Dez's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:Dez, would you like to have a pair of hand-knitted wool socks? If so: what's the size of your feet (measured in inches or in centimeters). It won't be very long until you'll have 100 posts here. Most other boots got a knitted hat (beanie) then, but socks are possible too, if I know the right size.

I would wear a wool beanie OR wool socks like nobody’s business.. I believe my head is a medium size.. and my feet are 25.8cm heel to tippy toe.. just knowing that you keep up with my posts is gift enough for me..! Thanks Inge!!! =D

Carmen Rose wrote:

Hans Quistorff wrote:

I've found that if I eat butter or cheese, my blood is warmer.. has anyone ever noticed this also?
Over the course of the day, today, I believe I have eaten a cup of butter by myself, on toast, eggs, more toast, and some cornbread (a la Jen; she makes the best cornbread ever~!)
So now, I sit outside on the porch on this chilly evening, warmed by the cup of butter in my veins.. I am doing push-ups in between paragraphs, to offset the clogging somewhat (hopefully).. it's salted--I should be fine~! I think..

The research I have been fallowing indicates that the body can only store a small amount of sugar [and starch turned to sugar] for immediate use. any excess has to be turned into fat and stored; the stored fat is the last to be called on for energy. Oils that are consumed are not stored but used for the preferred energy source. When the body is running on oil it is easy to call on fat reserves to continue running.  If oil and sugar are not available then proteins are broken down into sugar for fuel.   The indication is that the arteries are not clogged by eating oils but the stress of trying to convert too much sugar and starch into fat.

That's really interesting. Don't we all give our livestock some extra sunflower seeds or other source of fat to help them stay warm in winter? That makes a lot of sense. I'll stop feeling the minute amount of guilt I was feeling for eating fat. :) Actually, my mantra is "All things in balance."

Thanks Carmen! ..“All things in balance”.. sounds like mine—“everything in moderation..” yours sounds a little nicer in my opinion =D

Dez Choi wrote:

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:Dez, would you like to have a pair of hand-knitted wool socks? If so: what's the size of your feet (measured in inches or in centimeters). It won't be very long until you'll have 100 posts here. Most other boots got a knitted hat (beanie) then, but socks are possible too, if I know the right size.

I would wear a wool beanie OR wool socks like nobody’s business.. I believe my head is a medium size.. and my feet are 25.8cm heel to tippy toe.. just knowing that you keep up with my posts is gift enough for me..! Thanks Inge!!! =D

In that case I'll knit you a beanie. Socks ask for a special wool (spun in a special way), I would have to order that. But I do have the wool for a beanie here. And that's easier to knit.

POST 87 (DAY 93, Wednesday, 2020.11.11)
[Morning Entry]

THE WORK (yesterday): AM/PM--19 degrees.. a little snow floating down, as the kittens walk me from the Fisher Price House down to the Work Shop.. We collect the tools we need for the day and drive up the road in our 4WD truck, to make final preparation for the 5-notch rafter installation.. Somehow three jackets is not enough.. I also have on my long scarf, a beanie, a hat and two hoods (from the jackets).. For the afternoon shift, I will wear two pants--and this seems to help a lot!.. its pretty cold while working on the greenhouse--The FIRST Wofati Greenhouse, man~!!!.. but I imagine there are way, WAY colder climates that others have worked in... in which case this cold is comparably quite comfortable.. heehee! =D

Paul is feeling a little under the weather, so he heated the FPH to a toasty 84 degrees--and oh man, this felt soooo good after the chilly outdoors time..

WELLNESS ASSESSMENT: Having trouble bending down or lifting things.. knees ache by end of day.. its time for squats/lunges/situps to be added to my exercise regimen.. the pushups are helping with upper body strength.. back feels weaker than abs.. Been rubbing Balm-of-Gilead on my healing wounds and it really helps~!.. itchy rash on ankles--probably from wearing same socks for a few weeks--not sure.. started walking barefoot in the evenings for the past few nights, and that seems to help--will continue monitoring.. spiritually and emotionally, I feel balanced..

enjoy the pics~!

POST 88 (DAY 94, Thursday, 2020.11.12)
[Morning Entry]

THE WORK (yesterday): AM/PM--Continued work on the next rafter at The First Wofati Greenhouse, man~!!!.. west wing wall has many rafters--it was #2 of 4 (I believe).. this rafter has 2 notches--one lower, one upper.. the upper notch has a combination of angles to it that makes it a particular challenge.. a mathematical challenge which Josiah is great at meeting.. I just cut where he drew the lines, you see.. =D

WELLNESS ASSESSMENT: yesterday, I was making frequent visits to urinate throughout the day, and not drinking enough water.. this morning I got a leg cramp, for the first time in months or years.. must build in some regular warm-water drinking during these cold months, to reduce this effect that cramps my style.. (pun intended).. funny thing is that I felt something in my left calf during the day, as if it were a precursor to the oncoming pain.. water.. its good stuff..
    Feeling physical fatigue today.. morning pushups were more difficult than usual (though, maybe because I took two days off pushups due to soreness).. maybe because i didn't have enough water.. maybe because of what I ate last night.. the boat floats on.. and I'm here.. one row, one step at a time.. I did start running up the small his to FPH again.. you'd think I would have the rhythm down by now, but it seems I'm still practicing.. hahaha, love it..

excited for the next 90 days~! =D
enjoy the pics~!

POST 89 (DAY 95, Friday, 2020.11.13)
[Morning Entry]

22 degrees.. dark outside, no moon.. the RMH crackles next to me where the kitchen table nestles the main living room walkway.. apparently I have trouble digesting beans now (as I may've mentioned before).. maybe my body is still getting used to all this caloric input/output.. since for the last couple of years I've been about half (estimating) of where I am today, with energy needs.. its fun learning about my body.. what is it capable of?.. I honestly had little confidence in my ability to keep up with the manual labor tasks.. and for the most part, I still consider others much stronger than me, in terms of physical power (ability to lift/push/pull).. my strength is in finesse (making fine notches or tidying up a work area).. Also, I'm not very fast, but my stamina is long when I go at my medium [sustainable] pace..

THE WORK (yesterday): AM/PM--peeling logs.. I got to peel logs for almost the full day yesterday.. part of which was by myself.. I rather enjoyed the alone-time.. at one point, while working the "spud" tool, I gathered that I was feeling a bit grumpy about something.. upon further consideration, I realized it was due to a lack of alone-time.. self-maintenance is a part of any work, I believe.. if we want to drive a car, we consider the cost (in time and money) of maintaining said vehicle.. so how often do we consider the time and money (or energy) it takes to take care of "me"?

enjoy the pics~!

POST 90 (DAY 96, Saturday, 2020.11.14)
[Mid-Day Entry]

43 degrees.. snow/hail falling from sky.. last night's 4-5 inches of snow drips away.. A relaxing Saturday with a left overs breakfast ("mash-browns" with cheddar filling, topped with gravy and spicy mayo).. bread in the oven (one almond-corn-oat loaf, and one cacao-vanilla-cardamom loaf).. should be interesting to taste.. I know I'll have to go easy on the cacao loaf because of the energy it give mes.. (caffeine I think)..
    Later today, I'll work on a design for the foyer overhead light fixture.. something like a very, very simple-looking wooden chandelier.. and then maybe brew some ginger bubbles (the last batch was not gingery enough, but had just the right amount of bubbles.. solution: more ginger, of course~!)..
   
enjoy the pics~!