(Above: Dawn of 4/14/2023. El amanecer de 14/4/2023.)
4/9/2023: Today began in the low 50s and warmed into the high 60s. Cloudy with some sprinklings of rain throughout.
Morning of 4/09/2023: The calabasa plants have begun to flower. 
This morning I began construction of the outdoor shower deck. The dimensions will be somewhere around 6 ft by 4.5 ft. 
Lunch consisted of sautéed eggs accompanied by a Padre-made & Madre-dressed salad. 
A delectable fruit-plate consisting of sliced Granny Smith apple, a strawberry, and a hefty dollop of Greek yogurt. 
For dinner of 4/09/2023, I made a cheese pan pizza. The thick crust was imbued with sourdough starter, the sauce was freshly made, and the cheese was a blend of mozzarella & Parmesan sprinkled with olive oil. 
Dinner consisted of cheese pan pizza accompanied by a cucumber, tomato, red cabbage, carrot, and olive salad. We also enjoyed a couple glasses of Casa Canevel Prosecco. La cena consistí de pizza de queso a la sartén acompañada de una ensalada de pepino, tomate, zanahoria, y acietuna en una vinagreta ácida. También, disfrutamos unas copas de Prosecco de Casa Canevel. 
A dessert of sliced Granny Smith apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a spoonful of Greek Yogurt. Un postre de manzana Abuela Smith en rodajas espolvoreado con canela y acompañada de una cuchara de yogur griego.
4/10/2023: Today began in the mid 60s and warmed into the mid 70s. Mostly cloudy.
Morning of 4/10/2023: I found another 3 hefty hornworms on the chiltepin plants in the hugelkultur. 
One of this morning’s tasks was to procure a refill Co2 tank from AirGas. 
A delicious repast of Sushi Bistro sushi accompanied by miso soup garnished with red cabbage, spinach, and avocado. Un almuerzo delicioso de sushi de Sushi Bistro acompañado de sopa de miso cubierta con repollo rojo, espinaca, y aguacate. 
Two Belgian Blue NYS salted in preparation of the reverse-sear to occur at dusk. Estos son los filetes de Nueva York de Azúl Belga que yo salé en preparación de dorar a fuego vivo más tarde en el día. 
Dinner: Belgian Blue New York Strip accompanied by a salad that consisted of lettuce, red cabbage, carrot, and olives. La cena: Los filetes de Nueva York de Azúl Belga sellados en una sartén y acompañados de una ensalada que consistí de lechuga, repollo rojo, zanahoria, y acietunas. 
Dessert: A sliced Granny Smith apple sprinkled with cinnamon accompanied by a strawberry and little bit of sour cream. El postre: Una manzana Abuela Smith espolvoreado con canela y acompañado de una fresa y un bole pequeño de crema ácida.
4/11/2023: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the high 70s. Partly cloudy and quite breezy. Still dry.
Dawn of 4/11/2023. El amanecer de 11/4/2023. 
This morning, shingles were delivered via crane-truck to the roof of the Grandma Cook house. 
The calabaza squash plants have begun flowering in true. 
Lunch of 4/11/2023: A fried mixture of beef and eggs accompanied by a fresh green salad. El almuerzo de 11/4/2023: Una mezcla frita de res y huevos, acompañado de una ensalada de verduras frescas. 
A sliced Granny Smith apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by Greek yogurt. Una manzana Abuela Smith en rodajas, espolvoreado con canela, y acompañado de yogur griego. 
A picture of cow #516 cleaning her newborn calf. Una foto de vaca #516 lavando a su ternero unos momentos despues el parto. 
Progress was made on the outdoor shower today. The first two poles are in the ground, and the postern support board is in place. 
Dinner of 4/11/2023: Pan-seared Belgian Blue sirloin accompanied by a salad comprised of Romaine lettuce, spinach, carrot, and castelvetrano olives in a tangy vinaigrette. Cena de 11/4/2023: Un solomillo de Azul Belga a la sartén acompañado de una ensalada que consistía de lechuga Romaine, espinaca, zanahoria, y acietunas castelvetranos en una vinagreta ácida. 
Dessert of apple slices, two quartered strawberries, and a small spoonful of Greek yogurt. All of it was sprinkled with cinnamon. Un postre de manzana en rodajas, dos fresas en cuartos, y una cuchara pequeña de yogur griego. Todo estuvo espolvoreado con canela.
4/12/2023: Today began in the mid 60s and warmed into the mid 70s. Mostly cloudy.
Morning of 4/12/2023: The dahlia seeds have sprouted. Mañana de 12/4/2023: Las semillas de dahlia han brotado. 
This morning, I put together a Facebook ad for a 1/4-side of Wagyner Blue Beef. This included weighing the boxes to find out how much beef there was and taking some photos. 
Today I pounded some stakes into the soil beside the tomato plants. Soon, I will thin the plants and tie one to each stake. 
I found this hairy caterpillar crawling on on a tomato plant in the garden. Yo encontré este gusano. Él estaba escalando el tallo de una planta jitomate en mi jardín. 
Dinner: Fried beef & eggs accompanied by a green salad. Delicious. La cena: Res & huevos fritos acompañado de una ensalad verde. Todo estuvo deliciosa. 
Dessert: A sliced honeycrisp apple coated in cinnamon and accompanied by Greek yogurt. El postre: Una manzana honeycrisp en rodajas, espolvoreado con canela, y acompañado de yogur griego.
4/13/2023: Today began in the mid 60s and warmed into the low 80s. Mostly cloudy.
Dawn of 4/13/2023: Sunrise belit a grazing herd and made one cow’s relieving herself particularly visible. 
Midday in the central beef pasture. 
Lunch of 4/13/2023 was enjoyed at La Hacienda Colombiana #2. The first course consisted of a fresh salad and some fried yucca sticks. 
For the main course, I enjoyed an especially cheesy Pechuqueso. 
On returning home from class at CF, I found that the coffee-encrusted short ribs I had placed into the oven to reverse-sear were at a perfect temperature for the latter part: the sear. Cuándo yo regresé a casa de clase, yo descubrí que las costillitas incrustadas con café que yo hube puesto en el horno para asadar estaban una temperatura perfecta para el sellado. 
Dinner: The aforementioned Belgian Blue short ribs accompanied by a fresh green salad and a glass of Merlot. La cena: Costillitas de Azul Belga acompañadas de una ensalada fresca y verde y una copa de Merlot. 
A dessert of sliced Granny Smith apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by Greek yogurt and a few loquats. Un postre de manzana Abuela Smith en rodajas, espolvoreada con canela, y acompañada de yogur griego y unos nísperos.
4/14/2023: Today began in the mid 60s and warmed into the mid 80s. Mostly Sunny. Quite windy and dusty.
Dawn of 4/14/2023. El amanecer de 14/4/2023. 
A morning task: I put in a new post in the weanlots where the old post had broken off and the fence was beginning to fall over. It is much better now. 
Lunch: A taco salad consisting of lettuce and spinach topped with Belgian Blue ground beef, avocado, tomato, sour cream, and two types of salsa (verde and taquera). El almuerzo: una ensalada taco consistiendo de lechuga y espinaca cubierta con picadillo de Azúl Belga, aguacate, tomate, crema ácida, y dos tipos de salsa (verde y taquera). 
Dessert: Half a sliced apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by a small bowl of sour cream for dipping. El postre: Una mitad de manzana en rodajas, espolvoreada con canela, y acompañada de un bol pequeño de crema ácida para mojar. 
Instead of walking up old cow #670 to the barn, Padre decided to AI her behind the gate in the Dana/Gaur lot. She did not seem too perturbed. 
Late-afternoon in the central beef pasture. Many bovines were grazing upon the struggling turf. 
Late-afternoon activity: Tying tomato plants to their stakes and thinning out additional plants. The former went well, but the latter was slightly saddening (there were some very healthy-looking plants). I should note that by thinning the plants, I am reducing the chance of pests, mold-growth, and giving the plants that remain more access to available nutrients. 
After tying the tomato plants to their respective stakes, I ventured over to the outdoor shower and dug two holes for two more posts. Sometime over the next few days, I intend to square these up with the other poles and to begin digging the mini-leach field. 
Dinner of 4/14/2023: 4 eggs fried with ground beef and topped with salsa verde. These were accompanied by a salad consisting of cucumber, tomato, carrot, red cabbage, and olives in a tangy vinaigrette. La cena de 14/4/2023: Cuatro huevos fritos que estaban salteados con picadillo y cubiertos con salsa verde. Estos estaba acompañados de una ensalada que contenía pepino, tomate, zanahoria, repollo rojo, y acietunas en una vinagreta ácida. 
Dessert: A sliced Granny Smith apple sprinkled with cinnamon and accompanied by one large strawberry and a spoonful of Greek Yogurt. El postre: Una manzana Abuela Smith espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de una fresa enorme y una cuchara de yogur griego.
4/15/2023: Today began in the low 60s and warmed into the mid 80s. Sunny morning. Cloudy afternoon.
Morning of 4/15/2023: A sprawl of lantana located near the ruins behind the milking parlor. Mañana de 15/4/2023: Una mata de lantana cerca de las ruinas detrás el establo para ordeñar. 
A slab of beef bacon recently cut and frozen at Nettle’s Beef Processing. Tocino de res corte y congelado por nuestro carnicero. 
Lunch of 4/15/2023: Pan-seared tuna and salmon accompanied by a salad consisting of lettuce, red cabbage, and olives in a vinaigrette made by Madre. El almuerzo de 15/4/2023: Atún y salmón a la sartén acompañados de una ensalada consistía de lechuga, repollo rojo, y acietunas en una vinagreta hecho de mi Madre. 
Dessert: A sliced Granny Smith apple accompanied by Greek yogurt and sprinkled with cinnamon. El Postre: Una manzana Granny Smith en rodajas acompañada de yogur griego y espolvoreada con canela. 
This afternoon, I straightened the two posts I put in the ground yesterday and added & squared the outer three boards of the deck frame. 
Dinner of 4/15/2023: A Belgian Blue London Broil accompanied by a salad consisting of cucumber, carrot, tomato, and olives in a tangy vinaigrette. Cena de 15/4/2023: Una asada Londres (London Broil) de Azul Belga acompañada de una ensalada que consistía de pepino, zanahoria, tomate, y acietunas en una vinagreta ácida. 
Dessert: I enjoyed these cinnamon sprinkled apple slices which were accompanied by a bowl of sour cream for dipping. El postre: Yo disfruté esta manzana en rodajas espolvoreada con canela y acompañada de un bol de crema ácida para mojar.
Final Note: I am finding that by typing in some Spanish captions, I am able to learn and retain new vocabulary. I usually type a caption in Spanish, write an English translation, and then paste the former into a translator to see how close I got. For some reason, it seems like I can describe food pretty well… Especially sliced apples.
I think the next big step to take is finding a reliable language exchange partner to practice speaking with on a regular basis (or living in a Spanish-speaking country for an extended period), but in the meantime, I’ll content myself with teaching English a couple days a week and picking up what I can whilst doing so.
Interesting week, I’m pretty sure I understand why you know how to talk about sliced apples in Spanish… It’s all practice though, just think about how far things have come over the last few years. Mi hijo comprende mucho más palabras en español ahora, es porque práctica todos los días.