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Origami Around
we're not kids anymore.
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trying on a metaphor
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YOU ARE THE REASON
$LAYYYTER
gracie abrams
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PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
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seen from Russia
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@martinmurray
I heard “Pickled Watermelon Rind” on an episode of Top Chef and decided to try it. Tasty! (I’ll leave a bit more of the red melon next time)
The Red Cabbage was left over from a sheet pan recipe and I pickled it with a bit of Red Onion and Garlic.
Whoa! Three new cubs in the neighborhood!
The Bears are getting nosy --- watch to end.
Bears last night... A third join these two. One got a bit too close?
This is likely one of three 3-yearold Black Bears that were seen together here over the past couple of years. Last fall they began to fight among themselves and we're thinking that they have now separated.
This one first showed up March 24. The suet feeder he's investigating is empty.
The time on the camera is off by one hour. The time was actually 20:48 (8:48pm)
Bears destroy feeder - We’ve been seeing these four (Mama and 3 kids...) since 2022. We had brought in the feeders each night until a few weeks ago when it got colder and we thought the bears were napping til spring. Not so...
Good thing I put the feeders away for the night...
I’ve read all the Hillerman books, Tony and Anne.
This is not among my favorites… but, I so appreciate that the characters created by the late Tony Hillerman live on.
BOOKS READ, in order…
2023:
Fall Guy - Archer Mayor
Racing the Light - Robert Crais (1.16.23)
A Dangerous Man - Robert Crais (1.24.23)
The Naming of the Dead - Ian Rankin (2.7.23)
Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi (2.9.23)
Unnatural History- Jonathan Kellerman (2.27.23)
Breathless - Amy McCulloch (3.14.23)
Fleshmarket Alley - Ian Rankin (4.10.23)
Red Winter - Tom Clancy/ Marc Cameron (5.5.23)
Desert Star - Michael Connelly (5.20.23)
Dark Angel - John Sandford (6.2.23)
No Plan B - Lee Child (6.8.23)
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand (6.16.23)
The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman (6.26.23)
Newcomer - Keigo Higashino (7.7.23)
A Death in Tokyo - Keigo Higashino (7.13.23)
City of Dreams - Don Winslow (7.20.23)
A Song for the Dark Times - Ian Rankin (8.6.23)
Standing in Another Man’s Grave - Ian Rankin (8.15.23)
The Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino (8.20.23)
Saints of the Shadow Bible - Ian Rankin (9.1.23)
The Lockup - John Banville (9.3.23)
Rather Be The Devil - Ian Rankin (9.11.23)
The Best Strangers in the World - Ari Shapiro (9.21.23)
Killers of the Flower Moon - David Grann (10.4.23)
Judgment Day - John Sandford (10.15.23)
The Complaints - Ian Rankin (10.30.23)
In A House of Lies - Ian Rankin (11.19.23)
Holly - Stephen King (11.20.23)
The Impossible Dead - Ian Rankin (12.6.23)
Knots and Crosses - Ian Rankin (12.11.23)
The Secret - Lee Child (12.22.23)
Use this link to check on current prices/offers from independent suppliers.
Making Sense of the Cents/kWh - Or, Why I Switched my Energy Supplier
For the first time ever, I have chosen to purchase my electric “energy” from an independent supplier, instead of relying on my electric utility, Unitil. The reason: The price of natural gas determines the cost of energy in our region, and it is going up significantly. In December, Unitil’s price for the energy portion of its Residential electric bills in New Hampshire will increase more than 140 percent (!) from about 7 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to about 17.5 cents/kWh. I have switched to a plan that will cost about 9.6 cents/kWh that will begin the next time my meter is read.
The amount of energy I use varies from month to month. (I use the most electricity in the summer months when I fire up a couple of window air conditioning units.) But, if I calculate an average demand of 600 kWh/month for six months, I will save more than $285.00 compared to what I would pay if I had not switched to an independent supplier.
To be clear, “energy” is just one portion of my total electric bill. It covers about one-half of the total monthly bill, with the various costs associated with “delivery” of that energy covering the rest.
Is there a risk in switching? Yes, some. I have chosen the option of a “fixed” rate that will not change, but I am locked in for 14 months. (I can pay a $50 cancellation fee to quit the supplier, if I wish.) Unitil’s energy rate changes every six months. The new Unitil energy rate next summer might be less than the 9.6 cents/kWh I’ll still be paying my independent supplier, but, overall, I expect I will have net savings over the 14 month period.
Another risk comes if one chooses a plan with a “variable” rate. That rate may initially be cheaper than the fixed 9.6 cents I am paying, but it comes with the risk of an increase with little notice due to market conditions. (Pro Tip: always read your monthly bill!)
New Hampshire’s residential electric customers for years have had the right to switch from the default energy rate offered by their electric delivery company, but until now I didn’t believe it was worth the hassle. The upcoming Unitil increase has changed my mind.
I have included several links, below, that may be helpful to better understand the issue and how to move forward if considering a switch.
The NH Office of Consumer Advocate has written several columns about the upcoming energy rate increases. I found this one especially helpful:
http://indepthnh.org/2021/10/03/coming-soon-drastic-rate-increases-for-electricity-and-natural-gas/
The NH Public Utilities Commission has plenty of official language on choosing an energy supplier. You’ll find background on the issue, and a link to a listing of suppliers, at the link below.
https://www.puc.nh.gov/consumer/Choosing%20an%20Energy%20Supplier.html
The NHPUC also has a page comparing some of the various plans offered to Residential customers of Unitil. I’m not certain it lists every supplier currently registered to sell energy, and their plans, but it’s a good starting point. You’ll want to then visit the actual website of one of the suppliers to understand what is being offered; the terms and conditions.
https://www.puc.nh.gov/ceps/ResidentialCompare.aspx?choice=Unitil
Prepped for the game! A fire pit and tv on the deck. About five layers on my person. Go Pats! Errrr, I mean #bucs (at Bow, New Hampshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKcaA-eF2BG/?igshid=kznpr5d0esyy
Just shy of 2 feet of snow fell on Dec. 16-17.
Took me two days to clear the driveway and truck ❄️❗️
I haven’t id’d this one yet. A newcomer to the feeder area.
Big snow today! Around the feeder: cardinals, titmouse, chickadee, junco, downy woodpecker, red bellied woodpecker and a single redpoll.
Bears in the front yard! Our trail camera captured some visitors - just after midnight on Thanksgiving Day 2020.