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

BRK #207

A nice end to the week...! There were a number of interesting projects started, continued, and finished during the days this week, and Friday was no exception.

Moto Jeff and I created some raised platforms for the gourds underneath a pantry shelf. The goal is to keep them off the ground. and provide air circulation so that moisture won't collect and then degrade the produce.

In the shop and in-process:



The two platforms, in-place at the Pantry. Moto Jeff had started adding the gourds to the far end:



Before we wrapped for lunch, Reid and I teamed-up to add ramps to the exterior of the Solarium for the new Cat House. I like his little touch of "mini-steps" to help guide the kitties. Not pictured here is the sisal rope I added to the section of junk-pole in the lower-right, to serve as a convenient scratching/stretching post.



In the afternoon, I shared time with Grey and Reid up at the Lab. I used the tractor to stage a log from yesterday's tree-felling, then we each had a turn processing it to make wall-paneling boards. Here's Grey after the first course was completed:



And Reid:



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

BRK #208

I turned 46 years old today, and spent part of the snowy day walking along Missoula's riverfront. For me, birthdays are a good time for reflection and "walking through your town in the snow" is an excellent opportunity for it. Plenty of fat snowflakes falling so while the trail wasn't crowded it was still very easy to wander and I felt very comfortable. By the time I walked in the donut shop for my customary "happy hour" purchase, I was covered with newly-fallen snow. I shook it off my jacket and brushed it off my head, with a smile on my face.

It was a tranquil start to my personal New Year.















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

BRK #209

Back at Basecamp after a couple evenings in town. I decided to ease back into the routine of things today by dehydrating some ginger in the House.

Here's the first step: chopping up the ginger. I had maybe a half-pound of ginger to start with.



We have a number of drying screens, and this one had been most-recently used to dehydrate some of our sourdough granola (something that will also be on my agenda once again, fairly soon...). It was a simple matter to spread the sliced ginger across the screen. I thought I may have needed two of them, however it only required one.



Finally, I stood on a chair and added the screen to the ceiling rack. We have some wire strung across the kitchen ceiling, and it's used to suspend drying racks like these for food, herbs, and other homesteading materials.



I'll check on these at the end of the week, and see how they're doing. My intention is to break these slices into smaller chunks I can add to my tea, or to pulverize it all into a powder so I can add it to anything. We'll see how this all turns out, and I'll update regarding this ginger project when there's something worth reporting.

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

BRK #210

Monday, and a chance to slide back into a regular routine after a couple days away.

First task of the day was to repair a section of junkpole fence that had fallen and was blocking the pathway up to the tent pads. Here's the "before" picture.



Paul chatted with the team earlier in the morning about how to properly mount and/or repair junkpole fencing, so Reid and I were hyped, motivated, and eager to follow all those guidelines. Nails, not screws! Use the air-powered nail gun! Three horizontal supports on the up-side of the hill!

A leaky air hose postponed our nail gun usage. Then the batteries on the air compressor were worn out. But, undaunted, Reid and I persevered with hammers and nails, grateful for all the days the power tools work for us.



Finishing the job may have taken (much) longer than expected. However, we're pleased with the end result.



In the afternoon, Reid, Grey, and I went up to the Lab to do more tree-felling and Sawmill work. I stayed at the sawmill while Grey was on dead-standing harvest patrol. Reid bounced between the two stations. To start it off, I wrapped-up the processing of the log that was still in the Sawmill from last week.



I then moved one of the 12-footers left over from last week's epic tree-felling adventure into the Sawmill. I hadn't been that close to tipping-over a tractor since my alpaca ranch days in Maryland, nearly toppling over with a bucket full of alpaca droppings...





It was a long afternoon, but a lot of work was done. We'll be back at it tomorrow.

And big thanks to SEPPer Jeff for making me a black bean burger for tonight's dinner.

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

Stephen B. Thomas wrote:BRK #208

I turned 46 years old today

Happy Birthday, Stephen!

I really enjoy reading this thread! It keeps the memory of my short time there alive, and all the more special since I know most of the cast of characters!