formed'n'poured...

Formed up the south pour this morning.  Went a lot faster than I thought it would.  Turns out the fresnel lens is good for heating up a spot on rebar to get a tight bend.  Had way to much day left to quit after I finished prepping, so went ahead with the concrete - only 5 bags...hardly worth using the mixer.  Set some bolts and done in no time.  70,80,43,0,C

around the block...

Took the morning off then spent the afternoon setting block by the future office/workshop container.  This side was much easier.  No rock to move - just dirt, and didn't have to go as deep.  70,82,39,0,C

snow back home...

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fire power...

Alpine yet again...inspection due on the Toyota - gotta get all legal before the chilli cookoff madness starts.  Picked up more supplies for the greenhouse now that I've figured out how to proceed since setting the first section of block.  Got a small load of steel for Aunt Kathy's screen room ( Chuck is a bit behind schedule on that project so thought I'd lend some assistance before he really gets in trouble).  Keeping them both happy is in everyone's best interest.

Fired up Mr. Heater last night for the first time.  Looks like the winter heating season is beginning.  Last stop at the hardware store to round out my family of semi automatics...a Kel Tec PF-9.  I think I have all the levels of concealment covered now.  54,65,37,0,B

Jason Van Anden

More block work and some prep for an Alpine run tomorrow - but enough about me.  Time to gush about my old Brooklyn friend Jason Van Anden.  We met over 12 years ago through my friend David Liatti when we were all working on some robotics projects. 

Jason is the mastermind behind the ‘I'm Getting Arrested' smartphone app. http://www.kold.com/story/15769620/you-dont-have-to-be-present-to-occupy   Jason and his wife came to visit me after I had moved to upstate NY and we all joked about trolls living in my forest. I hooked up with Jason today on Facebook and I suggested he work on an app called "I am being attacked by trolls" (which would probably work just as well for over-zealous law enforcement).  He said it's already in development.  Here are some more links to my brilliant friend.   http://www.smileproject.com/  and http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotnyc/02.nov.2011/   50,68,55,0,W

cutting dirt...

Started the heavy labor to prep for the pavers.  Setting block for a section that will be decked inside the courtyard off the future container house.  75,88,54,0,C

push...

Still pushing stuff out of the way...if I keep pushing is will all disappear.  Got a nice, scantily addressed letter that made it to my mailbox today from France - the beauty of living in a rural area.  13 burros here today - all very well behaved.  The new dark one has been named Festus by my friend Craig Stump Sledge.  Having my first TFL salad with dinner tonight.  76,92,52,0,C

almost room to work...

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sunday visitors...

More road work for the good neighbor today. 

Found 2 melons growing that made if past the bunny eating stage - this one got chewed off at the vine.

Started clearing the courtyard west end (again) for pavers.

Visit from my new friends Peter and Lianne this afternoon.  They broke away from big city life 12 years ago and are raising critters and veggies in Vermont.  Lianne runs the farm while Peter does the doctor thing and plays.  http://7dvt.com/2011peter-thomashow-toys   75,91,51,0,B

saturday

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new corner...

Just acquired 20 more acres for the Field Lab Empire.  New chunk includes a 1/4 mile of canyon south of the former dam.  Marked the new SE corner by GPS today - greenhouse off in the distance.  Walked the entire length of the canyon today.  Finished up the afternoon helping the good neighbor work an a road project.  80,92,51,0,B

unscheduled trip...

Suddenly had business in Alpine today.  Left Mr. Floppy in charge.  Parts of the desert don't look like desert since that last rain.  76,83,42,0,B

national weather service

My friend Susan from the NWS came out today for her yearly inspection of my rain gauge - brought a new measuring stick and attached a storage tube for it.  The numbers on the old one are just about worn off - not from measuring rain, but from sunlight.

Four hours today finishing off the east door.  64,80,40,0,C

chilldown...

Nice cool day.  Bit the bullet last trip to Alpine and ordered pavers and block for the courtyard.  McCoy's dropped off most of my stuff this morning - 380 more pavers to come when they get 'em in.  Also got my Joel Salatin book "Folks, this ain't normal" and a 12V pump in the mail.  Finished welding up the SE end and got the door hung.  So snug - I had to do some grinding to get it to swing free.  64,75,57,0,W

Monday Sky Monkey

Rather brutal working on the east end off a ladder instead of a nice big flat roof like on the west end.  Got a late start but got half of it welded into place.  Had visitors today - burros in the morning, Benita all day, and bunnies in the late afternoon....and not a single human!  78,92,51,0,W 

another chunk welded

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critical mass...

Early morning chores then went over to Chucks to visit with Holly,Tod and Aunt Cathy - oh, and Chuck and Chris too.  Ended up hanging out till lunchtime...funny how that happened.

Didn't get home till 2PM and it felt a little to warm to weld.  The cooler weather is making me soft.  In the high summer I was welding when it was 107 degrees.  Decided on an indoor project - I had run out of horizontal space in the hut and it was time to do something about it.

My first round of essential creosote oil has run its' course and was time to bottle it.  Started the next phase by adding 10 drops of the oil to 5 tsp of Everclear.  That has to sit for 48 hours, then I add 1 cup of distilled water to make a desert rain  aerosol.  Also started a tincture by crushing creosote leaves into a jar - topped off with Everclear.  This has to rest for 48 hours as well.  Jewelry - Fragrance - hmmmm....perhaps a spring fashion line next.  78,90,50,0,C

Alpine Run

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