8/19-23/24 I went up to Camp Serendipity for five days: Monday through Friday.

It rained all the way over and it was cool. Fortunately, it was not raining when I arrived at 12:10. I brought my gear up in two trips including one with a wheelbarrow. After hoisting the flag, I had my lunch and a nap. Then I walked to the grave and ran into Dave and Nancy. They told me Dave had had 11 broken bones and he still has a brain-bleed. But the doctors are dealing with it, and he is improving. I also stopped and talked with John O'Brien. He has built a floor for his A-frame and is awaiting more materials. His dog is named Abby.

On Tuesday I was up at 5:00 and out to work at 6:45. I wheeled 2 sacks of mortar-mix up to the cabin in the wheelbarrow one at a time. Then I went up to the quarry and used a pointy hoe to help me harvest stones. It is very effective. I can keep my back straight most of the time and reach out and turn stones over or pull them loose or drag them down toward me. Sometimes I can even pick up a stone with the hoe and swing it over and deposit it in the wheelbarrow without bending my back. It works so well that I plan to leave that hoe at the quarry all the time.

I laid up one batch of stones in mortar before I took a water break. While I was inside, Robert called, and we had a nice chat. Back outside I cut a big flat stone into three pieces and the cuts all worked perfectly. Just as I finished, Bill called and we had a nice long conversation.

After lunch and a nap, I walked to the grave and talked with Barb and Byron on the way. They told me the bad news that Byron had peritonitis and was pretty sick. They were going home to crash.

On Wednesday morning I was up at 5 and out to work by 6:45. I laid up two batches worth of stones before my lunch and a nap.

When I got up, I walked to the grave. Afterwards I tried playing the piano. It didn't go well. It reminded me of my memory lapse after my ablation and it concerned me. I hope it's temporary.

On Thursday morning I was up at 5:00 and out to work by 7. I made a bunch of wall tie assemblies and then I installed 9 wall ties. I also cut one big stone in two. Then I harvested one big stone up at the quarry and after scrubbing it, I used the skyhook to place it in the wall using one batch of mortar. Back inside the cabin I watered Tiger, the snake plant, and Braidy, the money tree. Then I had my lunch and a nap.

Next, I walked to the grave and on the way back I met Dave Bartholomew who had just visited with John. We walked back together and had a great conversation. He seems to be healing very nicely.

Then I filled water jugs and loaded them into the truck.

On Friday morning there was a fairly violent Thunder and rainstorm, but it didn't last long. I went outside and dug a diversion ditch that I had neglected and so it had overflowed severely. It caused a lot of erosion down the roadway. Next, I used the wheelbarrow to haul two concrete blocks down to the truck and I loaded them for Ellen. Then I took a picture of the wall as it exists after 88 batches of mortar. Then I walked to the grave. When I got back, I practiced the piano and was happy that it went well. I had my lunch, packed up and left for home at 1:15. It had been another satisfying productive week.