!!!! SEPP to Boot: Stephen's Experience (BEL)

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:A spork looks interesting, but I don't think it's useful. I always need my spoon and fork at the same time. Don't you?

Hahaha! I was lucky to work a normal spoon out of wood today. A spork is next-level-utensil type stuff.

BRK #143

Happy Wooden Spoon Day!

Lots of photos from today's spoon-carving action. To sum it up: most of us carved spoons of some kind out of green serviceberry/saskatoon wood, and then we tested them out with soup.

Here's the photos I was able to take of SEPPer Julia's work today:





Julia's finished piece:



Daniel also worked with green wood today. Here are photos of his work:





Daniel's finished piece:



Caleb worked with an old, dry piece of wood he'd been holding on to for a while, and eventually decided to bring out a Dremel tool to turn it into a spoon. Here are photos of him at work.





Here's his finished piece:



Grey decided to finish someone's unfinished spoon, and then do a ladle of his own from green wood. Here are photos of him at work:



Here's his first finished spoon:



And here's Grey with his completed ladle:



I did my first-ever spoon today, and it turned out all right.





I was able to scoop up my chili and it actually made it into my mouth, so I consider it a win. Of course, immediately after the meal I came up with a list of possible fixes and improvements for it. However, I may just as likely start a completely new spoon.



Spoon making is both tougher than one may think, and also much more satisfying than one may think. That said, I'm grateful for cutlery.

Finally: Caleb was able to realize Chicken Bacon Ranch Soup! I don't eat meat personally, but still I think I was the person most-excited to see this soup dream realized. From what I hear, there was room for improvement, but at least it's possible...!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Soup in process:



We had a fun Wooden Spoon Day. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BRK #144

A dozen dozen posts on record... Many more to come.

Today the team split into two groups in the first half of the day. There was work in the Library that kept Grey and me busy, while Caleb and Daniel were down in the Classroom and Berm Shed.

While moving out and about, I caught this photo of the roof of the Classroom. I still remember the day that Dez, Caleb, and I fashioned that Chimney Cricket out of sheet metal siding, and then attached it to the roof. Looks like it's still holding strong... And that we still have a chimney.



In the second half of the day we convened at the Lab, working at the Pump House, checking on Allerton Abbey, and finally to the Willow Candy Warehouse. Although we couldn't see it, we heard water flowing into the pond from the Lab cistern, which means the pump is pushing water and the pond is filling. This is excellent news!

Here's Grey testing the strength of the ice covering the Lab Pond.



After our maintenance work at the Lab, it was back to Basecamp where the team discussed the plans for a storage trailer used exclusively for RMH equipment and supplies. Here's an example of a sketch I later shared with Paul to request feedback and guidance on how to move forward.



Finally: Thursday night is usually Board Game Night, and tonight was no exception. Here's a quick snapshot of Sushi Go Party, where Grey won two out of two games. Congrats on your victory, man!



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BRK #145

Happy Christmas Decorating Day...!

It's been a fun Friday, and a Half-Assed Holiday to boot. The first half of the day was typical boot labor, however. We rearranged the large shelves in the Classroom...



...so we could do this:



I was behind the wheel of Judy (our heavy-hauling "doolie" truck) to move the trailer into the space. We're going to install shelves in there before the New Year. The goal for the trailer is to provide mobile storage for all the Rocket Mass Heater equipment and materials so that we can take it to the site and the builders will have everything they need. More with that in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, it was all about Christmas decorations after lunch. We searched for a Christmas tree out at the Lab. Here are a few photos of us hiking around.







Here, Caleb fells a tree with his axe.



After felling, Caleb lopped off the top so it could serve as an appropriately-sized Xmas tree, while we collected the pine boughs for wreaths, and the remainder of the trunk of the tree for junkpole fencing.



Back at Basecamp, Caleb, Grey, and Daniel were busy with arranging the tree, then they joined SEPPer Julia and me for wreath-making. We wired boughs together and I braided cord to hang the wreath on the gate to the Basecamp Paddock.



Oh, and here's an obligatory photo of Munch-Munch, AKA Midge, AKA Fern.



We all convened in the Paul Theater to watch a Christmas movie, Klaus from 2019, and it was well-received all around. My first-ever attempt at making "Cracker Jack" popcorn, however, was an abject failure. Sorry! Next time I won't disappoint you, folks...!

In the evening, the tree was decorated and we warmed ourselves by the fire.



Finally: I caught this photo of the waning full moon. Still tinkering with settings on my camera, and night-time shots are something I'm interested in. The tripod helped with this, as it was a long exposure time. I hope to learn more about this and do better photos of the moon and stars as time goes on. The sky is so huge that there's no reason to not attempt to catch a solid photo or two when the time is right.



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

Whoa.  Mobile rocket rig.  Dope.