Evening Preparation for Arrival
The sun begins to dip, casting long shadows across the repaired dock. You both meet in the kitchen to prepare a meal and review the supply manifest.
The heat is a physical weight over the cottage, the air still and dry at 34°C. The tide is retreating rapidly, exposing the slick rocks of the tide pools. Kevin is focused on the Yanmar engine, checking the vibration levels after the load test, while Jenny manages the delicate seed trays in the shade of the porch's overhang.
Dock's holding. South section's solid now. How's the garden?
walk into the kitchen, set the heavy wrench on the table, pull out a chair and sit down heavily
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way weeds. The heat is killing the seedlings before they even take root.
wipe hands on an apron, look at the rusted seed tin on the counter.
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Yeah. It's brutal. We'll rig a second layer of cloth tonight — double it over the tomatoes and basil. Give 'em a break till first light.
push the rusted seed tin gently toward the center of the counter with two fingers, then stand and walk to the porch door to grab the spare roll of shade cloth from the hook by the frame
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Double layer might help, but the soil is just too acidic right now anyway.
reach for the tin, run a thumb over the rusted metal, but don't open it.
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We hit the worst spots with crushed lime tonight. Just a handful per hill — raise the pH where it counts. No point fighting the heat if the soil's eating the roots.
return to the kitchen with the shade cloth roll tucked under one arm, set it on the counter beside the tin, then open the cupboard and pull out the small sack of crushed lime we keep for the beds
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The beds are down to 5.5. I need to check the log again first.
take the notebook from the table and flip to the soil pH page.
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Yeah, check it. I'll measure out what we need — two trowels full for the pepper strip, one for the basil. We'll do it after supper, when the sun's off the beds.
take the sack of lime, unscrew the top, and pour a small pile onto a clean piece of newspaper on the counter, then scoop two trowels' worth into a tin cup and set it aside, leaving the rest for later
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Two trowels is enough for now. I'll get the water first.
stand up slowly, knees creaking, and walk to the sink to fill the kettle.
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I'll get it. You sit — your ankle's had enough today.
stand up, take the kettle from her hands before she can fill it, turn on the tap, and fill it to just below the spout, then set it on the wood stove to heat
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I'm fine, Kevin. I'm just hungry.
sink back into the wooden chair, leaning my head against the cool stone and watching the dust dance in the light.
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Yeah. You're fine. I'll make the mackerel and sea beet. Ten minutes.
pull two tins of mackerel from the shelf, open them with the can opener, dump the contents into the cast iron skillet on the stove, then toss in the prepared sea beet leaves and stir with the wooden spoon
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a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.