Tristan Winneker

Tis a good day to brew! Dunkelweizen to be ready for Oktoberfest. Per tradition, enjoying my previous homebrew (Tombstone Pale Ale) to maintain an unbroken chain from brew to brew. Prost! Skol!

Today I'm doing something I love and haven't done in quite a while - brewing beer! 🍺
This is a small experimental batch of a traditional Scottish heather ale, or fraoch.

Making time for what we love to do - even if it isn't "necessary" in the grand scheme of things - is important for maintaining balance and well being.

When taken in the context of spending time with my wife, raising a family, caring for pets, maintaining the yard, and on and on, brewing is pretty low priority. I could easily go to the store and choose from dozens of delicious brews and be done in minutes, rather than the hours it takes to homebrew. Homebrewing is certainly not a "necessary" activity.

Yet I choose to make time for it because it feeds my soul. I love to do it. When we do what we love, it elevates our feelings and mood, and improves our lives across the board.

What do you love to do that you haven't done in a while? When will you make time to do it?

Cheers! 🍻

Another proposed Olympic event:
Combined Vault + Platform Diving

Homemade sushi! Cajun tuna, salmon special, and Philadelphia roll! Thanks to my lovely wife for getting all the ingredients and and for the recipes and instructions. It turned out delicious and was way easier to make than I expected. And it was a rare occasion to use the Japanese dishes and chopsticks I bought in Japan 18 years ago when I visited .

Life is good 😋

By request: Tiger and flower pancakes

Having fun catching bluebelly lizards this morning, and Taryn caught this little one all by herself! I love spending time outside with my little explorers :)

The fireworks started early! What a spectacular light show leading into 4th of July weekend!

It's been a while since I sat outside and simply watched the sky. I spent about half an hour watching the clouds transition from white to yellow to pink, and it felt really good to just sit and watch.

(Clarendon filter applied)

The past few weekends I've enjoyed some time in the mornings reading outside with my coffee. I love looking up and watching birds flit about the garden and flowers then going back to my book.

This morning I was treated to the rare sight of a hawk with a rabbit landing on the wall for a minute, then swooping across our yard with it and flying away!

I love seeing nature unfold and it requires unplugging and being present, which is not always easy to do.

Enjoy your weekend and some unplugged time to be present!

Last summer Amber and I got inflatable standup paddle boards for our anniversary. Ever since we got them I wanted to float down the Colorado River with the kayak seat attachment, and today we did it! It was a great float and fun adventure. I hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day weekend too! We remember those who gave their lives for our great country!

Putting in a flower bed with my helpers on this beautiful spring day!

What are you doing to enjoy today?

Happy Easter!

Scouring and staining complete!

We had a simple vision... 💡

A playhouse for the kids, at minimal cost. We took the steps we could take, one at a time.

In August, my wife scoured listings of playhouses for sale and found this gem that was offered for FREE, but cost over $5,000 if bought new. We just had to dismantle and transport it.

I hooked up the trailer and during the hottest heat wave of the year, got my sweat on dismantling, loading, transporting, unloading, and reconstructing the playhouse. 💪🥵

Over the next several months as time allowed, I scoured the roof and walls to prep for staining, then stained each section as I went.

I also picked up free sand from a horse rancher and laid out a stone path and patio with loose flagstone that we've had since we moved in 8 years ago. I got a flat tire on the trailer from loading up too much sand! 😳

Now we have a beautifully restored playhouse that the kids love! 🙌

It cost sweat equity and petty cash for the wire brush and stain, plus replacing the flat tire.

It REQUIRED desire, motivation, and perseverance.

While this was a simple vision, ALL dreams work this way.

Start with "what would I love?", create a vision, take the step that's in front of you, then the next and the next, doing what you can with what you have.

Eventually, inevitably, you will create the outcome you envisioned. 🎉🍻🥂

What is your dream? You got this!