My husband first made this observation when we came up here looking for housing as part of my relocation package. "How the heck did these towns even come to be in 1639? How did they live here?" Why?
Because this area is one rocky rolling mess of sand, wetlands, and well, more sand. As someone who likes to consider themselves a decent gardener, this area has challenged my skills. Not only is the soil (if you can call it that) mainly sandy till you hit rock not too far down, the growing season is like rediculously short as well.
I set out my vegetable garden last weekend, seems reasonable right? To plant tomatoes, peppers, etc around May 15th? Well I was scorned by the locals who told me "Nothin in till Memorial Day". What? How the heck can you grow anything with the threat of last frost at the end of May and the first one in September?
So that brings me back to "how the heck did people live here?" New England is not a farming friendly area {hence the beautiful historic stone walls} and with the climate the way it is, how did anyone make a family garden to feed themselves?
I ended up trying to cover my garden last night because of a frost warning. Seems the temp only dipped to about 36F, but still enough to stunt my little saplings out there eeking out an existance.
I have already noticed that my raised bed from last year is doing much better at water retention and soil quality. This years bed is dusty brown and not too lively, wheras last years is a nice rich black. Looks like I have more work to do!
19 May 2009
15 May 2009
King of the Cube Baby!!!
Oh yeah! After months of complaining that my company computer monitor (17" CRT) was browning out, flikkering, and well, just an antiquated POS, I finally recieved my upgrade.
It was precipitated by me starting a Track-it requesting a new monitor. (We joke that a track-it submission is the corporate way of shelving shit we don't want to have to deal with, ya know, take a number....) And I waited weeks...
Then at the beginning of the week I was chosen to be a guinea pig for a new software installation, which crashed and burned. Not to mention pegging out my poor hamster of a processor to the point where I just about had to do CPR on the motherboard!!! But that required the head of our IT department to show up. And what did he say "HOLY CRAP, your monitor is really bad!" At which point I camly (ok, making faces when he sat with his back to me) stated, I did put a Track-it in two weeks ago. His reply "oh...".
So by the next day my desk was adorned by a nice brandy new 22" widescreen LCD. :) Sigh... Smiles of happiness pass over my face as my poor eyes no longer feel like they are being pulled out by hot pokers of blurry text!
We all were supposed to get upgraded monitors last year, but well, fell through the cracks, so now I have to endure the looks of "who did she ..... to get the cool monitor?" from my cube mates... Oh, well, I just turn my back on them, let my eyes fall apon this bit of technological beauty and smile...
It was precipitated by me starting a Track-it requesting a new monitor. (We joke that a track-it submission is the corporate way of shelving shit we don't want to have to deal with, ya know, take a number....) And I waited weeks...
Then at the beginning of the week I was chosen to be a guinea pig for a new software installation, which crashed and burned. Not to mention pegging out my poor hamster of a processor to the point where I just about had to do CPR on the motherboard!!! But that required the head of our IT department to show up. And what did he say "HOLY CRAP, your monitor is really bad!" At which point I camly (ok, making faces when he sat with his back to me) stated, I did put a Track-it in two weeks ago. His reply "oh...".
So by the next day my desk was adorned by a nice brandy new 22" widescreen LCD. :) Sigh... Smiles of happiness pass over my face as my poor eyes no longer feel like they are being pulled out by hot pokers of blurry text!
We all were supposed to get upgraded monitors last year, but well, fell through the cracks, so now I have to endure the looks of "who did she ..... to get the cool monitor?" from my cube mates... Oh, well, I just turn my back on them, let my eyes fall apon this bit of technological beauty and smile...
Finally!
How long has it been? Oh, I don't know, maybe started this whole thing in FEBRUARY!
But today I found out I am now licensed as an EMT in the state of NH! Yup! Took yet another phone call up to the capitol to get that information. Turns out they mailed my license to a Lincolin drive... NO SUCH PLACE! The girl asked if I moved from there recently. I told her, well since it does not exist in the town of Brentwood, NO. The pain! {exclaimed in my Spock mind melding with the live rock voice!}
So, That means when I turn on my scanner, I can actually respond to calls! WOW! I think I will go out and get a red light for my truck then! Last time I tried mosy-ing up to the station, I had gramps in front of me who well, was going 5 UNDER the limit, and I was not even tailing him... Oh well... No guarantee that gramps will even see the light and be so kind as to move his sad arse over.
But today I found out I am now licensed as an EMT in the state of NH! Yup! Took yet another phone call up to the capitol to get that information. Turns out they mailed my license to a Lincolin drive... NO SUCH PLACE! The girl asked if I moved from there recently. I told her, well since it does not exist in the town of Brentwood, NO. The pain! {exclaimed in my Spock mind melding with the live rock voice!}
So, That means when I turn on my scanner, I can actually respond to calls! WOW! I think I will go out and get a red light for my truck then! Last time I tried mosy-ing up to the station, I had gramps in front of me who well, was going 5 UNDER the limit, and I was not even tailing him... Oh well... No guarantee that gramps will even see the light and be so kind as to move his sad arse over.
07 May 2009
My Dak...
Sigh....
My Dak... (Ok, Dodge Dakota for you non truck types...). Decided to bring my 2002 QQ 4x4 in for it's a little over 100,000 mile check up..
And the damage?
~$600 for a tune up and some misc parts. The tune up consists of spark plugs, air filter and some cleaner put through the injection ports.... All for the oh so cheap tune of $420! Throw in the typical oil change, and then something more for good measure... A radiator hose. Which pisses me off, because I had the coolant system replaced under insurance due to an accident in 2006 and so far I have had to replace the water pump, hoses, and oh yeah, when they put the new radiator in, they used the old cap, so had to replace that and the thermostat all since they "fixed" it. (Enter grumble about how auto insurance is legalized protection money and all it does is screw you over in the end...). So now the top radiator hose is all swollen and goina burst as the mechanic stated... Fun...
But that is not all folks, the list goes on... Recommended I replace my valve cover (exhaust manifold) gasket due to some "weeping oil" { um, I should be the one weeping here....}. Replace the burnt power steering fluid, flush and replace the front diff, rear diff, and transfer case fluids. All for an additional $750!
Oh, and my breaks will need to be replaced by inspection time in September, and a fog light lens is cracked, so that has to be changed in order to pass inspection also...
Well, looks like I will be forking this over though, since I am really not in the market to buy a new car anytime soon. All this can be added to what I have already done on this BB besides the regular maintenance. Rebuilt the rear diff, tie rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, transmission flush.... ugh, the list goes on.....
Sigh....
My Dak... (Ok, Dodge Dakota for you non truck types...). Decided to bring my 2002 QQ 4x4 in for it's a little over 100,000 mile check up..
And the damage?
~$600 for a tune up and some misc parts. The tune up consists of spark plugs, air filter and some cleaner put through the injection ports.... All for the oh so cheap tune of $420! Throw in the typical oil change, and then something more for good measure... A radiator hose. Which pisses me off, because I had the coolant system replaced under insurance due to an accident in 2006 and so far I have had to replace the water pump, hoses, and oh yeah, when they put the new radiator in, they used the old cap, so had to replace that and the thermostat all since they "fixed" it. (Enter grumble about how auto insurance is legalized protection money and all it does is screw you over in the end...). So now the top radiator hose is all swollen and goina burst as the mechanic stated... Fun...
But that is not all folks, the list goes on... Recommended I replace my valve cover (exhaust manifold) gasket due to some "weeping oil" { um, I should be the one weeping here....}. Replace the burnt power steering fluid, flush and replace the front diff, rear diff, and transfer case fluids. All for an additional $750!
Oh, and my breaks will need to be replaced by inspection time in September, and a fog light lens is cracked, so that has to be changed in order to pass inspection also...
Well, looks like I will be forking this over though, since I am really not in the market to buy a new car anytime soon. All this can be added to what I have already done on this BB besides the regular maintenance. Rebuilt the rear diff, tie rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, transmission flush.... ugh, the list goes on.....
Sigh....
03 May 2009
The Orioles are back in town!
Woo hooo!
Saturday was my first Oriole sighting! One male flew in and checked out my makeshift platform feeder where I had the oranges last year.
So I rushed out and bought a bag of oranges, sliced it in half and within the hour had two feasting away! It was so great to see them again, and since they knew right where to go, is a good sign they were here last year.
We also have our small flock ~4 yellow finches back for about a week now in their bright yellow feathers.
Did I tell ya I love spring after a long New England winter?
Saturday was my first Oriole sighting! One male flew in and checked out my makeshift platform feeder where I had the oranges last year.
So I rushed out and bought a bag of oranges, sliced it in half and within the hour had two feasting away! It was so great to see them again, and since they knew right where to go, is a good sign they were here last year.
We also have our small flock ~4 yellow finches back for about a week now in their bright yellow feathers.
Did I tell ya I love spring after a long New England winter?
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