(Above: Two regal moths on the morning of August 29, 2026. They were enormous. Dos polillas regias en la mañana del 29 de agosto de 2026. Eran enormes.)
8/23/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the high 80s. Mostly cloudy.
Photo: Ducks dreaming in the early hours of August 23, 2026. Foto: Patos soñando en la madrugada del 23 de agosto de 2026. 
The central field at dawn on August 23, 2026. El campo central al amanecer del 23 de agosto de 2026. 
The lunch consisted of a fried mixture of chicken eggs, Indian bison, lamb, and sweet potato. It was served with a salad drizzled with a spicy vinaigrette and topped with feta cheese and olives. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de gallina, bisonte indio, cordero y batata. Esta se sirvió acompañada de una ensalada rociada con una vinagreta picante y cubierta con queso feta y aceitunas. 
The center field on the afternoon of August 23, 2026. El campo central el la tarde del 23 de agosto de 2026. 
On the afternoon of August 23, 2026, Padre filled in a hole next to Jacobhouse with a bucket of compost. En la tarde 23 de agosto de 2026, mi padre rellenó un hoyo al lado a mi casita con un cubo de abono. 
The compost after smoothing it out. El abono después de alisarlo. 
Dinner consisted of reverse-seared lamb chops. They were served with a salad drizzled with a mustard vinaigrette and a horn of red wine. La cena consistía en chuletas de cordero doradas al revés. Estas se sirvieron acompañadas de una ensalada rociada con una vinagreta de mostaza y un cuerno de vino tinto. 
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.
8/24/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Mostly sunny morning.
A large cloud at dawn on August 24, 2026, seen from the farm’s southernmost field. Una gran nube al amanecer del 24 de agosto de 2026, visto desde el campo más al sureste del rancho. 
To start lunch, Padre and I had a bowl of miso soup garnished with avocado, spinach, and thinly sliced beef. Para empezar el almuerzo, mi papá y yo comimos un tazón de sopa de mizo adornada con aguacate, espinaca y carne de res en rodajas finas. 
The main course consisted of a platter of fresh sushi. Everything was delicious. El plato principal consistía en una bandeja de sushi fresco. Todo estaba delicioso. 
Twin heifer calves with their mother on the cloudy afternoon of August 24, 2026. Dos terneras gemelas con su mamá en la tarde nublada del 24 de agosto de 2026. 
The dinner consisted of a green salad topped with fried Indian bison beef, sliced pickles, tomato, and cottage cheese. La cena consistía en una ensalada verde cubierta con carne de bizonte indio frito, pepenillos en rodajas, tomate y requesón. 
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.
8/25/2026:
8/25/2026: Today began in the mid 70s and warmed into the high 80s. Cloudy morning followed by a cloudier afternoon.
The morning of August 25, 2026: I cleared the weeds surrounding the young oaks in the northernmost part of the central field. La mañana del 25 de agosto de 2026: Quité las malezas que rodeaban los jóvenes robles en la parte más al norte del campo central. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of duck eggs and beef short ribs. It was served with a green salad drizzled with a spicy vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de pato y costillita de res. Esta se sirvió acompañado de una ensalada verde rociada con una vinagreta picante. 
After lunch, I prepared a stew with beef shank and pork chops, in the style of ossobuco. Después del almuerzo preparé un guiso con pierna de res y chuletas de cerdo, al estilo osobuco. 
Dinner consisted of the aforementioned stew. The flavor was quite spicy and very, very delicious. La cena consistía en el guiso ya mencionado. El sabor era bastante picante y muy muy rico. 
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.
8/26/2026: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the 80s. Cloudy morning.
On the morning of August 26, 2026, I did some planning for the cooking bus and discovered that this box has 120 amps. En la mañana del 26 de agosto de 2026 planeé un poco para el bus de cocinar descubrí que esta caja tiene 120 amperios. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of duck eggs and beef. There was also a green salad topped with feta cheese and olives. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de pato y carne de res. Además, había una ensalada verde cubierta con queso feta y aceitunas. 
Mr. Wagaur on the sunny afternoon of August 26, 2026. El señor Wagaur en la soleada tarde del 26 de agosto de 2026. 
The sunny afternoon of August 26, 2026, in the easternmost field of the ranch. La soleada tarde del 26 de agosto de 2026 en el campo más oriental del rancho. 
On the afternoon of August 26, 2023, I applied caulk around the southeasternmost door of the guesthouse. En la tarde del 26 de agosto de 20236 apliqué masilla alrededor de la puerta más al sureste de la casa de huéspedes. 
The dinner consisted of a “7226” beef ribeye steak, reverse-seared, accompanied by a salad topped with tomato and goat cheese. There was also half a baked potato and a horn of red wine. La cena consistía en un chuletón de vaca 7226, dorado al revés, acompañado de una ensalada cubierta con tomate y queso de cabra. Además había una media patata horneada y un cuerno de vino tinto. 
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.
8/27/2026: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into high 80s. Mostly sunny morning followed by a cloudy and humid afternoon.
The ranch’s southernmost field at dawn on August 27, 2026. El campo más al sureste de rancho en el amanecer del 27 de agosto de 2026. 
The dinner on August 27, 2026, will consist of thinly sliced beef and pork steaks with chopped sweet potato, all seasoned with a homemade taco spice blend. La cena del 27 de agosto de 2026 consistirá en bistecs de res y cerdo en rodajas finas con batata picada, todo condimentada con una mezcla de especias de taco casera. 
On the morning of August 27, 2026, I organized two quarters of a half of beef. En la mañana del 27 de agosto de 2026 organicé dos cuartos de res de media res. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of chicken eggs and boerewors sausage. There was also a green salad topped with olives and feta cheese and drizzled with a spicy vinaigrette. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos de gallina y salchicha boerewors. Además, había una ensalada verde cubierta con aceitunas y queso feta y rociada con una vinagreta picante. 
A Belgian Blue cow on the cloudy afternoon of August 27, 2026. Una vaca azul belga en la tarde nublada del 27 de agosto de 2026 
The cloudy afternoon of August 27, 2026, seen from center field. La tarde nublada del 27 de agosto de 2026, vista desde el campo central. 
A sign I drew to advertise a quarter of beef we’re selling. Un letrero que dibujé para anunciar un cuarto de res que estamos vendiendo. 
The back side of the steaks from steer number 4093. El lado posterior de los bistecs que procedían del novillo número 4093. 
The front portion of the steaks from steer number 4093. La parte delantera de los bisteces que procedían del novillo número 4093. 
The dinner consisted of a beef flap steak and two pork shoulder steaks—all thinly sliced—accompanied by diced sweet potato. This mixture was pan-fried and then served over a salad with cottage cheese and salsa verde. La cena consistía en un bistec de falda de res y dos bistecs de paleta de cerdo, todos en rodajas finas y acompañadas de batata picada. Esta mezcla estaba frita en una sartén, y después de eso, la servimos sobre una ensalada con requesón y salsa verde. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela.
8/28/2026: . Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the mid 80s. Cloudy morning followed by a rainy and drizzly afternoon.
The dawn of August 28, 2026. El amanecer del 28 de agosto de 2026. 
The lunch on August 28, 2026, consisted of leftovers from Tuesday’s stew (beef and pork), accompanied by a Greek salad. El almuerzo de 28 de agosto de 2026 consistía en sobras del guiso del martes (de carne de res y carne de cerdo) acompañadas de una ensalada griega. 
The slightly rainy afternoon of August 28, 2026, in the southernmost field of the ranch. La tarde un poco lluviosa del 28 de agosto de 2026 en el campo más al sureste del rancho. 
After returning from the dance party, I ate a slice of pizza Padre made. It was delicious. Después de regresar de la fiesta de baile, comí una rebanada de pizza que hizo mi papá. Estaba deliciosa. 
This is a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt and some peanuts. Esta es una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego y algunos cacahuates.
8/29/2026: Today began in the low 70s and warmed into the low 90s. Mostly sunny morning followed by a drizzly and stormy afternoon.
The dawn of August 29, 2026, seen from center field. El amanecer del 29 de agosto de 2026, visto desde el campo central. 
Two regal moths on the morning of August 29, 2026. They were enormous. Dos polillas regias en la mañana del 29 de agosto de 2026. Eran enormes. 
Mr. Brimage with his homemade lamp on the morning of August 29, 2026. El Sr. Brimage con su lámpara casera en la mañana del 29 de agosto de 2026. 
Mientras las salchichas y camarones se cocinaban en el horno, preparé estos bistecs (de vaca número 7226), condimentándolos con sal y pimienta negra recién molida. Mientras las salchichas y camarones se cocinaban en el horno, preparé estos bistecs (de vaca número 7226), condimentándolos con sal y pimienta negra recién molida. 
Lunch consisted of a green salad with Italian beef sausage and shrimp. El almuerzo consistía en una ensalada verde con salchicha italiana de res y camarones. 
The stormy afternoon of August 29, 2026. La tarde tormentosa de 29 de agosto de 2026. 
Dinner consisted of a boneless “T-bone” steak. In reality, it was a combination of a Denver steak and a chuck eye steak. It was served with a salad topped with olives and feta cheese and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. There was also a horn of red wine to drink. La cena consistía en un bistec “T-Bone” sin hueso. Realmente, era una combinación entre un bistec de Denver y un bistec de paleta (chuck eye). Todo esto se sirvió acompañado de una ensalada cubierta con aceitunas y queso feta y rociada con una vinagreta balsámica. Además, había un cuerno de vino tinto para beber. 
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.
Final Note: This week, on Tuesday, I had a dance coaching session with Gioia and Anastacia. Part of the lesson focused on Cuban (or Latin) Motion. My first impression was that it would be quite a journey to learn, and really, it already has been. For example, at one point during the coaching, Gioia took hold of the waistband of my pants, and as I stepped sideways, she physically manipulated my hip region to simulate what Cuban Motion would end up looking & feeling like.
The major part of that lesson, though, was salsa decision-making, arising from my request the prior week to focus the coaching on “learning how to increase the fluidity of decision-making in dance, especially salsa” (salsa being a very fast-paced dance).
Gioia began by stating, “I like chunking my salsa… and I like chunky salsa.” The ensuing advice was broken down into three points:
1. Use a certain, longer dance step/move – in this case, a cross-body lead – as a choice-making step.
2. Design and pre-practice “salsa chunks”. That way, instead of choosing individual moves, I can choose a series of moves during the choice-making step, granting even more time for further decision-making and lending greater smoothness and seamlessness to the dance.
3. The best way to make choices easier is to make choices often. Which, in essence, means “just do something” and “practice”.
With that last point, I found myself wondering then – and a number of times since – whether the whole coaching lesson could be applied to more dances than just salsa, and perhaps to more than just dance.
“Make a choice.”
Quite the philosophy, make a choice and do something, or one could say do something and make a choice, either way I’m on board. Fantastic. What a great week.