Author Archives: Joel

One with a backhoe, and one with a scaffold. 😉 Trim painting this morning, before it gets too sun-beaty-downy. That’s a technical term exclusive to desert dwellers. The new trim color is a bit redder than the old, which is … Continue reading →

I’m sitting here only 33% through the first cup, trying to think of something to do on the cabin more fun than painting. Yesterday I was on a roll but I’m glad I stopped when I did and went inside … Continue reading →

Low eighties this morning, bright sunny day, perfect for working. Not too hot, not too cold, no wind to speak of. Soaked through my first hat of the season. I got a first coat on all the linear wood on … Continue reading →

Claire has an excellent new post titled “The Authentic Life,” which starts… My friend Jordan longs to lead an Authentic Life. In caps. He’s done fascinating things while also doing well for himself. Most people would say he’s living the … Continue reading →

Okay, for some reason the laptop doesn’t want to connect to the hotspot right now, so no pics this afternoon. Which means I can lie like a rug about my progress!!! But I won’t, because you’d know better. The weather … Continue reading →

…though it’s getting off to a chilly start at it. Wow, I overslept. Didn’t sleep well because it was a bit cold (and I drank way too much tea last night so I was up four times just for that) … Continue reading →

This is ridiculous. That is the surface of the scaffold outside the bedroom window, just under the drip edge. That is the ice on the surface of the scaffold outside the bedroom window, just under the drip edge. At least … Continue reading →

Lew Rockwell reprinted my review of The Basics of Resistance. The version on Amazon, though, not the slightly longer one here.

I can’t figure out what the cattle guy is doing – I’m not completely convinced he knows. It was a very dry winter and – today excepted, though so far it’s only inconsequential showers – it’s been a very dry … Continue reading →

For the past few days the forecast has promised “breezy” weather, in addition to whatever other unpleasant things might be going on. I’m not sure whoever writes these things is working by any solid rules. The other day I tried … Continue reading →

I have a rule, and it has helped me maintain joie de vivre under sometimes challenging circumstances: Don’t be afraid of making bonehead mistakes, they’re preferable to a lack of action caused by analysis paralysis. But do try to learn … Continue reading →

Or something. At least that’s the gist of yesterday’s breathless headlines about the latest murderous hypocrisy issuing from the blood-dripping lips of the never-sufficiently-damned NRA monsters… The NRA said guns will be banned during a Pence speech. Parkland students see … Continue reading →

…it generally means something less than a full gale. Today would have been very pleasant for the start of the work season if not for the wind, which made working on ladders a little uncomfortable at times. Not so bad … Continue reading →

…but at least I know where the flowers iz.

I have seen nothing at all disproving my notion that the one known surviving squirrel getting into my chicken feeder really hates that live trap. And some fairly compelling evidence that it does. I think maybe I should put a … Continue reading →

George died suddenly of a heart attack, far too young, over four years ago. We his friends have never been able to determine if anyone out there still holds the rights to his few published works, but don’t want them … Continue reading →

Yeah, I know it really started nearly a month ago. Hell, everything I wanted to do on the interior is already done. But it became official today. 🙂 This’ll be a far less intense season than last year. There’s some … Continue reading →

…is being smarter, if also being a little weird about it. I reset the trap, came out and checked it after an hour or so, and found it tripped and pushed around and partially undermined. Occam’s Razor says the squirrel … Continue reading →

…not as right as usual. The only scavengers who showed up to the feast were ravens. The corpse of my erstwhile chicken feed thief dwindled rapidly over the course of the afternoon, and no scavengers ever came in sight but … Continue reading →

That’d be so much better*. They’re so wise, and always looking out for my best interest. Or is it the greater good? I get those two confused. — *screenshot from Ace of Spades