Unpopular opinion: These new subdivision trees are a biodiversity nightmare.

I've been driving past all these new builds, and EVERY single one has the same handful of non-native ornamentals. It feels like we're missing a HUGE chance to support local ecosystems and make our towns more resilient. Are any of you pushing for more native species in your client consultations?

Shoutout to my sister for ending anime talks by calling them all strange, I give up.

My grill grate bending taught me to skip anvil preheats

I used to warm my anvil first, believing it helped the metal move better. Seeing my grill grate twist from uneven heat made me question that habit. Now I start cold, and my work has fewer hidden stresses. Other blacksmiths argue with me, but my pieces turn out straighter.

Am I the only one who learned this the hard way about wet lumber?

I built a outdoor bench with some fresh cedar last week and now the joints are pulling apart... I didn't think to check the moisture content before I started. Turns out it was way too high and the wood shrank as it dried. Always test your wood with a meter first, or you might end up redoing the whole thing like me...