Nine's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

Nicole Alderman wrote:I showed my husband the pictures of your hand. He thinks that--if you've got good mobility--it's likely just a smashed vein and will fix itself over time. The vein will heal itself.  

If there is a lot of pain, though, then you might have smashed a tendon, though. He wants to know if it still hurts. (He also said, "If it was my hand, I'd probably just wait.")

I have good mobility/can make fist/have all dexterity, but pain if I touch the area. For example, if I wash my hands and go to rub the back of that hand with the towel it causes me to wince. I absentmindedly hit the back of my hand to my forehead last night in a 'oh my *swoon*' sort of situation and instantly regretted it..and still regretted it five minutes later. I can't pat/hit/push smallish (palm-sized or smaller) things with that hand either. Pain radiates through the hand when I do stuff like that. Occasionally, that thumb starts aching for whatever reason even though it was not visibly hurt. I imagine it's the connective tissues/muscles in there having issues.

If I compare my hands side by side in a fist, there is still noticeable swelling between the knuckles; that's something I noticed today. I had been thinking that most of the swelling was gone. It's not a puffy blob anymore but still swollen. The connective tissues between the bones is definitely the hurting part. The cartilage on my middle knuckle is also tender as it is near the middle of that bullseye bruise.

Greg Martin wrote:Loosing what you typed...uggh, classic super frustrater!  Just curious Jen, is the door hinged to swing out because the shack is small and you don't ever get much snow there?  Here in Maine where it can drift up against a building once in a while the exterior doors always swing inwards so we don't get trapped in a building.

I'm glad you asked, Greg! The snow was definitely something we discussed with regard to the door swing direction, but that side of the building is not the direction that weather usually comes from. There's a forest right outside and that blocks a lot of the snowfall from blowing up against the building. Also, we don't seem to get NE-levels of snow around here. This valley between the mountains is relatively mild/dryish.

#44

Worked on our plot today. Got all the lumber we need to build our bed. Chris used his 5" draw knife to peel the logs. I don't have a draw knife, so I tried to use a machete... That didn't work well, go figure. Hurt my hand too much and, well, it's not the right tool for the job. 😅

Instead of peeling, I decided to improve the path down to our house. It was previously steep with only a couple rocks for stepping stones, and the sides were odd widths which made it feel awkward to walk down. I added more rocks to those steps, widened the path, and tried to secure the sides a bit better.

Kyle came by to plant elderberry staves. 🥰 What a guy! After he was done we all took a walk around the village to see all the structures and what previous folks had done with their plots. Kyle's trying to decide where he wants to start putting down his own roots. Yay!

After all that, we came back to the house. Chris finished up the logs and put them away. I got far enough on the steps to feel accomplished. Then we drove back to Basecamp for dinner, showers, and now sleep.

Rest well, friends! 💙

#45

Today we were going to go back out to the house to do more work on it, but it's blustery af outside and we're both still sitting here in our jammies on our computers. In light of the weather, we decided to spend some time today figuring out/finding the tools we're going to need and getting them ordered so they will be here by next weekend. Looks like it might just be a simple hand saw so far. At some point soon, we'll probably need a pick mattock, but maybe I'll wait a minute to spend more money. If you're curious what kinds of tools and equipment is on my radar, you can check out my wishlist. If you're wondering what each of those things is for, feel free to ask!

I'd like to get that bed knocked out asap. As soon as that saw arrives, we'll be able to get that frame done quickly (fingers crossed). Then we'll just be waiting for a heat source to be put in place and can move out there. I'd really love to be waking up on the Lab every day again. I actually feel like I get to relax when I'm out there. Can't even pee on a hugel around Basecamp without feeling like someone might walk by at any moment, and the summer slam of people hasn't even started yet.

Paul was able to order the Testo flue analyzer, and I'm hoping to get that figured out in short order so I can test the Cottage Rocket as is then test it without the secondary barrel to see how well it does in both of those scenarios. Hopefully after that it can be moved out of the shop and be replaced by another RMH for us to test. *mad scientist cackle* I'm crossing my fingers and toes hoping the Cottage Rocket makes it way over to our house on the plot so we can get that whole heat thing squared away and make more forward progress out there.

Last week I started a Trello board of projects that need to happen out on the plot. Nothing huge and insurmountable, but things to keep in mind as we move forward. If you're interested, here's the list so far:

To Do

Ongoing radon testing

Hygrometer testing in the root cellar

Verify integrity of insulation above windows and door

Building

Tools

- flat curved draw knife

- peeling jig (build)

- hand saw

- cordless drill

Bed

Cubbies/shelf under bed

Step stool for house

Deck over root cellar

Trap door for root cellar

Log hive

Re-build door - insulate/interrupt airflow

Door header log: Raise 1/4" then Support

Add supports to all cross beams

Kitchen counter

Step stool/scaffold (lol) for outdoor kitchen

Heat

Wood/rocket heater

RMH bench

Outdoor kitchen stove

Shelving

High above mass bench

Kitchen area

High above bed

Upper areas above windows

Hinged shelf under window at end of bed

Earthworks

Pickaxe grooves for bundles

Bundles for terraces

Stone floor in house

Widen/secure paths

Rock, bark, or sawdust on paths (depending on frequency of use)

Rocks in water in/out ways

Garden

Germinate transplants

Chop and drop

Spread spring seeds

Spread late spring seeds

Spread summer seeds

So many ideas bouncing around in my head it's a wonder I get any sleep.

#46

I have a case of the grumps today. Gardening time this morning got cut into on both sides by meetings. 😑 Some days feels like the big projects are thorns in everyone's sides.

Snow came back after downpour of rain last night. Delightful softness quieting the world around us.