Write something every day, they said

We are simultaneously getting ready for a trip out-of-town and to have Southern Belle, Handsome Hombre and Quicksilver stay with us.

Mrs ERJ made a list and we are knocking out what we can. We are wise enough (or Mrs ERJ is wise enough) to realize that SB and HH will want to do some of the tasks as a form of "nesting" once they are up here.

I started moving water "tanks" up to the fence so neighbors can water the stock. I can get almost 200 gallons of water so one visit mid-week should be plenty.

Getting down to two animals will also flatten the glide path. Three critters are going through a round-bale in 8 or 9 days. That should stretch out to 12 days after shipping out Ted-the-steer. Plus, the grass is starting to grow as the temperatures warm up.

Soil temperatures at 2" of depth April 1-through-May 15 for 2017-through-2022. On average, there is a 20F difference between the high for the day during the six year period and the low. That is, if you were to fit smooth bands to confine the data they would be 20F apart. Data for Eaton County, flat, open field, yada-yada-yada

Other little fiddly chores for today were to clean off a porch and to reset the fence that defines the south edge of the nightshade-sweetcorn-fallow garden. I also trimmed the trees on the west end of the N-SC-F garden.

Miscellaneous

The minivan is back. The repair was $370. There were no collateral damages to the transmission. The axle-shaft was resting on the shifter cable which prevented it from actuating the transmission. Removing the bad axle-shaft "fixed" the transmission. God is good.

Mrs ERJ still needs a "new" vehicle.

The Silverado is in the shop for a probable bad engine temperature sensor. That should be an easy diagnosis and fix.

I added "jumping" to my exercises. The accident eleven months ago destroyed a lot of muscle in my left calf. It has been coming back slowly. I hung a plastic safety-chain from the garage near the overhead door. I jump and touch the chain when I go in-and-out. When I get really good at hitting the chain, I will cut off a link. Right now, I have about a 10" vertical jump. That will get better in time. Could be a lot worse. 

Meth is more available that Adderall in many cities. Who said the free-market doesn't work?

Physical evidence suggesting that a rabbit met a predator last night. Rabbit skin, the original tear-away jersey.

Seder meal: Bitter herbs

Nettles: Urtica dioica

Horseradish: Armoracia rusticana

Motherwort: Flowers sometimes used in place of hops for beer

Yellow Rocket (aka, Wild Mustard) is the classic very-early spring green. Since Eaton Rapids is at 42.5 degrees north and Egypt is 30 degrees north and Jerusalem is 31.75 degrees north...spring arrives later in Eaton Rapids than it does in the middle-East. We have to make-do with what is available.

Violets are also available in small quantities. The greens are mild and have an okra-like mouth-feel

Chives and garlic are throwing up greens.

At the risk of pissing off the serious Christians...

Today is the day we celebrate the naggers, the micromanagers and the Karens in the Catholic Church.

The basis for this is that today's Bible readings clearly states that "Jesus rode some stranger's ass all the way to Jerusalem."