In answer to yesterday’s question: Sigh, Pixie was right, the bananas sold at the store are sterile so they can’t propagate. If you’re curious about how to grow a banana tree, click here.
For a non-AI video, here’s one about the new puppy at North Yuki Husky.
Good Lord! What a bundle of energy. 🙂
March 9, 2026
In her comment to yesterday’s post, Sandra Czosek mentioned this Facebook video showing how to grow a banana tree from a banana. (Click on the picture to see the video.)
Do you think it would work?
March 8, 2026
The bean plants and the balloon haven’t changed much since last week.
Bean plants:
(The two little blossoms that were on the plant on the left dropped off, no attempt to produce a pod.)
Notice the snow outside! The picture was taken yesterday morning when we had a brief snow shower. Then the sun came out and the snow melted.
Balloon:
The roots of the sweet potato are growing, and the top is starting to spout.
I was thinking about a fun way to work on my dynamic balance and thought of dancing. So I asked Claude AI. It said,
Even 20–30 minutes of dancing 2–3 times per week can produce meaningful improvements in balance within 6–8 weeks. The best part: it rarely feels like exercise.
That sounds good to me, so I started looking on YouTube for dance videos that are safe and fun to try. I found a few that fit the bill. I’m streaming them to my TV set using the Roku YouTube channel, so it’s easy to watch as I do them.
In the process I found this video, which I’ve saved and will try.
The big change, of course, is tonight those of us in the U.S. have to switch our clocks for Daylight Saving Time. If that doesn’t signal that winter is over, I don’t know what does.
March 7, 2026
I usually like winter, but not everyone does. These are pictures posted at Misty-the-Dog and Friends:
This isn’t about the weather, but it’s still appropriate:
March 6, 2026
The first two exercises are easy to work into my day. I’m still pondering the third one.
I know a lot of exercises I can do, and I have weights, resistance bands, etc., but I mostly don’t do sets of them. Instead I try to work them into my everyday life. For years I also did from 30-60 minutes a day on my NordicTrack treadmill, while I streamed interesting videos on the TV set in my study (using Roku).
Now I’ve switched to 30-60 minutes a day on my Schwinn AirDyne. (It’s less weight bearing and easier on the joints.)
I have my mini iPad rigged up so I can watch videos, play Sudoku, or read on my Kindle app while I peddle, so it’s fun.
I like the way my body feels when I exercise, and it makes me happy.
What about you?
March 5, 2026
First a caution about yesterday’s video: I’ve been thinking about the seated torsion twist. I’m going to skip that one. I had read that people with thin bones shouldn’t twist the torso without the pelvis also rotating, so I checked with a couple of AI programs and they say the same thing. In that case it’s better to do it lying down so the spine is supported.
Here is another exercise video. It talks about chair squats, but the other four are wall push ups, single leg stands, resistance band rows, and Tai Chi. I try to work modifications of some on them into my everyday life.
March 4, 2026
I like these videos because they are done seated, so we don’t have to worry about toppling over when we do them.
I’ll post another video tomorrow. It has some similarities to this one, but does include some more ideas.
March 3, 2025
I’ve recently been practicing the one-leg balance, but I like these ideas better. Fingers crossed!
March 2, 2026
(Click on picture for higher resolution.)
How did it get to be March already?! And we switch to Daylight Saving Time next weekend.
March 1, 2026
The bean plants are still surviving.
February 27, 2026
The ones on the right are starting to put out a few new leaves. And the one on the left has just produced two more blossoms.
February 27, 2026
The balloon has lost more helium, but it isn’t completely flat yet.
10 weeks old
Someone mentioned trying to grow a sweet potato, so I bought a small one and put it in water. It was 9 days old when I took this picture yesterday.
February 27, 2026
It doesn’t spark joy the way the bean shoots did,
October 11, 2025
But I’ll keep it for a while to see what it does.
Weather update: When I went shopping yesterday afternoon I didn’t need a jacket — the first time this year. The temperature was in the low 60s and the sun was out. It’s supposed to cool off some, but it was a pleasant surprise.
Happy last day of (meteorological) winter!
February 28, 2026
