Roads End Llamas

01/29/2023

Yes it's been a long time, just a fact.

09/21/2022

The amazing honey bee lacks one crucial pollinatioin skill: sonication. Why can't a honey bee sonicate while so many other bees can?

08/09/2022

The very real, and possibly very important question is why this particular building and not others? What unique aspect or aspects does this building have that attracts them? How can it be duplicated to trap/capture?

Spotted lanternflies aren’t just back in New Jersey. It’s like a bug blitzkrieg.

08/05/2022

As in upwards of 10" across, so kinda hard to miss. Harmless to humans.

An atlas moth has been discovered in Bellevue, WA and officials are seeking reports of additional sightings of the moth.

08/05/2022

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article264203626.html

Please take note of the last full paragraph in the article.

"Since the spring of 2020, 15 states have reported detections of a new southwest strain of RHDV2. This strain is fatal to both domestic and native wild rabbits, prompting animal experts at USDA to designate RHDV2 as “stable-endemic” — meaning it persists in wild rabbit populations, making it nearly impossible to eradicate."

The fear is the disease will spread rapidly if it reaches wild rabbit population.

07/30/2022

Got about 2 1/2 hours in with the log splitter for winter firewood B4 the sun hopped up an over the shade line. In theory if I don't do too many other stupid things without chasing the shade as I go, I'll be able to knock out another hour or so come early evening. Today, tomorrow and then we go back to more seasonable/reasonable weather for a little while at least.

07/24/2022

Self when was the last time you checked tire pressure on tractor. Self says oopsy. NOT registering on pressure gauge bad. FIXED

07/24/2022

So the good news is:
Last load of hay for this year that I hope will be all I need is on the trailer and will be offloaded tomorrow EARLY in the morning.

And what might you ask is the other shoe?
1. Gas Riding lawnmower- two broken flywheel teeth, starter shaft sheared, fuel filter half full of water, and one of three mower blades broken. No water got in the engine, YEAH! KA CHING

2. Went to finally replace kitchen faucet because the hot water valve finally said screw it, I quit and two tabs on the wing nuts for the hot water snaps off in my hand. The other two can't access with any tool and don't dare try tapping with screw driver. Plumber on the way. KA CHING without even knowing how much. But we'll also get a new hot water line and valve under the sink. what the heck in for a penny in for a ten thousand pennies, right?

3. And my beloved Kubota L3000DT is being beyond weird. Need to run it at almost 500 RPM higher in any gear to get speed AND when on a downhill slope that should have it in almost runaway mode when in neutral crawls down the hill and ALMOST comes to a dead stop. NOT GOOD. Two of three shops can't even look at it for 3 weeks. One more to try. I am really, really, really hoping its a frozen brake, but it isn't pulling to the brake side. Maybe both, maybe something even worse. This only qualifies for KA because the CHING is an unknown.

And no, don't say yabbut you have your health please. That's a different tale for a very different time.

07/21/2022

RNA tech might improve honey bee health. Varroa mite control.

GreenLight Biosciences uses RNA technology to target parasites partly blamed for bee crisis

07/16/2022

Just in case you are wondering, both our birthdays are in September and no such thing as too many cool toys.

07/15/2022

Know your bugs. :)