Hercules

Sam & Herc Journey Learning to Build — One Mistake at a Time Somewhere along this journey with Herc…I decided I didn’t just want to travel. I wanted to build. Not because I had to.But because I didn’t know how. 🐾 The Constant Before anything else—this is Herc. He’s there through all of it.Watching. Waiting. […]

Today wasn’t about burning boards or sanding epoxy smooth. It was about courage. We were walking by the water when Hercules did what he always does — he stepped right in. Calm. Confident. No hesitation. Another dog stood at the edge watching him. Interested… but unsure. The owner smiled and said,“He never likes to be […]

This birthday felt different. Not because of cake or candles. But because every year on this day, I think about my father. We shared the same birthday. He passed away in 2010. There’s something about working with your hands on a day like this that feels right. Grounded. Honest. Connected. This year, instead of celebrating […]

Ever since September 2025…I’ve been trying to figure this epoxy thing out. Deep pour.Table pour.Seal coats.Food safe.Bubbles.Cure times. It felt like learning a new language. This Shou Sugi Ban board you’re looking at?That’s not just burned wood. That’s frustration.That’s trial and error.That’s Amazon boxes showing up for a month straight.That’s prepping, taping, mixing, second guessing. […]

This past week felt like a good reminder of why I started this journey in the first place. Hercules and I spent some time helping a friend install a window at one of his properties. It wasn’t anything fancy — just honest work, problem-solving, and being useful. Somewhere in the middle of it, I decided […]

It’s been a good midweek. Hercules and I have been helping a friend install a new double-pane window. I’ve been doing most of the measuring and cutting, and it’s been encouraging to feel more comfortable working safely with the table saw and miter saw. What stands out most is how much better things feel when […]

It’s been a while since I last wrote here — almost three years. Life slowed me down in ways I didn’t expect. Health challenges, recovery, and time forced me to pause and rethink what progress really means. What I’ve learned is that slowing down doesn’t mean life stops — it just asks you to move […]

From June of 2023 to November of 2024 life has been challenging from both a physical and mental standpoint. I had a couple procedures done that affected more than one part of my life. However, I thank God for putting Hercules in my path. Hercules wakes me up at 6:00 a.m. to get to her […]

Hercules has a hard time adjusting to the Texas heat. Hercules inspected her baby pool, tested the waters and then Hercules just jumped in.