Jimson Weed Seedpod

Jimson Weed seed pod.

From Wikipedia: Datura stramonium, known by the common names jimson weed, angel's trumpet, devil's weed, thorn apple, tolguacha, Jamestown weed, stinkweed, datura, moonflower, and, in South Africa, malpitte and mad seeds is, along with Datura metel (zombie cucumber), a common weed in the Solanaceae (the nightshade family). It contains tropane alkaloids that are sometimes used as a hallucinogen. The active ingredients are atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine which are classified as deliriants, or anticholinergics. Due to the elevated risk of overdose in uninformed users, many hospitalizations, and some deaths, are reported from recreational use.


Sunday, 9/27/09:

Sunday was another good day for being outside. I mowed again. With any luck, I might be able to finish the garden area tomorrow. Jo finished weeding our fall garden bed.

During the evening, I replaced the washing machine supply hoses. The hose on the hot water side sprang a leak while Jo was washing this morning. (A good reminder that one really should shut off the washing machine water supply valves when leaving on a trip.) I also replace the top thermostat on our hot water heater. Most of the time, it worked fine, but every once in a while the water coming out of our hot water heater was way too hot.

Another cold front is on the way down. It's approach caused a moderately gusty south wind and rapidly rising temperatures today. The temp climbed all the way up to 86°F/30°C and was still 77°F/25°C at midnight. The approaching front is not forecast to be dry.

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Jimson Weed Seedpod

Journal: Wednesday, 10/22/08

Morning:

“Mostly cloudy and 63º F (17º C) @ 11 AM. Damp south wind, too.  A little rain in PM forecast. More rain forecast for tomorrow.”

“Noon: 68º F (20º C). Clouds decreasing; south wind increasing. With cooler temperatures on the way, I really ought to get the stove pipe cleaned out this afternoon. Without a good cleaning, we cannot stoke up a fire in our wood stove, and wood is our only source of heat.”

Afternoon:

“Toted another box of clay over to Jo's studio. It's the least I can do since she's chained to her wheel preparing for our next art fair. Skies fluctuating between partly and mostly cloudy. South wind starting to gust. Great weather for climbing around on the roof. 70º F (21º C) @ 1 PM”

“Stovepipe cleaning in progress, but took a break to go on our afternoon walk. Dragging out the extension ladder and propping it safely against the roof edge is not the hardest part of this chore, but it is the point of maximum inertia. Now that I've passed that point, I'll finish the job. The pipe is cleaned out.  Now I just need to replace the cap and flange up some other odds and ends."

“Stove pipe cleaned. The weather can turn cold and nasty whenever it wants because we can now fire up the wood stove whenever we want. We even have an atypically large supply of firewood remaining from last winter. A firewood supply of a half dozen sticks or fewer is how we usually enter fall.”

Evening:

“Rain's been in our forecast for the past two days, but NOAA kept pushing back the start time. Light showers have finally begun falling. No heavy rain or lightening thus far.”

“Hot water heater is suddenly producing scalding hot water. I cranked the thermostat down, but it may need replacing. I don't like the idea of a hot water heater thermostat choosing it's own setting. At least, it is still shutting off the element.”

(From my feed on FriendFeed.)

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Journal: Wednesday, 10/22/08