GM. My first batch of tomatoes came up: moskvich, sweetie, tanana eary, alaska fancy and subarctic plenty. We got a foot of snow yesterday, so it doesn't feel like spring, but its coming.

I got to play electrician today. The disconnect switch for my pole mounted solar array has a KO mounted lightning arrestor. It has a plastic body and it broke at the nipple, somehow. This left a hole for snow to blow into the switch. I thought about just removing it and plugging the hole since my area, being near the coast, averages like two lightning strikes per year. But it was a relatively cheap part. This system was DIY'd by the previous owner. They chose to connect the lightning arrestor to the line side of the disconnect switch, so I couldn't just open the switch and safely replace it. I waited for an overcast day when the panels were covered with snow, went up the ladder and separated the PV panel connectors going from the last panel to the switch. They are MC3 type, so no tool needed which was nice. Other than that it was a straight forward job. The hardest part was telling my engineer brain to ignore all the code violations and put it back the way it was because its been working fine for 20 years. How many can you spot? #solar #diy #electrician

GM. It is pinewood derby day and my scouts are ready! #dadstr

Remember the taco liberty bell?

In 1974 Porky Bickar set 100 tires on fire inside the crater of a volcano near Sitka. It fooled many residents and the Coast Guard into thinking that an eruption was coming. It was a hilarious April fools prank that would probably get you arrested today.

Sitka.com

Mount Edgecumbe Volcano Prank: The 1974 Porky Bickar Hoax

70 tires, a helicopter, and a legendary 50-foot

Do you ever loose track of which eggs in your fridge are raw and which are hard boiled? My grandmother showed me a trick for how to tell, from the old days. Take the egg and tap it against your head. They make distinctly different sounds.

I scored this beaut from the dump today. A military issue SDU-5/E distress strobe light. I looks to be in good shape. The battery was dead, so I ordered an adaptor for CR123's. That will be a nice upgrade from the signal mirror I usually carry when I am out in the boonies. #edc

My 8 year old son thought he'd be sneaky and get some special treats by adding them to the grocery shopping list. He wrote: Steak X 100 Pork chop X 100 Like I wouldn't notice. =) #dadstr

A small commercial plane lost its windshield at 23,000 above rural Alaska. They landed safely. That must be one level headed pilot. Aviate, navigate, communicate!

Anchorage Daily News

Windshield blowout in plane high over Western Alaska prompts NTSB investigation

The Trygg Air Alaska pilot landed safely in Sleetmute with 9 passengers on March 7.