Weeks ago Sofia was determined to make a wooden bowl before leaving Wheaton Labs. She was on a woodworking roll with all the experimenting that she and Jesse were pursuing for PEP1 contemplation. I got some blurry pictures of her calmly working away at her task, but the video gives a better feel of what her process was like. Have a look at the link!:

Those are awesome, Olenka!

Here's my son, Forrest (of mullein spokesmodel fame), next to the rocket mass heater smoker, who not only drove over three passes to come visit in the snow and single-digit (F) temperatures, but also offered to chop firewood or do whatever else might be needed.

Right now, in fact, he is sorting out some rotten potatoes to add to the sheet mulching under the snow. Ah, life on the homestead!

In the latest podcast, Paul asks Jocelyn what her perception of a 'Montana winter' was before she came to live here. They mentioned that the weather fluctuates, and generally it's not the "big block of ice" and always "30-bellow" that might be the common perception.

I've been at Wheaton Labs for about 2 months now, first in November and now in January, and the weather is showing itself to be both quite dynamic and moderate at the same time. Fluctuations are always happening, but always with fluidity. Change in the weather doesn't seem to be fickle, but it moves in with ease and moderation.

Temperate. :)

I have a favourite tree that I pass by several times a day by the tipi. It seems that every time I walk by, the tree is obviously different. Sometimes it's the lighting, sometimes it's the precipitation that's accumulated on the needles. Here are photos of my 'Weather Tree' from the yesterday and today.

Olenka, you always post so many amazing pictures. I love it.

Is this a white pine?

YES! It's a white pine sapling.

I had initially mistaken it for a ponderosa pine. Oops!

Here are some different critters in different states around the Lab.



The last one is the strangest thing to me. I've never seen flies out and about while it's snowy outside.

This past weekend we had a bustling house! Ernie and Erica were over, as well as filmists Bryce and Val with Tel, and Zach and Raleigh trekked over from Sage Mountain, and the rest of the current crew at Base Camp: Jason, Sam, Jesse, Rick, Paul, Jocelyn, i я.

It was a day of filming, and pizzas, and pies, and more filming. Lots of ideas were exchanged.

piiiiizzzzzaaaaa

some post-dinner faces around the house