Author: Lisa

Rubber Mulch as Bullet Backstop

We found a video of someone firing different rounds point-blank into a barrel filled with rubber mulch. This seems like the worst-case depth of mulch you’d need in a backstop for different bullet types (i.e. there would be less energy if you were firing from ten meters or a hundred meters, so there would be less penetration). I wanted to record the round types and approximate depth

22 long — 10″
9mm — 14-15″
40 cal — 18″
300AAC — 20″

Reverse Electrification

Back when federal law phased out the sale of incandescent light bulbs, people stockpiled these bulbs instead of buying more energy efficient bulbs in the future. As I see California approve Advanced Clean Cars II — and Washington and New York looking to follow in California’s path — I wonder if de-electrification is going to become an industry.

Basically the reverse of buying a petrol vehicle with a blown motor and converting it to an EV … buying an EV (because that’s all that is available to be purchased as a new vehicle), buying a crate motor (also legal), and swapping the electric propulsion system for a petrol one. Eventually, reduced demand may well turn gasoline into an expensive, niche product produced in some small-batch refinery. Until then, I can absolutely see the incandescent bulb hording types going for re-petroliumed vehicles.

Kittens

We’ve been feeding a calico kitty or two — still not quite sure on that one! She wasn’t around for a few days, and voila … now there are kittens. An orange and white one, two gray ones, and a mini-calico kitty. We need to find someone who does low-cost spay/neuter so we don’t get overrun with cute fluffballs!

Anya’s Posting Challenge

Because I made two not-permitted posts since Anya started the challenge, she’s extended it by ten days! October 7th is the last day of Anya’s rule about what I can post on my own website … the one I set up for myself, on my server, so I would have somewhere to store my stuff. Yeah.

Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Topping — 2 T melted butter, 2 T maple sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F
  2. Whisk together brown sugar, pumpkin puree, buttermilk, oil, and eggs
  3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.
  4. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients.
  5. Divide batter between 12 muffin cups. Bake about 20 minutes, test with toothpick or skewer.
  6. Allow to cool for 10 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool.
  7. Stir together all of the topping ingredients and brush on top of muffins.

Fairy Eggs

The chickens we hatched earlier this year have started laying their first eggs — our first chicken to lay an egg (Queenington) laid a large egg, and the rest of our egg layers followed with fairly normal chicken-egg sized eggs. I didn’t know that it was common for chickens to start off laying small eggs (called fairy eggs) until we got the Bresse hens. They’re not great for hatching (really tiny chick incubates and often cannot even get out of the egg), but the eggs are perfectly edible. I think we’ll be making pickled eggs with this year’s tiny eggs.

Pickled Eggs

Pickled Eggs

Recipe by LisaCourse: Snacks, SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

10

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes

Ingredients

  • 20 eggs

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar

  • 1 cup water

  • 1/4 cup maple sugar

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1 bay leaf, crushed

  • Spices – dill, onion

Method

  • Hard boil eggs and peel.
  • In a saucepan, mix vinegar, water, sugar, spices, and salt. Boil, reduce to low. Mix in garlic and bay leaf. Remove from heat.
  • In a glass jar, place eggs and pour vinegar mixture. Add spices — onion, dill, etc.
  • Seal and store in refrigerator.