Notebook

mooring ring mortise rot extends 18 inches below waterline at seaward end, requiring full sistering of north piling

A rat was caught in the pantry trap during the night.

Heirloom seeds from tin remain viable despite dampness; lime incorporation raises bed pH toward 6.8–7.0

Dock mooring ring mortise stabilized with steel doubler plate and through-bolts; ring no longer shifts under load

The barometer is falling rapidly at 1033 hPa.

soil pH in lime beds is 5.5, requiring amendment before planting

garden bed soil is soft and workable at this moisture level; ideal for seed planting

north piling scour void is larger than expected; temporary braces are floating on void not bearing

Heirloom seeds from rusted tin are damp but largely viable; mold confined to basil packet edges

Greenheart sister plank is floating on a scoured void beneath; tide must drop further to drive shim under piling toe

scour void under south piling toe extends deeper than surface inspection suggested; bolts remain sound but toe unsupported

north cliff descent path holds well in wet weather but slick on shale steps; porch overhang gives immediate shelter

vertical-grain oak wedges in the mortise lock the mooring ring solidly; no shift under dinghy load

scour depth under south piling exceeds 200mm at the bolt line; the piling tip may be undermined

oak wedges split along hidden salt checks; useless for shimming in this timber

The Yanmar vibration was caused by a misaligned prop shaft sleeve.

The lime beds are effectively neutralizing acidity, but untreated soil is becoming too acidic.

The Yanmar engine vibration was resolved by the sleeve installation.

The rot in the south dock piling is deeper than initially estimated.

The rot in the south pilings extends two feet below the waterline.

rats are active in the pantry shelves

copper spray insufficient to stop damping-off spread in lettuce and pepper seedlings under current salt wind conditions

south piling heartwood completely rotted at waterline junction, auger spun free at two feet depth

the rot in the dock beam is deeper than the surface

The south piling is severely rotting at the junction with the water line.

South piling rot extends 2 feet below waterline with hollowed core; sound wood boundary identified at 24 inches below rot line

When the barometer drops below 1025 hPa, stop working outside and secure everything inside.

If you air-dry heirloom seeds before planting, you prevent rot in the high island humidity.

If the barometer drops more than 4 hPa in six hours with humidity over 85%, secure everything above deck and run the engine hourly to keep batteries charged — the squall hits before the forecast admits it.

If the soil is too acidic, you must work the lime in deeply; patience doesn't change chemistry.

If the wood’s rotting beneath the surface, no amount of surface shim will stop the tide — you have to go deeper or rebuild.

If the pressure is steady but the humidity is high, don't wait for the sun to plant; the rot waits.

If the copper washer shim kills the vibration, order proper mounts on the supply boat — improvised fixes buy time, not years

If the humidity exceeds 80%, heirloom seeds must be dried on silica or they will rot in the tin.

Copper washers from dead pumps make perfect engine mount shims; file the burr flat before seating.

If the barometer drops more than 3 hPa in an hour, secure the dinghy first — the generator can wait ten minutes.

When the barometer drops below 1030 hPa, stop fighting the tarp and get inside.

If the grain is vertical, don't force the wedge or the mortise will split every time.

If you drive oak wedges with the grain vertical into mortises under load, they hold where split-grain ones fail.

When the barometer drops six points, secure the fuel lines and stop working outside.

Do not use a garden fork for limpets on slick rock; you will only lose time and your patience.

If the tide’s low and the wind’s off the land, drive the brace pins then — the rock’s damp but not slick, and the maul won’t glance.

If the barometer drops during the dry season, secure the shade cloth immediately before the wind shift hits.

If the barometer drops slow in dry season, secure everything above the high tide line — the shift comes quiet but hard.

If the humidity spikes above a certain threshold, move the delicate trays to the porch overhang or face fungal collapse.

If you want to mend something broken, don’t wait for the right words — show up with the right hands and let the work speak.

If the seedlings show damping-off in high humidity, increase airflow immediately or stop wasting resources on that batch.

If you want to mend something broken — a dock, a relationship — start by doing the work quietly, then let the other person see you doing it right.

Do not force wedges into rotted cedar; no amount of pressure will restore structural integrity.

If damping-off persists despite copper treatment, the humidity is too high for delicate greens; cease germination; burn the infected trays immediately to save the rest.

If you want to know what someone needs, stop fixing and start watching how they fix things with you.

Do not force a drill into rotted wood; the structural integrity is gone regardless of the tool.

If damping-off appears in the seedlings, isolate the tray immediately or the entire crop is lost.

If the auger bit breaks, a hand brace and 12mm ship auger will drill greenheart pilot holes — slow, but the bit won't snap if you clear chips every half-turn

If you want someone to see decay, don’t explain it — draw it so precisely they can’t look away.

When someone won't name their pain, don't ask. Stay close. Let them feel you there without demanding words

If the rot goes below the waterline on a load-bearing piling, sistering is cosmetic — plan for full replacement before the next storm surge

Epoxy sets too fast in high humidity; work in smaller batches or cool the resin.

If the tide is rising, do not start a sister installation; brace it and wait for the ebb.

If you wait for the perfect moment to speak, the tide will take the wood before you get there.