the keeper's cottage · day 750 · dawn

The Western Squall

Kevin and Jenny stand under the eaves as the wind lurches up from the west. Heavy rain lashes the tin roof, obscuring the view of the garden and the moored dock.

The rain intensifies into a heavy driving lashing, drumming against the cottage roof and flooding the garden. The tide is receding rapidly, exposing the slick rocks of the southern flats. Inside, the air smells of damp wool and woodsmoke as the pair prepares for the day's work.

🌿 Jenny09:15

The tank's full, but we need to check the intake before the boat comes.

wipes the graphite off the page and closes the notebook.

💭 peek at the thought

The rain is going to wash the south slope away if I don't reinforce the terrace soon.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:15

Aye. I'll check the spring intake and the tank screen while you're at the radio. Back before the tide turns.

Walk toward the spring up the path behind the cottage, pulling the hood of my oilskin up against the rain.

💭 peek at the thought

Tank's full, she's right about the intake — if the screen's clogged we'll be hauling buckets when the boat arrives. West wind means the spring runoff's probably carrying silt and debris.

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

🌿 Jenny09:17

Don't stay out too long in this.

stands up and watches him disappear into the grey mist.

💭 peek at the thought

If the intake is clogged with silt, we'll be drinking by tomorrow.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:17

Won't.

Keep walking up the path toward the spring, boots sinking in the wet clay, the sound of the roof fading behind me.

💭 peek at the thought

She doesn't need to tell me. The wind's already shifting colder.

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

🌿 Jenny09:19

Jenny — turns back toward the kitchen to check the wood stove.

💭 peek at the thought

He's right, the wind is getting too sharp for him.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:19

Kevin — crest the low ridge and pick down the far side toward the spring, scanning the bank for fresh slump or washout.

💭 peek at the thought

Spring's just past the ridge. Ground's saturated — intake screen'll be buried if the bank's slumped again.

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

🌿 Jenny09:21

Jenny — moves to the stove and starts to boil some water.

flagged: repeated_opener

💭 peek at the thought

If that bank goes, the grandmother's seeds go with the silt.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:21

Kevin — crouch at the spring box, pull the intake screen free, shake off the silt, and rinse it in the flow. Then reach upstream to feel the filter cloth anchored in the creek bed.

💭 peek at the thought

Bank's held. Screen's visible but half-buried in silt and leaf matter. Water's running clear underneath. Good sign — means the filter cloth's doing its job upstream. Need to clear the screen and check the cloth.

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.