the keeper's cottage · day 667 · midday

The Midday Heat

The tide has now submerged the lower dock rings and the heavy air remains perfectly still as the sun reaches its peak.

Kevin tested the structural integrity of the dock repairs by applying his weight as the tide surged. Jenny debrided her ankle and applied a fresh sea beet and mint poultice to manage the swelling. The clouds continues to thicken as the air pressure continues its slow drop.

🌿 Jenny12:35

Jenny — lean forward to inspect the swelling on the ankle, then sketch the cloud formation in the notebook.

💭 peek at the thought

The barometer is still dropping and the storm is coming before the boat does. I need to check if the poultice is holding before the wind shifts.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:35

Dock's taking weight clean. No movement on the south brace.

walk to the dock and inspect the south piling sister brace and chocks at high tide

💭 peek at the thought

She's sketching clouds instead of watching the red line on her ankle. That's either progress or denial. Tide's high enough to test the south piling sister under real load — should check the chocks while the water's up.

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

🌿 Jenny12:37

Keep an eye on the bolts when the surge starts.

Close the notebook and check the barometer again.

💭 peek at the thought

If the dock is holding, maybe the north slope won't wash away when the rain hits. My own is throbbing in sympathy.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:37

Bolts are 150mm stainless, nyloc both ends. Timber's holding. Surge comes, we'll see if the sister shares load or the old piling takes it all.

grip the south piling sister brace and apply body weight to test for any give or rotation under simulated surge load

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching the barometer, not the ankle. Knows the pressure's the real tell. Surge'll hit the dock different than the swell — sudden load on the ring, not steady pull. Bolts are the weak link if the timber's still greenheart-sound.

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

🌿 Jenny12:39

Just make sure they stay tight when the pressure shifts.

Stand up slowly, clutching the swollen ankle, and move toward the kitchen to check the water.

💭 peek at the thought

He's confident in the hardware, but I've seen what salt does to steel. I hope the wood is sound enough.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:39

Third dose at 0800. I'll mix the mortar for the tank corner at low tide tomorrow. You sit.

follow Jenny toward the cottage, close enough to catch her if the ankle gives way

💭 peek at the thought

She's moving stiff. Ankle's not improving fast enough. Third dose due soon. Water tank's full but the overflow weep at the northeast corner — mortar's still soft from the storm. Need to catch her before she tries to carry anything heavy.

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.