This post was originally published on substack February 11, 2026.

Hello dear readers,

Welcome to The Logbook, an honest documentation of days throughout the past month. In this issue, logbook no. 02, we discover:

• A birthday celebration
• Cloud bursts
• Snake Eyes
• Beef stew
• Scheming

Among other thrilling (and perhaps mysterious) experiences. Turn the page to enter The Logbook!

LOGBOOK NO. 02

January 13, 2026: A gloomy day spent indoors. Worked on my first draft, and cleaned out some cupboards that had been collecting cobwebs in their corners¹. Then went for a walk in between cloud bursts and dreamed about spring gardening, wheat and blue poppies and radishes, zinnias and nasturtiums along the back fence.

January 19, 2026: It’s my birthday! Went to Fort Langley with mum and found four Nancy Drew novels I was missing, as well as a book on owls. In the evening, we had dinner with the family, and I read for a few hours—the only way I ever want my birthday to go. I’m absolutely a solitary creature by nature, so slow, quiet birthdays are my favourite.

January 23, 2026: As of 2021, a historically depressing day², but made the most of it: working on my novel, going through old clothes to donate, reading lots, and spending a bit of time in a thrift store. Made a big stir fry in the evening and ate double chocolate ice cream before heading to bed early.

January 27, 2026: Finished editing a video for youtube and then took the rest of the day off. Walked around at the park—it was cold and clear, the sun bright—and noticed little sprouts beginning on nearby shrubs. Then took the long way home, past houses, dreaming of what I’d like in the future³.

January 31, 2026: One of the slowest Saturdays I’ve had in a while. Spent the morning reading and drinking coffee, then got groceries and wrote the afternoon away. C made beef stew and we ate that, alongside second (third?) cups of coffee before settling in to watch Snakes Eyes (fantastic) and The Retirement Plan (so-so). Stayed up far too late—definitely the coffee—but still woke up feeling rested the next day.

February 3, 2026: Finished editing a video, then did some construction dreaming with mum⁴. Went to dad’s to get help with my trunk and an old video camera⁵, then went for coffee with a friend. In the evening, hit 65,000 words on my first draft (!!).

February 7, 2026: Finished editing a youtube video, then went to the grandparents’ house for a visit. Shelled some hollyhock seeds, rummaged for buttons for the cardigan I’m working on, and took a rainy walk through the farm to find the first crocuses. Spent the evening knitting scheming, and watching old horror movies.

February 09, 2026: Woke early to take a walk around the block (cold, wet, but worth it), then started in on painting our bedroom⁶. Filmed some for Youtube, did some cleaning, then made a big pot of potato soup with what we harvested last year—there are still so many. Evening was reading The Lost Art of Mixing (Erica Bauermeister) and two mugs of licorice tea.

—Catherine

FOOTNOTES

¹ I try to go through cupboards/drawers/closets every six months to a year to get rid of anything we’re no longer using, but sometimes I let it slip. This was one of those times, but I’m so glad I got it done now.

² The birthday of someone who passed far too soon. When we were growing up, we often did joint birthday parties, which were always a blast. He was part of our family for nearly fifteen years; I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing him.

³ If you don’t know, I’m a freak for architecture and floor plans (why yes, I am autistic) and I love to study both the exterior and interior of homes. Often, I think of what I’d do differently: add a room here, take out a wall there, refinish this and raise the ceiling there. When I’m walking around, though, I’m also considering gardens: move that gate, throw in a raised bed, put down a brick path. What can I say—I’m a dreamer!

⁴ More dreaming, which I absolutely get from mum. We’re thinking about doing some finagaling with some existing storage spaces, considering what we could alter to give us more room. It’s funny, because I came up with one idea, and the next day she expanded it so thoroughly I couldn’t be happier. I think we’re going to do it, and I will definitely document what I can on youtube.

⁵ The trunk has been stuck shut for nearly two years (why yes, I also have ADHD), and I’ve been struggling just about the same length of time with the camera—I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to get it to charge. I’m hoping that my dad can figure it out! He’s good at those sorts of things.

⁶ We’ve chosen a wonderful mid-blue called periwinkle. Our current colour is a pale blue, and while I think I may miss it a little, I know that as soon as that first coat is on I’m going to fall in love.

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