Eventually, once I convert my windows machine to a big VM host. I also use Docker a lot for development on both workstation and server. Most of my applications, I develop and run in a container. I also use the Linux version of Microsoft SQL Server in a container on both my workstation and a server. Easier to contain and not taint the rest of the host OS. And I also need to run a Microsoft Windows Server in a VM Just because that is the nature of business. Cant get completely free since customers utilize MS environments. But first things first. I switched my laptop to linux (using docker containers to deploy test applications for debug/testing). Next step is to build a new workstation in linux to become my main development machine (a big version of the laptop), finally repurpose my current windows workstation to a KVM host machine (that probably wont happen until the end of summer)

I have had problems if the battery goes below voltage. Then when it recharges from solar, even once voltage is back, the esp32 doesn't come back up. Going out and pulling power from the board and reconnecting fixes.

I have switched my laptop to Linux. Been an interesting trip. I actually bought a new laptop (thinkpad T14s Gen 4) and built fresh and gave my MSFT Surface Tablet to my wife. It took about 2 weeks to get it to something that I could use since I have to use Office 365, and getting alternatives for .NET development environment and SQL server. But after 2 weeks, running Ubuntu and KDE Plasma desktop, I am quite happy. I even like the alternatives to Visual Studio (not to be confused with VSCode) and Sql Management Studio. I havent taken the plunge to switch my main development machine. I am always worried with VPN clients for my customers (I have about 15 different VPN clients I have to use for various customers). But this summer, I am thinking about building a brand new desktop on Linux and then eventually converting my big monster Windows workstation to a VM host.

Me hanging out with a pack of Dolly Partons at a cancer benefit brunch for St. Patrick's Day.

Just another Friday evening

Agreed. It doesnt really gain us anything for an "extra" hour of light in the afternoon. The main thing it does is mess up our internal clocks and give us this darker morning (according to the clock)

Tried our new ghost pepper (Bhut Jolkia) cheese (Queso Fesco) on a Mediterranean style salad Kate made. Mediterranean salad, Mexican style cheese with hot peppers originally from India, and made in our North Carolina kitchen. Truly a fusion effort. The cheese with the underlying spice of the Bhut Jolkia peppers with the creaminess of a fresh cheese went great.

#homesteading #cheesemaking #cheese #cooking #hotpepper #bhutjolkia #ghostpepper

We get a lot of marine Osprey aircraft coming from Lejune and doing touch-and-go here at the little airport we have on the island on Hatteras. It is funny, as a crow flies, it is close. But to drive, it takes an hour just to get to the mainland from here (have to go north before you can go south) 😃

I forgot, before putting the curds into the press, I kneeded in just about a tbs of cheese salt (to taste) and ground smoked ghost peppers (from last year's crop in my back yard). Once I kneeded it, then I put it in cheese cloth and in a press that i have. You can make a cheaper press if you dont have something as fancy as mine.

1 gallon whole milk. 1/8 tsp liquid rennant diluted in 1/4 cup non-chlorinated water. 1/8 tsp calcium chloride diluted in 1/4 cup water. Added the calcium chloride initially to the milk early. brought up to 95 degrees, added renant. covered for about 45 min. at 85 or so degrees. Cubed it, then let it sit a little longer. Drained the curds (saving the whey for the garden). then put back in the pot for another 30 minutes or so. Finally, put in cheese cloth and put in my press for about 6 or 7 hours to make the final form.

Made cheese yesterday. Been a while since we made cheese. Been since we lived in California. Made Queso Fresco with ghost pepper. I know, adding spicy can hide mistakes. But I love it hot. This cheese doesn't require aging. So it is needless to say that I can't wait to "cut the cheese" 🤣

Anyone have a source of cow's, goat's, sheep's milk in Eastern North Carolina? Closer to the Outer Banks the better.

#homesteading #cheese #cheesemaking #cooking

Thanks for the info. I think I may hold off on it for now

Is anyone using Qubes OS? Thoughts on ease of install, performance, etc?

#qubes #linux

I like both. Nothing like the nostalgia of a cast iron. And a cast iron dutch oven is a must have for anyone who cooks. But, for something for frying and sautéing, carbon steel is the king. I also like my carbon steel woks much better than my cast iron. But the cast iron wok just looks so cool. Just dont drop it on a stone countertop, tile floor, or your foot

Just got some stickers from @arcanecarolinas and attached one to my laptop. Arcane Carolinas is a podcast (and books) about legends and lore of the Carolinas. They have even talked about a few from here on Hatteras Island. I am trying to convince them to make it down to the end of the earth, on Hatteras Island, to do a book signing 🙂 If you havent checked them out, take a gander at their podcast. It is very interesting. Thanks guys of Arcane Carolinas for the stickers!

#lore #mysteries #northcarolina #hatterasisland #capehatteras #obx #outerbanks #southcarolina

Beautiful sunrise. Just impossible to capture. Just another day living on a sandbar.

#sunrise #obx #outerbanks #hatteras

GM! Beautiful morning. Not too cool yet. Wait as the week progresses. Wind out of the NW. Frisco beaches somewhat sheltered.

#outerbanks #obx #hatteras #weather

It is amazing that any rain got captured in the rain gauge with the wind blowing so hard yesterday, where it was going sideways. I show 0.72" that made it in. Crazy winds out of the south. Now they are more NW and colder this morning.

Below are the rain amounts over the last week (coming out to a total of 2.98"):

02/09/25: 0.14"

02/10/25: 0.40"

02/11/25: 0.16"

02/12/25: 0.35"

02/13/25: 0.06"

02/14/25: 1.07"

02/16/25: 0.08"

02/17/25: 0.72"

#obx #outerbanks #hatterasisland #weather

They arent the same class of hotel though. I can only guess, but I would imagine that the hotel on the left is much more expensive than the one on the right. There are some pretty fancy hotels out there these days. And lets face it, "budget" hotels from 100 years ago were pretty nasty.

Well, yesterday was certainly the grand finale of rain. I take a reading every morning at 7:30am of the National Weather Service rain gauge that we maintain on our property. It shows that we have had a total of 2.04" of rain over the last 5 days with over half of it happening yesterday. Now time for some sun to dry off.

#obx #outerbanks #weather