(Above: I took this photo because the clouds looked quite extraordinary against the blue sky. Tomé esta foto porque las nubes se veían muy bonitas contra el cielo azul.)
6/8/2025: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the mid 90s. Mostly sunny.
Mushrooms and cows in the early morning of June 8, 2025. Hongos y vacas en la madrugada del 8 de junio de 2025. 
These are the chiltepines I harvested for the scrambled eggs I was going to make for lunch. Estos son los chiltepines que coseché para los huevos revueltos que iba a hacer para el almuerzo. 
Lunch consisted of scrambled eggs with fresh rosemary, chiltepines, freshly ground black pepper, and salt. There was also a green salad made by Padre. El almuerzo consistía en huevos revueltos con romero fresco, chiltepines, pimienta negra recién molida y sal. Además, había una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. 
This is the roast I cut and seasoned in preparation for dinner on June 8, 2025. I used a mixture of mustard, blueberry-infused balsamic vinegar, freshly ground black pepper, and salt. Este es el asado que corté y condimenté en preparación para la cena del 8 de junio de 2025. Utilicé una mezcla de mostaza, vinagre balsámico infusionado con arándano, pimienta negra recién molida y sal. 
Jacobhouse on the sunny afternoon of June 8, 2025. La casita de Jacobo en la tarde soleada del 8 de junio de 2025. 
The mostly sunny afternoon of June 8, 2025: There were many cows grazing in front of the old house. La tarde mayormente soleada del 8 de junio de 2025: Había muchas vacas pastando frente a la casa vieja. 
Dinner consisted of a Wagner Blue round roast accompanied by a green salad topped with two pieces of Tomme cheese. There was also a horn of red wine to drink and a bowl of sour cream for dipping. La cena consistía en asado de ronda de Wagyner Blue acompañado de una ensalada verde coronada con dos trozos de queso Tomme. Además, había un cuerno de vino tinto para beber y un tazón de crema ácida para mojar. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
6/9/2025: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the 90s. Mostly sunny.
A sunflower on the morning of June 9, 2025 (in front of Jacobhouse). Un girasol en la mañana de 9 de junio de 2025 (frente a mi casa). 
Lunch consisted of sushi accompanied by mizo soup garnished with avocado, thinly sliced beef and green cabbage. El almuerzo consistía en Sushi acompaña acompañado de sopa de mizo adornada con aguacate, carne de res en rodajas delgadas y repollo verde. 
These are the steaks and bacon I prepared for dinner on June 9, 2025. Estos son los bistecs y el tocino que preparé para la cena del 9 de junio de 2025 
The top part still needs to be painted, but the portion Victor has repainted already looks very nice. Todavía falta pintar la parte de arriba, pero la porción que Víctor ha repintado ya se ve muy bonito. 
The ducklings under the light that had been placed in a new position. Los patitos bajo la luz que había sido colocada en una nueva posición. 
Dinner consisted of a Wagyu burger-steak topped with two pieces of bacon and a wild mushroom (a shaggy inkcap plucked less than 15 minutes previously). This steak was accompanied by a green salad and a bowl of homemade barbecue sauce. La cena consistía en un bistec de hamburguesa de Wagyu coronado con dos trozos de tocino y un hongo silvestre (un “shaggy inkcap”cosechada menos de 15 minutos antes). Este bistec estaba acompañado de una ensalada verde y un tazón de salsa barbacoa casera. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. There was another apple in the background because I was still hungry. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogurt griego. Había otra manzana al fondo porque yo todavía tenía hambre.
6/10/2025: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the mid 90s. Partly sunny and partly rainy. Quite warm and a little humid.
These are peanut butter cookies I made on the morning of June 10, 2025. Estas son galletas de mantequilla de maní que hice en la mañana del 10 de junio de 2025. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of eggs, ground beef, beef liver, and beef heart. This was accompanied by a green salad drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos, carne molida de res, hígado de res y corazón de res. Esto estaba acompañado de una ensalada verde rociada con vinagreta picante. 
An afternoon activity: My dad and I were working with the cows in this photo while in the distance there was rain and a rainbow. Una actividad por la tarde: Mi padre y yo estábamos trabajando con las vacas en esta foto mientras a lo lejos había lluvia y un arcoíris. 
Evening of June 10, 2025: I took this photo while cooking the fried beef and sweet potato mixture for dinner. El anochecer del 10 de junio de 2025: Tomé esta foto mientras cocinaba la mezcla frita de carne de res y batata para la cena. 
The dinner salad consisted of a bed of romaine lettuce and green cabbage covered in a fried mixture of ground beef and sweet potato. All of this was topped with Mexican cream, avocado, and salsa verde. La ensalada para la cena consistía en un lecho de lechuga romana y repollo verde cubierto en una mezcla frita de carne de res molida y batata. Todo esto estaba coronado con crema mexicana, aguacate y salsa verde. 
Dessert: a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. El postre: una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
Tonight the ducklings slept outside their box. They seemed very peaceful. Esta noche los patitos durmieron fuera de su caja. Ellos parecían muy tranquilos.
6/11/2025: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Partly cloudy. Slight bouts of rain.
The sunny morning of June 11, 2025 in the southeasternmost field of the ranch. La mañana soleada del 11 de junio de 2025 en el campo al más sureste del rancho. 
A photo of the shower door frame before painting it. Una foto del marco de la puerta de la ducha antes de pintarlo. 
The shower door frame after I painted it. El marco de la puerta de la ducha después de que lo pinté. 
Lunch consisted of a pan-seared Belgian Blue shoulder steak accompanied by a red cabbage salad. El almuerzo consistía en un bistec de hombro de azul belga a la sartén acompañado de una ensalada de repollo rojo. 
On the evening of July 11, 2025, there was a storm in the distance. En la tarde del 11 de junio de 2025, había una tormenta en la distancia. 
For dinner on June 11, 2025, I made a keto pizza. This is the meat crust. Para la cena del 11 de junio de 2025, preparé una pizza ketogénica. Esta es la corteza de carne. 
After cooking the meat crust, I added the toppings. These consisted of grated cheese, finely sliced beef, sweet green pepper, spicy orange pepper, and red onion. Después de cocinar la corteza de carne, yo agregué los ingredientes. Estos consistían en queso rallado, carne de res finamente cortado, ají verde dulce, ají anaranjado picante y cebolla roja. 
The cooked keto pizza. La pizza ketogénica cocida. 
The plated dinner: Two slices of keto pizza accompanied by some sourdough bread and a green salad topped with leftover coleslaw from lunch. La cena emplatada: Dos trozos de pizza ketogenica acompañados de un poco de pan de masa madre y una ensalada verde cubierta en sobras de ensalada de repollo del almuerzo. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
Last night, I saw a huge spider in my shower. I hope it’s eating a lot of bugs. Anoche, yo vi una araña enorme en mi ducha. Espero que esté comiendo muchos insectos.
6/12/2025: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Mostly sunny.
Another photo of the sunflower in front of my house, taken on the sunny morning of June 12, 2025. Otra foto del girasol frente a mi casa, tomada en la mañana soleada del 12 de junio de 2025. 
This is the bell we ring when we give peas to the ducks (to train them). Esta es la campana que tocamos cuando les damos guisantes a los patos (para entrenarlos). 
I took this photo because the clouds looked so pretty against the blue sky. Tomé esta foto porque las nubes se veían muy bonitas contra el cielo azul. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of “carnivore mix” and eggs, accompanied by a green salad topped with leftover coleslaw from the day before. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de “mezcla carnívora” y huevos. Esta estaba acompañada de una ensalada verde cubierta con sobras de la ensalada de repollo del día anterior. 
The sunny afternoon of June 12, 2025 in the central field: The cows were grazing. La tarde soleada del 12 de junio de 2025 en el campo central: Las vacas estaban pastando. 
Dinner consisted of reverse-seared wagyu short ribs, accompanied by a red cabbage and carrot salad topped with two pieces of Havarti cheese. There was also a bowl of homemade barbecue sauce. La cena consistía en costillitas de wagyu doradas al revés, acompañadas de una ensalada de repollo rojo y zanahoria cubierta con dos trozos de queso Havarti. Además, había un tazón de salsa barbacoa casera. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
6/13/2025: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the mid 90s. Partly cloudy. Slightly stormy late-afternoon followed by an evening downpour.
This is Jacobhouse on the morning of July 13, 2025. There were two calves by the front steps. Esta es mi casita en la mañana del 13 de julio de 2025. Había dos terneritas junto a los escalones de entrada. 
Lunch consisted of fried eggs accompanied by a green salad topped with leftover cabbage salad from the day before. El almuerzo consistía en huevos fritos acompañados de una ensalada verde coronada con sobras de la ensalada de repollo del día anterior. 
The ingredients for tomorrow’s puff pastry filling: vanilla extract and blueberry jam. Los ingredientes para el relleno de hojaldre de mañana: extracto de vainilla y mermelada de arándanos. 
The cows were looking for shade yesterday afternoon because it was very sunny. Las vacas buscaban la sombra ayer por la tarde porque hacía mucho sol. 
This afternoon Padre, Wag, and I gave a calf some IV fluids. Esta tarde mi padre, mi tío y yo le dimos a un ternerito algunos fluidos de hidratación intravenosa. 
Dinner consisted of reverse-roasted Belgian Blue round roast, accompanied by two roasted potatoes and a salad topped with three pieces of Havarti cheese. La cena consistía en asado de ronda de azul belga dorado al revés, acompañado de dos papas asadas y una ensalada coronada con tres trozos de queso havarti. 
Dessert: a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. El postre: una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
6/14/2025: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the mid 90s. Mostly sunny. Late day it was a little bit cooler due to cloud cover.
This morning, June 14, 2025, I made blueberry puff pastries for the store (and for us). Esta mañana del 14 de junio de 2025, hice hojaldres de arándanos para la tienda (y para nosotros). 
Lunch consisted of zucchini and summer squash, roasted and crowned with bacon. All of this was accompanied by a green salad topped with leftover beef from the night before. El almuerzo consistía en calabacín y calabaza de verano, asados y coronados con tocino. Todo esto estaba acompañado de una ensalada verde cubierta con sobras de la carne de res de la noche anterior. 
The somewhat stormy afternoon of June 14, 2025. La tarde algo tormentosa del 14 de junio de 2025. 
A photo of the preparation of the fried mixture of Wagyu ground beef and sweet potato for the dinner salad. Una foto de la preparación de la mezcla frita de carne molida de Wagyu y batata para la ensalada de la cena. 
Dinner consisted of a romaine lettuce and red cabbage salad topped with a fried beef and sweet potato mixture, avocado slices, salsa verde, and a dollop of Mexican crema. La cena consistía en una ensalada de lechuga romana y repollo rojo cubierta en una mezcla frita de carne de res y batata, rodajas de aguacate, salsa verde y una cucharada de crema mexicana. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a dollop of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
Final Note: This is the draft of the epigraph from Grimorzak’s thirteenth chapter in Book 2, TLB:
Construction of the Lord’s Wall, colloquially named the ‘Tithewall’ by its opposers, began in 1893 CE [33,404 AFP]. It is a semi-circular fortification of mortar and stone that borders the riverside town of Mendhir at a distance 15 kilometers from the Old Common, or about 4.5 kilometers from the settlement’s outermost steads. This wall, just over 25 kilometers long, is broken only at three points where pass the town’s primary highways at North, West, and South. Here, have been constructed arches of imported timber, standing about 7 meters in height.
There are no gates within these arches as is the case with the town’s inner fortifications. Instead, each serves as a foundation for a finely-wrought, silvered star of 13 points – the star of Leyosen – bearing a diameter of 2 meters. With these stars being positioned at such a height above the Plain and wrought of such material, all comers, whether by road or by the River Vrath which runs alongside the north-to-south highways, know they are drawing near to Mendhir when they see those great ornaments glittering beneath the light of sun or moon.
Returning to the Lord’s Wall itself, the structure presently stands a mere one meter in height. This is only a third of its intended final elevation, yet it is already effective for the purposes that Fahreiver Orn implemented it: control of the passage of material wares in and out of Mendhir, and more importantly, collection of imposts on foreign [out-of-town] commerce. Indeed, a wall of one meter may as well be a wall of a hundred meters for traders of scale in an age where physical goods are bound to oxcart or riverboat.
Orn has effectively created an economic barrier between Mendhir and all of BCR1. Traders from Kuldmyre to the north as well as those from Spyre and Khone to the south can no longer avoid taxation by peddling to the people of the outer town. Instead, they must pass through the funnel points and the accompanying tollhouses where they pay the Fahreiver’s due. In the words of my Collector, a burgeoning Historian in her own right, ‘a well-placed wall will always pay for itself’.
Excerpt from ‘Commentaries on the First Iteration’, written by Grimorzak, the Youngest
El Muro de Adriano fue la inspiración para estos párrafos.
More great food and definitely a few other happenings,,, definitely looking forward to book 2