Author Archives: John S. Quarterman

Garter Snake 2025-12-13

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This Eastern Garter Snake was just lying in the driveway.

[Garter snake]
Garter snake

I left that Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis there.

Next time I walked by, she had moved on.

Supposed to freeze tonight and tomorrow night. Probably won’t see many snakes the next couple of days.

-jsq

Canebrake Rattlesnake 2025-12-10

This canebrake rattlesnake wanted to be sure we knew he was there.

[Would be well-hidden but was loud]
Would be well-hidden but was loud

We being me and River the Carolina Dog (that’s a breed).

River wanted to investigate further, but came back when I called.

A Crotalus horridus is nothing for a 73-pound dog to mess with.

Here’s a video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1370351284593043

https://youtu.be/539pJgw1yNg Continue reading →

Tis but a scratch 2025-11-26

Whilst mowing up some privet that had grown up since Hurricane Helene, the 18-inch Ego electric chainsaw fell under the tractor mower.

[In a bucket]
In a bucket

Turns out if you shatter a lithium battery, the pieces get very hot.

After I put out the several grass fires, in the bucket is what we collected.

I think the black knight said it best:

“Tis but a scratch.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs Continue reading →

Banana plants after the freeze 2025-11-23

Banana plants do this when frozen.

[Gretchen with her banana plants]
Gretchen with her banana plants

Not to worry. They’ll come back in the spring.

Meanwhile, Gretchen will lop their heads off with a machete. She says that makes them grow back better.

We did get some bananas to eat with breakfast.

-jsq

Cutting Sugar Cane 2025-11-09

A freeze is predicted for tonight, so yesterday we cut the sugarcane and bedded it down for the winter.

That means we buried it a few inches deep to keep it from freezing.

But we kept some cane for squeezing juice to boil to make cane syrup.

River helped. The other dogs thought it was boring.

[Cutting Sugar Cane, Some to squeeze and boil for syrup, Most to bed overwinter, to plant in the spring 2025-11-09]
Cutting Sugar Cane, Some to squeeze and boil for syrup, Most to bed overwinter, to plant in the spring 2025-11-09

Gretchen explains:
https://youtu.be/Pk1unm9K1nU?si=6R49ymVJQ-O4jEqf Continue reading →