!!! SEPP to Boot: Stephen's Experience (BEL)

Jeremy VanGelder wrote:Man, Stephen, you are being really productive up there and you are keeping us all updated. Thanks!

I appreciate hearing that. Seems like there's always plenty to do, and it's enjoyable to share it.

Jeremy VanGelder wrote:And that carving hatchet is gorgeous.

Absolutely! Looking forward to teaming up with it to carve and whittle, particularly in the second half of next year (after I've inherited my Lab acre).

BRK #470

Spent the first half of the day on errands, running throughout Missoula. Made it back in the afternoon to some clean-up and then review footage captured on our trail cams. Here's my favourite from the lot:



Also from yesterday's log-processing task: here's the loaded-down Bad News Boy Buggie.



Up at the Lab this afternoon, I gathered some video footage about our trail cam maintenance process. We have "Game Cam Friday" on the last Friday of the month. I documented the process of moving one to a new location. There may be a video of the process eventually. Here's a still from the camera migration segment.



Finally: while up at the Lab, I visited one of our quieter cabins: Bartell's Bunkhouse. I think it's due for some renovation and eventually habitation. It doesn't necessarily look like much from the outside - particularly in the cold season - however it seems to me to be the perfect size for a solo resident, and an excellent home base.



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BRK #471

That's it! No more! I promise to not ride my bicycle for the rest of the year...!

The fog this morning was substantial. While out running errands on the highway this morning I ran into a block that reduced visibility to maybe 40 feet, at most.



Seconds later, the block was visible only in my rear-view. What an amazing morning...!



The half-assed holidays seem to be preoccupying my mind lately. I took a look at this fire escape along Higgins (for reference, this is the same building as the Wilma and Scotty's Table, facing the river), and all I could think of was, how can we make something like this for Pulley Day...?



I am certain I've mentioned my Czechen pen pal at least once in my previous entries. She sent me a lovely Christmas Tree ornament earlier this year, and it's on the tree here at the house. Well, I worked on a New Year's gift for her while enjoying my morning cuppa. What you see here is a journal booklet that I sent to her later in the day. I had created a similar book for the folks here at Wheaton Labs, but this one is the result of me running the text through a translator program, then hand-writing the booklet in a language I don't know at all. Hopefully it doesn't turn out terrible.



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BRK #472

Happy New Year's Eve to you...!

We're keeping it to just a typical Boot Day around here today. However, I must send another shout-out to Dez for playtesting my tabletop game prototype once again. The game shows a lot of promise, and it's one of the projects I want to try out on Kickstarter next year. It'll be a learning experience for sure, and it just might work.

(and yes, he beat me soundly!)



I've been working with a new camera: the one in the smartphone I picked up. Some of my favourite images to capture would be the sunrise, while I've learned the built-in camera does well at night too (particularly with the full moon helping us out).





Beyond the typical Cleaning Blitz that happens on Sundays, I've been chipping away at some wood-burned sign projects though I've nothing substantial to show for it yet. I ought to have something ready by next weekend. Along with the signs project, I was tending the fire at the Library's RMH today, and cuddling with cats besides.



That's all for now. Make the most of your New Year, folks...!

BRK #473

Happy New Year to you...!  It's 1st January, and officially time to begin panicking preparing for the Garden Master Course at the end of this month.

Did a bunch of Boot tasks today, along with taking down the Xmas decorations. Currently using them as mulch for a few hugel berms. Visited Cooper Cabin, which is slated for at least one guest for the GMC, and loaded it up with firewood and burnables (in this case, it was a bunch of cardboard). Here's the "before" and "after."





Going to fell a couple trees and refill the outdoor wood racks later this week. Can't start seasoning wood too early, in my opinion.

Back at Basecamp, I was requested to do a bit more for the Day of Light video project that's currently in edit mode. Assembled a squat light post - more of a pedestal, I guess - that still does the job but requires even less work and parts to make light happen in the middle of winter.





Also whipped up a batch of poly-dough for tomorrow night's Soupy Tuesday dinner. My flapjacks have been requested. I am thinkin' pumpkin, raisin, and cinnamon for a more savory variety.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!