A must follow on twitter! also @jiriwelsch44

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our  lives." -Thoreau.

Let the great words of our honorable elder stay with us as we continue to build

Walk The Walk Chalk The Chalk

Hey Gang,

Here we see Jay and Luc measuring this log and finding where to put the chalk line, so we have guidelines for our hewing of this log. If you look closely you can see the blue chalk line we already did on the left side. Make sure you guys don't get that chalk on your clothing because it will be tough to get out! Blog ya later :)

Hewers Hewing

Great smiles boys! Luc, Jackson, and Nicholas all working hard trying to shave log 2 down to the line. Check out the pad on Nicholas' right leg! Safety first and the results will follow. With our feet set and a great follow through on our swings, we'll finish this log in no time. Keep up the great work everyone!

Working hard!

Our Site

Nippy
Cold
Windy(in need for my ear muffs)
....

          I never realized how much I missed the outdoors.  Who would know that one could learn so much from chopping wood?  As a  class I enjoy learning how to use measuring chalk to make marks on the log, chopping at wood with an axe and spending time listening to my peers tell stories.  I love the environment that I was granted to be placed in for the second semester of my senior elective at Pingree!

         I am still stumped on how Thoreau could build his masterpiece all by himself with no guide nor companion's by his side to engage him with truthful stories.  In my mind as I work on this project I am hopeful and faithful that the work can be done.  However, the time for the finish of this masterpiece is what tends to be hard to tell on when exactly the house will be overlooking the pond! (fingers crossed)  As long as the job gets done, I have realized that time is limitless and each day we go outside as a class, a positive change of improvement is led to success on the project.

DIck Proenneke Response

Here's my journal entry response to the Dick Proenneke documentary we watched a few weeks ago-

It’s amazing to think about Dick Proenneke making a living on his own with the wilderness of the Alaskan mountains when we are walking out the the Thoreau house building site daily from the heated Pingree School with our North Faces, iPhones, and car keys. The thought of living alone in a log cabin I built myself by hand surrounded by almost nothing man-made is not a thought that crosses my mind often, but it’s certainly a fascinating one. I would never be able to leave my family for several years and live in a log cabin in the frigid Alaska winters. Watching Proenneke’s experiences does make me think about the life I live and the way I live it though. It’s extremely hard to think of any moments that I am surrounded by nothing man-made. It would truly be an amazing experience and it does show what the important things in life are. Proenneke lived happily in the mountains with his fireplace for warmth and no technology. We are all able to do it but we have become accustomed to a life that makes it extremely difficult to do. Proenneke’s video of his experience in the mountains makes me appreciate the Thoreau project even more. To be able to create a little piece of the life Thoreau once lived without the technology we all have now is a really moving experience. When I am having a long day or getting caught up in matters that aren’t really important, building the Thoreau house will remind me that I am lucky and there’s only a few simple things in life that I need to survive and to be happy.

Hewing Reflection

Here's an excerpt from what I've observed in our readings and our outdoor activities. The connection is interesting, please read!

"...Leopold’s basic beliefs regarding ecosystems are now clearer to me. My understanding is that the land that surrounds us consists of mutually supporting and co-dependent parts. Thus, this natural system should be treated as a “community,” rather than be regarded as a “commodity.” We must act with the environment rather than act on it, as Leopold realized in “Thinking Like a Mountain.” In acting with the land, we must remember that it is our responsibility to “preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty” of these communities. Accordingly, the beauty of today's teamwork lies in this analysis.

Leopold's belief that it is important to find a balance in nature is directly applicable to the relationship among people. We are part of a community, as we are part of the land and a part of those who share it with us. Just as Leopold explains that we must have respect for the mountain and its surrounding environment, we, too, must have respect for our peers and school mates. Keeping this in mind, it is important to remember that humans are in fact simply components, not chiefs of our community. We must first realize and come to appreciate other individuals as a whole before  unity and harmony in society can be achieved."

Remember the Good Ol' Days Outside Hewing?!

Here's a picture from November to remind us of the great times spent outdoors before snow came along this winter! Nice hard work and great smiles, ladies!