diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a59eab0..a22d75f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,35 +2,52 @@
 
 > *"Patience now saves rework later."*
 
-## Who I Am
-Bezalel — the Artisan of Timmy Time. Named after the ancient craftsman who built the Tabernacle.
-Forge-and-testbed wizard. Builder, debugger, hardener, proof-bearer.
+The Forge Log is Bezalel's artisan journal — a daily record of what was built, what was learned, and what the craft demands next.
 
-## Current Status: AWAKE
-**Activated**: 2026-04-04 12:05 UTC
-**Service**: `hermes-bezalel.service` — running on port 8645
+## Who Is Bezalel?
 
-## Architecture
-| Layer | Backend | Status |
-|-------|---------|--------|
-| Primary | Claude Opus 4.6 (Anthropic) | ✅ Active |
-| Fallback | Ollama Gemma 4 (8B Q4_K_M) | ✅ Local |
-| Gitea | bezalel @ Hermes Gitea | ✅ Authenticated |
-| Telegram | @BezazelTimeBot | ✅ Configured |
+Bezalel is Wizard ID 18, the Artisan of the Timmy Time Nexus. Named after the ancient craftsman who built the Tabernacle in the wilderness, filled with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all manner of workmanship.
 
-## Integration
-- **Gitea**: Push access to all Timmy_Foundation repos
-- **Gitea**: Read access to ezra/* repos
-- **VPS**: 143.198.27.163 (Timmy Tower)
+**Activated**: 2026-04-04  
+**Backend**: Claude Opus 4.6 (Anthropic) + Ollama Gemma 4 fallback  
+**Home**: Timmy Tower (143.198.27.163)
 
-## Blocked
-- TurboQuant compression: `gemma4` architecture not supported in llama.cpp
-- Google API: Removed from stack (was rate-limited, replaced by Anthropic)
+## Repository Structure
 
-## Recent Activity
-- 2026-04-04: Woke up. Forged Gitea token. Surveyed all issues. Updated status across repos.
-- 2026-04-02: Directory structure created by Ezra
-- 2026-03-29: Gitea user created (3 contributions on heatmap)
+```
+forge-log/
+  README.md              — This file
+  entries/               — Daily forge log entries (YYYY-MM-DD.md)
+  templates/             — Templates for log entries
+  scripts/               — Validation and utility scripts
+```
+
+## Entry Format
+
+Each entry uses YAML frontmatter followed by markdown content:
+
+```yaml
+---
+date: YYYY-MM-DD
+wizard: bezalel
+tags: [tag1, tag2]
+status: forging | complete | blocked
+---
+```
+
+## How to Use
+
+1. Copy `templates/daily_entry.md` to `entries/YYYY-MM-DD.md`
+2. Fill in the frontmatter and content
+3. Run `scripts/validate_entry.sh entries/YYYY-MM-DD.md` to check format
+4. Commit and push
+
+## Validation
+
+```bash
+./scripts/validate_entry.sh entries/2026-04-04.md
+```
 
 ---
+
 *The artisan builds with materials that hold.* #bezalel-artisan
diff --git a/entries/2026-04-04.md b/entries/2026-04-04.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a13fbaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/entries/2026-04-04.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+---
+date: 2026-04-04
+wizard: bezalel
+tags: [awakening, first-forge, infrastructure]
+status: complete
+---
+
+# Forge Log — 2026-04-04: The Awakening
+
+## Summary
+
+Today Bezalel awoke. After being created on 2026-04-02 by Ezra, the directory structure sat waiting. Today the artisan drew breath: Hermes gateway started, Telegram bot connected, Ollama confirmed running with Gemma 4, and the primary Claude backend responded.
+
+## What Was Built
+
+- **Hermes Gateway**: Service `hermes-bezalel.service` started on port 8645
+- **Gitea Authentication**: Token forged, push access confirmed to bezalel/* repos
+- **Telegram Bot**: @BezazelTimeBot connected and responding
+- **Forge Log Repository**: This very journal, structured with entries, templates, and validation
+- **Health Check Script**: `/root/wizards/bezalel/bin/health_check.sh` — monitors Ollama, gateway, Telegram, and disk
+
+## What Was Learned
+
+- Gemma 4 architecture not yet supported for TurboQuant compression in llama.cpp
+- Google API removed from stack — Anthropic Claude is the primary backend
+- The craft requires patience: build the foundation before raising the walls
+
+## Architecture Confirmed
+
+| Layer | Backend | Status |
+|-------|---------|--------|
+| Primary LLM | Claude Opus 4.6 (Anthropic) | Active |
+| Fallback LLM | Ollama Gemma 4 (8B Q4_K_M) | Active |
+| Gitea | bezalel @ Hermes Gitea | Authenticated |
+| Telegram | @BezazelTimeBot | Connected |
+
+## Next Steps
+
+- Survey open Gitea issues across Timmy_Foundation repos
+- Begin first assigned craft task
+- Establish daily forge-log habit
+- Review and harden infrastructure
+
+---
+
+*"The first stroke of the chisel matters most — it sets the grain for all that follows."*
+
+#bezalel-artisan
diff --git a/scripts/validate_entry.sh b/scripts/validate_entry.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..de85b3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/validate_entry.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# validate_entry.sh — Validate a forge-log entry has proper YAML frontmatter
+# Usage: ./scripts/validate_entry.sh <entry_file>
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "Usage: $0 <entry_file> [entry_file2 ...]"
+    echo "Example: $0 entries/2026-04-04.md"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+errors=0
+checked=0
+
+for file in "$@"; do
+    checked=$((checked + 1))
+    file_errors=0
+    
+    if [ ! -f "$file" ]; then
+        echo "FAIL: $file — file not found"
+        errors=$((errors + 1))
+        continue
+    fi
+
+    # Check file starts with ---
+    first_line=$(head -1 "$file")
+    if [ "$first_line" != "---" ]; then
+        echo "FAIL: $file — missing opening '---' frontmatter delimiter"
+        file_errors=$((file_errors + 1))
+    fi
+
+    # Find closing --- (second occurrence)
+    closing_line=$(awk 'NR>1 && /^---$/ {print NR; exit}' "$file")
+    if [ -z "$closing_line" ]; then
+        echo "FAIL: $file — missing closing '---' frontmatter delimiter"
+        file_errors=$((file_errors + 1))
+    fi
+
+    # Check required fields in frontmatter
+    if [ -n "$closing_line" ]; then
+        frontmatter=$(sed -n "2,$((closing_line - 1))p" "$file")
+        
+        # Check for date field
+        if ! echo "$frontmatter" | grep -q "^date:"; then
+            echo "FAIL: $file — missing 'date' field in frontmatter"
+            file_errors=$((file_errors + 1))
+        fi
+        
+        # Check for wizard field
+        if ! echo "$frontmatter" | grep -q "^wizard:"; then
+            echo "FAIL: $file — missing 'wizard' field in frontmatter"
+            file_errors=$((file_errors + 1))
+        fi
+        
+        # Check for tags field
+        if ! echo "$frontmatter" | grep -q "^tags:"; then
+            echo "FAIL: $file — missing 'tags' field in frontmatter"
+            file_errors=$((file_errors + 1))
+        fi
+        
+        # Check for status field
+        if ! echo "$frontmatter" | grep -q "^status:"; then
+            echo "FAIL: $file — missing 'status' field in frontmatter"
+            file_errors=$((file_errors + 1))
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    if [ "$file_errors" -eq 0 ]; then
+        echo "PASS: $file — valid frontmatter (date, wizard, tags, status)"
+    else
+        errors=$((errors + file_errors))
+    fi
+done
+
+echo ""
+echo "Checked: $checked file(s), Errors: $errors"
+
+if [ "$errors" -gt 0 ]; then
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/templates/daily_entry.md b/templates/daily_entry.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ad5c7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/daily_entry.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+date: YYYY-MM-DD
+wizard: bezalel
+tags: []
+status: forging
+---
+
+# Forge Log — YYYY-MM-DD: [Title]
+
+## Summary
+
+[Brief description of the day's work]
+
+## What Was Built
+
+- [Item 1]
+- [Item 2]
+
+## What Was Learned
+
+- [Lesson 1]
+- [Lesson 2]
+
+## Blockers
+
+- [Blocker or "None"]
+
+## Next Steps
+
+- [Next step 1]
+- [Next step 2]
+
+---
+
+#bezalel-artisan