Cinnamon snails baked December 27, 2025.

DiY-ing, power puttering and modding. Vinyl vs Digital. Dec. 24-27/25 ROCK FARM UPDATE.

The author finds happiness in contentment over fleeting joy, enjoying DIY projects in a calm atmosphere. They detail a recent audio rack project utilizing various materials on a budget, sharing mixed feelings on audio quality debates. The post reflects on personal experiences, family loss, and creative endeavors amid daily challenges and reflections on life {{AI-generated, human vetted}}

cookies and beer

Sometimes, it’s all I have to work with! December 10th & 17th Farm Report (2025).

Do you trust your instincts? Unless I'm suffering from a particularly bad day of anti-anxiety or PTSD drug withdrawal, my gut feelings or instincts are the best tool I have with judging weird situations. If a group of people just feel wrong, if someone is giving me bad vibes, if something seems too good to … Continue reading Sometimes, it’s all I have to work with! December 10th & 17th Farm Report (2025).

Count-down timers, assertive house-panthers! Nov. 16/25 farm report. The trip.

This blog goes to some dark places. The opinions are mine alone.

The northeast corner of the studio.

A question I react strongly to. And My October 17-24/25 Rock Report.

PN explains why ARE YOU BUSY is his most hated question. He summarizes the activities completed on the STUDIO to make it viable.

hot fire, using hardwood not spruce nor pine

Detail-oriented. October 14/25 STUDIO UPDATE.

PN values in-depth knowledge, often leading to excessive focus on details. They document observations meticulously with drawings and notes on DIY projects, reflecting on tasks and improvements in their studio. Personal experiences, such as a friend's loss and bird safety measures, are interwoven with project updates and quirky ideas {{AI generated, human vetted}}.

sunset at 6

The October 10/25 Rock Farm Report.

I have hobbies that I do in my spare time. Some are income generators. Most are not! PN gives an update of the work done on the STUDIO.

1 of our indoor cats enjoying the autumn sunshine.

Prep the surfaces for weatherproofing. Document how I fixed our ATV on September 30/25!

PN waxes about paint and powersports.

D&D Meats, looking forward to trying it out.

Just purchased it from an adjacent vendor. TS' fellow vendor built these for us. Nice addition to our booth. PN covets this antennae (hmmm). Amphibians are awesome. A surprisingly tasty vegetarian burger. Images from the last couple of months.

meditation end card from headspace online meditation application

Why, yes. Yes, I am. But first, let’s talk about mid-September/25 on the farm.

PN acknowledges his grudges and shares local happenings around the rock farm.

I want a yearly DO-OVER. August 18/25 Rock Farm Report.

It's been a hot summer with too much drama. We are happiest when we are doing farm chores on our rock farm. Keep in touch with us!

Midweek market in Tobermory!

10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Thank you, Bluewater Heron Cruises.

Click bait?! July 29 to August 3, 2025 Rock Report.

PN attempted to answer a vague writing prompt and outlined some recycling efforts on the farm. PN shared his experiences at the 2025 Wiarton Home Coming. Support the BTC.

tomatoes growing in repurposed water bins

Dog and cat fanciers. Kind humans. July 26-28/25 Farm Report.

PN shares his favourite human-type, and outlines the latest bear conflict. The new feeding arm will foil a bear's ability to climb trees. Forest gardening is providing fresh produce. The home builder finished repairing the damage caused by the gutter installers.

Eventually…

PN disengages from aggressive motorists and reflects about traveling abroad. PN also prepares to sell firewood and reflects upon his medication.

JULY 22/25: AFTER the summer heat. Musings before tomorrow’s Tobermory Market.

PN poses with his completed wood bins and uses non-toxic fungicides on pea plants.

July 22/25: BEFORE it gets too hot outside for farm chores.

PN gets a more accurate set of measurements for his plywood needs. He also makes fun of local vendors. Plywood is an expensive building material. Don't waste it.

chalkboard with produce listed for sale

Hawaiian street food! July 21st Farm Report.

The post discusses comfort food memories tied to Hawaii and current farm activities, including managing gardening and vehicle assessments. It highlights challenges with home ownership, such as furnace issues and alarm system costs, while emphasizing support from local services. Plans for improvements and frustrations with building supplies are also mentioned {{AI generated, human vetted}}

This is Paul Neem's icon for his private contracting activities.

DIY Anti-Collision Dots: An Effective Solution? July 19/25 update… addendum!

Paul applies bird-protection dots to the south window and agonizes over his pavilion.

Are AI-Generated Images Fooling Us? July 19/25 update.

I want to remind my acquaintances about the risks of trusting news ads on social media. CBC posted the following tab on their home page: https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/217731317-Is-this-CBC-story-or-ad-on-social-media-real My last blog post contained an AI-generated image of a black cat repairing a photovoltaic panel using some mysterious pipes and valves. The program DID capture the cat's fur... … Continue reading Are AI-Generated Images Fooling Us? July 19/25 update.

Meditation and rock farming! July 12-14/25 update.

PN shares the latest dramas happening at the off-grid rock farm on the North Bruce Peninsula. PN shares the strategies he uses to increase this quality-of-life.

Did I go outside. Get it done. And do something awesome?

Write a letter to your 100-year-old self. I made it! Did I pay attention to the sunrise this morning? Did I go to the washroom, in the toilet? And washed my hands with soap and water? Did I brush my teeth BEFORE… …kissing my cat good morning? Am I wearing pants? Did I increase my … Continue reading Did I go outside. Get it done. And do something awesome?

Thank TS for meals. Evening Meditations. Breathe. July 3rd Update!

How do you express your gratitude? I don’t believe there’s a great big daddy in the sky that I must pay homage to. I’m a humanist, more of a deep ecologist. I am lucky to be part of a much larger ecosystem up here on the North Bruce Peninsula. Has it been disturbed? Of course … Continue reading Thank TS for meals. Evening Meditations. Breathe. July 3rd Update!

Food Security and pavilion update.

How would you improve your community? Upgrade our existing North Bruce Peninsula (Lion’s Head & Tobermory) food banks. Give extra funding for Tobermory’s year-round community centre. The Meeting Place is on a shoestring budget. And I’d make damn sure The Bruce Mens Shed gets its own workshop. Men’s mental health is a priority for me. … Continue reading Food Security and pavilion update.

For more information, text 226-923-2968.

No mess and added biodiversity. June 26th Rock Farm Report.

The author reflects on their legacy, emphasizing the importance of clear estate planning and their commitment to sustainable practices on their permaculture property. They are transitioning away from traditional teaching roles, embracing alternative education while exploring home-schooling. Despite challenges in their business, they remain optimistic about the future and community engagement. {{AI generated, human vetted}}

Lots of arguments. A dictionary & encyclopedia on every table.

The author reflects on life before the internet, reminiscing about the era of paper dictionaries, encyclopedias, and family debates over truth. They also share updates on farm life, including home maintenance and improvements, while navigating spring's challenges and local sales dynamics. The narrative combines nostalgia with contemporary experiences. {{AI generated; human vetted}}

QR code for reaching TS and PN.

Eventually, I switched over to a circular saw.

…all emission free. https://videopress.com/v/plaFq56B?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Look for the display booth at the front driveway. Black Dog Biscuits. Neem Tree (being added to our home business’ event insurance). Thank you Josh Williams of Electric Woodpecker, Tobermory, ON. TS’ site.

Hauling, carrying, stacking

What's the most fun way to exercise? The homesteading workout! Processing firewood. And SAFELY cutting down damaged trees that were shattered by our 2025 ice storms. There's many tree crowns hanging by some strands >20 feet above my head. This weekend, we're buying NEW hardhats, with chainsaw face-guards. And dragging logs through the bush. TS … Continue reading Hauling, carrying, stacking

Socially acceptable hydrant sniffing. April 20 Farm Report.

How do you use social media? Self-promotion, without self-aggrandizement. Checking in with current pop/pulp culture. Assess the local gossip. Oh, and looking at cat pictures & drawing on walls! Memes… don’t forget the witty word play. 2025 EASTER Sunday Rock Farm Report Both TS and I pick up on the spiritual uptick this Easter long … Continue reading Socially acceptable hydrant sniffing. April 20 Farm Report.

Princess Auto Catalog

Literature, rodent combat, ice, maple syrup, insects, and rocks.

afternoon sunlight among iced-over trees

Resilience & Post-Storm Farm Report & Neem-Schemes.

The post outlines personal adaptations to the Covid-19 pandemic, including early retirement, telecommuting, social media management, and strategic resource procurement. It emphasizes DIY skills for repairs and mending, maintaining mental health through therapies, and navigating healthcare via telehealth. Additionally, it discusses post-storm tree damage and plans for selling firewood. {{{AI generated; human vetted}}}

Paul's logo

It gets better (with ice storms). March 32nd Farm Report.

What advice would you give to your teenage self? It gets better. In the post-pandemic mindset, this phrase seems to be lost among the screaming meemies and awful players online. I remember George Takei being the one who supposedly coined this phrase (during a LGBQ media event). In April, I will be turning 55 years … Continue reading It gets better (with ice storms). March 32nd Farm Report.

Political Paul, uses FIDO off-grid, and goes outside to do something analogue (February 21-22 Farm Report).

If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why? Foreign aid. And by association, military aid. I am ashamed and disgusted at how much poverty exists in Canada. All of my citizens have the right to emergency health care, dental coverage, healthful food and safe drinking water, shelter, safety-and-security, … Continue reading Political Paul, uses FIDO off-grid, and goes outside to do something analogue (February 21-22 Farm Report).

North American Politics, Sunday Rock Report.

Do you need a break? From what? The idiotic news cycle. I’m off-grid, yet I still catch myself doom-scrolling the usual news outlets. I can't tell whether the United States is descending into civil war and/or enjoys making a fool of itself on the world stage, with a broken political system. Did the 2020 pandemic … Continue reading North American Politics, Sunday Rock Report.

baked goods february 2 and 3, 2025

Cliches may be true. February 3rd Rock Farm Report.

How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life? Cliches can be true, sometimes. I stop to smell the fresh baking. And definately snort deeply with wild roses. I breathe deeply when I first put on my CPAP nose pillow at night. I'm still trying to get perspective on … Continue reading Cliches may be true. February 3rd Rock Farm Report.

baked goods february 2 and 3, 2025

Thinking. {{{Insert spinning icon here}}}. Failed fossil fuel.

The author reminisces about their first computer... They share personal anecdotes about their cats... and their lives together. Reflecting on technology’s evolution, they now live off-grid, using Linux and satellite internet, highlighting their journey. {{{AI generated, human edited}}}

Phase 2, outbuildings, property remediation, and underwear.

The author envisions using lottery winnings to expand their homestead, including adding a workshop, finishing a pavilion, and enhancing their rock farm's resilience. They appreciate their home's innovative design, address maintenance challenges, and emphasize sustainable living, urging for funds to realize these plans while valuing self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship. {{{AI generated, human vetted}}}

self portrait

5 Joys and a January 26 Update

The content describes a range of activities enjoyed for fun, including tinkering, mindful walking, and woodworking. It details experiences at a rock ranch, including recovering materials for IKEA bookshelves and installing shelves. The report highlights the unique international design of their mechanical and electrical systems, emphasizing peculiarities in their performance. {{{AI generated, human vetted}}}

Nuclear weapons.

If you could un-invent something, what would it be? Nuclear weapons. Could physicists delve into subatomic theory and not muse… huh… what would happen if I smack 2 things together... they go ‼️ That deadly genie is out of the bottle. There's no need to pursue this mad technology, and plunge us into a nuclear … Continue reading Nuclear weapons.

Our snowsquall warning just ended, January 14 2025.

Pretty snow and critically-low fossil fuel levels.

Shiny.

Click on the image for meta-captions. I happily paid $1200 for this tool cabinet. I can collect and organize my kit for immediate use. No, I won't be storing chainsaws and outdoor axes in this stainless steel marvel (that's for the outdoor sea-can and its future shelving). Yes, it'll store my repair gear for electronics … Continue reading Shiny.

1970 and a January 1st Rock Ranch Report

1970 was had Canada declare martial law in Quebec, various countries launched their first artificial satellites and, the Beatles imploded. Paul also provides a bunkie build update.

Astrophysics for New Scientific Octopus Who Separate The Sewage Alarm Signals From The Noise. Meanwhile, Genny-Generac burns delicious propane fuel.

What book are you reading right now? For physical books... Other Minds. The Octopus and The Evolution Of Intelligent Life. Peter Godfrey-Smith. Harper-Collins (U.K.). Other Minds. The Octopus, The Sea, And The Deep Origins of Consciousness. Farrat, Strauss, Giroux (U.S.A.). 2016. I picked up this book during our July 2019 pre-Covid summer trip to England … Continue reading Astrophysics for New Scientific Octopus Who Separate The Sewage Alarm Signals From The Noise. Meanwhile, Genny-Generac burns delicious propane fuel.

We’re about to start our 3rd day at the rock farm. Friday the 13th (2024).

We got off the rough roller coaster ride with getting the occupancy permit for our home. And then hopped onto the HEY-LET'S-MOVE-OUR-SHIT-IN ride. Thankfully, TS and I have had only a handful of snarling-matches. As I drink coffee with TS talking to her Hamilton-lifeline, I can give a brief visual overview of our rock farm. … Continue reading We’re about to start our 3rd day at the rock farm. Friday the 13th (2024).

December 6 2024 Rock Farm Report

TS and PN are learning a great deal about snow clearing and snowblower repair and best-practices.

November 28 2024 Rock Farm Report

From a bunkie build point-of-view, we are making progress. Once that steel roof's in place, I can begin drying that interior out with a propane-powered space heater. Then we can vacuum the exposed subfloor, apply Rockwool-type insulation, and add the floor panels. Bluntly, this bunkie kit has been a very costly build in T&M. It … Continue reading November 28 2024 Rock Farm Report

Forced highway driving, while my cat pees on the wall as I try to compose a coherent email to the outside world. And a farm report!

Paul shares his top three pet peeves: long drives [to the city], lack of email responses from others, and his cat Jupiter's litter box habits. He also provides updates on the rock farm, including roofing progress, a thank you to local [pipefitters], and preparations for winter amid technical challenges. {{{AI generated, human-edited}}}

Fifty bags of fuel pellets go into the hopper!

Courtesy of Design Electric. NV, thank you for these fantastic images, eh. 21st century wood heating. One of the smaller units! For our HW supply and in-floor heating. This hopper's in a dry, secured room. You need to click on the image to get its true scale.

Where it’s sunny, cold, and rocky.

The author reflects on their preference for living near large bodies of water and mountains, choosing a peninsula between Lake Huron. They also detail home preparation tasks, while expressing gratitude toward local businesses assisting on their project. {{{AI generated, human edited}}

Saturday, November 9 Rock Farm Report

The construction site is managed with controlled access, discouraging unauthorized entry. Progress was made assembling a bunkie kit and learning carpentry skills, despite challenges with warped lumber. The author is battling a head cold but is recovering with rest and fluids. Construction updates emphasize ongoing infrastructure testing and necessary caution. {{{AI generated; human vetted}}}

Honestly? Art. Drafting. Graphic design.

What was your favorite subject in school? Tick tock. Tick tock. Pre-delivery inspection looming.