It's a lovely rainy day in TN! Im working from home today and I'm just basking in my family. Ambient piano music on, playing in the rain, coloring, reading. Feeling very grateful but also nervous. I'm beginning a pivot away from construction starting today. I love building but I'm come to accept it's kinda a single man's game and old man's game because of the long hours and travel. I'm still going to continue some small projects (and obviously I'm building almost every day at our property) but I'm going to be actively seeking some remote work so I can stay on the homestead. Prayers needed but trusting that a short term pay cut is a worthwhile sacrifice to reset my career.

Money printing is an attempt to fork reality. If the government is the highest power in your belief system, it is a convincing illusion.

Good morning, nostr! Woke up to my kids already adventuring. The world is a magical place filled with hope. Don't let fiat propaganda convince you otherwise.

Internet people are so enmeshed in the fiat matrix, they are unaware of vast swaths of humanity wherein people live balanced normal lives. A gaming term that has made its way into our vernacular is NPCs [non-playable characters]. This is a derogatory label. Programmed villagers that wander around doing and saying the same 6 things. This has become a paradox to me: I'm fascinated by the NPCs of this world. I think they are often more interesting than the "heroes". It seems the successful white-collar suburbanite, tech mogul, or influencer are the IRL characters that are as predictable as video game NPCs. They are completely possessed by the algorithms. They all say and do the same things. Conversely, visit a dive bar in the middle of nowhere or a remote village, the people are characters straight out of an adventure novel. I think often about how most of my childhood hero's were people who gave up everything in order to achieve a goal. I don't mean this positively. We think about these types of people as the "main characters" of culture and while their accomplishments are admired, the "everything" of sacrifice often includes marriages, families, friendships, health, and spiritual vibrancy. G.K. Chesterton said, "The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children." It's the little places and people of the world that are enchanting to me. Natural beauty, authentic people, simple living, and plenty of insulation for algorithmic degeneracy. I am in disciplined pursuit of simplicity, serenity, quiet strength, and connection to God. I get more pleasure from a cool fall morning, a cup of coffee, the giggles of my children, and the warmth of my wife than the most lavished morning in a exotic luxury hotel. Maybe this makes me a fool, but I'd rather be a joyous fool than a miserable "success". I'd rather be so sensitive that I'm overwhelmed by life's magic than be so indulgent I grow numb. I've done both. If you feel this way, too, you are not alone, and we are in good company. Don't be gaslit into selling your soul.

GN Nostr! May your family be well, your novels be captivating, and your sleep be sweet!

Absolutely enchanting foggy morning in TN today. Can't get enough. This is the good life!

Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold.

New friends regularly learn we have 6 kids and comment, "I don't know how you do it". I'll let my nostr friends in on a little secret. Kids don't have to be a burden. Our culture keeps people infantilised into their thirties now. This is my young daughter. Every day she walks across our property, fetches our goats, milks them, filters the milk, cleans up, and brings it home, rain or shine. You want to know the craziest part... She loves it and takes pride in it. Everyone in our household has responsibilities from a young age. If you ever read this, I'm proud of you , baby! Daddy always loves you.

Being connected to the sky is really important.

Quick photo dump! TN sky is beautiful this time of year. Our puppy Drifter isn't a puppy anymore!

Let me introduce you to my Mamaw and Papaw. The were the first know touring African American country duo in a time and place when this was frankly probably dangerous. This originally scared my grandmother but my grandfather was so charming, funny, and shrewd he would often win over the crowds. I've been counter cultural and uninterested in race bating long before I knew this information. It's in my DNA! Wish I could have better used the little time I had with them. Don't let your relationships with your grands atrophy. There is a lot to be gained from understand your roots.

Gm nostr! Take the road less traveled today!

Successful Sunday! Today was a rest day for the family but we did build our picnic table on accident.

Our family cat passed away the day before yesterday. I wanted to share a few takeaways. Honestly, I wasn't attached to the cat, but this was the first time I witnessed my kids collectively grieving, and it hit me hard. I tried to make a little video about this, but kept getting choked up. When my wife called me on the phone to tell me, all I could hear was wailing in the background. When I returned to the property, I assumed that I would have to hold the household together for a little while. What I found surprised me. The kids were comforting each other... It absolutely overwhelmed me with emotion. Any of them could have been overwhelmed, but they were ok together. They had each other. When I brought the cat to its grave, they lost it, but despite their usual content fighting, they naturally held each other. After the burial, my youngest boy was having a moment, and the oldest daughter got herself together enough to hold him and tell him, "It's ok, you did such a good job feeding her every day." 😫 Family is so important when life is hard. It doesn't have to be blood, but protect what family you have at all costs. Our fiat society wants nothing less than the dissolution of the nuclear family, and I understand why. It is such a a powerful bulwark against hopelessness. We must build, protect, and heal our families! RIP Dewey