iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/09/2026

Been a rough time, of late, dealing with parental health decline... physical and mental. I've been withdrawn as a coping mechanism, BUT one joy I have had is channeling some time into some self-hosting projects. Been a bit therapeutic, really. Yesterday I […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A screenshot of my library of audio books in AudioBookshelf. The webpage has images of each cover, with information on titles, authors, etc.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/08/2026

Apparently it’s National Lighthouse Day, which we leaned at the bottom of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. May serendipity always conceal our ignorance. The lighthouse’s 1 million bricks are being repointed, but you could still climb the 220 steps of this 151 […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, an all brick edifice standing 162’ above ground. Construction is underway to repoint the one million bricks.

Close-up view of a lighthouse lantern house against a clear blue sky. The structure features glass panels and a black metal railing.

Looking up from the base of a spiral metal staircase towards the distant top of the lighthouse. The outer circular walls are made of brick.

Looking east towards the Atlantic, across some marshy weedy low lying areas. The sky is bright blue with white puffy clouds here and there.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/08/2026

Soaking it in. Restorative and meditative.

A serene beach scene featuring gentle waves lapping against the shore under a partly cloudy blue sky.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/07/2026

Thanks for your feedback. It's super important, but a human can't be bothered to look at it. Reply if you want and our AI will try again to appease you with platitudes. [Screams into the void 📣 ]

Thank you for sharing your suggestion with us! Your feedback is incredibly valuable as we strive to enhance our services for you. We've noted your input and will consider it as we move forward. Your engagement shapes our decisions, and we're grateful for your contribution.

The above answer was provided by AI-powered search assistant designed to reply your question based on our pre-pared knowledge base. If you have further feedback or any concerns regarding product usage, please kindly respond to this email. Our agents will get back to you after analyzing the information you provide.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/07/2026

Not sure whether to be shocked (I am) or impressed (also true) by the absolute audacity required to layout a "service" charge of 156%

A summary of charges. Toll charge: $6.28 in US dollars. Service charge: $9.90 in US dollars. The total is $16.18

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/07/2026

The air handler in the attic suffered a blockage in the drainage pipe. Water filled the pan and there is, apparently, no float kill-switch. And so, as water does, it sought the lowest point. Eventually that was the ceiling. 😱 A trip to the hardware store to by […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

Water damage on a ceiling, with noticeable brown stains and discoloration.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/07/2026

Tuchel blew it. Parking the bus is fine, but so very early. The momentum charts are bananas. Absolute folly. #ENGARG #WorldCup #fedifc

The momentum chart, showing an Argentine tidal wave of domination.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/07/2026

@todd there are still people around Roanoke who drink hot Dr. Pepper. Part of a 1960's ad campaign, which landed well here in the land of the once highest Dr. Pepper consumption rate per capita.

A magazine advertisement from sometime in the 1960s, touting a "Happy Holiday Idea!" and describing the "devilishly different!" idea of drinking hot Dr. Pepper.

A magazine advertisement from the 1960s? in which a cartoon snowman is holding a glass mug filled with hot Dr. Pepper.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/07/2026

Short treadmill run to test out my knee and hip (yet again), my constant companions in life’s rich pageant. #Running

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/07/2026

Checks temperature at 7:00 PM… “Oh good.it’s cooled off quite a bit.”

Weather update for Roanoke, VA: Heat advisory in effect until 8 PM EDT. Current temperature is 98°F, feels like 102°F. Conditions are sunny with a 4% chance of precipitation and winds at 5 mph.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2026

Sadly, the invasive Spotted Lanternfly is now firmly ensconced in Virginia. Here, hundreds of nymphs are feeding on this Tree of Heaven, also an invasive species. I was shocked to see every possible surface of bark covered and had to take a picture to convey […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A close-up of green leaves with hundreds of small dark insects clustered on the stems. Every possible surface of bark is covered.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/06/2026

Shouting into the wind about “planned maintenance” without notification by my ISP. They are, essentially a monopoly and as either a consequence or a flex, they exert the absolute minimum of care. I loathe them and would take my business elsewhere, but alas… monopoly.

Notification about planned maintenance in the neighborhood, warning of possible service interruptions. The message assures that no action is required from the user and mentions the estimated repair time as June 25th at 5:47 AM.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/06/2026

Left my machine unlocked for 60 seconds while I stepped away and my daughter swooped in and left her usual calling card.

A search result screen with so many pictures of corgi butts...

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 19/06/2026

400m/200m run/walk intervals again. I suppose this is the second trial balloon. So far, no pain. Cautiously optimistic. Humid and thick air. Started raining the moment I crossed 5 km. Wish it would have been sooner. #Running

My run/walk stats: 5.21 km in 47:18 for an average pace of 9:04/km

A close-up view of raindrops on a car windshield at night, with blurred street lights and traffic cones visible in the background.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/06/2026

My daughter spotted this 4’ central rat snake on the roof. Whoever did the addition did an absolutely incompetent job on the flashing. There are some gaps on each side where I feared pests could get in as well as the elements. Sealing it has been on my to-do […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A four foot black snake, a central rat snake’s head, is resting on the shingles of our addition. It was paused and tracking prey, mobilizing not long after.

A black snake is seen slithering along the edge of a roof, inside the gutter.

Close-up of a brick wall with a section of black flashing loosely attached at the top. A central rat snake’s head is protruding from the gutter, preparing to slide on in behind the flashing.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/06/2026

Trial balloon of 400m/200m run/walk intervals to see if my knee and hip don’t argue. Tomorrow will probably reveal more, but no complaints during. 🤞 Hoping — desperately hoping — to ease my way back. I’ve missed #running so very much. Being sidelined is an agony.

My run/walk statistics: 5.21 km in 46:26 for an average pace of 8:54/km

Nighttime view of the middle school track featuring dimly lit buildings and trees, with an orange traffic cone visible in the foreground.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/05/2026

Pleasant evening to see the Salem Ridge Yaks (still think it sounds like “rejects”, especially in a southern drawl). The Ridge Yaks are in light blue. Both are in light blue? Well, the Ridge Yaks are helpfully wearing white pants, while the Hickory Crawdads […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A baseball game viewed from the seats behind home plate. The pitcher, in light blue, is in mid-windup on the mound, while a batter, also in a light blue jersey, is preparing to hit.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/05/2026

Happy with this one. Calculated that white wouldn’t recognize the danger and play Kxd5, because it looks like the bishop is defended. The pawn on d5 is load-bearing and with the king in support, it’d be difficult to stop. Very enticing. If so, I would follow up […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A chessboard in a late-game position. Both sides have 3 pawns, white has a the dark-colored bishop, while black has a rook.

The white king has taken the foundational pawn, but the black rook has claimed the white bishop. White has the terrible choice of taking back and allowing a pawn a free path to promoting or not taking and trying to fend off the rook. Both are losing.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/05/2026

All the accuracy of imperial stormtroopers. #LFC

A shot chart showing so many shots, so few on target.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/05/2026

To have 61% possession and be ahead in tackles and duels? This is the energy and commitment that has been missing. To have only 3 shots on target out of 13 though? Need to find the net. #LFC

Match statistics showing LFC with a clear advantage in tackles, interceptions, total duels won, ground duels, aerial duels.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/05/2026

Appalachian Power can’t keep the power on during a few days of rain, but repeatedly claims that the proposed Google data center won’t be a problem. We lose power multiple times a year. In a rural setting, it’s going to happen - above ground power lines are […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A notification about an outage, stating the estimated restoration time as May 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/05/2026

They don’t know how many people were enslaved. The original plantation owner, Colonel William Preston, had records which indicated approximately 10, but when he moved his family to a new plantation, “Smithfield” (near Blacksburg), estimates put the enslaved […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

Welcome to Historic Greenfield

Please enjoy your visit to these historic grounds—formerly home to Native Americans, Colonial Settlers, and Enslaved People.

Native Americans chose to settle in this area, traveled through on their way to places afar, and/or set up temporary camps for trading with other tribes. Evidence of their lives here dates to the Archaic Period (8000 BC – 1000 BC).
In 1760 Col. William Preston–a noted surveyor, patriot, and colleague of Thomas Jefferson’s—chose to build a home for his family here. The Preston family is noted for their contributions to commerce, education, and government. While the home no longer exists, we can learn a lot about Colonial Settlers from the various areas you’ll visit on this site.

In order to support the family and the business of his plantation, Col. Preston depended on the hard work of Enslaved People, as early as 1767. These inhabitants did not choose to live here, but they contributed immeasurably nonetheless—not only to the success of the plantation but also to the culture of the region.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/05/2026

It started out as an exploratory bike ride in neighboring Botetourt County (locals pronounce it “bot-uh-tot”). The ride itself was a disaster of constantly getting lost in trying to connect from the Cherry Blossom Trail onto the Greenfield Trail. You have to […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

An activity tracker display showing "Outdoor Cycle" with metrics: 340 active calories burned and a distance of 10.31 kilometers.

A man-made bee hive sits on a wooden surface. Bees are visibly entering and exiting the hive, with some scattered on the ground nearby.

A honey bee sanctuary with several beehives arranged on benches. It is encircled by an electric fence.

An old, weathered wooden house sits on a grassy hill, surrounded by trees. In the foreground, several bee hives are visible, positioned near a fence. The sky is clear and blue.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/05/2026

Text from my sister, visiting our parents and doing saintly work.

A text message stating that the sender has removed "Fox" as a favorite channel on the library TV, accompanied by emoji depicting wide eyes and a shushing face.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/05/2026

Move out day for the dude, who I’m picking up to bring home for the summer. He’s on the 4th floor. Awesome.

A notice posted on a wall indicating that the elevator is out of order, featuring a stop sign graphic.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/05/2026

Pretty much perfect spring weather, so I’m working on the back deck. Noticed movement in my peripheral vision and spied this tiny jumping spider furtively sneaking closer for a peek at my setup. Paraphidippus aurantius en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraphidippus… #spider

A outdoor workspace featuring a laptop displaying code on a table, alongside a white speaker. There is a chair in the foreground, and a well-maintained grassy area with trees and decorative lights in the background.

A close-up image of a small black spider with a shiny green area on its back, perched on a mesh metal outdoor table.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/05/2026

Invasive spotted lantern fly nymphs are everywhere this spring. Last year, Virginia removed their kill on sight request, acknowledging the battle was lost. Zoomed way in. Actual size is about 1mm in diameter.

Close-up of a black and white spotted insect on a wooden surface.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/05/2026

One last set of pics, this set for the #Mosstodon crowd…

A moss-covered log, overflowing its sides with thick mossy tendrils

Three moss-covered tree trunks are surrounded by lush green foliage and small plants, with a single purple flower in the foreground.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/05/2026

This afternoon, fulfilling a Mother’s Day request a day early, the family hiked the Cascades in Pembroke, VA. The trail transits up Little Stony Creek to this fantastic set of falls. We had the fortunate timing of being there not long after heavy rains. Perfect […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A picturesque waterfall cascades down rocky cliffs surrounded by lush green trees. The clear water pools at the base, reflecting the vibrant greenery above.

A shallow but clear stream winds through rocks in its path. The surrounding forest is lush and green, with tall trees extending above the view.

A cluster of yellowish fungus with some spiky protrusions, situated on a bed of dried leaves and soil.

A small waterfall flows over rocks beside a tranquil stream, surrounded by lush green foliage and trees.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/05/2026

A friend and I saw Ben Folds play at Harvester Music Center tonight. 🎶 🎹 🎤 Great show. #Music

Ben Folds is playing a piano on stage, wearing a cap and glasses, with a microphone in front of him. Behind him, dark curtains are illuminated by purple lighting. The blurred silhouettes of audience members are visible in the foreground.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/04/2026

For a series of days, I’ve been tackling the back patio. Pressure washed all the moss off, pulled so many weeds from in between the stones, and flossed out the dirt in the gaps with a putty knife. Last night I put down polymeric sand and soaked it in. Very […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

Our cozy back patio with several Adirondack chairs and small side tables arranged around a stone fire pit. A stone quarter wall hems it in nicely, the frog pond just behind.

A close-up of a textured stone patio with rectangular tiles in varying shades of brown and gray. Small gaps between are filled with now-cured polymeric sand.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/04/2026

Loooong bike ride, then dinner out with my wife at Evie’s Bakery. One of my favorite spots — that kind of funky, eclectic, indie restaurant you can always walk in and find a table. Great food, but the desserts, and particularly the cakes (they don’t call it […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A blue plate contains a slice of Boston Cream cake with three layers. Next to it, a yellow plate holds a slice of strawberry cake topped with light icing and some strawberry filling.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/04/2026

Took the day off to head up to Natural Bridge State Park with my wife. Pictures don’t really do justice to how massive it is. Then there are the Blue Ridge Mountains, always gorgeous. Will return to Skyline Trail later this summer, as it’s an official […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A scenic view of rolling hills and mountains in the background, with lush green trees and a grassy field in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

The Natural Bridge, a large rock arch towers above a lush, green valley, with people walking along a path beneath it. The scene features steep, rocky cliffs on either side, partially covered in vegetation, against a blue sky.

A panoramic view of rolling green hills and mountains under a clear blue sky, showcasing lush trees and grassy fields.

A natural rock arch stands tall amidst lush greenery and trees. A pathway runs through the area, with a few figures walking along it. The sky is clear, adding to the scenic beauty.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/04/2026

I can understand not supporting old devices in perpetuity, but on top of having discontinued the ability to side-loading content via USB? Amazon's messaging is pretty clear, in a hostile capitalism kind of way […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/04/2026

Dunkin’ execs were sure it was an act of sabotage. They had been ever so close to cracking Krispy Kreme’s “hot & fresh” ™️ advantage.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/03/2026

We saw the final performance of the 50th season of Opera Roanoke, the Sunday matinee showing of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel”. Well done, but I will confess that I don’t love through-composition as a style. Give me number opera with big standout […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A stage set for the opera "Hansel and Gretel," featuring a backdrop of colorful trees and a rustic cabin. Several wooden props, including tables and chairs, are positioned on the stage. The orchestra is visible below in the pit.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/03/2026

Left my computer unlocked and walked away for less than 2 minutes and my daughter struck again.

A image search of corgi butts. There are so many.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 19/03/2026

On the one hand, look at me, rubbing elbows with the elites. On the other hand, scrolling past lofty titles to declare myself to be ~only~ Mr. Lawton feels like I've underachieved.

A web form to update your contact information. It has a drop-down for your title, in which the choices are: Ambassador, Bishop, Congressman, Captain, Deaconess... and that's just the opening set!

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/03/2026

This makes me so twitchy. This patient status page, served over HTTP and not HTTPS, has the credentials as query parameters. Such shocking op sec in a healthcare environment, both as a deployed solution and a commercial product. We know the username, have a […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A waiting room patient status page displaying a URL with a username and obscured password as query parameters.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 19/02/2026

Need to have our gutters cleaned. Find a company with an outstanding record on the Better Business Bureau. Find nothing but positive reviews on related sites. Visit their website and see three ways to get a quote: 1. instant bid button (result pictured) 2. call […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A pop up with the error message: "Something is wrong with our bidding system, we'll get it fixed shortly."

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/02/2026

Orange Cardamom ice cream while out on a sunny afternoon walk with my wife on the greenway. Not cake, but @Lee6 would surely approve.

A hand holds a cone filled with a large scoop of creamy white ice cream.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/02/2026

Happily it was a straightforward swap of identical models. Didn’t have to replace the sink flange as a result. It was an awkward business of hefting it up to get it aligned and locked into the flange, but it took only a mild amount of swearing to finally get it […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/02/2026

I noticed late last night, by way of discovering pooling water under the sink, that the garbage disposal had gone belly up. And so today’s task is to replace it, which I don’t really relish doing, but: "…so do all who live to see such times. But that is not […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

An under-sink garbage disposal unit labeled "Badger 100." It is black with a circular design and attached to plumbing beneath a sink.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/02/2026

While I'm delighted with 91.5% accuracy and 0 mistakes, misses, or blunders, it played out naturally enough to just ~feel~ obvious. I'll take it. #chess

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/02/2026

My dear friends here in the #running community - I have some sad news to share. Our friend @Lee6 lost his father a few days ago on the 30th. He's given me his blessing to let everyone know. Lee's dad celebrated his 90th birthday this past August, and this […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

Lee's dad, sitting in a cozy chair, wearing a hat and holding a cake adorned with a blue ribbon and candles indicating it's his 90th birthday. You can absolutely see the resemblance between Lee and his dad.

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Mike Lawton @mlawton.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/02/2026

Cleared off the driveway from the second snow. It was nice and powdery, so no big deal. Then I had to clear in front of the garage doors from the first snowstorm. Snow drifts with frozen rain on top had turned them into glaciers. After some trial and error, I […] [Original post on mstdn.social]

A close-up view of snow piled near a garage, with a maul partially embedded in the snow. There is a clear area where the snow has been removed, and the surrounding snow is bright and fluffy looking, but not fluffy at all. In fact, quite the opposite. Imagine a cloud made of concrete. That.

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