driver for the SH8601 itself (this will use the QSPI bus).
Have a look at this page; which has a pre-compiled, non-lvgl firmware supporting your board + display.
https://github.com/dobodu/Lilygo-Amoled-MicropythonPersonally; I think you want to go the #LVGL route anyway; It's more of an ecosystem than just a set of display drivers. You get the tools and libraries to use the display effectively, as well as the hardware support.
Micropython itself does not build in any drivers or features for this sort of display. It has basic framebuffer support but this is intended for tiny OLED's etc. Not large color displays. Indeed, a framebuffer for this display would be 688K in size.. larger than the system RAM.
-
@xavi
You will always need bus and display drivers for this; either loaded as part of your project, or a #MicroPython firmware with a drivers built-in.#QSPI is 'Quad SPI', a very fast display bus. The #ESP32 micropython port does not support this natively, so you need a driver for that.
It may get added in the future, See discussion here, etc:
https://github.com/orgs/micropython/discussions/14333#discussioncomment-9219699You also need a driver for the SH8601 itself (this will use the QSPI bus).
Have a look at this page; which has a pre-compiled, non-lvgl firmware supporting your board + display.
https://github.com/dobodu/Lilygo-Amoled-MicropythonPersonally; I think you want to go the #LVGL route anyway; It's more of an ecosystem than just a set of display drivers. You get the tools and libraries to use the display effectively, as well as the hardware support.
Micropython itself does not build in any drivers or features for this sort of display. It has basic framebuffer support but this is intended for tiny OLED's etc. Not large color displays. Indeed, a framebuffer for this display would be 688K in size.. larger than the system RAM.
-
@xavi
You will always need bus and display drivers for this; either loaded as part of your project, or a #MicroPython firmware with a drivers built-in.#QSPI is 'Quad SPI', a very fast display bus. The #ESP32 micropython port does not support this natively, so you need a driver for that.
It may get added in the future, See discussion here, etc:
https://github.com/orgs/micropython/discussions/14333#discussioncomment-9219699You also need a driver for the SH8601 itself (this will use the QSPI bus).
Have a look at this page; which has a pre-compiled, non-lvgl firmware supporting your board + display.
https://github.com/dobodu/Lilygo-Amoled-MicropythonPersonally; I think you want to go the #LVGL route anyway; It's more of an ecosystem than just a set of display drivers. You get the tools and libraries to use the display effectively, as well as the hardware support.
Micropython itself does not build in any drivers or features for this sort of display. It has basic framebuffer support but this is intended for tiny OLED's etc. Not large color displays. Indeed, a framebuffer for this display would be 688K in size.. larger than the system RAM.
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Battening down the hatches here in Xena the Wandering Witch Bus ahead of Idalia. Cleaned my whole entire house today and I’m glad it’s tiny because that was a lot of work. 🤣 #TinyHouse #tinyLiving #skoolie #Idalia #HurricaneIdalia #OcalaNationalForest
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“Just 0.2% of Australia’s bus fleet is electric”
“Electrifying bus fleets is an easy first step that state governments can take toward achieving their net zero goals”
“Burning one litre of #diesel produces around 2.7kg of CO2, which means that diesel buses produce about 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually—roughly equivalent to the entire Australian Capital Territory’s carbon emissions in 2020-21.”
https://thedriven.io/2023/04/12/the-states-havent-delivered-report-finds-just-0-2-of-australias-buses-are-electric/
#Carbon #Emissions #Noise #Diesel #Pollution #Petrol #Diesel exhaust #Roads #Congestion #Air pollution #PublicHealth #RespiratoryHospitalisations #ClimatecChangeFleets of (school) diesel buses and congested traffic is redirected onto a tiny, steep country road with "dangerous bends". Note the group of cyclist that are without a cycle path and pedestrians have no footpath. Due to overuse the newly made potholes require filling with the help of #FossilFuel and asphalt almost daily. The edges of the road are being cracked by the heavy load of traffic.
#Bellingen #RosesRd #Logging #Detour #Mobility -
While the legal victories are stacking up rapidly, its important not to loose sight of the tiny human stuck in the middle of this horrific mistreatment.
We really need to hit our fundraising goals so I can provide the world to this beautiful young soul
Goal $295 / $2000
💸 Bills + Bus Pass $1000
🥣 Groceries $500
👨🏿🍼 Baby Supplies $500Ways to support
One-time Direct Donation
Venmo/Paypal - $nullagent
https://chuffed.org/project/145522-help-falsely-accused-black-dad-get-back-on-his-feet
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Of Hijack Season 2 Review
Hijack Season 2 review
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/becomingthemuse/episodes/Hijack-Season-2-Review-e3fuksqHijack is a thriller tv series created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith. Season 1 came out on 28 June 2023 and it was renewed for a second season which premiered on Apple TV+ on 14 January 2026.
Idris Elba returns as Sam Nelson and is once again at the centre of a hijacking crisis but the stakes have been raised.
The Good
Two words… Idris Elba, if he read the news, I would probably start watching but if I saw him in public I wouldn’t travel with him because hijackings seem to happen around him…
In Season 1, an aeroplane gets hijacked, and in Season 2, a train gets hijacked… and if you are thinking it’s more of the same, except on a train, you would be so wrong. By the time the credits roll out on the first episode, you will be looking at your tv in shock.
Idris Elba as Sam Nelson in Hijack Season 2Idris Elba is his usual charismatic self, but this time he has a dark edge and a tiny bit unravelled; obsessed with finding answers, justice and maybe a little bit of vengeance…
The show’s creators have mastered the art of cranking up the tension as each episode progresses and then drop a bombshell of plot reveal for a cliff-hanger finish and what can you do but watch the next episode.
https://twitter.com/Beatonm5/status/2024151998321295422
Hijack Season 2 has a great soundtrack that sets the atomosphere right from theme Kiss the Sky by Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra and its haunting lyrics… Too late to save the world from dying.
https://twitter.com/Beatonm5/status/2012808355702559102
The Bad
Don’t be like me and jump straight into watching this without getting a recap of how Season 1 ended because it just plunges into things, as if you have been following what happened in the aftermath of the Kingdom Flight Hijacking…
Even after catching up, certain narrative gaps remain. Some questions never quite receive satisfying answers, leaving loose threads that feel less like deliberate mystery and more like unfinished stitching, perhaps held back for a potential third season.
Hijack Season 2 scene collageThe series is at its best in the claustrophobic atmosphere of the train, but it spends a lot of time chasing subplots which do not raise the emotional stakes or develop characters beyond simply being plot devices in a train that gets hijacked.
The Ugly
The larger the canvas becomes, the more the story demands that viewers suspend logic. And Season 2 occasionally asks for quite a lot.
Lisa Vicari as Clara Berger in Hijack Season 2Final Thoughts
So, first it was a plane, now a train… what next? A bus gets hijacked…maybe a boat???
Hijack Season 2 ambitiously expands its world but, in doing so, sacrifices some of the simplicity and razor-sharp focus that made Season 1 so gripping. It remains a tense and often entertaining watch, powered largely by Idris Elba’s commanding presence. However, it does not eclipse the brilliance of its debut season.
Have you watched Hijack… does it sound like something you would watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_i4-MoGALo&t
Video Review #Hijack #HijackSeason2 #IdrisElba #seriesReview #thriller #Train #TVSeries -
The ultimate rebuild of an ancient Yaesu FT-817.
I think it was a couple of years ago now I ordered a QRP Labs QMX transceiver. It quickly, but temporarily, became my favorite radio for portable field operations. I have written before about why I believe the QMX is a mighty fine piece of miniaturized technology but is less suitable for the rigors of being operated in the kind of field operating environment to which I expose my radios. My QMX is the low-band version and I also miss the opportunity to explore the higher bands when propagation conditions permit.
What’s a poor Ham to do?
I could buy another QMX, but order the high band version this time. It would be a very modest investment, but would still require ruggedizing. Another downside is the long, long wait time betwixt ordering and receiving the tiny parcel from Turkey. I could also order a QMX+ which is a fine all HF band radio, but then what to do with the QMX low band? There is another solution.
The Paranoid Android
I recall a quote from the book “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams in which the perenially depressed robot “Marvin the Paranoid Android” moans: “The first ten million years were the worst.” When I look at the front panel of my ancient Yaesu FT-817 non-ND version it kinda has a Marvin look about it. It has spent almost a quarter of a century waiting patiently in a drawer for the day when it might be called into action again. Many radios have come and gone during that time but – even though I had planned to sell it on many occasions – I still own it and it’s day to see the sunshine again has finally come.
Where are the features?
The non-ND version of the FT-817 is a barebones rig. I needed a CW memory keyer – it doesn’t have one. Activating a POTA park sometimes requires great patience and many, many CQs. My QMX at least has that covered. I also needed an audio filter. It used to be possible to buy a Collins mechanical filter but they are no longer made. My QMX also has that feature covered, but the FT-817 requires an external audio filter.
Failure is not an option
The FT-817 does have a higher level of ruggedness than the QMX. With a few extra precautionary measures it can be protected from the ingress of sand particles during a beach activation, or unexpected spray from waves on the shores of the Great Lakes. The QMX will not tolerate wide variations in DC supply voltage; the FT-817 has that covered. The QMX uses inexpensive but fragile PA transistors (mine have not succumbed to failure – yet). Well, the FT-817 also had fragile PA transistors in its early days and mine did indeed fail during a field deployment. The FT-817’s PA board is a small module that is easily replaced with the new upgraded module – as was mine.
Assembled rebuilt FT-817 portable operations rig. The battered, field protective canvas pouch on the right contains a Talentcell LiFePO4 battery. Right hand side view of the “helper modules” showing the input jack for connecting a cable from the headphone output of the FT-817. The switch allows the K4ICY AF filter to be bypassed for a barn door wide audio bandwidth. Left hand side view of the “helper modules” showing the switch allowing selection of 2-stage or 4-stage audio frequency filtering. To the right of the switch is the AF output jack for connecting headphones. The jack on the K3NG keyer connects to the “Key” jack on the FT-817. On the back of the AF filter module is the power switch controlling the internal
9-volt battery (now replaced by a buck converter) which supplies both modules. Internal view of the keyer module and the filter module. The 9 volt battery has now been replaced with a buck converter that converts the radio’s DC supply from 12.6 volts down to 9 volts to power the helper modules.I get by with a little help from my friends
The feature shortcomings of the FT-817 have been overcome with two “helper modules” assembled inside aluminum Hammond project enclosures. The front enclosure contains a K3NG Arduino nano based CW keyer and a very simple no-thrills set of 3D printed paddles. Well who really needs to spend $300 on a fancy set of paddles for a brief POTA exchange? These paddles get the job done FB. The same cannot be said about the fist that operates them!
The front panel controls are very simple. The paddles protrude through a cutout in the Hammond enclosure.
Beside the paddles is a knob. This knob is used to operate a rotary encoder inside. Clicking the knob operates the switch built into the rotary encoder and triggers the sending of a “CQ CQ POTA de VA3KOT VA3KOT k” stored message in the Arduino keyer.
Rotating the knob adjusts the speed of the CW over a wide range. I have found this to be a very useful feature. I usually send at 20wpm and receive responses that are slower and faster than my sending speed. With this prominent control front-and-center I can quickly adjust my sending speed to suit.
I built the K4ICY audio frequency filter module around a quad op-amp DIL chip. This is a very simple circuit that provides 2 or 4 stages of filtering to narrow the bandwidth of a received signal. Each stage contains identical components whose values are selected according the operator’s desired sidetone frequency. The whole module can be bypassed if required allowing an audio bandwidth wide enough to pass a crosstown bus sideways.
Both modules are rigidly secured to each other using two aluminum rails made from scrap material. I hoard scraps of metal, plastic and other materials – you just never know when you’re gonna need ’em.
The dimensions of the two modules provide an ample flat surface on which to mount the ancient, but revered, transceiver. I purchased some “peel & stick” Gorilla brand “Slipstick” gripper pads and applied four of them to the base of the FT-817. This is a genuinely useful product I recommend to any hambrewer. The radio has been secured to the top of the helper modules with two woodland zip ties made from thin cordage. These simple cord fasteners work just as well as plastic zip ties and can be easily undone for servicing the modules.
I purchased a box load of these Hammond enclosures at an auction many years ago. They have proved very useful. In another build, using the same enclosures configured in an identical manner, I was able to construct two battery modules each containing four 18650 Lithium Ion batteries in 4S1P configuration for powering another one of my ancient QRP transceivers.
This is not the first time I have revived my FT-817, but previous rebuilds were clumsy. It is one thing to put together multiple modules on the shack bench. Clumsy, cluttered, loose modules might work in a picnic-tables-on-the-air type activation. But would it work in a situation where there are no convenient surfaces to mount the equipment; where – at any moment – we might be politely asked to vacate the area by a hungry bear looking for a space to eat his lunch? This new build is a grab-and-go package that works in small, tight spaces – even on top of a rock in the backcountry – and that’s the kind of environment where I like to operate.
Help support HamRadioOutsidetheBox
No “tip-jar”, “buy me a coffee”, Patreon, or Amazon links here. I enjoy my hobby and I enjoy writing about it. If you would like to support this blog please follow/subscribe using the link at the bottom of my home page, or like, comment (links at the bottom of each post), repost or share links to my posts on social media. If you would like to email me directly you will find my email address on my QRZ.com page. Thank you!
The following copyright notice applies to all content on this blog.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. -
We have a treasure on Broadway. Come check it out! Michette is wonderful. My favorites are the orange cookies, the breads (sourdough loaves!!!) and the Basque cheesecake when he bakes it extra-soft. Via T: bus 89, 90 or 101, or 12 min walking from Sullivan Square 🟠, or bike down on Broadway or take the Community Path to Cross St, then bike 3 min to Broadway. #eastsomerville #foodscene
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/03/lifestyle/exceptional-baguettes-michette-tiny-artisanal-east-somerville-bakery/ -
The ultimate rebuild of an ancient Yaesu FT-817.
I think it was a couple of years ago now I ordered a QRP Labs QMX transceiver. It quickly, but temporarily, became my favorite radio for portable field operations. I have written before about why I believe the QMX is a mighty fine piece of miniaturized technology but is less suitable for the rigors of being operated in the kind of field operating environment to which I expose my radios. My QMX is the low-band version and I also miss the opportunity to explore the higher bands when propagation conditions permit.
What’s a poor Ham to do?
I could buy another QMX, but order the high band version this time. It would be a very modest investment, but would still require ruggedizing. Another downside is the long, long wait time betwixt ordering and receiving the tiny parcel from Turkey. I could also order a QMX+ which is a fine all HF band radio, but then what to do with the QMX low band? There is another solution.
The Paranoid Android
I recall a quote from the book “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams in which the perenially depressed robot “Marvin the Paranoid Android” moans: “The first ten million years were the worst.” When I look at the front panel of my ancient Yaesu FT-817 non-ND version it kinda has a Marvin look about it. It has spent almost a quarter of a century waiting patiently in a drawer for the day when it might be called into action again. Many radios have come and gone during that time but – even though I had planned to sell it on many occasions – I still own it and it’s day to see the sunshine again has finally come.
Where are the features?
The non-ND version of the FT-817 is a barebones rig. I needed a CW memory keyer – it doesn’t have one. Activating a POTA park sometimes requires great patience and many, many CQs. My QMX at least has that covered. I also needed an audio filter. It used to be possible to buy a Collins mechanical filter but they are no longer made. My QMX also has that feature covered, but the FT-817 requires an external audio filter.
Failure is not an option
The FT-817 does have a higher level of ruggedness than the QMX. With a few extra precautionary measures it can be protected from the ingress of sand particles during a beach activation, or unexpected spray from waves on the shores of the Great Lakes. The QMX will not tolerate wide variations in DC supply voltage; the FT-817 has that covered. The QMX uses inexpensive but fragile PA transistors (mine have not succumbed to failure – yet). Well, the FT-817 also had fragile PA transistors in its early days and mine did indeed fail during a field deployment. The FT-817’s PA board is a small module that is easily replaced with the new upgraded module – as was mine.
Assembled rebuilt FT-817 portable operations rig. The battered, field protective canvas pouch on the right contains a Talentcell LiFePO4 battery. Right hand side view of the “helper modules” showing the input jack for connecting a cable from the headphone output of the FT-817. The switch allows the K4ICY AF filter to be bypassed for a barn door wide audio bandwidth. Left hand side view of the “helper modules” showing the switch allowing selection of 2-stage or 4-stage audio frequency filtering. To the right of the switch is the AF output jack for connecting headphones. The jack on the K3NG keyer connects to the “Key” jack on the FT-817. On the back of the AF filter module is the power switch controlling the internal
9-volt battery (now replaced by a buck converter) which supplies both modules. Internal view of the keyer module and the filter module. The 9 volt battery has now been replaced with a buck converter that converts the radio’s DC supply from 12.6 volts down to 9 volts to power the helper modules.I get by with a little help from my friends
The feature shortcomings of the FT-817 have been overcome with two “helper modules” assembled inside aluminum Hammond project enclosures. The front enclosure contains a K3NG Arduino nano based CW keyer and a very simple no-thrills set of 3D printed paddles. Well who really needs to spend $300 on a fancy set of paddles for a brief POTA exchange? These paddles get the job done FB. The same cannot be said about the fist that operates them!
The front panel controls are very simple. The paddles protrude through a cutout in the Hammond enclosure.
Beside the paddles is a knob. This knob is used to operate a rotary encoder inside. Clicking the knob operates the switch built into the rotary encoder and triggers the sending of a “CQ CQ POTA de VA3KOT VA3KOT k” stored message in the Arduino keyer.
Rotating the knob adjusts the speed of the CW over a wide range. I have found this to be a very useful feature. I usually send at 20wpm and receive responses that are slower and faster than my sending speed. With this prominent control front-and-center I can quickly adjust my sending speed to suit.
I built the K4ICY audio frequency filter module around a quad op-amp DIL chip. This is a very simple circuit that provides 2 or 4 stages of filtering to narrow the bandwidth of a received signal. Each stage contains identical components whose values are selected according the operator’s desired sidetone frequency. The whole module can be bypassed if required allowing an audio bandwidth wide enough to pass a crosstown bus sideways.
Both modules are rigidly secured to each other using two aluminum rails made from scrap material. I hoard scraps of metal, plastic and other materials – you just never know when you’re gonna need ’em.
The dimensions of the two modules provide an ample flat surface on which to mount the ancient, but revered, transceiver. I purchased some “peel & stick” Gorilla brand “Slipstick” gripper pads and applied four of them to the base of the FT-817. This is a genuinely useful product I recommend to any hambrewer. The radio has been secured to the top of the helper modules with two woodland zip ties made from thin cordage. These simple cord fasteners work just as well as plastic zip ties and can be easily undone for servicing the modules.
I purchased a box load of these Hammond enclosures at an auction many years ago. They have proved very useful. In another build, using the same enclosures configured in an identical manner, I was able to construct two battery modules each containing four 18650 Lithium Ion batteries in 4S1P configuration for powering another one of my ancient QRP transceivers.
This is not the first time I have revived my FT-817, but previous rebuilds were clumsy. It is one thing to put together multiple modules on the shack bench. Clumsy, cluttered, loose modules might work in a picnic-tables-on-the-air type activation. But would it work in a situation where there are no convenient surfaces to mount the equipment; where – at any moment – we might be politely asked to vacate the area by a hungry bear looking for a space to eat his lunch? This new build is a grab-and-go package that works in small, tight spaces – even on top of a rock in the backcountry – and that’s the kind of environment where I like to operate.
Help support HamRadioOutsidetheBox
No “tip-jar”, “buy me a coffee”, Patreon, or Amazon links here. I enjoy my hobby and I enjoy writing about it. If you would like to support this blog please follow/subscribe using the link at the bottom of my home page, or like, comment (links at the bottom of each post), repost or share links to my posts on social media. If you would like to email me directly you will find my email address on my QRZ.com page. Thank you!
The following copyright notice applies to all content on this blog.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. -
Spaceships over Edinburgh: the thread about the Scottish flying saucer craze of 1950
Sunday 24th September 1950 was a momentous day in Scotland. Just over 3 years after American aviator Kenneth Arnold sent the world flying saucer crazy, the Scottish local papers (the West Lothian Courier to be precise) reported the arrival of the phenomenon in this country, specifically over the Firth of Forth! (Except the paper only published once a week, so this breaking news had to wait until the next Friday…)
West Lothian Courier – Friday 29 September 1950An Edinburgh Lawyer, Mr A. M. Leggat, and his family were on a Sunday drive to South Queensferry. They had just got out of their car and were watching a train cross the Bridge when they spotted something at a height of about 2,000ft, “a cigar shaped object, moving east to west“. Mr Leggat said that he joked to his wife “it’s probably a flying saucer“, at which point the object turned and climbed higher. “It became a circle, with a quite definite dark outside rim” he told the Courier, “it looked exactly like a perfect smoke-ring. We watched it for about 2 minutes.” He estimated it to be about 50 feet in diameter and that there were others who had seen it too. The Daily Record also joined in the reporting, its columnist The Gangrel scoffing that it caused “no excitement amongst Edinburghers” as “almost anything leaves these chaps cold”. The Linlithgowshire Gazette was dismissive too: it was a well known fact amongst informed locals, it said, that “residents often observe similar phenomena under certain weather conditions, when the smoke from passing trains forms rings and rises up soon to disappear from view“.
The Forth Bridge flying saucer? No, it is one of the piers of the bridge under construction on a mill-pond flat Firth of Forth. National Records of Scotland BR/FOR/4/34/457In a very strange coincidence, just the week before, another local paper – the Falkirk Herald – announced that the new B-movie The Flying Saucer was going to start running on the Odeon Circuit in the country from 9th October.
The Flying Saucer, 1950, theatrical release posterFlying saucers of a feather, flock together, and soon there were two: on Sunday 22nd October, Mrs Mary Mulvey, a newspaper seller, spotted three “round dark-coloured objects with small tails” flying over St. Andrew Square in the city. Her husband and a bus driver – Mr Bob Kirkhope of Lauriston Terrace – corroborated; “I saw three disc-like shapes fairly high up and travelling in the Daklkeith direction” said Mr Kirkhope to the Aberdeen Press & Journal. The resident meteorological officers at Turnhouse and Pitreavie airfields were scornful and said they must have been “low cloud formations or weather balloons“. But the folk of Annan and Peterhead begged to differ; they had seen them too!
Sixteen year old twins, Ann and Elizabeth Weightman of Newington Avenue, Annan, told the Sunday Post that they had watched them in the sky at night, approaching from the north and hovering over the town for 10 seconds. And in far off Peterhead, 15 year old schoolboy Ian Cruickshank of Prince Street, reported to the police that he saw a flying saucer “hurtling across the sky“, as reported the Dundee Courier. His mother said “my boy was quite excited about it. It was quite genuine“, her son adamant that “It is no schoolboy joke. I had just come out of the house when a high-pitched whistling sound from the sky attracted my attention“. His friends did not agree and he would tell the Courier that they teased him over the matter.
15 year old Ian Cruikshank’s picture in the Dundee Courier.On 28th October, an un-named “Glasgow Sunday paper” received a report of a flying saucer over Kirkintilloch. They refused to print the story or be directly identified with it but the Kirkintilloch Herald didn’t! The paper joked that as a dry town (i.e. there was no sale of alcohol on public premises in the town, until 1967) that the only flying saucer was the head of the man who came home late and drunk from the fair. There would be no Spaceships Over Glasgow until Tuesday 5th December when a man came into the office of the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser to report seeing a flying saucer over Raywyards (an area of Airdrie). The paper was able to correlate this with sightings over Glasgow and Loch Long shortly afterwards.
The craze inevitably reached the Kingdom of Fife, and on December 19th the Courier and Advertiser published a remarkable photo of an actual flying saucer over Leven municipal golf course!
Flying saucer over Leven, Dundee Courier – Tuesday 19 December 1950But don’t dismiss the photo as a hoax, it was a real flying saucer: but just a flying model of one, the work of two young friends – George Russell and Don Beaton of Leven Aeromodellers Club,. The pair had been flying their saucer and shocking (and entertaining locals) over the course at the end of their string since May that year. The two were trying to rekindle interest in their club, which they had been members of when younger in the war years, and had ordered the plans of the Sorcerer model by mail order and built it, complete with tiny 2-stroke engine, themselves.
George Russell of Leven Aeromodellers Club with his model flying saucer.After this year of Saucery, things quietened down in the new year. They would flare up every once in a while in the next few years as a reported “sighting” would lead to copycats. The Evening News’ resident poet “MacNib” penned a humorous verse in response in July 1954
Saucy Saucers.
Those flying saucer yarns are back
Some say, a prelude to attack
By Martian airmen one foot high
Who guide these saucers as they fly.These little fellows have been seen.
With big eyes and a nose between.
Clark Gable ears which they can wriggle.
Antennae such as clipshears wiggle.These flying sorcerors, as they’re called.
Are highbrow and completely bald
And far advanced in many ways,
A friend of mine who knows them says.I’m scared about these little creatures.
“MacNib”, Edinburgh Evening News – Wednesday 7th July 1954
Not just for their revolting features:
The thought that sends me off my rocker
Is – ten to one they’ll take up Soccer.In November 1954, publisher Ian Girvan (of that town in Ayrshire) formed Flying Saucer Service Ltd. to act as a receiving and clearing house for information on UFOs. His business partners were Desmond Leslie and George Adamski, authors of the best-selling Flying Saucers Have Landed. As well as being a prominent UFO-ologist, Ian Girvan (also known as Waveney Girvan) was immersed in right wing politics, having been in the British People’s Party, National Front and Independent Nationalists movements. He nonetheless found time to publish the quarterly Flying Saucer Review until his death in October 1964.
Air Marshal Hugh Dowding: from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 4700-27)In May 1955, Girvan and his partners received the unlikely support of the otherwise sober and unimpeachable figure of Lord Dowding, (Air Chief Marshall High Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding, GCB, GCVO, CMG), the former Commander-in-Chief of the RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Dowding, a national hero credited with a crucial role in the air defence of the nation, shocked everyone and verified to the Daily Sketch paper that the reports from February 1954 of a flying saucer that had landed at Lossiemouth in Morayshire and where a “Martian” had made contact with the witnesses, who had taken photographs, were all true. Dowding had apparently been won over to the belief of flying saucers by Desmond Leslie, Flying Saucers Have Landed co-author and partner in the Flying Saucer Service, and became a firm UFO believer in later life.
The Lossiemouth Flying Saucer, from “Flying Saucer from Mars” by Cederic AllinghamBut Dowding’s bold Lossiemouth claim was actually the result of him being the victim of an elaborate and highly convincing hoax by Cedric Allingham, a fictional figure created by Peter Davies and his friend one Patrick Moore (yes, that Patrick Moore), to take advantage of the gullibility of the British UFO-ologist scene. Cederic Allingham fabricated a photograph of the Lossiemouth UFO and “Martian” and also a corroborating, sworn statement from an entirely fictitious but unimpeachable witness, local fisherman James Duncan. He published these claims and other verifying evidence in apopular 152 page book, Flying Saucer From Mars.
Cover of Flying Saucer from Mars. An Eyewitness Account of the Landing of a Martian, by Cedric AllinghamAllingham’s blury photo of the “Martian” he claimed to have met at Lossiemouth looked remarkably like a photo of Peter Davies with his back to the camera wearing an outfit including suspenders… But somehow Dowding, who had proved a dedicated, single-minded and organisational mastermind at Fighter Command, was taken in by it.
Alligham’s “Martian” photograph taken at Lossiemouth, from Flying Saucer From MarsIt was probably Patrick Moore who wrote the book, and he even acknowledged “meeting” with Allingham to lend credence to his existence. But he and Peter Davies sensibly denied all knowledge of it and made sure that their creation was impossible to pin down for interviews or meetings. But Dowding wouldn’t take no for an answer and used his personal reputation to track down the understandably elusive Cederic Allingham, and to convince him to give a lecture to his local Flying Saucer Club in Tunbridge wells. Moore and Davies were backed into a corner by Dowding and it would prove necessary for Allingham to appear if they were to maintain their illusion. And so appear he did, to deliver the lecture to a triumphant Dowding. Except it was actually Peter Davies in a false moustache
Cederic Allingham (actually Peter Davies), with one of Patrick Moore’s telescopes.Moore and Davies would keep up their silent pretence for over 30 years, long after Dowding had died, before other authors pieced the rather obvious clues together and identified them. Moore was careful to never completely confirm his part in it, despite convincing proof to the contrary (including the photo of Davies as Allingham, in his garden with his telescope).
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#Lochend #Logan #Restalrig #StMargaret -
Seedy
Hello Friends! I missed posting yesterday because I was busy scrubbing the basement bathroom after our main sewer drain backed up Saturday. We couldn’t run water down the drains or use the bathroom all day until the plumber finally made it out at 8:30 that night. James had to wet vac the basement utility room floor and then I also had to scrub the hallway floor and spot clean the main floor where the plumber left dirty boot prints. And then I got to catch up on the laundry.
The storm was just getting started and snow was sticking to everythingTo add to all the fun, we had a winter storm blow through. James took the bus to work because of the near-blizzard wind conditions. We ended up with 5.8 inches/14.7 cm of snow, which is on the low end of what was forecast. Late yesterday afternoon when it was still lightly snowing and not yet arctic windchills, I ventured out to shovel the walkways, the path to the chicken coop and around the recycling and trash bins because today is trash day and they will skip your house if your bins are not cleared of snow.
This morning I was out before sunup shoveling the additional bit of snow that fell overnight and the snowdrifts the wind had blown across the sidewalks. Cleared a fresh path to the chicken coop and around the bins. Because there was a lot less snow than Sunday afternoon, this took not much time at all.
Now I’m sitting in a suddenly quiet house. The tile guys are here this morning working on my bathroom and the tile saw died. Kaput. So they are off buying a new one and will be back shortly to make more noise.
Last week they got two of the three sides of the shower walls done. I thought a tiny bathroom meant the work would go faster, but it turns out small spaces take longer because they have more angles and require more cutting. But today, after they get their new saw, they should be able to finish the shower wall and the floor. I don’t know if they will be able to do the grout today or whether they have to let the “mud” the tile is set into dry first. Guess I will find out.
Garden planning! I have a lot of seeds saved from last year’s garden. We really like all the tomato varieties we’ve been growing, most of the beans, cayenne peppers, garden peas, butternuts, marigolds, tulsi, and greens, but I always like to try new plants, and there are some plants that I’ve not been able to save seed from because they are biennial and I haven’t motivated myself to dig up carrots and onions and overwinter them in my basement to plant out in spring so they can flower and set seed. I’ve also not found a radish I like enough to save seeds and grow on. Maybe this will be the year carrots and onions and radish all come together?
I’ve got my new garden seed orders sorted out, but haven’t placed the orders yet in case I decide to change my mind or add something. My plan is to order them Thursday, but I’m beginning to think that leaving it open that long might be a mistake because I am not likely to remove anything from the plan, but highly likely to add. And I really don’t need to add anything else. So I’m going to declare it here and y’all can hold me to it and shame me if another seed packet or two somehow sneaks in!
Herbs:
- Cilantro. I decided I don’t like the variety I’ve been growing the last few years, so trying a new one.
- Sweet basil. I’ve been growing Genovese basil but the leaves are so small. This one has bigger leaves.
- Greek Oregano. Mostly perennial but last year’s polar vortex arctic blast killed it. I could buy a plant at the plant sale in May, but we like oregano so with seeds I can grow several plants.
- Broadleaf sage. Allegedly perennial but I have yet to get one through a winter. Instead of buying a single plant I’m going to sprout several and plant them all around the garden to increase the likelihood of winter survival.
- Elka poppy. Poppy seeds! I guess not technically an herb, but I thought it would be fun to have pretty pink poppies for the pollinators and seeds for me to use baking sourdough delights.
Peppers:
- Jalapeño. For some reason, none of the seeds I had been saving sprouted last year and I need some fresh ones.
- Poblano. James really wants peppers for stuffing, so I’m going to try growing these.
- Orange lunchbox. A small, sweet snacking pepper, also a James desire since we’ve had zero luck growing bell peppers and the one time we got any, a squirrel ate them all. Of course.
Roots:
- Early scarlet horn carrot. A pretty standard carrot and supposed to keep well.
- Dragon carrot. Purple on the outside, orange on the inside. Did you know that all carrots used to be purple? We have orange carrots because Europeans decided they were more interesting or something.
- Dakota tears yellow storage onion. I’ve not grown this variety before. It’s supposed to be very strongly flavored, thus the tears.
- Southport red globe storage onion. New to me variety with a slightly shorter season than other red varieties I’ve tried.
- Sora red round radish. Big radish that is supposedly tolerant of summer heat so I can succession plant all season.
- Spanish black radish. A spicy radish black on the outside and white on the inside. To plant at the end of July for fall harvest. I’ve not grown this variety before.
- Macomber rutabaga. I had some free rutabaga seeds from the library last year and the plants grew big and strong but I didn’t plant the seeds deep enough so just got long spindly above ground “roots” I couldn’t eat. Lesson learned and worth trying again.
Other:
- Red Kalibos cabbage. My green cabbage has been pathetic so I’m trying red. If red doesn’t do well, then I’m giving up on cabbage growing.
- Whirlygig zinnia. Birds ate all the zinnia seeds last year before I could save any so I need a refresh. I’ve never had birds eat zinnia seeds before. I will need to figure out how to protect some of the flowers next summer for seeds to plant on.
- Long pie pumpkin. Turns out the pie pumpkin I planted last year was a hybrid variety so I couldn’t save seeds. This one gets picked before it is ripe and ripens in storage. I am hoping to pull a fast one on the squirrel pirates.
- Hidasta shield pole bean. A pretty white bean with brown markings. Grown by the Hidasta people in North Dakota and good for soup and baking. I love growing beans and since I’m not growing disappointing succotash beans again, I have space to try something new.
New! New! New!
- Mother Mary’s pie melon. I’ve not had much luck growing melon in the past but this heirloom is from a woman in Minnesota and is reportedly a sweet melon good for making pie and jam. I have to try it!
- Purple Vienna kohlrabi. I’ve not grown kohlrabi before and the broccoli I tried to grow last year only produced a few small heads that almost immediately bloomed. Disappointing. I thought Kohlrabi might make a good substitute. We’ll see.
- Mexican sour gherkin, also known as cucamelon and mouse melon. Neither a cucumber nor a melon, this vining plant produces small green and white fruit that look like tiny watermelons. They supposedly taste a little like pickles, can be eaten raw or pickled and you either love them or hate them. I’m banking on loving them.
- Green striped cushaw. Also sometimes called sweet potato pumpkin. A large, sweet long-keeping green striped winter squash good for pies, squash butter, pudding, and roasting. I’m longing for the squash butter and the pudding.
There they all are. The garden is really going to be packed come summer. But then I say that every year and somehow end up with large patches of feral arugula because I didn’t have anything planted in that particular spot. Perhaps this will be the year I actually do pack the garden.
I had originally planned to also try growing fava beans after I discovered a recipe for
fava bean hot chocolate. I see the look on your face, hang with me for a second. Creamy vegan hot chocolate is a challenge. We could use coconut cream but then it tastes like coconut. We’ve used medjool dates but then it gets really sweet. Fava bean puree makes it creamy while not tasting beany.Of course I had to try it before committing to growing the beans. Sadly, my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans, either dry or in a can. I thought to try the recipe substituting white beans instead because there are many vegan recipes that use white beans to make creamy sauces , soups, and dressings since white beans are mild and other flavors cover over the beans. We tried navy beans and it worked! I’ve been enjoying a cup of creamy hot chocolate now and then of an afternoon during my vacation time. Mmmmm.
But still, I thought I might try growing fava beans untilI I found out from the Fedco seed catalog, the only one that had fava seeds, that “In susceptible humans who have inherited a specific enzyme deficiency, within a few minutes of inhaling pollen or several hours after eating fava beans, a severe allergic reaction occurs. Most individuals have this enzyme and are not affected.”
Say what? This might explain why my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans. I have never eaten fava beans and have no idea whether I have said enzyme deficiency, but given all my seasonal allergies and my inability to eat raw cucumbers and raw onions, I decided to not push my luck. And since navy beans are a cheap and easy substitute, well sorry fava beans.
The tile guys are back. Sawing and listening to music. Currently it’s the Violent Femmes. I haven’t heard them in ages. Blast from the past!
We’ve somehow made it to the end of 2025. What a year. Enjoy safe and happy year-end celebrations! May 2026 be filled will joy, beauty, and peace, as well as the strength and resilience to meet whatever surprises and struggles arise.
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Reminder that #USB is, and always was, a bad design; as usual for Intel. We had #Firewire, a true bus, and not the worst option of many, polling, like USB. We could have had everything USB-C offers now -- reversible plugs, power-negotiation, multi-protocol -- with Firewire decades ago if USB hadn't taken over. Firewire even had Ethernet-over-Firewire, at 400MBps, fifteen years before Thunderbolt would do the same.
Firewire didn't need a different plug for the computer-side and for the device-side (USB-A & USB-B) because it was a true bus. You could hook any two devices together via a normal Firewire cable and you'd get instant two-way communication. This is how the PS2 did link-play. USB pushed the workload on to the computer. USB-C solves the "who is the host and who is the client?" problem by putting a tiny *computer* into the cable, that's how insane USB has become.
Firewire has been gone so long now that most #Apple #Mac users probably don't even know that you could plug a Mac into another computer via Firewire, power it on holding T and the internal disk drive would appear *as an external HDD* to the other computer.
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My Vision,
When we all live with and show true compassion, respect and love towards one another, we bring dignity to humanity and we as a society can truly prosper.
Creative Visionary Philip A. Swiderski Jr, Is A passionately creative Bi-Polar social outcast, who’s goal in life is to inspire others to overcome what ever is holding them back. My mental issues foster my creativity. They allow me to see the world with an open mind. I have compassion towards others, because I know first hand. How hard life can be.
2nd Shot Photography is about 2nd chances and using my #Passion of photography to #Create a life for myself, while developing a #Vision to #Help others.
2nd Shot Photography is more than #Photography, it is about Focusing on the shot, the name 2nd Shot Photography came to be out of desire to have a second shot, although sometimes we need a 3rd, 4th, 5th, ect, My goal behind this is to provide a moment of rest for those that are broken, suffering, struggling and otherwise displaced in life, Compassion is to actively remove the burdens of another and give them a moment to rest, to provide them with the help they need to get back on their feet, a Second Shot, if you will, so thats the name, the short story behind it, and what I am working on creating with it, you can support at any time, and sharing is caring, stay tuned to see what develops.
Current Needs And Hope To Do: From Hunger to Hope: A Disabled Man’s Plea for Help Imagine the bite of hunger replaced by hope. One click can make it real. As a disabled man living in poverty with bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, and severe anxiety, I’m no stranger to hunger and hardship. My reality is a constant battle for basic needs, a fight I wage every day. My Story I’m on SSDI, which means I live on a fixed income of $12,000 a year. I don’t have access to healthcare, transportation, or a support system. I struggle to complete daily tasks, and my mental health is declining due to lack of care. I’m constantly worried about what to eat, where to sleep, and how to make ends meet. But There’s Hope Your kindness can rewrite the script. With just a click, you can transform the clatter of an empty cupboard into the melody of hope ringing in my belly. A single donation becomes a shield against hunger, a warm coat against the biting wind, and a bus ticket towards a future brimming with possibilities.
How Your Donation Helps Here’s how your small act of compassion becomes a giant leap towards stability: A Full Plate: Your gift fills my fridge with nourishing food, fueling my body and mind to battle the storm of bipolar disorder. Warmth Against the Chill: Your generosity drapes me in comfort, shielding me from the harshness of the world and allowing me to focus on healing. Mobility, Not Isolation: Your contribution puts me behind the wheel of opportunity, connecting me to crucial appointments and empowering me to manage my health. Stability, Not Despair: Your kindness becomes the cornerstone of a safe haven, a sanctuary where I can dream and rebuild my life, brick by brick. My Vision I want to build a forever home, a place where I can live without worrying about my basic needs. I dream of creating a creative studio, a tranquil RV camping ground, and a community center. I want to restore an old farm house and turn it into a bed and breakfast. I want to create an organic farm, to never go hungry again, I want to be able to set up as many tiny homes as possible on my property, that will be open to those in need of respite and compassion, a place for those that have been battling a losing fight, so that they can rest and find their footing in life, I want to live a life with purpose and dignity.
The Benefits of Supporting Me By donating to my cause, you’ll not only be helping me achieve my vision, but also contributing to a larger impact: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Your support will help me break free from the cycle of poverty and create a sustainable life. Promoting Mental Health Awareness: By sharing my story, you’ll be helping to raise awareness about mental health and the challenges faced by people with disabilities and living in poverty. Empowering Creativity: Your donation will enable me to pursue my creative passions and bring joy to others through my art. Building a Community: Together, we can create a community that values inclusivity, compassion, and support for people with disabilities, and those living in poverty.
How You Can Help I need your help to make my vision a reality. Here are some ways you can help: Donate: Any amount will help, whether it’s $1.50 or $10,000. Your contribution will go towards food, housing, and hiring a qualified advocate to help me navigate the system. Share: Please share my story with your friends and family. I need to reach as many people as possible to make my vision a reality. Support: If you have any skills or expertise that can help me, please reach out. I need advocates, social workers, and professionals who can guide me through this process.
Let’s Rewrite My Story Together Please, share my story. Spread the ripple of possibility. And when you’re ready, join me in this fight with a donation, no matter how small. Together, we can turn hunger into hope, cold into warmth, and isolation into community. Be a Hero in My Story Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for considering my plea for help. I know that together, we can make a difference.
A home one can own, is a home in one can grow, Security, Sustainability, and Stability are keys to healing past traumas and having a prosperous future, A home one can own, ends poverty, and always offers refuge and the opportunity to provide self sufficiency, Owning my own forever home, will allow me so much more than struggling just to barley exist.
So you maybe wondering how exactly I would use $5million if I was to receive it all at once and today, well let me break it down a little for you, of course it starts with actually receiving enough to cover taxes on $5million and processing fees, anyways your wanting info,
I have a plan of spending $2million on purchasing property, hopefully it is between 100-200acres and would have an old farm house on it that is actually still liveable, and of course an old barn, along with the purchase I am hoping to stay within this price range as a total where I would also build my forever home, a small but efficient home and I would like to of course fully furnish my forever home,
So now I have $3million left, I plan on spending $1million on refurbishing the old farm house and converting it into an bed and breakfast, and renovating the old barn and turning into a bit of a community center, with full laundry and bath facilities, a semi commercial kitchen with a full time coffee cafe, that will offer soup and sandwiches,
Now I have $2million left, in which $500k to set up my small organic farm, and cover all the odds and ends I have yet to deal with, leaving me with around $1.5million which I will use to live off of for the rest of my life, which roughly works out to $37k a year for the next 40 years, allowing me to cover taxes, utilities and all the other life costs.
My hopes are that the bed and breakfast will generate enough money each season to help supplement property maintenance taxes, the community center I hope to sell enough coffee, soups and salads to help fund the farm until it can somewhat sustain its self, along with providing meals and facilities to those in need.
Now of course I am very aware of market changes, and cost of goods, and labor ect and know that things may all have to happen in a slower and out of order pace to truly do what I want, but eventually I hope to be able to add a campground that too will bring in revenue that will help the day to day costs of everything, nothing is really for profit, but for maintenance and slowly growing, in where I also hope to set up several small tiny homes, to offer to those in need of compassionate respite,
I have spent many years thinking and planing and I am confident had some said right now Philip here $5million, go do what you want with it, I can make it both a blessing to me, and for others for years to come. I have chosen Northern Vermont or Maine as my destination of choice, as 4 seasons really fit into the whole artist approach I plan on employing through out my endeavor, along with hopefully the property I select will have a healthy stand of maple trees on, in which I would love to harvest small batch maple syrup from to add to my supplies, and well there is so much more, but spilling the beans sometimes is both overwhelming and self defeating so exactly how all this will happen and work as far as the public is currently concerned is going to remain a bit of a mystery,
Now all I need your support to get this rolling, and as a disabled man living in poverty, and suffering and struggling every single day, there is a very real sense of urgency for your support begin rolling in right now so please share this with everyone in your circle and please support now,
Thank You
Philip A. Swiderski Jr,
$5-10-15 It All Helps, via #cashapp at $woctxphotog or via #paypal at paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=…
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Dear Friends of rivers, 🪶
Walked from Tooting to Carshalton ponds, along the Wandle river. Came across the enclosed little egret, fishing. Where were the wer-fishies? I did not see any! :ablobcatgoogly:
Things I did see. Ripening #mulberries, ripening plums, a #magickal #community #garden. That was truly wonderful. Herbs, statues, many benches and experiences to enjoy. :ablobcatbouncefast:
It was early, I caught the bus back. Lot of new road works. 🛣️
Also very pleased to see a red admiral #flutterby in my tiny home garden. 🦋Seems it is summer. As a failed vegan, had bean and organic salads for lunch. The fish fingers were not so vegan. However fish don't have fingers, so did not feel too bad :dopefish:
Be kind everyone. You know it makes sense ❤️
#garden #hike #chalk #stream #fruit #joy #butterfly -
The weird thing about driving in Ireland is that everyone drives *under* the speed limit. I was on one of the big motorways, speed limit 120km/h, and most drivers were going around 85-90, even under perfect driving conditions.
Then I got onto a country road, and maybe I understand why.
Imagine driving for hours on in a lane barely wider than your tiny car, with no shoulder — just a stone wall or hedgerow immediately beside your. And the road twists and makes sharp turns, so you never know when a camper van or lorry or bus will be suddenly upon you in the oncoming lane, encroaching your side of the road.
And the speed limit? 80kmph. Sometime 100. If anyone actually drove the speed limit on those roads, they’d die within minutes.
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Bone #witchcraft post!
Do you feel humbled, coming across the #bones of a life that's gone by?
Life in the mountains means we have far more opportunity to see #death first-hand, to reach out and be taught by it.
Cities are too fast-paced for me- I do not have enough time to pull the pigeon from the road before the bus ravages its tiny body, nor to take the kitten that sickness claimed before the sanitary workers dispose of it like it was trash. I'm sure others who do #spiritwork thrive just fine there. Just not my style.I much prefer the forest, because here, death lingers. The song thrush will melt into the earth that fed it, and its feathers may come to be the nest bed of a fresh clutch of eggs. The old fox will go to sleep in her den and wake in a different world, the snow covering her home's entrance until it's warm enough for the critters to nourish themselves on the body she left behind. We see death, sometimes invite it in- be it #hunting or culling livestock. We honour death and the life it brings.
This beautiful lady was a life. An ewe that likely bore several lives herself, before death took her. I have a special place in my heart for sheep. My people have lived alongside them for so long that maybe it's in our blood by now. She wanted to come home with me, to sit near me and the other unseen friends I keep. How could I say no?
I brought her home, meaning to dye her #skull with coffee to help the myriad textures of her bone steal the show with more contrast, but that's another post altogether.
#deathwork crew, this one's for you.
(This is a cross-post from Instagram)
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Seedy
Hello Friends! I missed posting yesterday because I was busy scrubbing the basement bathroom after our main sewer drain backed up Saturday. We couldn’t run water down the drains or use the bathroom all day until the plumber finally made it out at 8:30 that night. James had to wet vac the basement utility room floor and then I also had to scrub the hallway floor and spot clean the main floor where the plumber left dirty boot prints. And then I got to catch up on the laundry.
The storm was just getting started and snow was sticking to everythingTo add to all the fun, we had a winter storm blow through. James took the bus to work because of the near-blizzard wind conditions. We ended up with 5.8 inches/14.7 cm of snow, which is on the low end of what was forecast. Late yesterday afternoon when it was still lightly snowing and not yet arctic windchills, I ventured out to shovel the walkways, the path to the chicken coop and around the recycling and trash bins because today is trash day and they will skip your house if your bins are not cleared of snow.
This morning I was out before sunup shoveling the additional bit of snow that fell overnight and the snowdrifts the wind had blown across the sidewalks. Cleared a fresh path to the chicken coop and around the bins. Because there was a lot less snow than Sunday afternoon, this took not much time at all.
Now I’m sitting in a suddenly quiet house. The tile guys are here this morning working on my bathroom and the tile saw died. Kaput. So they are off buying a new one and will be back shortly to make more noise.
Last week they got two of the three sides of the shower walls done. I thought a tiny bathroom meant the work would go faster, but it turns out small spaces take longer because they have more angles and require more cutting. But today, after they get their new saw, they should be able to finish the shower wall and the floor. I don’t know if they will be able to do the grout today or whether they have to let the “mud” the tile is set into dry first. Guess I will find out.
Garden planning! I have a lot of seeds saved from last year’s garden. We really like all the tomato varieties we’ve been growing, most of the beans, cayenne peppers, garden peas, butternuts, marigolds, tulsi, and greens, but I always like to try new plants, and there are some plants that I’ve not been able to save seed from because they are biennial and I haven’t motivated myself to dig up carrots and onions and overwinter them in my basement to plant out in spring so they can flower and set seed. I’ve also not found a radish I like enough to save seeds and grow on. Maybe this will be the year carrots and onions and radish all come together?
I’ve got my new garden seed orders sorted out, but haven’t placed the orders yet in case I decide to change my mind or add something. My plan is to order them Thursday, but I’m beginning to think that leaving it open that long might be a mistake because I am not likely to remove anything from the plan, but highly likely to add. And I really don’t need to add anything else. So I’m going to declare it here and y’all can hold me to it and shame me if another seed packet or two somehow sneaks in!
Herbs:
- Cilantro. I decided I don’t like the variety I’ve been growing the last few years, so trying a new one.
- Sweet basil. I’ve been growing Genovese basil but the leaves are so small. This one has bigger leaves.
- Greek Oregano. Mostly perennial but last year’s polar vortex arctic blast killed it. I could buy a plant at the plant sale in May, but we like oregano so with seeds I can grow several plants.
- Broadleaf sage. Allegedly perennial but I have yet to get one through a winter. Instead of buying a single plant I’m going to sprout several and plant them all around the garden to increase the likelihood of winter survival.
- Elka poppy. Poppy seeds! I guess not technically an herb, but I thought it would be fun to have pretty pink poppies for the pollinators and seeds for me to use baking sourdough delights.
Peppers:
- Jalapeño. For some reason, none of the seeds I had been saving sprouted last year and I need some fresh ones.
- Poblano. James really wants peppers for stuffing, so I’m going to try growing these.
- Orange lunchbox. A small, sweet snacking pepper, also a James desire since we’ve had zero luck growing bell peppers and the one time we got any, a squirrel ate them all. Of course.
Roots:
- Early scarlet horn carrot. A pretty standard carrot and supposed to keep well.
- Dragon carrot. Purple on the outside, orange on the inside. Did you know that all carrots used to be purple? We have orange carrots because Europeans decided they were more interesting or something.
- Dakota tears yellow storage onion. I’ve not grown this variety before. It’s supposed to be very strongly flavored, thus the tears.
- Southport red globe storage onion. New to me variety with a slightly shorter season than other red varieties I’ve tried.
- Sora red round radish. Big radish that is supposedly tolerant of summer heat so I can succession plant all season.
- Spanish black radish. A spicy radish black on the outside and white on the inside. To plant at the end of July for fall harvest. I’ve not grown this variety before.
- Macomber rutabaga. I had some free rutabaga seeds from the library last year and the plants grew big and strong but I didn’t plant the seeds deep enough so just got long spindly above ground “roots” I couldn’t eat. Lesson learned and worth trying again.
Other:
- Red Kalibos cabbage. My green cabbage has been pathetic so I’m trying red. If red doesn’t do well, then I’m giving up on cabbage growing.
- Whirlygig zinnia. Birds ate all the zinnia seeds last year before I could save any so I need a refresh. I’ve never had birds eat zinnia seeds before. I will need to figure out how to protect some of the flowers next summer for seeds to plant on.
- Long pie pumpkin. Turns out the pie pumpkin I planted last year was a hybrid variety so I couldn’t save seeds. This one gets picked before it is ripe and ripens in storage. I am hoping to pull a fast one on the squirrel pirates.
- Hidasta shield pole bean. A pretty white bean with brown markings. Grown by the Hidasta people in North Dakota and good for soup and baking. I love growing beans and since I’m not growing disappointing succotash beans again, I have space to try something new.
New! New! New!
- Mother Mary’s pie melon. I’ve not had much luck growing melon in the past but this heirloom is from a woman in Minnesota and is reportedly a sweet melon good for making pie and jam. I have to try it!
- Purple Vienna kohlrabi. I’ve not grown kohlrabi before and the broccoli I tried to grow last year only produced a few small heads that almost immediately bloomed. Disappointing. I thought Kohlrabi might make a good substitute. We’ll see.
- Mexican sour gherkin, also known as cucamelon and mouse melon. Neither a cucumber nor a melon, this vining plant produces small green and white fruit that look like tiny watermelons. They supposedly taste a little like pickles, can be eaten raw or pickled and you either love them or hate them. I’m banking on loving them.
- Green striped cushaw. Also sometimes called sweet potato pumpkin. A large, sweet long-keeping green striped winter squash good for pies, squash butter, pudding, and roasting. I’m longing for the squash butter and the pudding.
There they all are. The garden is really going to be packed come summer. But then I say that every year and somehow end up with large patches of feral arugula because I didn’t have anything planted in that particular spot. Perhaps this will be the year I actually do pack the garden.
I had originally planned to also try growing fava beans after I discovered a recipe for
fava bean hot chocolate. I see the look on your face, hang with me for a second. Creamy vegan hot chocolate is a challenge. We could use coconut cream but then it tastes like coconut. We’ve used medjool dates but then it gets really sweet. Fava bean puree makes it creamy while not tasting beany.Of course I had to try it before committing to growing the beans. Sadly, my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans, either dry or in a can. I thought to try the recipe substituting white beans instead because there are many vegan recipes that use white beans to make creamy sauces , soups, and dressings since white beans are mild and other flavors cover over the beans. We tried navy beans and it worked! I’ve been enjoying a cup of creamy hot chocolate now and then of an afternoon during my vacation time. Mmmmm.
But still, I thought I might try growing fava beans untilI I found out from the Fedco seed catalog, the only one that had fava seeds, that “In susceptible humans who have inherited a specific enzyme deficiency, within a few minutes of inhaling pollen or several hours after eating fava beans, a severe allergic reaction occurs. Most individuals have this enzyme and are not affected.”
Say what? This might explain why my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans. I have never eaten fava beans and have no idea whether I have said enzyme deficiency, but given all my seasonal allergies and my inability to eat raw cucumbers and raw onions, I decided to not push my luck. And since navy beans are a cheap and easy substitute, well sorry fava beans.
The tile guys are back. Sawing and listening to music. Currently it’s the Violent Femmes. I haven’t heard them in ages. Blast from the past!
We’ve somehow made it to the end of 2025. What a year. Enjoy safe and happy year-end celebrations! May 2026 be filled will joy, beauty, and peace, as well as the strength and resilience to meet whatever surprises and struggles arise.
-
Seedy
Hello Friends! I missed posting yesterday because I was busy scrubbing the basement bathroom after our main sewer drain backed up Saturday. We couldn’t run water down the drains or use the bathroom all day until the plumber finally made it out at 8:30 that night. James had to wet vac the basement utility room floor and then I also had to scrub the hallway floor and spot clean the main floor where the plumber left dirty boot prints. And then I got to catch up on the laundry.
The storm was just getting started and snow was sticking to everythingTo add to all the fun, we had a winter storm blow through. James took the bus to work because of the near-blizzard wind conditions. We ended up with 5.8 inches/14.7 cm of snow, which is on the low end of what was forecast. Late yesterday afternoon when it was still lightly snowing and not yet arctic windchills, I ventured out to shovel the walkways, the path to the chicken coop and around the recycling and trash bins because today is trash day and they will skip your house if your bins are not cleared of snow.
This morning I was out before sunup shoveling the additional bit of snow that fell overnight and the snowdrifts the wind had blown across the sidewalks. Cleared a fresh path to the chicken coop and around the bins. Because there was a lot less snow than Sunday afternoon, this took not much time at all.
Now I’m sitting in a suddenly quiet house. The tile guys are here this morning working on my bathroom and the tile saw died. Kaput. So they are off buying a new one and will be back shortly to make more noise.
Last week they got two of the three sides of the shower walls done. I thought a tiny bathroom meant the work would go faster, but it turns out small spaces take longer because they have more angles and require more cutting. But today, after they get their new saw, they should be able to finish the shower wall and the floor. I don’t know if they will be able to do the grout today or whether they have to let the “mud” the tile is set into dry first. Guess I will find out.
Garden planning! I have a lot of seeds saved from last year’s garden. We really like all the tomato varieties we’ve been growing, most of the beans, cayenne peppers, garden peas, butternuts, marigolds, tulsi, and greens, but I always like to try new plants, and there are some plants that I’ve not been able to save seed from because they are biennial and I haven’t motivated myself to dig up carrots and onions and overwinter them in my basement to plant out in spring so they can flower and set seed. I’ve also not found a radish I like enough to save seeds and grow on. Maybe this will be the year carrots and onions and radish all come together?
I’ve got my new garden seed orders sorted out, but haven’t placed the orders yet in case I decide to change my mind or add something. My plan is to order them Thursday, but I’m beginning to think that leaving it open that long might be a mistake because I am not likely to remove anything from the plan, but highly likely to add. And I really don’t need to add anything else. So I’m going to declare it here and y’all can hold me to it and shame me if another seed packet or two somehow sneaks in!
Herbs:
- Cilantro. I decided I don’t like the variety I’ve been growing the last few years, so trying a new one.
- Sweet basil. I’ve been growing Genovese basil but the leaves are so small. This one has bigger leaves.
- Greek Oregano. Mostly perennial but last year’s polar vortex arctic blast killed it. I could buy a plant at the plant sale in May, but we like oregano so with seeds I can grow several plants.
- Broadleaf sage. Allegedly perennial but I have yet to get one through a winter. Instead of buying a single plant I’m going to sprout several and plant them all around the garden to increase the likelihood of winter survival.
- Elka poppy. Poppy seeds! I guess not technically an herb, but I thought it would be fun to have pretty pink poppies for the pollinators and seeds for me to use baking sourdough delights.
Peppers:
- Jalapeño. For some reason, none of the seeds I had been saving sprouted last year and I need some fresh ones.
- Poblano. James really wants peppers for stuffing, so I’m going to try growing these.
- Orange lunchbox. A small, sweet snacking pepper, also a James desire since we’ve had zero luck growing bell peppers and the one time we got any, a squirrel ate them all. Of course.
Roots:
- Early scarlet horn carrot. A pretty standard carrot and supposed to keep well.
- Dragon carrot. Purple on the outside, orange on the inside. Did you know that all carrots used to be purple? We have orange carrots because Europeans decided they were more interesting or something.
- Dakota tears yellow storage onion. I’ve not grown this variety before. It’s supposed to be very strongly flavored, thus the tears.
- Southport red globe storage onion. New to me variety with a slightly shorter season than other red varieties I’ve tried.
- Sora red round radish. Big radish that is supposedly tolerant of summer heat so I can succession plant all season.
- Spanish black radish. A spicy radish black on the outside and white on the inside. To plant at the end of July for fall harvest. I’ve not grown this variety before.
- Macomber rutabaga. I had some free rutabaga seeds from the library last year and the plants grew big and strong but I didn’t plant the seeds deep enough so just got long spindly above ground “roots” I couldn’t eat. Lesson learned and worth trying again.
Other:
- Red Kalibos cabbage. My green cabbage has been pathetic so I’m trying red. If red doesn’t do well, then I’m giving up on cabbage growing.
- Whirlygig zinnia. Birds ate all the zinnia seeds last year before I could save any so I need a refresh. I’ve never had birds eat zinnia seeds before. I will need to figure out how to protect some of the flowers next summer for seeds to plant on.
- Long pie pumpkin. Turns out the pie pumpkin I planted last year was a hybrid variety so I couldn’t save seeds. This one gets picked before it is ripe and ripens in storage. I am hoping to pull a fast one on the squirrel pirates.
- Hidasta shield pole bean. A pretty white bean with brown markings. Grown by the Hidasta people in North Dakota and good for soup and baking. I love growing beans and since I’m not growing disappointing succotash beans again, I have space to try something new.
New! New! New!
- Mother Mary’s pie melon. I’ve not had much luck growing melon in the past but this heirloom is from a woman in Minnesota and is reportedly a sweet melon good for making pie and jam. I have to try it!
- Purple Vienna kohlrabi. I’ve not grown kohlrabi before and the broccoli I tried to grow last year only produced a few small heads that almost immediately bloomed. Disappointing. I thought Kohlrabi might make a good substitute. We’ll see.
- Mexican sour gherkin, also known as cucamelon and mouse melon. Neither a cucumber nor a melon, this vining plant produces small green and white fruit that look like tiny watermelons. They supposedly taste a little like pickles, can be eaten raw or pickled and you either love them or hate them. I’m banking on loving them.
- Green striped cushaw. Also sometimes called sweet potato pumpkin. A large, sweet long-keeping green striped winter squash good for pies, squash butter, pudding, and roasting. I’m longing for the squash butter and the pudding.
There they all are. The garden is really going to be packed come summer. But then I say that every year and somehow end up with large patches of feral arugula because I didn’t have anything planted in that particular spot. Perhaps this will be the year I actually do pack the garden.
I had originally planned to also try growing fava beans after I discovered a recipe for
fava bean hot chocolate. I see the look on your face, hang with me for a second. Creamy vegan hot chocolate is a challenge. We could use coconut cream but then it tastes like coconut. We’ve used medjool dates but then it gets really sweet. Fava bean puree makes it creamy while not tasting beany.Of course I had to try it before committing to growing the beans. Sadly, my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans, either dry or in a can. I thought to try the recipe substituting white beans instead because there are many vegan recipes that use white beans to make creamy sauces , soups, and dressings since white beans are mild and other flavors cover over the beans. We tried navy beans and it worked! I’ve been enjoying a cup of creamy hot chocolate now and then of an afternoon during my vacation time. Mmmmm.
But still, I thought I might try growing fava beans untilI I found out from the Fedco seed catalog, the only one that had fava seeds, that “In susceptible humans who have inherited a specific enzyme deficiency, within a few minutes of inhaling pollen or several hours after eating fava beans, a severe allergic reaction occurs. Most individuals have this enzyme and are not affected.”
Say what? This might explain why my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans. I have never eaten fava beans and have no idea whether I have said enzyme deficiency, but given all my seasonal allergies and my inability to eat raw cucumbers and raw onions, I decided to not push my luck. And since navy beans are a cheap and easy substitute, well sorry fava beans.
The tile guys are back. Sawing and listening to music. Currently it’s the Violent Femmes. I haven’t heard them in ages. Blast from the past!
We’ve somehow made it to the end of 2025. What a year. Enjoy safe and happy year-end celebrations! May 2026 be filled will joy, beauty, and peace, as well as the strength and resilience to meet whatever surprises and struggles arise.
-
Seedy
Hello Friends! I missed posting yesterday because I was busy scrubbing the basement bathroom after our main sewer drain backed up Saturday. We couldn’t run water down the drains or use the bathroom all day until the plumber finally made it out at 8:30 that night. James had to wet vac the basement utility room floor and then I also had to scrub the hallway floor and spot clean the main floor where the plumber left dirty boot prints. And then I got to catch up on the laundry.
The storm was just getting started and snow was sticking to everythingTo add to all the fun, we had a winter storm blow through. James took the bus to work because of the near-blizzard wind conditions. We ended up with 5.8 inches/14.7 cm of snow, which is on the low end of what was forecast. Late yesterday afternoon when it was still lightly snowing and not yet arctic windchills, I ventured out to shovel the walkways, the path to the chicken coop and around the recycling and trash bins because today is trash day and they will skip your house if your bins are not cleared of snow.
This morning I was out before sunup shoveling the additional bit of snow that fell overnight and the snowdrifts the wind had blown across the sidewalks. Cleared a fresh path to the chicken coop and around the bins. Because there was a lot less snow than Sunday afternoon, this took not much time at all.
Now I’m sitting in a suddenly quiet house. The tile guys are here this morning working on my bathroom and the tile saw died. Kaput. So they are off buying a new one and will be back shortly to make more noise.
Last week they got two of the three sides of the shower walls done. I thought a tiny bathroom meant the work would go faster, but it turns out small spaces take longer because they have more angles and require more cutting. But today, after they get their new saw, they should be able to finish the shower wall and the floor. I don’t know if they will be able to do the grout today or whether they have to let the “mud” the tile is set into dry first. Guess I will find out.
Garden planning! I have a lot of seeds saved from last year’s garden. We really like all the tomato varieties we’ve been growing, most of the beans, cayenne peppers, garden peas, butternuts, marigolds, tulsi, and greens, but I always like to try new plants, and there are some plants that I’ve not been able to save seed from because they are biennial and I haven’t motivated myself to dig up carrots and onions and overwinter them in my basement to plant out in spring so they can flower and set seed. I’ve also not found a radish I like enough to save seeds and grow on. Maybe this will be the year carrots and onions and radish all come together?
I’ve got my new garden seed orders sorted out, but haven’t placed the orders yet in case I decide to change my mind or add something. My plan is to order them Thursday, but I’m beginning to think that leaving it open that long might be a mistake because I am not likely to remove anything from the plan, but highly likely to add. And I really don’t need to add anything else. So I’m going to declare it here and y’all can hold me to it and shame me if another seed packet or two somehow sneaks in!
Herbs:
- Cilantro. I decided I don’t like the variety I’ve been growing the last few years, so trying a new one.
- Sweet basil. I’ve been growing Genovese basil but the leaves are so small. This one has bigger leaves.
- Greek Oregano. Mostly perennial but last year’s polar vortex arctic blast killed it. I could buy a plant at the plant sale in May, but we like oregano so with seeds I can grow several plants.
- Broadleaf sage. Allegedly perennial but I have yet to get one through a winter. Instead of buying a single plant I’m going to sprout several and plant them all around the garden to increase the likelihood of winter survival.
- Elka poppy. Poppy seeds! I guess not technically an herb, but I thought it would be fun to have pretty pink poppies for the pollinators and seeds for me to use baking sourdough delights.
Peppers:
- Jalapeño. For some reason, none of the seeds I had been saving sprouted last year and I need some fresh ones.
- Poblano. James really wants peppers for stuffing, so I’m going to try growing these.
- Orange lunchbox. A small, sweet snacking pepper, also a James desire since we’ve had zero luck growing bell peppers and the one time we got any, a squirrel ate them all. Of course.
Roots:
- Early scarlet horn carrot. A pretty standard carrot and supposed to keep well.
- Dragon carrot. Purple on the outside, orange on the inside. Did you know that all carrots used to be purple? We have orange carrots because Europeans decided they were more interesting or something.
- Dakota tears yellow storage onion. I’ve not grown this variety before. It’s supposed to be very strongly flavored, thus the tears.
- Southport red globe storage onion. New to me variety with a slightly shorter season than other red varieties I’ve tried.
- Sora red round radish. Big radish that is supposedly tolerant of summer heat so I can succession plant all season.
- Spanish black radish. A spicy radish black on the outside and white on the inside. To plant at the end of July for fall harvest. I’ve not grown this variety before.
- Macomber rutabaga. I had some free rutabaga seeds from the library last year and the plants grew big and strong but I didn’t plant the seeds deep enough so just got long spindly above ground “roots” I couldn’t eat. Lesson learned and worth trying again.
Other:
- Red Kalibos cabbage. My green cabbage has been pathetic so I’m trying red. If red doesn’t do well, then I’m giving up on cabbage growing.
- Whirlygig zinnia. Birds ate all the zinnia seeds last year before I could save any so I need a refresh. I’ve never had birds eat zinnia seeds before. I will need to figure out how to protect some of the flowers next summer for seeds to plant on.
- Long pie pumpkin. Turns out the pie pumpkin I planted last year was a hybrid variety so I couldn’t save seeds. This one gets picked before it is ripe and ripens in storage. I am hoping to pull a fast one on the squirrel pirates.
- Hidasta shield pole bean. A pretty white bean with brown markings. Grown by the Hidasta people in North Dakota and good for soup and baking. I love growing beans and since I’m not growing disappointing succotash beans again, I have space to try something new.
New! New! New!
- Mother Mary’s pie melon. I’ve not had much luck growing melon in the past but this heirloom is from a woman in Minnesota and is reportedly a sweet melon good for making pie and jam. I have to try it!
- Purple Vienna kohlrabi. I’ve not grown kohlrabi before and the broccoli I tried to grow last year only produced a few small heads that almost immediately bloomed. Disappointing. I thought Kohlrabi might make a good substitute. We’ll see.
- Mexican sour gherkin, also known as cucamelon and mouse melon. Neither a cucumber nor a melon, this vining plant produces small green and white fruit that look like tiny watermelons. They supposedly taste a little like pickles, can be eaten raw or pickled and you either love them or hate them. I’m banking on loving them.
- Green striped cushaw. Also sometimes called sweet potato pumpkin. A large, sweet long-keeping green striped winter squash good for pies, squash butter, pudding, and roasting. I’m longing for the squash butter and the pudding.
There they all are. The garden is really going to be packed come summer. But then I say that every year and somehow end up with large patches of feral arugula because I didn’t have anything planted in that particular spot. Perhaps this will be the year I actually do pack the garden.
I had originally planned to also try growing fava beans after I discovered a recipe for
fava bean hot chocolate. I see the look on your face, hang with me for a second. Creamy vegan hot chocolate is a challenge. We could use coconut cream but then it tastes like coconut. We’ve used medjool dates but then it gets really sweet. Fava bean puree makes it creamy while not tasting beany.Of course I had to try it before committing to growing the beans. Sadly, my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans, either dry or in a can. I thought to try the recipe substituting white beans instead because there are many vegan recipes that use white beans to make creamy sauces , soups, and dressings since white beans are mild and other flavors cover over the beans. We tried navy beans and it worked! I’ve been enjoying a cup of creamy hot chocolate now and then of an afternoon during my vacation time. Mmmmm.
But still, I thought I might try growing fava beans untilI I found out from the Fedco seed catalog, the only one that had fava seeds, that “In susceptible humans who have inherited a specific enzyme deficiency, within a few minutes of inhaling pollen or several hours after eating fava beans, a severe allergic reaction occurs. Most individuals have this enzyme and are not affected.”
Say what? This might explain why my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans. I have never eaten fava beans and have no idea whether I have said enzyme deficiency, but given all my seasonal allergies and my inability to eat raw cucumbers and raw onions, I decided to not push my luck. And since navy beans are a cheap and easy substitute, well sorry fava beans.
The tile guys are back. Sawing and listening to music. Currently it’s the Violent Femmes. I haven’t heard them in ages. Blast from the past!
We’ve somehow made it to the end of 2025. What a year. Enjoy safe and happy year-end celebrations! May 2026 be filled will joy, beauty, and peace, as well as the strength and resilience to meet whatever surprises and struggles arise.
-
Seedy
Hello Friends! I missed posting yesterday because I was busy scrubbing the basement bathroom after our main sewer drain backed up Saturday. We couldn’t run water down the drains or use the bathroom all day until the plumber finally made it out at 8:30 that night. James had to wet vac the basement utility room floor and then I also had to scrub the hallway floor and spot clean the main floor where the plumber left dirty boot prints. And then I got to catch up on the laundry.
The storm was just getting started and snow was sticking to everythingTo add to all the fun, we had a winter storm blow through. James took the bus to work because of the near-blizzard wind conditions. We ended up with 5.8 inches/14.7 cm of snow, which is on the low end of what was forecast. Late yesterday afternoon when it was still lightly snowing and not yet arctic windchills, I ventured out to shovel the walkways, the path to the chicken coop and around the recycling and trash bins because today is trash day and they will skip your house if your bins are not cleared of snow.
This morning I was out before sunup shoveling the additional bit of snow that fell overnight and the snowdrifts the wind had blown across the sidewalks. Cleared a fresh path to the chicken coop and around the bins. Because there was a lot less snow than Sunday afternoon, this took not much time at all.
Now I’m sitting in a suddenly quiet house. The tile guys are here this morning working on my bathroom and the tile saw died. Kaput. So they are off buying a new one and will be back shortly to make more noise.
Last week they got two of the three sides of the shower walls done. I thought a tiny bathroom meant the work would go faster, but it turns out small spaces take longer because they have more angles and require more cutting. But today, after they get their new saw, they should be able to finish the shower wall and the floor. I don’t know if they will be able to do the grout today or whether they have to let the “mud” the tile is set into dry first. Guess I will find out.
Garden planning! I have a lot of seeds saved from last year’s garden. We really like all the tomato varieties we’ve been growing, most of the beans, cayenne peppers, garden peas, butternuts, marigolds, tulsi, and greens, but I always like to try new plants, and there are some plants that I’ve not been able to save seed from because they are biennial and I haven’t motivated myself to dig up carrots and onions and overwinter them in my basement to plant out in spring so they can flower and set seed. I’ve also not found a radish I like enough to save seeds and grow on. Maybe this will be the year carrots and onions and radish all come together?
I’ve got my new garden seed orders sorted out, but haven’t placed the orders yet in case I decide to change my mind or add something. My plan is to order them Thursday, but I’m beginning to think that leaving it open that long might be a mistake because I am not likely to remove anything from the plan, but highly likely to add. And I really don’t need to add anything else. So I’m going to declare it here and y’all can hold me to it and shame me if another seed packet or two somehow sneaks in!
Herbs:
- Cilantro. I decided I don’t like the variety I’ve been growing the last few years, so trying a new one.
- Sweet basil. I’ve been growing Genovese basil but the leaves are so small. This one has bigger leaves.
- Greek Oregano. Mostly perennial but last year’s polar vortex arctic blast killed it. I could buy a plant at the plant sale in May, but we like oregano so with seeds I can grow several plants.
- Broadleaf sage. Allegedly perennial but I have yet to get one through a winter. Instead of buying a single plant I’m going to sprout several and plant them all around the garden to increase the likelihood of winter survival.
- Elka poppy. Poppy seeds! I guess not technically an herb, but I thought it would be fun to have pretty pink poppies for the pollinators and seeds for me to use baking sourdough delights.
Peppers:
- Jalapeño. For some reason, none of the seeds I had been saving sprouted last year and I need some fresh ones.
- Poblano. James really wants peppers for stuffing, so I’m going to try growing these.
- Orange lunchbox. A small, sweet snacking pepper, also a James desire since we’ve had zero luck growing bell peppers and the one time we got any, a squirrel ate them all. Of course.
Roots:
- Early scarlet horn carrot. A pretty standard carrot and supposed to keep well.
- Dragon carrot. Purple on the outside, orange on the inside. Did you know that all carrots used to be purple? We have orange carrots because Europeans decided they were more interesting or something.
- Dakota tears yellow storage onion. I’ve not grown this variety before. It’s supposed to be very strongly flavored, thus the tears.
- Southport red globe storage onion. New to me variety with a slightly shorter season than other red varieties I’ve tried.
- Sora red round radish. Big radish that is supposedly tolerant of summer heat so I can succession plant all season.
- Spanish black radish. A spicy radish black on the outside and white on the inside. To plant at the end of July for fall harvest. I’ve not grown this variety before.
- Macomber rutabaga. I had some free rutabaga seeds from the library last year and the plants grew big and strong but I didn’t plant the seeds deep enough so just got long spindly above ground “roots” I couldn’t eat. Lesson learned and worth trying again.
Other:
- Red Kalibos cabbage. My green cabbage has been pathetic so I’m trying red. If red doesn’t do well, then I’m giving up on cabbage growing.
- Whirlygig zinnia. Birds ate all the zinnia seeds last year before I could save any so I need a refresh. I’ve never had birds eat zinnia seeds before. I will need to figure out how to protect some of the flowers next summer for seeds to plant on.
- Long pie pumpkin. Turns out the pie pumpkin I planted last year was a hybrid variety so I couldn’t save seeds. This one gets picked before it is ripe and ripens in storage. I am hoping to pull a fast one on the squirrel pirates.
- Hidasta shield pole bean. A pretty white bean with brown markings. Grown by the Hidasta people in North Dakota and good for soup and baking. I love growing beans and since I’m not growing disappointing succotash beans again, I have space to try something new.
New! New! New!
- Mother Mary’s pie melon. I’ve not had much luck growing melon in the past but this heirloom is from a woman in Minnesota and is reportedly a sweet melon good for making pie and jam. I have to try it!
- Purple Vienna kohlrabi. I’ve not grown kohlrabi before and the broccoli I tried to grow last year only produced a few small heads that almost immediately bloomed. Disappointing. I thought Kohlrabi might make a good substitute. We’ll see.
- Mexican sour gherkin, also known as cucamelon and mouse melon. Neither a cucumber nor a melon, this vining plant produces small green and white fruit that look like tiny watermelons. They supposedly taste a little like pickles, can be eaten raw or pickled and you either love them or hate them. I’m banking on loving them.
- Green striped cushaw. Also sometimes called sweet potato pumpkin. A large, sweet long-keeping green striped winter squash good for pies, squash butter, pudding, and roasting. I’m longing for the squash butter and the pudding.
There they all are. The garden is really going to be packed come summer. But then I say that every year and somehow end up with large patches of feral arugula because I didn’t have anything planted in that particular spot. Perhaps this will be the year I actually do pack the garden.
I had originally planned to also try growing fava beans after I discovered a recipe for
fava bean hot chocolate. I see the look on your face, hang with me for a second. Creamy vegan hot chocolate is a challenge. We could use coconut cream but then it tastes like coconut. We’ve used medjool dates but then it gets really sweet. Fava bean puree makes it creamy while not tasting beany.Of course I had to try it before committing to growing the beans. Sadly, my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans, either dry or in a can. I thought to try the recipe substituting white beans instead because there are many vegan recipes that use white beans to make creamy sauces , soups, and dressings since white beans are mild and other flavors cover over the beans. We tried navy beans and it worked! I’ve been enjoying a cup of creamy hot chocolate now and then of an afternoon during my vacation time. Mmmmm.
But still, I thought I might try growing fava beans untilI I found out from the Fedco seed catalog, the only one that had fava seeds, that “In susceptible humans who have inherited a specific enzyme deficiency, within a few minutes of inhaling pollen or several hours after eating fava beans, a severe allergic reaction occurs. Most individuals have this enzyme and are not affected.”
Say what? This might explain why my food co-op doesn’t sell fava beans. I have never eaten fava beans and have no idea whether I have said enzyme deficiency, but given all my seasonal allergies and my inability to eat raw cucumbers and raw onions, I decided to not push my luck. And since navy beans are a cheap and easy substitute, well sorry fava beans.
The tile guys are back. Sawing and listening to music. Currently it’s the Violent Femmes. I haven’t heard them in ages. Blast from the past!
We’ve somehow made it to the end of 2025. What a year. Enjoy safe and happy year-end celebrations! May 2026 be filled will joy, beauty, and peace, as well as the strength and resilience to meet whatever surprises and struggles arise.
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I'm #PositivityPosting today! My art and some classic pieces that mean a lot to me.
Here's a watercolor I recently finished. It's of the first Blue Bird school bus that was made in 1927. We saw it recently at the Henry Ford museum. It's ink, watercolor, and a tiny bit of gouache on mixed media paper. It's about 8x6"
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There’s an exhibition of retro / classic home computing machines this week (Aug 21-28 2025) at Kingston University, so I had to drop in.
It was fun to see some old favourites again, and it was nice to see some youngsters engaging with the games I used to play. Turrican, Hunchback, Mario, Puzzle Bobble, Lemmings!
The Townhouse building at Kingston University has been open for several years already and I drive, walk or bus past it regularly, but never had a reason to pop in until now! It has the university library on the upper floors, and a cafe and event space on the ground floor. For the duration of this week, the Archive of Retro Computing has taken over the event space with this display.
It is nicely put together, with some machines set aside for coding, some for gaming; information about each system displayed alongside; some meta-history on topics like the British computing scene (Acorn vs Sinclair), Commodore and Amstrad, and the US elements. The back section is dedicated to vintage home gaming systems, from the 1977 Binatone Pong game, through Atari / Nintendo / Sega, up to the Super Nintendo and Jaguar.
There are also some super “deep cuts” in the collection, including the Tatung Einstein, which I don’t remember ever seeing or hearing about before…
From my personal history, the Binatone Pong game on display is I think slightly older than the simple dial paddle controllers than we had hooked up to the TV at home when I was young. No sign of the metal-clad Commodore PET that I remember tinkering with at primary school, but a range of other Commodore machines are on show, including the classic Commodore 64 (I have one of these, from a former Twitter coworker!), and several other models I’m less familar with.
My first home computer, the Acorn Electron, is right there, running Arcadians, a Space Invaders clone I must have spent hours on back in the day. My own Electron ended as a hand-modded machine featuring switchable headphone or regular speaker output. I’m still quite proud of that relatively low-tech little hardware hack from back then.
Next along in my own line would have been the Amstrad CPC (with 3″ disk drive) that my uncle had, and pointed me towards on most visits to his house. I have memories of Jet Set Willy and Manic Miner on that one. The little info card here tells the story of how Alan Sugar did a deal on the disk drives such that Hitachi ended up having to keep making them, at a loss, even though the 3″ disk format was otherwise dead in the water.
My school had a very well-equipped computer room with (I think) about 30 BBC Master and Micro computers, so I was very much an Acorn boy and learned BBC BASIC as my first proper coding language (along with a tiny bit of 6502 assembler). Later on, the school computer room was upgraded with several Acorn Archimedes. My brother had an A3000 in his bedroom… I had an Acorn Risc PC with a StrongARM processor, way faster than the x86 PCs available at the time! The BBC Master and A3000 are present and correct in the exhibition (there’s a BBC Micro as well, alongside the Electron).
We also had a Super Nintendo, which is one of the last of the home gaming consoles in the exhibition (I overheard someone say that the Playstation, our next games console as a family, was where gaming all went wrong and 3D and got boring… I can sometimes understand that point of view!).
As an aside, I had a quick go on Wolfenstein 3D on the Jaguar in the corner there, and the controller for the Jaguar was bonkers! Chunky and not very friendly to use. The graphics seemed decent, with some kind of interpolation at distance? I don’t remember ever actually playing on a Jaguar when they were current…
Pretty much all of the machines had some kind of modification, both to output graphics to the LCD monitors in use, and/or to replace disk drives with some form of USB-floppy emulation, often with a Pi or something else doing the interfacing.
A fun trip down memory lane!
https://andypiper.co.uk/2025/08/25/retro-tastic/
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