Solving Problems

February 26-March 3, 2024

John’s really, really great at problem solving and he’s really, really handy. Those two skills have kept Lailia functioning and no mechanical problems faze him.

John knew that mounting the new Xantrex wasn’t going to be easy.  The box weighs close to 70 pounds – and there’s not enough space in the engine room for two of us to work, so he couldn’t hold it while I attached it.

He wound up building a temporary shelf to hold the module in place while he attached it.

It’s really cool that John can do these repairs: it’s one of the many things I respect about him.

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Warmer weather is creeping in.  The warm, sunny days must bring out water snakes at Cypress Wetlands.  I kind of feel bad for them because those water snakes are bringing more birds to the yard – I saw both a hawk and a heron chowing down on snakes on the same afternoon. 

Gators are also getting more active. 

Alligators will always make me happy, but sometimes I want to see something new, too.

The Spanish Moss Trail is a paved trail built on  reclaimed railroad tracks.  It’s a bit over 11 miles long, running through Beaufort and Port Royal, with extensions planned on both ends.

Parts of it cut through neighborhoods while other parts cut through wooded areas and tidal marshes.  There’s a huge variety of habitats and critters.

In one area there are what seems to be camellias growing in the woods. They must have been planted years ago and have just naturalized there.

Spring is also starting to show up in all the blooming things …

And in the unfurling ferns…

It’s been a Tom Petty kind of week for me:

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
You belong with your love on your arm
You belong somewhere you feel free

~Tom Petty