mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Forester and Linux fan.
Inverness, Scotland.
I found this long-shaped friend on my lawn a few weeks ago. It's a Slow worm (Anguis fragilis) basking in the sun, probably not long after emerging from hibernation.
I see them a few times a year, sometimes on the grass and sometimes on the beds when weeding. The latter encounters cause quite a fright! Despite knowing they are a harmless legless lizard - and very welcome - a surprise encounter with a snake-like object triggers some deep-buried response in the brain! 😆
#gardening #wildlife
I really must stop procrastinating and start some office work, but it is sunny outside and easy to be distracted,
Here's a recent garden pic, showing things finally waking-up here in the North Highlands.
Actually, those two pink winter-flowering heather (Calluna spp) have been flowering since early January. Fantastic for the wildlife, as they flower when there really is not much else doing the same.
Anyway, back to work ... 😩
@sprkwd@merveilles.town Bread + ducks = a classic partnership (although I understand that peas are preferred these days).
I shared some work pictures, should anybody be interested in a small insight of commercial forestry planting in the North of Scotland.
While England has baked in extreme temperatures, it has been pretty cool up here for the time of year.
It warmed-up today and was very sunny, so I took a few garden pics.
Regarding the regular very warm summer temps in England and the changing climate, I face a dilemma....
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@STCmicrobeblog@mstdn.science Linky no worky
A quick tip for anyone looking for links to interesting/fun/unusual things on the web: The Linkfest website (https://buttondown.com/clivethompson/archive/linkfest-44-microchimerism-sonic-boom-duct-tape/).
Always worth a look IMO. The current edition includes an English-to-LinkedIn translator, what scientists discovered about the sound sellotape makes (spoiler: mini sonic booms) and 154 images of visual phenomena & optical illusions (see chicken/church picture accompanying this toot!).
There's also an RSS feed to follow, which is always nice to see. 👍
I discovered Low Tech Magazine when I was searching for information on solar, but their articles are more diverse than that. For example, this one is all about the surprising benefits and uses of hand carts, even in modern times.
I thought it was a good read.
I live in a rural location with singletrack roads and a 30 km trip to the nearest proper shops. A cart wouldn't suit me because of this, but it would be good for a city dweller who doesn't want to use a car.
https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2026/04/rediscovering-the-handcart/
