I took the paper pots I made and the bag of seed starting soil out to the deck and filled up the pots. The Dashwoods all had to take turns coming by to inspect my work. The seeds I am starting are all peppers — two kinds of bell peppers as well as jalapeno, cayenne, paprika, and pepperoncini. I sprouted all of these last year and they started well but came to an early end, some through over watering and some from the shock of going outside too soon and not being properly acclimated first — my bad. Hopefully this year I will have better luck. I have my new heating mat sitting beneath the tray and warming the soil, not having to clear off the top of the refrigerator and then forgetting they are up there and tossing a bag of corn chips on them will also help them grow better too I am certain.
Now I have to make a bunch more paper pots because in two weeks I will be starting tomatoes. I think I have some other seeds to start then too, basil and shiso and I don’t know what else. I will have to check all of my seed packets to make sure. I can’t remember everything, though by now you’d think I would!
The Dashwoods have been out and about all day yesterday and today and loving life. They are so happy for the sun and melting snow I have not told them that there might be rain tomorrow and more snow by the end of the week. Let them enjoy the moment!
Even with the snow mostly gone, the chickens come up onto the deck and look in the screen door. They can see and hear us and they come hoping for a handout. Waldo and Dickens have both come face to face with a Dashwood through the screen door this weekend. The chickens may not weigh as much as the cats, but in height and wingspan they are big and intimidating. Mrs. Dashwood was stretching and flapped her wings and sent both cats running scared to hide under the bed.The weather is perfect for a bike ride but the trails are still icy in places and the roads are covered in grit and debris significantly increasing the odds of a tire puncture. So Saturday morning I participated in a virtual women’s race on Zwift. Out of the 55 women racing I came in 17th overall and 6th in my category. I was really pleased especially when I saw I finished only two seconds out of third in my category. There is another women’s race in two weeks when I will see if I can improve.
After the race, I biked another 63 miles/101 km for a total of 80 miles/129 km yesterday. An easy day! I am beginning to get a reputation among online cycling friends who, when they see me riding on Saturdays, text me to ask if I am doing 100+ miles. Next time I will be as I plan on doing a “double metric,” or 200 km (124 miles).
But that is nothing compared to what another Zwift woman is currently doing. She is trying to set the Zwift distance record by riding 1011 miles/1627 km in 72 hours. The record was set by a man in the fall who did 1010 miles in 72 hours. She began riding yesterday and after 29 hours 45 minutes has ridden 634 miles/1020 km. I keep checking in on her and giving her encouragement. Later this evening I am hoping to find her on the Zwift course and ride with her for an hour or so to offer a bit of support. When you are going that long, it isn’t just the body that gets fatigued. So much of athletics I am learning is mental and if your brain starts telling you that you are tired and can’t keep going then you are doomed even if your muscles tell you otherwise.
It’s so exciting to see a woman make this attempt. Bookman wants to know when I am going to try it. Um, never! Was my answer. Seriously, 72 hours of riding. I am not great at sleep deprivation. I’m planning on riding the Powderhorn 24 in 2018 with a friend and I am already freaking out about it. The race runs from 7 p.m. one day to 7 p.m the next day. I am not a night person and the idea of riding all night has me worried. But the person who is going to be riding with me is a night person so maybe we can ride as a team and I can sleep (they have a sleeping area) while he rides during the night and then take over in the early morning. Well, we have over a year to plan it out. Stay tuned!
You are ahead of me- I haven’t started seed yet. We have awfully warm weather here, too. I usually put my seed trays on top of the fridge, too- then they go out into the coldframe house because I really don’t have good sunny windows. But I’m still fixing that up so not ready yet…
I don’t know how a person does 72 hours- does she get to take breaks or is it all continuous pedaling? Makes me think of when I watch from the sidelines as everyone does readathons once a year- I just can’t do it. I have school age kids and pets and plants to water even though I love reading I simply can’t sit all day doing it!
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Jeane, I get the peppers started a bit earlier than recommended I think because it takes about a week or so for them to start sprouting and they grow so slowly. Though now with my heating mat and some grow lights it might turn out to be too early! Guess I will find out!
Yes, the woman doing the 72-hour record attempt does get to take breaks but they count against the 72 hours so the fewer breaks, the more riding time and the more distance. Ha! Yeah, I can’t do the readathons either. I’ve tried a few times but after 10 hours of reading, I’m done!
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The 24 hours race sounds like fun… And you say you’re not a night person, but when you’re out there, the adrenaline never stops and you end up surprising yourself 🙂
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wanderwolf, yes, I have been wondering about that, if the excitement of it all plus lots of caffeine, might keep me awake better than I expect. I’ll find out in 2018! 🙂
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I spent the whole day in the garden yesterday (Sunday) and it was so good. Nothing spectacular achieved but moving earth into the raised bed, making a new flower bed, planting a few things. Definitely felt like Spring. And then had a wonderful time buying some plants on-line in the evening. This year we will have gooseberries! I haven’t started any seeds yet but if you don’t mind I’m going to follow along with your timetable. I suspect I’ve always planted my tomatoes too late!
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How good to read about the Dashwoods enjoying the moment in the sunshine. I hope they have not got too much more winter weather to endure.
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Ian, I think all of us will be happy when the straw gets mucked out and the plastic taken down from the run. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer!
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maggie, so jealous you got to plant things! I’ve got gooseberries in my garden. The shrubs are still small so I haven’t gotten a lot yet, but I’m hoping this year I get enough to make a pie! My last frost date in May 15th so they get started 10 weeks before that. Sounds like you last frost date might come sooner than mine in which case you could definitely start your seeds earlier.
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We also had warm weather here on Long Island Yesterday, It was over 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I cannot wait until it gets consistently warmer.
1011 miles in 72 hours on a bike is beyond impressive. Even if one comes close it is an unimaginable feat.
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Brain Joseph, warm weather all across the US by the sound of it. I hope you got to be out enjoying it!
She’s doing really well and it looks like she might beat 1011 miles. I road with her last night for a little over an hour. There were a few other people riding with her too. Very exciting to get the chance to do that.
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And we had our coldest February night last night – 3°C – no wonder my Birkenstocks were cold when I put my feet in them this morning! But in two days the day maximum will be 34°C and the nights back to 13°C or so. Phew.
Love the photos of the chooks. They are so beautiful.
As for your 24 hour ride, you’re mad I tell you, mad – but I’ll cheer you on nonetheless.
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whisperinggums, as I get excited about spring you are looking at autumn. I like autumn though so hopefully yours is a long and pleasant one ahead!
Glad you like the Dashwoods. They have grown into beautiful birds. I wish I could capture their iridescent feathers. Margaret, the black one, has shiny teal feathers when the light catches them just right and Elinor, the brown one, has gotten some shimmery brown feathers in the ruff around her neck.
Yes, I am certain I am mad, but for the 2018 24-hour ride I will had a mad friend with me 🙂
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