Backyard observations: A house sparrow is chased from the suet feeder by a downy woodpecker who in turn is displaced by a starling who is kicked off by a northern flicker who is run off by a magpie. Anything larger would be after the bird rather than the suet.

This is the best product review I have ever read: Best Gas Mask

A gaze of racoons having a midnight romp in our orchard last month.

Finished reading: The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 📚This is a terrific oral history of Manhattan project from start to finish. There have been a number of so-called “Manhattan” projects over the years, but none of them come close to the level of the original.

Finished reading: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove 📚. I was scanning the new book shelves at the library and the title grabbed me. It is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year. A funny, exciting story about overcoming differences and friendship.

Finished reading: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne 📚I enjoyed this “cozy fantasy “, but I don’t think l’ll continue reading the series now. I did appreciate how the author effectively expressed romance and passion without slipping into erotica.

I don’t know why, but autumn is a time for beautiful sunsets (and sunrises) around here.

A vibrant sunset fills the sky with hues of orange and red above a rural landscape featuring a barn and trees.

I picked up our poultry feed for the next year.

A large white bag suspended by chains is being moved near a pickup truck in an open garage.

Fire in the sky late this afternoon.

A vibrant sunset casts orange and pink hues over a rural landscape with bare trees and a few buildings.

I got tired of all the piles of scrap lumber around the shop, and built a storage cart (from some of the same scraps). I based it on the cart described here . 🔨🪚

A wooden storage unit with shelves is positioned on casters in a workshop setting.A wooden cart is filled with various sizes of wooden planks and boards in a workshop setting.