(Above: A sunflower and a bee on the morning of April 29, 2026. Un girasol y una abeja en la mañana del 29 de abril de 2026.)
4/26/2026: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the 80s. A very brief bout of precipitation in the morning.
A photo of Padre returning from feeding the cattle on the east side of the ranch on the morning of April 26, 2026. Una foto de mi papá regresando de alimentar a los bovinos al este del rancho en la mañana del 26 de abril de 2026. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of duck eggs, *chile de árbol*, and Gouda cheese. This was served with a green salad made by Padre. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de pato, chili de árbol y queso Gouda. Esto se sirvió con una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. 
Today, Víctor installed a new door to access Guesthouse more easily. Hoy Víctor instaló una puerta nueva para acceder más fácilmente la casa de huéspedes. 
We enjoyed dinner with my friend Shae. It consisted of a green salad topped with fried ground beef, cottage cheese, avocado, and homemade barbecue sauce. Disfrutamos la cena con mi amigo Shae. Consistía en una ensalada verde cubierta con carne molida frita, requesón, aguacate y salsa barbacoa casera. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
4/27/2026: Today began in the high 60s and warmed into the low 80s. Partly cloudy.
The partially cloudy morning of April 27, 2026. La mañana parcialmente nublada del 27 de abril de 2026. 
For lunch, we started with a bowl of miso soup garnished with Belgian Blue beef, cabbage, and avocado. The main course consisted of a sushi platter. Para el almuerzo, empezamos con un tazón de sopa de miso adornado con carne de res de azul belga, repollo y aguacate. El plato principal consistía en una bandeja de sushi. 
The rather dry afternoon of April 27, 2026. La tarde bastante seca del 27 de abril de 2026. 
Dinner consisted of reverse-seared tri-tip (from an Akaushi), accompanied by a green salad drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. La cena consistía en colita de cuadril (de Akaushi) dorada al revés, acompañada de una ensalada verde rociada con una vinagreta balsámica. 
The dessert consisted of a bowl of Greek yogurt with chopped apple, drizzled with the juice of a lime. El postre consistía en un tazón de yogur griego con manzana picada rociada con el jugo de un limón verde.
4/28/2026: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the mid 80s. Mostly sunny. Slightly smoky. Quite dry.
Lunch on April 28, 2026, consisted of a green salad accompanied by a fried mixture of duck eggs and beef. The mixture also contained some of the cheese that my friend Shae gave us. El almuerzo del 28 de abril de 2026 consistía en una ensalada verde acompañada de una mezcla frita de huevos de pato y carne de res. La mezcla también contenía un poco del queso que nos regaló mi amigo Shae. 
After lunch, I prepared a barbecue-style stew containing Akaushi beef and a little bacon. Después de almorzar, preparé un guiso al estilo barbacoa que contenía carne de res Akaushi y un poco de tocino. 
Dinner consisted of the aforementioned stew, accompanied by a green salad made by Padre. It took place after a rumba class. La cena consistía en el guiso ya mencionado, acompañado de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. Ocurrió después de una clase de rumba. 
The dessert consisted of a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon, drizzled with the juice of a lime, and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. El postre consistía en una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela, rociada con el jugo de un limón verde y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
Last night, I fed my pet spider, Dolores. She is doing well. Anoche, alimenté a mi araña mascota, Dolores. Ella está bien.
4/29/2026: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the low 90s. Partly sunny.
A sunflower and a bee on the morning of April 29, 2026. Un girasol y una abeja en la mañana del 29 de abril de 2026. 
Lunch on April 29, 2026, consisted of a mixture of eggs, dried shrimp, and chipotle powder. This was served with a green salad made by Padre. I got the shrimp and the chipotle from the store where my friend Shae works. That store (Winn-Dixie) is going to close soon. El almuerzo de 29 de abril de 2026 consistía en una mezcla de huevos, camarones secos y chipotle en polvo. Esto se sirvió con una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. Conseguí los camarones y el chipotle de la tienda donde trabaja mi amigo, Shae. Esa tienda (Winn Dixie) va a cerrar pronto. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
The dusty afternoon of April 29, 2026. La tarde polvorienta del 29 de abril de 2026. 
Dinner consisted of lamb chops on a bed of vegetables. In addition, there was a bowl of mustard for dipping and a horn of red wine for drinking. La cena consistía en chuletas de cordero sobre una cama de verduras. Además, había un tazón de mostaza para mojar y un cuerno de vino tinto para beber.
4/30/2026: Today began in the mid 60s and warmed into the mid 80s. Mostly cloudy morning.
(April 30, 2026) For lunch, Padre and I enjoyed some beef sausages seasoned with Italian spices. (30 de abril de 2026) Para el almuerzo, mi padre y yo disfrutamos de unas salchichas de res condimentadas con especias italianas. 
The dessert consisted of a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. El postre consistía en una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogurt griego. 
The afternoon of April 30, 2026—mostly sunny and quite dusty. La tarde del 30 de abril de 2026, mayormente soleada y bastante polvorienta. 
For dinner on April 30, 2026, we enjoyed the leftovers from Tuesday’s stew. Para la cena del 30 de abril de 2026, disfrutamos de las sobras del guiso del martes.
5/1/2026: Today began in the high 60s and warmed into the high 80s. Partly cloudy.
These are the sourdough loaves I prepared on the morning of May 1, 2026. Estos son los panes de masa madre que preparé la mañana del 1 de mayo de 2026. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of duck eggs, bacon, and sweet potato. This was accompanied by a colorful salad made by Padre, drizzled with a spicy vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de pato, tocino y batata. Esto iba acompañado de una ensalada colorida hecha por mi padre, rociada con una vinagreta picante. 
The dessert consisted of a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. El postre consistía en una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
After dancing tonight, I enjoyed some pizza Padre made. It was delicious. Después de bailar esta noche, disfruté de un poco de pizza que hizo mi padre. Estaba deliciosa. 
After the pizza, I enjoyed two apples accompanied by peanuts and Greek yogurt. Después de la pizza, disfruté de dos manzanas acompañadas de cacahuates y yogur griego.
5/2/2026: Today began in the high 60s and warmed into the high 70s. Mostly cloudy.
The signs at the entrance to the farm on the morning of May 2, 2026. Los carteles en la entrada del rancho la mañana del 2 de mayo de 2026. 
This is the tomahawk ribeye from #546 that I prepared for dinner, seasoning it with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Este es el chuletón de Wagyu #546 que preparé para la cena, condimentándolo con sal y pimienta negra recién molida. 
Lunch consisted of Italian beef sausages, sardines, shrimp, and salad, all drizzled with a mustard vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en salchichas italianas de res, sardinas, camarones y ensalada, todo rociado con una vinagreta de mostaza. 
A photo of Padre in the loader bucket on the afternoon of May 2, 2026. We were fixing the shade sail in the central barn. Una foto de mi padre en la cubeta del cargador en la tarde del 2 de mayo de 2026. Estábamos arreglando la vela de sombra en el establo central. 
A photo of the crazy cows running toward the fallen tree branch that my father was pulling with the loader. I needed to close the gate before the cows arrived. Una foto de las vacas locas corriendo hacia la rama de árbol caída que mi padre estaba jalando con el cargador. Yo necesitaba cerrar la puerta antes de que llegaran las vacas. 
This is the tomahawk ribeye from Wagyu #546 after reverse-searing it. Este es el chuletón (tomahawk) de Wagyu #546 después de dorarlo al revés. 
The plated dinner: A slice of Wagyu ribeye #546, accompanied by a salad made by Padre and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. In addition, there was a bowl of olives and a drinking horn filled with red wine. La cena emplatada: Un trozo del chuletón de Wagyu #546 acompañado de una ensalada hecha por mi padre y rociada con una vinagreta balsámica. Además, había un tazón de aceitunas y un cuerno de vino tinto. 
The dessert: A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. El postre: Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
Final Note: Last week began as a bit of a trial. The store business has been slightly slower, and the quality and scheduling of the beef processing has been a quandary. At the same time, writing has primarily consisted of revision for the past few months, and that does not feel as creative as drawing up epigraphs and outlines for new chapters. I expounded more on these sentiments in the personal journal, so I’ll keep it short here by saying the beginning of the week was ‘a downturn’ on the cycle.
Fortunately, I have come to realize over the past few years that life is just that: a cycle. There are ebbs and flows, and if one places trust in “the process” (that is, the persistent albeit sometimes plodding gait ever-aimed at productivity, improvement, and growth), an ebb is only a slight bump in the road that, in the end, really does make the journey a bit more interesting.
In the absence of an epigraph, here’s a free-meter piece I’ve been practicing: