(Above: A morning activity: Padre and Wag helped me put the first column of Guesthouse in place.
Una actividad de la mañana: Mi padre y mi tío me ayudaron a colocar la primera columna de Guesthouse.)
4/14/2024: Today began in the high 40s and warmed into the low 70s. Sunny.
The morning of 4/14/2024 looked like spring. La mañana del 14/4/2024 parecía primavera. 
The plow in front of the central barn on the midday of 4/14/2024. El arado enfrente del establo central en el mediodía del 14/4/2024. 
The main course for lunch of 4/14/2024 consisted of oven-roasted barbecue-marinated chicken. El plato principal en el almuerzo del 14/4/2024 consistía en pollo marinado en salsa barbacoa casera asado al horno. 
Plated lunch: The roasted chicken was accompanied by a green salad made by Padre and dressed by Madre. El almuerzo emplatado: El pollo asado estaba acompañada de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre y aliñada por mi madre. 
During the pasture inspection this afternoon, I found some chiltepin plants in the southeasternmost field of the farm. Durante la inspección de los pastos, encontré unas plantas de chiltepín en el campo más sureste del rancho. 
This afternoon, I removed five more buckets of dirt from Guesthouse. Esta tarde, quité cinco cubetas más de tierra del hoyo #1 de Guesthouse. 
Dinner consisted of a Belgian Blue burger-steak cooked in the oven, and then, the pan (reverse seared). This was accompanied by a green salad made by Padre. La cena consistía en un bistec de res molida de azul belga cocinado en el horno, y entones, la sartén (sellado al revés). Este estaba acompañado de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
4/15/2024: Today began in the low 50s and warmed into the low 80s. Sunny.
The dawn of 4/15/2024 in the central pasture. The cows were resting under the morning mists. El amanecer del 15/4/2024 en el campo central. Las vacas descansaban bajo los vapores de la mañana. 
The rising sun was shining through the central tree line. El sol naciente brillaba a través la línea central de árboles. 
For some reason, the heifer in this photo had an aura. Perhaps she is a cow saint? Por alguna razón, esta vaquilla tenía un aura en esta foto. ¿Quizás ella sea una vaca santa? 
This morning, I finished the exterior part of the new drainage system for Madre’s kitchen container. Esta mañana terminé la parte exterior del nuevo sistema de drenaje para el contenedor cocina de mi madre. 
Lunch consisted of a tray of fresh sushi accompanied by miso soup adorned with green cabbage, sliced avocado, and purslane flowers. El almuerzo consistía en una bandeja de sushi fresco acompañada de sopa de mizo adornada con repollo verde, aguacate en rodajas, y flores de verdolaga. 
A young Wagyu heifer with slightly crooked legs. Una joven vaquilla Wagyu con piernas un poco torcidas 
Dinner consisted of a fried mixture of leftover beef, green pepper, and five eggs. This was accompanied by a green salad made by Padre. La cena consistía en una mezcla frita de res sobrante, pimiento verde y cinco huevos. Esta estaba acompañada de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
4/16/2024: Today began in the low 50s and warmed into the low 80s. Mostly sunny.
An Angus cow with dew on her back and the rising sun of 4/16/2024 in the background. Una vaca Angus con rocío en su espalda y el sol naciente del 16/4/2024 al fondo. 
Two Full Blood Wagyu chuck steaks salted in preparation for dinner. They were very marbled. Dos bistecs de hombro de Wagyu de pura sangre salados en preparación de la cena. Ellos fueron muy veteados. 
Lunch consisted of a pan-seared venison sausage from Bubba accompanied by a green salad made by Padre and dressed by Madre. El almuerzo consistía en salchicha de venado al sartén (de Bubba) acompañada de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre y aliñada por mi madre. 
After the main course, I enjoyed a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Después del plato principal, disfruté de una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
We found this cow during the beef pasture inspection. She has strange markings on her back that look like veins. Encontramos esta vaca durante la inspección de los campos. Ella tiene manchas raras en su espalda que parecen venas. 
I removed a little bit more dirt from hole #1 this afternoon. Now that hole is 4.5 feet deep. Quité un poco más de tierra del hoyo #1 esta tarde. Ahora ese hoyo tiene 4.5 pies de profundidad. 
Dinner consisted of the already shown steaks. I cooked them in the skillet and I plated them with a cabbage salad made by Padre. La cena consistía en los bistecs ya mostrados. Cociné ellos en la sartén y las emplaté con una ensalada de repollo hecha por mi padre. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
4/17/2024: Today began in the mid 50s and warmed into the mid 80s. Mostly sunny.
The dawn of 4/17/2024 in the central pasture. El amanecer del 17/4/2024 en el campo central. 
This morning, I fed Dolores a small cockroach for breakfast. Esta mañana, alimenté a Dolores una pequeña cucaracha para el desayuno. 
Lunch consisted of a fried mixture of eggs and porkchop. This was accompanied by a green salad made by Padre and dressed by Madre. El almuerzo consistía en una mezcla frita de huevos y chuleta de cerdo. Esta estaba acompañada de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre y aliñada por mi madre. 
After eating the eggs with pork, I enjoyed half a sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Después de comer los huevos con cerdo, disfruté de una mitad de una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego. 
Dinner consisted of a Belgian Blue burger-steak encrusted with coffee grounds and salt. This was cooked in the skillet and accompanied by a simple salad of spring mix and tomato. La cena consistía en un bistec de res molida de azul belga incrustado con posos de café y sal. Este estaba cocinado en la sartén y acompañado de una ensalada simple de mezcla primavera y tomate. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego.
4/18/2024: . Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the high 80s. Mostly sunny.
The dawn of 4/18/2024 in the central pasture. El amanecer del 18/4/2024 en el campo central. 
Column #1 in its new home. La columna #1 en su nuevo hogar. 
A morning activity: Padre and Wag helped me put the first column of Guesthouse in place. Una actividad de la mañana: Mi padre y mi tío me ayudaron a colocar la primera columna de Guesthouse. 
Another morning activity: Padre, Wag, and I weaned eleven calves and gave them some vaccinations and dewormer. Otra actividad de la mañana: Mi padre, mi tío y yo destetamos once terneros y les dimos unas vacunas y medicamentos para eliminar lombrices intestinales. 
This is the entrance to the central bran. It’s midday and the cows are waiting for their lunch. Esta es la entrada al establo central. Es mediodía y las vacan están esperando su almuerzo. 
Lunch: A salad of romaine lettuce, red cabbage, avocado, homemade barbecue sauce, Greek olive oil, and pan-seared chopped Belgian Blue beef. El almuerzo: Una ensalada de lechuga romana, repollo rojo, aguacate, salsa barbacoa casera, aceite de oliva griego y res picado de azul belga al sartén. 
Dinner consisted of two types of pizza: one with ground beef, beef sausage, and green pepper and the other with mozzarella, queso blanco, and a garlic butter sauce. The pizzas were accompanied by a simple salad of tomato, arugula, and spring mix. La cena consistía en dos tipos de pizza: una con res molida, salchicha de res y pimiento verde y la otra con mozzarella, queso fresco, y una salsa de mantequilla y ajo fresco. Las pizzas estaban acompañadas de una ensalada simple de tomate, rúcula y mezcla primavera. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt and some walnuts. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego y unas nueces.
4/19/2024: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the high 80s. Mostly sunny.
The dawn of 4/19/2024 in the pasture that surrounds Jacobhouse. El amanecer del 19/4/2024 en el campo que rodea mi casita. 
The same dawn of 4/19/2024 in the farm’s southeasternmost field. El mismo amanecer del 19/4/2024 en el campo más sureste del rancho. 
This is the flower of a cat’s claw creeper.Esta es una flor de una enredadera se llama “cat’s claw creeper”. 
A chicken and some vegetables seasoned with salt, black pepper, fresh rosemary, and fresh garlic. I cooked all of them in a 375 F oven for one hour with the lid on, half an hour with the lid off, and then, the entire dish rested covered once again for twenty minutes. Un pollo y unos vegetales sazonados con sal, pimienta negra, romero fresco y ajo fresco. Cociné todos ellos dentro de un horno de 375 grados Fahrenheit por una hora con la tapa, una media hora sin la tapa, y entonces, el plato entero descansó cubierto de nuevo por veinte minutos. 
A photo of Prometheus showing his enormous buttock. Una foto de Prometeo mostrándonos su nalga grandota. 
Lunch consisted of the already shown chicken and vegetables accompanied by a green salad made by Padre and dressed by Madre. El almuerzo consistía en el pollo y los vegetales ya mostrados acompañados de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre y aliñada por mi madre. 
Two Belgian Blue burger steaks formed and salted for dinner. Dos bistecs de res molida de azul belga formados y salados para la cena. 
This afternoon I planted twelve green pepper plants in the new compost that Padre had brought to the garden. Esta tarde planté doce plantas de pimiento verde en el nuevo abono que mi padre había llevado al jardín. 
I also worked a little bit more in hole #2 of Guesthouse. It is almost time to place the second column. También, trabajé un poco más en el hoyo #2 de Guesthouse. Es casi hora de colocar la segunda columna. 
Dinner: A reverse-seared Belgian Blue burger-steak accompanied by a simple salad of spring mix, arugula, cherry tomato, and fresh carrot. La cena: Un bistec de res molida de azul belga sellado al revés y acompañado de una ensalada simple de mezcla primavera, rúcula, tomate cereza y zanahoria fresca. 
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.
4/20/2024: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the high 80s. Sunny.
The dawn of 4/20/2024 in the central pasture. El amanecer del 20/4/2024 en el campo central. 
Lunch of 4/20/2024 consisted of a taco salad. The base of lettuce and cabbage was topped with seasoned Belgian Blue ground beef, two types of salsa, avocado, and sour cream. El almuerzo del 20/4/2024 consistía en una ensalada de taco. El base de lechuga y repollo estaba cubierto con res molida de azul belga sazonada, dos tipos de salsa, aguacate, y crema ácida. 
A photo from inside the completed Hole #2. Una foto desde el interior del Hoyo #2 completado. 
A photo from outside the completed Hole #2. Una foto desde el exterior del Hoyo #2 completado. 
Dinner: A mixture of sautéed eggs with beef sausage. This was accompanied by a green salad made by Padre. La cena: Una mezcla de huevos salteados con salchicha de res. Esta estaba acompañada de una ensalada verde hecha por mi padre. 
A sliced red apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek yogurt and some walnuts. Una manzana roja en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una cucharada de yogur griego y unas nueces.
Final Note: A bit of history about the Vale phrase: “Buying the bones.” This epigraph was taken from the 12th Lani chapter of Book 2.
The term ‘bone buyer’ in the Vale-sense is much different than our own definition which refers to those more promiscuous high ladies (or sometimes lords) who lack a mate and pay for romance outside of wedlock. No, to describe the Vale definition, we must start by detailing with the habits of an animal who dwelled in great numbers throughout the Vale before the shattering of Samore: the augoroch.
When an augoroch bull became old, he would separate from the herd, and as his mobility lessened, he became increasingly territorial against enemy, kith, and even kin. Wolves, despite being pack creatures, were loathe to confront the solitary creature, and they would continue avoiding him after his death, ostensibly out of the terror that his high cranial crest and his razor-sharp horns inspired. Only carrion birds had the gumption to eventually confront that corpse. For this reason, the skeletons of augoroch bulls were oft left completely intact and in complete isolation, and whenever they were found by us humans, those humans could be sure of one thing: the tract of land surrounding such skeletons was of the finest quality. The people would name this land ‘bull-blessed’, which, per the dialect of the region gradually transformed to ‘bullest’.
The tale continues. When humans found these bones, they would settle with the knowledge that they had chosen an excellent piece of property. Later on, when they became interested in selling or buying such pieces of land, the buyer would oft ask: “You got the bones?” which would mean, “Do you have the bones to prove that this is bullest land?” The answer would be “yes” or “no”, and then business would or would not proceed.
That brings us to the phrase ‘bought the bones’, which refers to the practice of someone buying a set of augoroch bull bones to make it appear as if they had bullest land even when they did not. Thus, in the Vale, when someone is accused of ‘buying the bones’ or being a ‘bone-buyer’, it is meant as an insult to their integrity.
– Auriel, Alchemist of the Fahren Court
Interesting final note young Walden…
Great week… aren’t we all bone buyers on occasion? Thanks for sharing.