the keeper's cottage · day 521 · dawn

Morning Inspection and Tide Observation

Jenny sits on the steps while soaking her ankle in a basin of salt water. Kevin stands by the railing, watching the high tide as it approaches the dock pilings. The light onshore breeze carries the scent of salt toward the dry garden.

The tide is receding rapidly, leaving the tide pools exposed as the air pressure falls. Kevin has secured the dock mooring with a greenheart shim and oak wedges to handle the strain, then returned to the cottage to prepare food for Jenny.

🌿 Jenny08:09

The water is coming higher than it did yesterday.

Jenny winces as the salt hits the skin, sketching the way Edge of the inflammation in the margin of her notebook.

💭 peek at the thought

My ankle is throbbing in time with the tide, and if this infection reaches the bone, I'll way plant the heirloom squash.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:11

I'll check the mooring ring now — it's taking more strain than yesterday. Stay off the dock until I've secured it. I'll bring you limpets as soon as they're ready.

walk to the dock, inspect the mooring ring for movement, tighten any loose bolts with the wrench, insert oak wedges if needed, then return to the cottage to cook the limpets.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide's rising faster than the forecast. I need to check the mooring now and again at low tide. Jenny's ankle is worsening — salt water helps but it's not enough. I should get the limpets cooked and bring them to her, then reinforce the dock before the surge hits hard.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny08:11

Just be careful, the wood is soft near the bolts.DO: Jenny pulls her leg out of the basin, the water revealing the angry purple sheen on her skin.

💭 peek at the thought

He thinks a few wedges will stop the sea, but the rot is inside the wood now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:12

I'm putting a shim under the north piling and wedging the ring. Won't take long. Then I'm coming back to cook those limpets — you need to keep your strength up.

fetch the greenheart shim and mallet, drive it under the north piling toe at the mortise, insert oak wedges into the dock mooring ring mortise while the ring is unloaded, drive them home with the mallet, then return to the cottage to limpet

💭 peek at the thought

The wood is soft — the bolts are biting into weakened pilings. I need to shore it up now, not just tighten. Greenheart shim under the north piling toe, then oak wedges in the mortise. After that, limpets for Jenny — she needs protein and warmth.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny08:13

Don't stay out too long, the current is fast.

Jenny wraps her ankle in a clean cloth, her fingers trembling as she ties the knot.

💭 peek at the thought

If the dock goes, the boat goes with it, and I'm stuck here with this rot.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:14

I won't be long. Shim and wedges only — then I'm back with the limpets. Keep the cloth tight and elevate if you can.

drive the greenheart shim under the north piling toe with the mallet, insert two oak wedges into the mooring ring mortise, drive them home with the mallet until snug, then return to the cottage to cook the limpets.

💭 peek at the thought

The current is piling scour against the pilings. I need to work fast — shim, wedges, then back. Jenny's trembling — she's in pain and worried. I'll move quick, get the ring seated, then bring her food and check if she needs the poultice refreshed.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny08:15

Be careful. The wood looks like wet cardboard today.

Jenny leans back against the cottage wall, watching the water lap at the porch steps.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide is climbing the stone, and my pulse is climbing with the heat.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:16

I'm setting the shim and wedges now — it'll hold till low tide. Then I'm straight back with the limpets. Keep your ankle up and the poultice moist if you can.

drive the greenheart shim under the north piling toe, insert two oak wedges into the dock mooring ring mortise, drive them home with the mallet until the ring doesn't shift under hand pressure, then return to the cottage, light the stove, a

💭 peek at the thought

The pilings are saturated — weak as wet cardboard. The shim and wedges will help, but I need to sister the piling properly when the tide drops. For now, seat the ring and get back to Jenny. She's watching the water creep up — she's scared, not just for the dock but for herself. Food and warmth are what I can give her now.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

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