The October 10/25 Rock Farm Report.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

ANSWER: I like puttering around…

…the backyard, in view of the home. Looking at all the indigenous flora tucked in the corners.

…the outer rock farm, hidden among the brush. Looking at the fauna coiled up on the rocks sunning themselves. Photograph them from a safe distance, and leaving them unmolested!

…listen to droning sounds on my headphones. Or doing some deep listening to various music and podcasts (story-telling).

…an ad hoc recording studio. TS and I might eventually record episodes of the T&P show we joke about.

…the property edges and ATV-tractor trails of our 10 hectare (25 acre) woodlot. Walk it slow, stop, listen and look around! When that fails to amuse me, I get a kick out of bouncing around the tracks using our Polaris Sportsman.

…the soldering station. Start some DIY electronics repairs (and try to complete them).

…the woodlot, looking for spring poles, widow makers, and worrisome trees to cut down. Be that gentleman forester!

…the firepit, whittling branches into a pile of shavings. I enjoy the art of knife sharpening and experiencing the results of different blade geometries on wood fibres.

the week before our saturday thanksgiving dinner (october 11, 2025).

GP helped TS and me put the floors down in our DAY-USE-ONLY-STUDIO. While I’m meditating or TS uses the space to write, the Rockwool batton sheets under the pine slats will provide warm floors. The roof and subfloor insulation may also improve its acoustics if I decide to set up a small listening station in the building. The metal roof and the multiple coats of stain-paint will prolong the bunkie’s lifespan.

Before GP arrived, we had linseed-oil-stained the wood ladder. We have an extra bathroom grab-bar from the build and can add it to the side-wall.

GP and I repaired the bunkie door (sliced ~2-3 mm off the top and bottom with a circular saw).

GP ensure the loft railing was strong enough for a calm adult (idiots, they’re entering our rock farm at their own risk, after signing a waiver). The next set of tasks before the STUDIO is up and running FOR DAY USE ONLY:

• window & door hardware! DONE = Edited pre-turkey event Oct. 11/25.
• grab bar!
• marine traction tape to the ladder rungs – rough up the surfaces before applying self-adhesive safety patches!
• painting-staining its south side!
• window lattices – keep ’em or toss ’em?
• opaque window curtains – sometimes I meditate in the buff. Don’t scare away the wildlife, eh.
• replace the painted bug screens.
• apply protective whosie-whatsit to the inside floors.
  • An option: CABOT Australian Timber Oil Stain – Natural, 3.78 L at $80 CAD/unit.
  • An option: CIRCA 1850 Double Boiled Linseed Oil Finish – 946 mL at $30 CAD/unit.
  • An option: BEAUTITONE WOOD-SHIELD Acrylic Alkyd Deck & Siding Stain – Semi-Transparent Clear Base, 3.4 L at $45 CAD/unit (for the inside surfaces, I’ll have the store add a tint to each can). DECISION = GP made a successful case for this product. Polymerization on the exterior surfaces pleasant to the eye and mid-morning sunlight. TS notes its cost-effectiveness. PN-TS will measure the interior floor surface area, agree on a tint, and buy this product! Edited post-turkey event Oct. 12/25.
  • An option: whatever I can find at the local RESTORE (link to this non-profit home improvement store). I don’t want an obnoxious glossy finish.
  • TS-made throw rugs – with anti-slide pads underneath it!
• bunkie patio- understructure – treat it!
• patio deck – fork out the moolah for pressure treated 2-by-10 superboards or go with GP’s suggestion & use wood fence panels?
• anti-vermin skirt – use the galvanized metal mesh to reduce animal-ingress.
• stain the sliced-off door edges.
• T-beam on the STUDIO’s loft banister – make it just a little bit stronger!

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