A week ago there was an inch of rain. This week there are inch-high weeds sprouting all over. Last year I ignored this phenomenon. Bad choice.

Much of this is the invasive weed commonly called “Cheatgrass” or just “Cheat”. It is a problematic weed in sagebrush steppe ecosystems, where it reduces native plants and increases fire potential. It grows fast in the spring, dries, and is ignored by grazing animals. I don’t want it close to any of the buildings.
I went to town and bought a quart of concentrated weed killer chemical. I have visitors coming on Wednesday, so will wait until Thursday to spray.
The right-side photo above is on the edge of my Pétanque playing surface. I’ll work that with a rake before Wednesday when the pétanque crew is coming to inagurate my “boulodrome” and have a pot-luck meal.

Wednesday was FLUAD day; Fluad is a standard-dose, inactivated influenza (flu) vaccine, recommended for people 65 years and older that contains a non-aluminum adjuvant called MF59. Happy that!
Supposedly it takes about 2 weeks for immunity to start. CWU classes start this coming Wednesday, so I should have gotten the shot earlier. An influx of germs arrives. Horror. I need to go to campus on Friday.
I’ll get a Covid vaccine next week. I like to not get them simultaneously so that, if there is a reaction, I’ll know which one is the culprit.

Yesterday was the White Heron Winery’s 40 anniversry. There was a small party. A “jeroboam” bottle [3,000 ml; 101.44 oz.] from 1986 grapes {bottled in 1988} was a featured wine. There was a music group and lots of finger-food.
Here on the Naneum Fan, the (September) Autumn Equinox and the start of the Fall Season begins Tuesday at 5:05 pm PDT. If you stand on the Equator, the sun’s rays will appear directly east and rise to be straight up, then set directly west. At Noon, you would have a tiny shadow under your body. Other than that, it is a rather non-event. Here, my shadow will be about 6 feet 6 inches.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John