Earthquakes, Nasty Weather and the Like

Well...what can I say...the worst earthquake in modern history has devastated northern Japan.  It will certainly take years to return from this catastrophe.  While researching quakes, I came across a great site that records all quakes around the world with related info.  I was very surprised to see all the quake activity here in the US...especially in the state of Arkansas...see for yourself:

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/qed/  

I hope this doesn't reflect a soon to be 'next big one' !

The weather here in the NE has been unbelievable...to say the least.  60 degrees one day and 16 the next.  I do have some red romaine growing in the greenhouse, on a positive note.

Sadly, my old Lincoln ram passed peacefully this week.  He was 14, had a terrific life and left many offspring sporting his distinctive fleece type.

The Ides of March Explained

I always wondered what the Ides of March meant.....here ya go....

The term Ides comes from the earliest Roman calendar, which is said to have been devised by Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome. Whether it was Romulus or not, the inventor of this calendar had a penchant for complexity. The Roman calendar organized its months around three days, each of which served as a reference point for counting the other days:

• Kalends (1st day of the month)
• Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months)
• Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months)

The remaining, unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3 would be V Nones—5 days before the Nones (the Roman method of counting days was inclusive; in other words, the Nones would be counted as one of the 5 days).

 

Now that's simple enough!!!!!! ( my eyes are rolling)

Light Bulbs Anyone?

I just read an article in the NY Times and thought..I need to put this in my blog:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/business/energy-environment/12bulb.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
 

Actually I have a stash of 100 'watters' myself ...yes, I'll admit to it!!!  The light coming from those curly bulbs is really strange....cold and gray.  I prefer the warmer 'old' bulbs for reading and weaving.  The barn and basement lights are the new curly energy efficient bulbs...I doubt the goats, sheep or old horse really have a preference and if there is a savings, I'll go for that too!

My Hopes Dashed!

Well...with 12 inches of new snow on the ground...my hopes for an early Spring are dashed!!!!  Is this a really bad joke or what?  Robins and other spring birds chirping while I'm shoveling snow is very strange. I did find a 'new' shoveling device though. My plastic muck fork [for the horse barn] works better than any real shovel I own.  Well, that's the only bright spot in this new snow scenario. One more bright spot...I received my 40/2 weaving linen in yesterdays mail.

Spring????

Yesterday I saw a large group of robins in the side yard and another 'herd' of geese flying up North.  Finally found a sheep shearer....This is not my favorite time of year...half way between Winter and Spring....frozen ground one day and slopping mud the next. 'Schlepping' around in the muck and daydreaming about the distinct smell of the ground warming. I've been procrastinating about cleaning up the greenhouse....hey...snap out of it!!!  Soon enough, it will be 90 degrees !!!