Moonbeams

Today is partly sunny and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I took some pictures around the yard. Spring flowers have been hammered by hard freezes, but some are still blooming.

I've seen some mourning doves.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I transplanted wild chives from the east edge to the septic garden, and from the south lot to the east end of the savanna. There are still some more clumps I want to move.

Honeybees are out in force and currently focused on the little trough water garden.

I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I transplanted wild chives to the forest garden and contorta willow bed. I think some Egyptian walking onions may have survived by the contorta willow in addition to the septic garden.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I transplanted wild chives to the maple tree and the wildflower garden.

I dragged two large limbs to the wildflower garden, since part of its log border is rotting down.

I found a fallen white pine twig and broke off several pieces to see if I can root them.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I sowed Partial Shade Wildflower Mix in the forest garden and the tulip bed.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 3/24/26 -- I sowed 'Choko Baby' pak choi in a trough of the new picnic table garden, and Partial Shade Wildflower Mix in the daffodil bed.

I've seen a male cardinal.

I am done for the night.

dialecticdreamer  is hosting Feathering the Nest.  This one is always about fluff and comfort.  Leave prompts, get ficlets!

Today is partly cloudy and chilly, now in the 40s. Yesterday went from a high of 87°F to just below freezing. >_<

I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows, a mixed flock of blackbirds including a redwing, and two mourning doves.

I put out water for the birds.

We measured the parking lot and driveway.

EDIT 3/23/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a pair of house finches.

EDIT 3/23/26 -- I sowed 4 pots (each with 2 seeds) of 'Sugar Ann' snap peas and 4 pots (each with 2 seeds) of 'Avalanche' snow peas on the new picnic table garden. My plan is to sow the other pots when I plant tomatoes, peppers, or whatever and then see which does best.

EDIT 3/23/26 -- I cleaned up the 4 giant pots by the septic garden.

EDIT 3/23/26 -- I did some trimming in the savanna.

I set up air-layering on the excellent mulberry beside the old fishpond.

I've seen a female cardinal at the hopper feeder.

EDIT 3/23/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

* * *

Measurements for driveway and parking lot:

Length of driveway, from street to parking area: 117 feet

Width of driveway: 10 feet

Width of parking area, from sidewalk to rock border: 47 feet
Length of parking area, from rock border to propane tank: 39 feet

Area of driveway (10’ width): 1170 square feet

Area of parking area: 1833 square feet

Total surface area of driveway and lot: 3003 square feet

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "The Bridge of Mist"
Science
Birdfeeding
Select Seeds Order
Prairie Moon Order
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Moment of Silence: Nicholas Brendon
Philosophical Questions: Marriage
Follow Friday 3-20-26: Magic
Friday Five
Birdfeeding
Birdfeeding
Community Thursdays
Science
Birdfeeding
Cuddle Party

Linguistics has 45 comments. Philosophical Questions: Pregnancy has 63 comments. Safety has 59 comments. Wildlife has 49 comments.


Last week's bonus fishbowl went well. I am still writing.




marchmetamatterschallenge is running this month. See my tracking post and the first check-in post.


The weather has been erratic here, and yesterday was downright psychotic. It was cold with howling wind, then mild, then hot. Yesterday went from 87F to 57F in an hour, then 47F, and just below freezing overnight. We got a dribble of rain, but most of last night's storm missed us. The ground is starting to crack -- in March, which used to be the Moon of Mud Everywhere. >_< Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, several brown-headed cowbirds, two mourning doves, two male cardinals, and a fox squirrel. Red-winged blackbirds have been singing overhead. Currently blooming: crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils, squill, violets, apricot, grape hyacinths.

This poem came out of the March 17, 2026 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by librarygeek for Gwinnie, a pit bull mix and a good dog. It belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics.

Warning: This poem features impending animal death of natural causes. HANKIE WARNING.

( Read more... )

Depression fatigue appears at the cellular level in brain and blood

Scientists have identified an unusual energy signature in young adults with depression: cells in both the brain and blood appear highly active at rest but lose ground when demand rises.

The finding recasts fatigue as a measurable feature of the illness, one that may surface before treatment choices become clearer.


One of the biggest challenges with mental health is that almost all diagnoses rely on abstract rather than concrete assessments. It's usually done by self-reporting or observation, which is neither precise nor objective, unlike most illnesses that have scientific tests. So finding any kind of biomarker is extremely useful.