Dez's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

POST 46 (DAY 52, Thursday, 2020.10.01)
[Evening Entry]

THE WORK: AM--Vacuuuuum.. using a shop vac with a homemade 20-foot extension to dig gravel out the bottom of a 6-inch-diameter steel pipe doesn't exactly seem to sum up permaculter/homesteading living.. or DOES IT? I have come to believe that homesteading is doing what it takes.. and permaculture is by no means perfect (what is perfect right?).. I had fun feeling my way through the dirt and gravel--dare I say?.. "fun" is a state of mind, and I can usually find the fun in the mundane, as long as I actually decide to find the fun.. a friend who recently visited WL told me just yesterday, "make it a game~!".. for me the game was making the pebbles and dirt ride up a long tube and into a bucket.. yay~!.. (I realize some readers may think I'm being sarcastic, but I assure you my sincerity).. in the broad scope of things, its a bump in the road and going over this bump is my act of service.. So, I'll take joy in that~!
    PM--Patio stone floor.. it's been too long.. I kept hearing the echoing enthusiasm of a previous Boot saying, "OOH~!" whenever a good-matching rock was found and fitted.. I laughed out loud, by myself because of these echos.. Some of these bigger rocks are quite heavy, and I jammed my fingers twice--lesson learned: don't be hasty with the big rocks.. they demand a healthy respect.. Whether its laughter or pain, these rocks now hold memories for me.. such is a byproduct of building anything worthwhile.. and I guess that's what we do here--build community..

WELLNESS ASSESSMENT: I'm losing weight.. possibly stress, possibly manual labor, possibly my new equilibrium.. probably around 140-145 lbs now (previously stable at 150-155 lbs).. Last Saturday, I felt like taking naps all day long.. I thought it was just that kind of day.. On the following day, I felt fine and awake all day.. THEN I realized what was different--I ate sugar, for the first time in several months.. I felt drowsy because I was sugar crashing!.. I was amused, because the zucchini bread was pretty darn good--dare I say, even, worth it..? =D ..other than those things, I have slowly-healing scratches on my shins, ankles, forearms and wrists.. There's a reddish circle on my left axilllary (armpit) area--not sure what it is, but it was slightly smaller yesterday when I first took notice of it.. better keep an eye on that.. Hands are okay, but fingers are sore.. The left side of my body (including limbs) feels tight, so I started doing pushups, squats, tai-chi and yoga in hopes to regain symmetry.. I'm still fasting one or two breakfasts per week--usually once midweek and once Saturday..
    As I write this entry, I'm sitting on the patio with the stone floor and all of its memories, listening to the "people's playlist".. Paul wants WL to have a subscription to a music service, so I'm testing out something that sounds like "Sharpify".. I love being here.. even with the hundreds of beautiful little fuzzy, blueish-white flies hovering around and landing on my face.. I think I'm starting to babble--I must be hungry..

Enjoy the pics~! (Warning: many cute kittens today)

POST 47 (DAY 53, Friday, 2020.10.02)
[Evening Entry]

THE WORK: AM--Videography at the Abbey.. film Josiah cut notches into the first rafter-log.. its a bit more complex than the angle brace, and its just as fun.. the engineer inside of me is delighted to learn, theorize, discuss and implement ideas about how best to approach round wood timber framing.. Videography is also very interesting to me, but somehow my mind/heart doesn't seem to be as enthused as it used to be about "capturing" the moment.. Honestly, I feel a complacency that usually happens to me after my first phase of "trying my best".. essentially, in this second phase, I don't try my best, until one of two things happen--1) I check myself [before I wreck myself], or 2) a major sort of failure (like a series of disappointing results).. I started editing video on my PC now, so I'll be meeting much of the latter as my first fully-edited video comes out.. Previously, I've edited short films on my phone, but I kept it super-simple.. I'm hoping I can do something similar, to keep the learning curve minimal~! =D .. Of course, I'll post a link once its done..
    PM--Stone patio floor.. Got so close to finishing one more of the corners.. alas, time is time.. I did manage to set the edge pieces all the way around, so, that corner will finish rather quickly.. the other remaining corner should wrap up quickly also.. I'm guessing one or two more shifts and it'll be done.. The edges seem to take the longest time because the rocks are so heavy..

FUN THING: This week's ginger brew, added wild elderberries from WL.. the berries added a nice rosy color to the drink, and the whole berries made a nice edible garnish.. it came out slightly flatter (in carbonation) than last week's.. the variable was less sugar.. to optimize carbonation with less sugar, it's been suggested to seal the cap on or within the first day of ferment.. I do like how dry it came out, as I'm not much of a sweet-fan.. Also, the less sugar, the less chance of alcohol, and that's good because I'd prefer no alcohol.. So next week's batch will be 1) sealed on or before the 24 hr mark, 2) 1 cup sugar, 3) 1/2 cup ginger, 4) 10-12 hops clusters, 5) whatever fruity flavoring is around [for only half of the batch]..

enjoy the pics~!

POST 48 (DAY 54, Saturday, 2020.10.03)
[Morning Entry] .. A Long, Easy Morning

4:30AM--Open eyes after 6 hrs of deep sleep.. feeling pretty rested, but its a Saturday.. so eyes smile back to slumber..
7:00AM--Wake up gently to my tiny watch-alarm that beeps 10 times.. good BM today.. (tmi? maybe..? You know how sometimes its just that good? Hey, its just the other end of good food right? ok i'm done..).. Clean out the dish rack, per my usual.. Spilled some lentil sprouts while extracting eggs from a stuffed fridge--so, I gut the fridge and reorganize it..
8:30AM--Cook and breakfast for four (Jade, Marshall, Josiah, et moi): breakfast burritos (scrambled eggs on fresh tortilla with vegan spicy mayo and salsa, and fresh avocado) with salt & pepper scalloped fried taters side..
9:30AM--Do dishes clean the kitchen a little, then chill with kittens in the sun.. its a warm 60 deg today
10:00AM--Realize its nearly noon and feel somewhat guilty for not having done much with the day.. Last Saturday was pretty much all napping and lounging around doing nothing much.. which felt really awesome.. the word "Enough" comes to mind, to add contrast to the guilty feeling.. There was a time when guilt directed much of my life decisions; that lifestyle stopped a few years ago, when I became aware that that was the case.. all change begins with awareness.. with awareness, each individual has the choice to adjust course or maintain.. I had been feeling guilty for not being "enough".. read a book by Brene Brown that someone had suggested about Worthiness and Being Enough.. changed my awareness, which then shifted my perspective, which led me to start talking to the mirror in a positive light.. I told myself "hey, you're enough, even when you may not feel like it.. you are loved and lovable.. you are worthy of your ideal.." ..The ritual became telling myself something like this in the mirror after each shower.. At first, I didn't want to because an inner mocking voice would make me feel silly about encouraging myself.. I was shy about it, and I did it anyway.. At times, I even talked back to that inner mocking voice--someone has to~! That inner mocking voice can be a bully.. And I stand up to bullies if/when they instigate with me.. As a youth, being bullied was a reality at school.. I didn't know it was okay to stand up to them.. at one point I even saw myself becoming the bully--and a bystander stood up and said "stop".. I knew I was being a jerk, so that was exactly what I needed to 1) snap out of projecting my insecurities in a mean way to others, and 2) recognize that I did not want to continue in that path.. Today, I stand up to external and internal bullies, with a gentle firmness.. because ain't nobody got time for that~!.. let's go in a positive direction, or at least show up with our manners steadfast.. Today, if I feel guilt, I took time to sit, breathe, and reassess my drive.. and if I cannot find the source of guilt, then I set it down and review my list of things I want to do.. our fellow Boots, Jade and Marshall, effectively said to me, "enjoy your Saturday".. and I like that thought.. sometimes I feel an anxiety from thinking there's something I "should" be doing--so this is when the list comes in handy.. the list of things I WANT to have done.. and i like that thought--a list of enjoyment and peace..
10:30AM--Come back to FPH for 2nd breakfast--dutch babies a la Marshall (this time with yogurt in the batter), and text a friend..
11:15AM--Write BRK while relaxing on the couch and thinking about my plot and/or other things I want to do..
12:00PM--Load up Doug and go chop some firewood =D

Enjoy the pics~!

POST 48 (DAY 54, Saturday, 2020.10.03)
[Evening Entry] .. A Long, Easy Day

"In the morning of life, seek diligence.. in the evening, find soul.." Even though it was a slow-feeling morning, I was able to find enjoyment.. I guess I put a lot of pressure on myself to make best use of my time.. I can feel the shortness of the days more than I used to.. boredom seldom visits me anymore; unless I'm indulging myself in the lateral.. i.e. last Saturday--when I lounged around the house, napping watching tv shows, and browsing the internet.. These are things I used to love doing, but it changed one day.. now, I consider these things indulgence, like eating dessert for a meal--enjoyable and not much nutritional value.. These days I seek veggies for some reason--they taste better with a heap of gratitude.. anyway, I still took it easy today, but did more than last week lol =D

THE WORK: Chopped some firewood today, nice and easy.. and, of course, safety first~!.. at one point I was down for 30 minutes trying get a dust-speck out of my right eye.. it was stuck under my upper eyelid.. I thought I'd try to work through it, but it wasn't moving or improving.. barely able to open my eyes, unless I held my right eyelid up with my finger.. I opened the first aid kit and proceeded to fill the squirt-syringe (which is made for such occasions).. within 2-3 minutes, the speck was out.. up until then, I had tried splashing my eye with water, pouring water into my eye, and trying to cry it out--none of which worked.. after the speck was out, I was sooooo relieved.. and during the painful middle, I kept de-prioritizing the FIRST aid, while worrying about losing my eye.. Eye see why it's called "first aid" now (buh-dum~!).. =D and I still love chopping wood..