Dez's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

the posts in the greenhouse make it look like it will be pointing north

Kyle Bob wrote:the posts in the greenhouse make it look like it will be pointing north

Hi Kyle, that’s a great point you bring up.. Josiah’s posts may have more info on directional North.. I’m not sure about the specifics to your comment.. I’ve not really good with N/S/E/W at the moment.. to clarify, and possibly reduce confusion: this last picture was taken from the back of the house (not the hugel-facing front of the house)

Nicole Alderman wrote:Is the air quality bad there, too? I looked at an air quality map, and saw that Montana was getting the smoke from all the fires in Washington and Oregon and California. I hope it doesn't get too bad there!

Hey Nicole, yea.. it's been hazy skies.. I believe from the ash in the air.. I happened to have the mask on because of the dust from some of the roads, but it seems to help me breathe in general as well.. Let's just say that my respiratory system has seen some interesting days..

POST 30 (DAY 36, Tuesday, 2020.09.15)
[Evening Entry]

THE WORK: AM--patio stone floor~! I believe we've entered a new era of this patio stone floor.. The end of phase 1 is quite near.. we are approaching the outer boundary pieces of the "puzzle" so to speak.. Today, i improvised a little and created a small ramp to test how it would feel.. it is definitely easier on the knees (than a step).. It will remain for now, until possibly guided a different way.. possibly until phase two begins--at which point we will decide how to integrate the hugel-side of the stone floor with the to-be existing square-shape patio area [of phase 1].. (phase 1 is the square; phase 2 is the extension to the hugels across the walkway).. one of the boots, Martha, suggested we do a celebration party of sorts once the final stone is placed.. what a great idea~! I love celebrating the medium victories as well as the small ones.. AND even the teeny tiny victories of course~!
    PM--Patio stone floor again.. remember how I was writing previously about not doing the same task on both the AM and the PM shifts of the day?.. yea, so as we go on this journey together, I believe there's room for some flexibility.. introducing--waves of diversity, and waves of manageable momentum..
    DIVERSITY vs MANAGEABLE MOMENTUM--a phrase which I am creating at this moment to clarify how I feel about monotony-burn-out.. Diversity is great--we get to choose different tasks throughout the day to keep our variety-batteries from draining (most of us need some variety in our lives).. Manageable Momentum--as I use it--refers to the idea of continuing a trajectory for longer than 4 sequential hours, if 1) my variety battery is doing fine without having to change tasks--I can manage another sequential shift or another few hours to continue part of the the work of the previous shift, 2) there is a certain amount of momentum of progress felt within doing the task until completion, and 3) tap-out or change of mind or change of pace IS SUPPORTED AND ACCEPTABLE, 4) Paul or another team-lead may suggest changing tasks if they see that I am about to fall over (partly joking, partly a safety thing).. these are not hard rules.. simply guidelines I have created for myself to stay organized in measuring how close to burn-out I may/not be..

DINNER: TACO TUESDAY~! I wish taco tuesday can remain forever.. its so good..

enjoy the pics~!

POST 31 (DAY 37, Wednesday, 2020.09.16)
[Evening Entry]

THE WORK: AM--Patio stone floor.. I'd like to see this completed before the winter frost sets the ground to cement-like hardness.. will it happen as I wish?.. Perhaps.. "Be accepting of everything and attached to nothing.." someone once said.. what a peaceful idea.. If it is unfinished, I accept; if it is finished, I accept.. I think the idea is to not judge, and know that time keeps moving, regardless of feelings.. Time heals and so does work, in my opinion..
    PM--First Aid Kits replenish/restock supplies.. This task went rather slower than I expected.. probably because of the learning curve--I had to figure things out as I went about this fairly straightforward task.. If the patio stone flooring task is any indication of the learning-curve's natural acceleration, then the next time round will likely go faster than this time.. finished for today, then had some more time to get back to the patio.. I really do enjoy this task of jigsawing the random-shaped rocks together to create a walkable floor.. there's a section of "experimental" design in the main thoroughfare area, I want to see which type of incline most people (including myself) will gravitate to using most.. so far, the straight ramp (left-er side of pic) is what I seem to automatically go to.. the middle section (pic below) is what I consider a "non-slip" incline BUT IT HAS YET TO BE TESTED, if it proves to be slippery, its gone~!.. safety/wellness is my number one priority here.. the third section (right-er side of pic) is what I call "Micro-Steps"--hopefully anti-slip also because I angled each step at a declining bias to have the friction points become "edges" instead of "planes"--The wannabe engineer inside of me figures this might help to melt any icy-ness that may form on the micro-steps.. and since they are "micro", there will be more than one "edge in contact with the stepping foot--this is the theory.. I plan will test it very carefully and potentially close it off for general use, if it or any of the ramps cause slipping..
    DINNER: Lentil stew--I love lentils.. and stew.. so this combines two of my favorite-est things.. a small bowl today though.. lunch was small.. AND breakfast was small too.. today was a low-appetite kind of day.. Maybe I'll fast two breakfasts per week?.. Saturday morn is good.. and possibly another during mid-week (like Wednesday, give or take a day)..
    WELLNESS CHECK-IN: Fingers and toes are sore.. slightly achy also.. Back, Hips, neck/shoulders feel as good as normal  is these days (I think normal is about 80% these days, though there was a time when normal was 100%.. haha.. eh~.... what would make it feel better? probably exercise~! I have been jogging more instead of walking, and it feels great~! I feel a boost in overall energy and my heart feels stronger than when I first arrived here).. Legs feel good--no soreness or aches.. Both shins have surface abrasion marks (scabs) from moving timber (I THINK.. i honestly don't know where/when they happened~! Like most of the scratches on my arms).. Knees slightly sore--need to do some more exercise/stretching and/or eat more eggs? (these areas felt a little better last week when I ate minimum 3 eggs/day).. My prescription to self: REGIMENTED EXERCISE/STRETCHING, and eat eggs, and listen to my body's rhythms (fasting, sleeping, bloating, etc)..

enjoy the pics~!

Hi Dez. The part in the middle, with the small stones, looks to me like there could be loose pebbles which slip and slide. I can be wrong, maybe it only looks like that on the photo.

POST 32 (DAY 38, Thursday, 2020.09.17)
[Evening Entry]

..will update the entry after i help chop some veggies..
for now.. enjoy the pics~!

[Update..]
THE WORK: AM--harvesting seeds.. Went to the Abbey to pick some quinoa, POTATOES (OH THE POTATOES WERE SO COOL TO PICK~!), and some crimson clover.. harvesting is such a socially rich activity.. we just chat while working (if we're in proximity of each other).. and the time flies by.. probably because everyone brought their good natures..
    PM--Patio stone floor.. one of the awesomest people I've had the honor of working with.. she stays on task, takes initiative, and a great attitude.. leadership potential in the making, no matter where she goes in my humble opinion.. thanks, Lara.. i hope this doesn't inflate your ego too much~! (inside joke, but also relevant).. in fact, may I take a moment to express how i still believe that permies attracts folks like this.. as I have noticed, at least, from my brief time here so far.. the team I get to work with each day as well as the visitors are simply put--cool people.. If I haven't mentioned it to you personally yet, Thank you.. For what its worth, you totally make a difference, and I do notice.. =D

THE KITTENS: so Waldo went missing yesterday.. we found him meowing, hungry, and apparently dehydrated.. in a car, this afternoon.. He drank about two whole cups of water--poor little guy, it must have been such a thirsty Thursday for him.. everyone (especially I) was so relieved and happy to see his return.. Just a cat, perhaps, but I didn't know how much I grew to appreciate and enjoy his presence.. apparently he got into some overtly-salty beef jerky during his solo adventure exploring the inside of a Boot's vehicle.. within an hour or so, he was fine, and back to being his cool, silly self.. his siblings sure liked having him back--especially our precious Fishes (the black and white one).. Lavishing Waldo with kisses and hugs.. so cute.. I love these silly gatos.. (they are all three on my lap as I write this entry they are my furry, all-natural ergonomic-wrist-rests.. also--very warming~!).. who knew I had emotions for little cats??.. my journey here sure has been a revealing experience..