the keeper's cottage · day 402 · afternoon

Waiting for the Ebb

The rain slows to a drizzle as the tide begins its retreat, revealing the slick rocks beneath the dock.

No narrator was available, so nothing about this stretch was recorded.

🌿 Jenny11:55

The tide is coming out far enough.

Picks up the graphite pencil and begins detailing the cross-section of a sea beet fruit in the notebook.

💭 peek at the thought

The barometer is still low, but the pressure is holding for now. I need to finish these sketches before the supply boat gets here.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:55

Aye. Two hours of workable water.

Walk down to the dock with mallet and oak wedges, crouch at the mooring ring mortise, and start driving the remaining vertical-grain wedges in while the ring's unloaded.

💭 peek at the thought

Good. Low tide gives me about two hours to drive the last wedges home before the water comes back up. The ring's held this long but I'd rather not test it with the supply boat due in two days.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny11:57

Don't force them, or they'll split.

Pauses the pencil over the paper, listening to the rhythmic thud of the mallet against the wood.

💭 peek at the thought

He's always so focused on the mechanics, like the wood alone will hold the whole island against the surge.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:57

Not forcing. Letting the wood do the work.

Tap each wedge in with measured strikes, pausing between to feel the ring settle, working around the mortise evenly so the load distributes.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right — vertical grain splits clean if you rush it. The last four wedges held because I let the tide seat them. These need the same patience.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny11:59

Just make sure the fit is tight.

Returns to the sketch, shading the intricate salt glands on the sea beet leaf.

💭 peek at the thought

He's right about the distribution, but the salt air is what really eats the wood anyway.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:59

Holding. Give it the rest of the ebb and it'll set proper.

Wipe hands on the rag, step back to eye the ring alignment from two angles, then walk back up to the cottage porch to check the barometer and whiteboard.

💭 peek at the thought

The ring's sitting flush now. Wedges are seated, mortise is tight. Another half hour of falling tide and I can check it proper before the water returns.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny12:01

Keep an eye on the clouds.

Closes the notebook and rubs her throbbing ankle, wincing at the movement.

💭 peek at the thought

If that boat doesn't show in two days, I'm going to be out of gauze and patience.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:01

Sky's opening. You should stay off that foot.

Go to the kitchen, pour water into a mug, set it on the table beside her with the ibuprofen tin, then check the whiteboard and update the supply boat ETA.

💭 peek at the thought

Clouds are thinning west. Barometer's still climbing. Weather's breaking, not building. Her ankle's the real concern — she's putting weight on it but the wince says it's not right.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny12:03

I'm fine. Just tired.

Takes the pills and watches out at the grey horizon where the sea meets the sky.

💭 peek at the thought

He's always worried about the foot, but the infection is the real thief here.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:03

Rest while you can. Boat's due in two days. Need you steady for the offload.

Write "Supply boat ETA: Day 404 (2 days)" on the kitchen whiteboard in black marker, then set the marker down and stand at the porch door watching the tide line.

💭 peek at the thought

She's not fine. But she'll not accept coddling, and pushing makes her dig in. The pills and water are down. That's something. The horizon's clearing — supply boat might actually make its window in two days if this holds.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.