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

BRK #480

Up at the Lab, I am always grateful for fresh snow. I'm curious of the animals that live and/or pass through the land and am always on the lookout for tracks. I noticed there's a canine of some kind at the Lab right now. Don't know if it's a neighbour's dog, or maybe coyotes, or someone else. Here's to hoping the trail cameras catch this guest.



My streak finally ended...! I think I drilled holes in the bottom of at least 7 ceramic pots for planting before I broke one again in the process. I like these little pots with tiny handles.



In the midst of stocking fire racks in both the Solarium and the Red Cabin in anticipation of keeping things warm through the upcoming Garden Master Course.

(also pictured: my first-ever foot-stool!)



Finally: ever had to wrap up one of these, on your own? My impression of the process: 0 out of 10, do not recommend.



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

Stephen B. Thomas wrote:BRK #480

Up at the Lab, I am always grateful for fresh snow. I'm curious of the animals that live and/or pass through the land and am always on the lookout for tracks. I noticed there's a canine of some kind at the Lab right now. Don't know if it's a neighbour's dog, or maybe coyotes, or someone else. Here's to hoping the trail cameras catch this guest.

When you take pictures of tracks, it's a big help to put down an object for size reverence, like a dollar or your hand, or a fistful of dollars, or a few dollars more...

BRK #481

So all that snow I said I was missing began overnight. I woke up in the tent, and when absently bumping my head against the canvas roof I heard the unmistakable *fwwwwwip* of a length of snow sliding off the tent to the ground, then the pattering of snowflakes on the cleared-off rain fly. All told, we had a leisurely two-plus inches fall throughout the day here at Basecamp, and after the afternoon warm spell it's starting to fall again.

Walked up to the Lab today. On the way, I saw this herd of actual elk hanging out in the hay field across the street from us. I zoomed-in as best I could, but it was still low light conditions, and snowing.



Did a fair amount of prep for our cold-weather protocol, as below-zero temperatures are forecast for later this week. I brought in more wood to the Classroom, which I'm straightening-up in preparation for the Garden Master Course in a few weeks.

I must say, I like batch box rocket heaters. Normally, one would need to process these odd chunks of wood even more if they had a typical J-tube RMH.



But for a batch box, which reminds me a lot of a typical fireplace, weirdly-shaped odds and ends of wood (literally: the cut-off ends of logs processed for a J-tube RMH) are not a problem at all. Here's the one in the Classroom.



(also: a quick shout-out to Valerie, a guest at this past summer's events, who furnished me with those small rounds of wood at the bottom of that burning pile... Seems like I found a worthwhile use for them after all. I sent her a photo and she was pleased to see her abandoned project was at least doing well in keeping us warm. )

Finally: the sprout tray assembly prototype that Paul and Dez put together this weekend seems to be doing it's job. I think it's nifty to see sprouts growing so up-close and personal. I also think I see the desired "sprout bar" forming, as the little shoots entangle themselves with one another.



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

BRK #482

Happy National Houseplants Day to you...!

To celebrate, we did an overhaul of the plant situation in the House. This poor ginger plant was started in a pot waaaaay too small for the purpose, so I prioritized sorting this out (as best we could, at least) today.



Found a broad pot, and drilled three holes in the bottom. It didn't shatter on me!



Here it is, back in the Kitchen, in a new pot and supported with a bamboo splint.



Also made two loaves of bread this evening. I used the poly-dough recipe as a base. One loaf was spruced-up with apple and cinnamon (and no sugar added)...



...and the second loaf was my first attempt at braided bread, which I've not tasted yet (it's late and the bread still needs a bit of time to cool). One of the strands of the braid is flavoured with garlic and rosemary. While baking, the house smelled wonderful...! Looking forward to a slice or two tomorrow morning.



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

BRK #483

I had a wrestling match with today. But I think I came out of it the winner.

We've been in "snow prep mode" today. And a decent amount came down. In the early afternoon, there was a lull, and while up at the Lab we measured 5.5". More snow started in the late afternoon, just before I wrapped-up for the day.



In trying to do too many things, I smoked-up the Solarium. That wasn't my best move. But hey, at least the Slab-delier is now securely hung in the Classroom...! I was on the team that made that light fixture last year, and I think it still looks great. The fixture and wiring were a previous Boot's pet project, and I made sure that when we hung it from the ceiling, it wouldn't fall off.



Riddle me this: what's more annoying than installing the 110lb tire chains on your tractor, in the snow? Give up? Sliding into a ditch with said tractor, in the snow.



Next time Stephen, just install the frickin' chains. Meanwhile, I recruited Paul's help, and together with Judy (our big truck), and one broken tow strap later, the tractor was once again safe n' sound.



While installing the tire chains, the sun actually came out for a good six, seven minutes.



Wrapped up my Boot day clearing snow from the driveway, footpaths, steps, and the roof of the yurt. Ate a lot of bread for dinner. That poly-dough is a very forgiving, very versatile recipe. It's so terrible that it disappears within 36 hours.

(here's the rosemary-garlic braided bread I made last night)



That's all for today, thank goodness. Thank you for reading, and enjoy your day...!