Jesse Ragsdale

Operations Coordinator

Website Developer

Data Analyst

App Developer

Woodworker

Jesse Ragsdale

Operations Coordinator

Website Developer

Data Analyst

App Developer

Woodworker

Blog Post

Once more unto the breech, dear friends…

Once more unto the breech, dear friends…

Mead Batch #6

Oh, hell yes! I’ve just started on my 6th batch! So far, I’ve made:

  • Blackberry-Orange: blackberry flavor was nonexistent; orange overpowering. Not the best, nor the worst mead. Only 1 gallon; didn’t last very long – pretty much drank it right about when it was done fermenting!
  • Strawberry-Kiwi: strawberry very subtle, kiwi strongly present. I would rate this #1, currently have 3 550ml bottles aging since late July 2024.
  • Strawberry-Serrano Pepper: strawberry very subtle, heavy on earthy side; spicy comes on like a jet engine. Tied with Strawberry-Kiwi for #1, also have 3 550ml bottles aging since late July 2024.
  • Dune Spice: cinnamon is VERY present; more mellowed when I last drank it after it had aged a month; 4 750ml and 1 550ml bottle aging since mid-August.
  • T’ej: TECHNICALLY AMY MADE THIS! I just pulled the recipe, she made it, I racked and bottled it. We only tasted it after a few days; it’s hard to explain the flavor. Have 2 750ml and 1 pint aging since late August.

Apple-Pomegranate!

  • 3 gallons Martinelli’s apple juice
  • 15lbs Costco wildflower honey
  • 1 packet Laltivian EC-1118 yeast
  • about 3/4 a gallon spring water to meet the 5 gallon mark
  • 6lbs pomegranate seeds in a mesh bag

All this went in a 6.5 gallon primary fermentation bucket. It’ll be on a 5 gallon Staggered Nutrient Addition schedule; primary should be about 2-3 weeks. Initially, I planned to do an additional honey feeding to maximize the alcohol content, but after finding out my starting gravity is 1.144 – if I finish out at 1.000 final gravity, that will put this at 18.3% abv!  No need for that! However, once I rack to secondary, I’m still gonna prep 4lbs more pomegranate so give it more of a visual and aromatic profile. Prolly about 2-3 more weeks with this extra pom, then let it continue secondary for a few weeks longer before bottling. I’m thinking roughly around December 4th. I’m super excited about this batch!!!

NEW Personal Electric Vehicle!

Yup. That’s my new-ish Lectric XP 3.0 eBike. I bought this from Frank back in August, and I was unable to pedal at all – granted, I had the seat low (my preference) BUT even raised, at that time, I was unable to pedal a full circle with my left leg. I rode on it with throttle only for a bit, ’til its controller died when I tried to ‘hack’ it to max out the speed (it’s originally a Class 2 eBike, meaning its either pedal-assist or throttle, with maximum assisted speed of 20mph) to Class 3 (pedal assist only gives you maximum speed of 28mph, throttle will only give you 19-20).

Lately, with my seat raised to hip level, I’ve been able to pedal with my left leg (about a week and half now). My knee still hurts, a bit, when I complete a pedal (with my left foot up high, knee bent about 90-ish degrees), but I’m ABLE TO DO IT!

My gait is probably about 75-85% nominal, data thanks to Apple’s Health app. I still feel pain in my knee all the time, but I’d say my average pain level these days are between 1-4 on a scale of 10. I tried to jog around my property twice, but that wasn’t exactly a bright idea – I’m better off walking fast at the moment. Since I fixed the Lectric (controller replacement), I’ve been able to pedal in PAS 5 mode for the past week and half, my highest speed has been 33.6mph and I’ve been riding at least 20-40 mins a day. With the assistance of my TENS machine, ice packs, and heated leg/knee massager, I’ve been able to handle this relatively well. I manage 4-10 miles a day; there’s not really much biking paths or biking-friendly roads around here (that are also not hella hilly!!!) – I’m hoping to head out to Weaverville and check out their bike trails – that town is more bike-friendly than this wee’un small town!

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