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npub1as4dpyyn7uut9v6m3tzawvgnnufp6h0a03lm7s488g5p3f3728nsgaafzs

Profile Code

nprofile1qqswc2ksjzflww9jkddc43whxyfe7ysath7hclalg2nn52qc5cl9recprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnwdaehgu3wdejhgqgkwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46qdu8nqw

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

relay.nostr.net

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Last Notes

2026-07-14 01:04:56 CEST

For #monochromemonday, here's a photograph taken in 1973 by @npub1gfu…lad9
#photographty #Ontario #birds
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/116/915/145/815/446/649/original/a484c68c7d4c8fa9.jpg

2026-07-12 19:56:48 CEST

I asked here on Mastodon if rooftop solar panels could reduce incidence of roofs catching fire during a wildfire incident. Replies were so negative that I was too intimidated to ask anyone else. I did find a website that explains it. (1) Sparks landing on panels don't cause damage as long as electrical components are properly shielded; (2) use of local solar may cut down on grid-caused fires, and (3) solar power can operate pumps, etc., during a power outage.
https://www.solarpermitsolutions.com/blog/solar-wildfire-hazard-areas-safety-guide
#solar

2026-07-10 16:49:56 CEST

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I also had trouble - only one of my squash seeds in the initial planting came up. So I took a tray of seeds out to plant more, but was called away and left them in the garden for a few hours. When I came back the tray was empty! I suspect chipmunks and birds. Now, I have squash plants coming up in unexpected places. I'm keeping them, and will try to train the vines away from the other plants.
#gardening

2026-05-28 15:18:18 CEST

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This may be overkill, but gang nails are a good way to attach wooden braces.
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/detail-gang-nails-timber-framing-on-147954416

2026-05-24 01:17:01 CEST

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Celtic Colours is great! For those further west, there's also the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in Ontario

2026-05-13 02:26:35 CEST

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Hi Brian. Are you planning to hook your solar panels to the grid, or connect them to a battery-based power station?

2026-04-10 22:04:29 CEST

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Rhubarb plants don't grow very big the first year, but my mature ones are each about four feet across in the early summer, I have three and that is enough to make several pies, a rhubarb upside down cake, and some sauce to put over vanilla ice cream, etc. It depends on how much you like rhubarb, and how much space you can spare in your garden. Don't pick much the first year, and don't pick it all!
#rhubarb #gardening

2026-04-08 03:21:55 CEST

Back in the winter folks here helped me connect my 100W solar panel to a power station. In my yard in Ontario, I set up the panel in a sunny location. The most I was able to gather was 25W. Local friends with panels don't get the rated power either.
It dawned on me that the panels have to work safely in Arizona where the sunlight is more intense. I found an article which shows how to use an inexpensive reflector to move more light onto the panel. It worked!
https://www.ecohome.net/en/guides/3204/using-reflectors-to-increase-the-yield-of-solar-panels/
#solar

2026-04-04 00:36:17 CEST

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That's interesting - is it faster to print them in a batch like that? I guess at least it's less work for the operator.
#3Dprinting

2026-03-28 22:10:33 CET

Watching a live-stream of Joan Biaz and Judy Collings singing "The Times They Are A-Changing" at the Minneapolis protest. What a nostalgic treat!
#music #folkmusic #protest

2026-03-15 00:27:45 CET

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Agreed. Instead of buying a special stand, I just turned an old damaged barrel upside down and put the rain barrel on it. I connected a hose near the bottom with a small sprinkler on the other end. When I want to stop watering, I drop the sprinkler head into the barrel or hang it on the fence.
#gardening

2026-03-03 17:20:02 CET

Singer Marsala Lukianchuk and violinist Saskia Tomkins will be performing at Walsh's Snug in Newcastle, Ontario, on March 13. They are great!
#music #celticmusic #violin
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/116/166/108/261/832/186/original/0f6f77d0f88013d8.jpg

2026-03-02 18:16:47 CET

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I like mystery stories, but not Amazon. Are the books available anywhere else?
#books #fiction

2026-02-22 03:40:45 CET

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Sure! This was $8.
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/116/111/955/724/944/875/original/94d47bf0542102f8.png

2026-02-15 19:47:28 CET

One more fiddle tune that I posted on MakerTube:
https://makertube.net/w/pPcu2EpCK7nawGJMJ8J8Nu
#music #fiddletunes #delong #sheetmusic #fiddle #guitar

2026-02-15 17:59:07 CET

It's National Flag Day in Canada. Our current flag became official 61 years ago today.
https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/flags
#Canada #flags

2026-02-12 04:38:19 CET

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Maybe the giant radiators would shade the earth...

2026-01-28 03:03:10 CET

If you're looking for something relaxing and stress-free to watch on television for a change, TV Ontario has a series called "Tripping". Each episode is a slow boat ride on an Ontario waterway, or a train ride in the wilderness, with nature sounds and the occasional aerial shot. Soothing and beautiful. My tax dollars at work.
https://www.tvo.org/programs/tripping
#television #Ontario #nature

2026-01-25 16:18:05 CET

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Hello @npub1gfy…hzdq
It's been a while since I've listened to Frank Zappa, but I remember particularly enjoying the Mothers of Invention. My favourite song is "You Didn't Try to Call Me". For the most part I'm an acoustic musician. I play the upright bass, and, without frets, it sure is all about listening!
#bass #music #frankzappa
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/115/956/391/786/421/985/original/d346cb10f8fcd56b.jpeg

2026-01-24 15:52:23 CET

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When I have too much banana, I make banana pancakes and banana muffins. Would this work for passionfruit?
#cooking

2025-11-04 17:26:52 CET

I'm looking for a piece of software that will let a preschooler use a mouse or touchpad to pick up images of musical notes, plop them onto a musical staff, and play back the resulting row of tones. All the ones I've seen are too complicated. Any suggestions?
#music #sheetmusic #software #toddler

2025-10-04 19:31:59 CEST

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I am growing collard greens for the first time, and they are looking great. I also have a dehydrator. What are you going to do with them after they are dry?
#food #gardening

2025-09-18 16:51:39 CEST

Gardeners near Peterborough, Ontario may be interested in this plant sale. The company owners are retiring and some bargains may be had.
#gardening #ontario
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/115/225/827/928/824/657/original/5ac15655455e73ca.jpeg

2025-05-09 16:37:48 CEST

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I don't know enough about Bill Gates to either praise or revile him, but I do think it's unfair to condemn him for only having given away $100B so far.
I didn't find any information about the Oxford issue in that Wired article, but the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Wikipedia page covers it pretty well:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford%E2%80%93AstraZeneca_COVID-19_vaccine

2025-05-09 06:50:28 CEST

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I saw Mr. Gates interviewed about vaccines and child mortality on the Stephen Colbert show this evening. Maybe he's grown...

2025-05-02 00:33:30 CEST

@npub1jly…7pav
Disappointment! I thought people were posting waltzes!
Okay, I'll post one anyway:
https://youtu.be/iMJaQZbkYSE
#waltz #music #sheetmusic #delong

2025-04-27 16:07:26 CEST

My kale plants from last year's planting are still alive after an Ontario winter. Although the rabbits nibbled heavily on them during the cold months, now the stems are sprouting new leaves. Will these be okay to use for salads this summer, or should I uproot them and put in fresh plants?
#vegetables #gardening

2025-04-16 23:49:38 CEST

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As a retired school librarian, I can confirm that the DK books have been well loved by elementary school children for decades.
#books

2025-03-15 20:52:19 CET

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Agreed. If it's too wet to fork over the soil, best to wait a few days. I still have a deep covering of snow over my flower bed - I hope the crocus and snowdrops are not trying to push through it yet.
#gardening

2025-03-12 23:05:48 CET

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I'd have to buy the vinegar to put on the eggshells. If it's just something acidic that's needed, what about used tea leaves? For some reason I have a lot of these, and I put them in the compost anyway. I could throw them along with the ground-up egg shells in a bucket of water and then later pour that on the compost pile.
#gardening

2025-03-11 19:42:03 CET

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Here's an article that agrees with you, and gives some alternate uses. I will continue to break mine up and put it in the compost. Since my soil is heavy and a bit acidic, maybe at least it will help to loosen the soil and reduce landfill waste.
https://www.microfarmguide.com/eggshells-decompose/
#eggshells #compost

2025-03-11 14:34:42 CET

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They still have lots of minerals that can help plants.
Here's an article that goes into this topic pretty thoroughly:
https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-use-eggshells-garden/
#gardening

2025-03-08 21:01:08 CET

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I am jealous! My garden is still under a foot of snow. I have a few little plants getting a head start indoors, though.
#gardening

2025-03-05 18:20:21 CET

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This site has some good ideas. I add banana peels and wood ash, but I hadn't thought about covering my compost pile to keep the potassium from being leached away.
https://www.wikihow.com/Add-Potassium-to-an-Organic-Garden
#gardening

2025-02-18 14:47:09 CET

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I haven't grown orchids, so I'll take your word for it. When I use tap water for my plants, I fill the watering can and let it sit until the next day,, so that the chlorine evaporates and it's at room temperature.
#indoorgardening #houseplants

2025-02-18 01:18:41 CET

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Plants need the minerals in water, but sometimes too many can build up in soil that's trapped in little pots. This article suggest using a variety of water, including distilled, tap, and rain water:
https://www.thespruce.com/distilled-water-for-houseplants-8712071
#gardening #plants #water

2025-02-16 15:41:10 CET

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I don't have raised beds in my garden now because I have good drainage, but I may add a couple in the future because they are easier on your back when planting and weeding. Also, my neighbour has put up a tall fence on the south side of my garden, so a raised bed near the fence may get a little more sun.
#gardening

2025-02-16 00:45:20 CET

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In my area, garden clubs sponsor "Seedy Saturday" events, where gardeners exchange or donate seeds. Maybe you'll find one in your area.
#gardening #seeds

2025-02-15 22:43:27 CET

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A raised bed would be good. Chard and beet seeds seem to take cool temperatures, but if the ground is too wet the seeds will rot.
#gardening

2025-02-15 20:47:49 CET

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It's too cold yet to plant outside where I am in Ontario, but in the spring the first #seeds to go in the ground, when there's still a chance of frost but the ground is dry enough to fork over, are radishes, lettuce, peas, swiss chard, arugula, onions and beets.
Beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers are planted at least a month later, but I get a good crop of these before fall. Tomatoes, peppers and brussell sprouts take too long, so I buy little plants or start them indoors.

2025-02-13 18:00:49 CET

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I'll look again after the 21st!

2025-02-13 16:23:52 CET

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The link doesn't seem to work.

2025-02-09 23:37:58 CET

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I use old seeds for mixed seeding (like carrots with radishes, because pulling the radishes loosens my heavy soil for the carrots). If one kind doesn't come up, it's no big deal.
For the really old ones, I'll sprinkle several kinds randomly over a small area, and see what comes up. If too many grow, I use my spade to dig up a patch or two and move them.
If it's flowers, I try to mix ones with similar height.
#gardening #seeds

2025-02-07 02:01:09 CET

I'm not sure why this sad little tune, so different from my usual stuff, came into my head:
https://youtu.be/-Gt_n0SbQjw
#music #sheetmusic #violin #delong

2025-02-06 00:58:53 CET

For #musicwomenwednesday
Here's a waltz in memory of my grandmother, an immigrant to Toronto who raised six children during the Depression, meanwhile working in the garment industry after her husband became disabled.
https://youtu.be/RPaiuSnkV9Y
#music #waltz #sheetmusic #violin #fiddletunes #delong

2025-02-04 17:02:49 CET

I won't be buying any imported fruits in the near future, but I have plenty of locally grown apples, dried pear slices saved from the tree in my yard, and frozen raspberries grown last summer.
#gardening #fruit #food #Canada
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/113/946/348/832/122/238/original/e52fe6ea8c8d3023.jpg

2025-02-04 16:01:01 CET

It's time to start seedlings for next summer's garden!
All across Canada gardeners organize Seedy Saturday events in winter and early spring to exchange heirloom seeds:
https://seeds.ca/events/
#gardening #seeds #food

2025-01-21 16:07:16 CET

For #tunetuesday , here's a gentle tune:
https://youtu.be/-rnSiBaBuTs
#music #sheetmusic #delong #recorder #tenorrecorder #acousticguitar #altorecorder

2025-01-20 01:14:26 CET

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They're only weeds if you don't grow them on purpose! Watch where you pick them, though, to avoid chemicals that some people put on their lawns.

2025-01-18 00:26:34 CET

A cheerful tune to for a cool but sunny Friday....
https://youtu.be/dy0XDinuTx0
#music #sheetmusic #delong #mandolin #acousticguitar

2025-01-15 17:02:47 CET

For #musicwomenwednesday here's a soothing tune from a decade ago:
https://youtu.be/r-FkE8IH_aQ
#music #violin #fiddletunes #acousticguitar #sheetmusic #delong

2025-01-14 17:41:10 CET

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Would Patreon be useful? You could make your newsletter into a PDF, post it on your website, and promote it with links on your blog and here on Mastodon. People could support you by sending money to Patreon. I haven't done this myself, so I don't know if it would work.

2025-01-13 01:15:48 CET

An old-fashioned waltz:
https://youtu.be/X8I3_lu6HLk
#music #waltz #sheetmusic #delong #violin

2025-01-05 03:21:54 CET

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I use Pegasus Mail. It's not open source - It was around before the open source project got going. It's free to use, but survives on donations. I'm sure there are fancier mailers out there, but I'm used to it
#opensource #email

2025-01-04 20:06:41 CET

These are my favourite open-source projects:
Mastodon (of course...)
Jamulus - playing music online
Audacity - audio recording and mixing
LibreOffice - office productivity suite
OpenShot - video editor
Firefox - web browser
PuTTY - terminal emulator
Calibre - ebook manager
VLC - media player
Jitsi - video conferencing
Linux - operating system
#opensource #freesoftware

2025-01-04 00:30:49 CET

Here's a fiddle tune that I wrote during the Pandemic, in response to a challenge to members of our local fiddle jam, who suddenly had a lot of time on their hands.
https://youtu.be/axHkl_a4Krg
#music #fiddletunes #reel #fiddle #violin #sheetmusic #delong

2024-12-31 22:07:41 CET

It's snowing heavily, so here's an appropriate song:
https://youtu.be/STcPPJr-_0I
#newyears #song #music #dancing #humor #humour #delong

2024-12-31 02:50:12 CET

Another fiddle tune - this one named for my local township.
https://youtu.be/YooCv1biyfc
#music #reel #sheetmusic #delong #fiddletunes #fiddle #violin #Ontario

2024-12-30 00:02:21 CET

A restful tune for a quiet #Sunday
https://youtu.be/6Bg8xLA1nVw
#music #sheetmusic #waltz #delong #violin

2024-12-26 04:10:56 CET

Given all of the publicity today, I thought I'd better update my profile to include that I'm a Wikipedia administrator.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Anne_Delong
#wikipedia

2024-12-24 16:09:04 CET

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Re Splinter of the Mind's Eye: I've read and enjoyed that story too. The title reminded me of another book that I've read three time over the years:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God%27s_Eye
#sciencefiction #books

2024-12-24 05:10:18 CET

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I first used a computer in high school in 1965. I went with my math club on an overnight trip to Queens University two hours away, punched out cards for my pre-prepared Fortran program, loaded my cards into the IBM mainframe's input hopper, and received a printout from a line printer. I didn't know it, but the man in charge of that computer centre, Mers Kutt, would later invent and market the world's first portable microcomputer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCM/70
#retrocomputing

2024-12-22 21:13:45 CET

@npub1rej…fn8h
Hi. I liked your insect hotel image, but couldn't "boost" it.
Here are some gardening topics to follow:
https://fedi.directory/tag/gardening/
#gardening

2024-12-21 00:36:31 CET

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Do you think that the planting instructions on seed packages bought at garden centres may be incorrect because of changing climate?
#gardening #plants

2024-11-20 00:44:13 CET

Google Maps decided to show me a black screen instead of a map today, so I use Open Street Map instead. It was great!
https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=43.867380%2C-79.312055%3B43.924791%2C-78.874334#map=11/43.9121/-79.0931
#map #opensource #travel

2024-11-16 19:36:54 CET

Here's a #blues song I wrote years ago about the frustrations of #programming my #Commodore PET computer.
https://youtu.be/TDBbVSwBp7o
( #CommodorePet #AcousticBlues #12BarBlues) #retrogaming #retrocomputing #songwriter

2024-11-09 03:12:38 CET

Here's my entry for #FungiFriday. I came across this magnificent specimen while I was out geocaching in the woods in northern Ontario.
#geocaching #Ontario #fungi
https://cdn.masto.host/musiciansocial/media_attachments/files/113/450/565/138/649/527/original/9668a20a191ae42a.jpg

2024-10-30 20:54:10 CET

World of Commodore! Still going after all of these years... thanks TPUG!
https://www.tpug.ca/world-of-commodore/world-of-commodore-2024/
#commodore #commodore64 #commodorePet #Toronto #Ontario #RetroGaming #retrocomputing #computers