Annarchy

Friday, July 2 Last night I woke in the middle of the night to the sounds of the wolves. Sniffing around the doors, I could hear the muffled thumps of their paws running to and fro, with an occasional yip and growl. The animals were shut up in the barn as planned and I knew they were secure. DH had insisted and reminded me several times..."don't forget!" The relief of knowing that didn't help me to sleep so I stoked the fireplace and got me a cup of tea and did my morning studies. Around dawn, I grabbed my utility belt, opting to take the Subcompact XD 40 today, because I'm a little more accurate with it. The sky was light and I could see footprints from the wolves all around the yard. As I opened the barn door, I could see where they had tried to dig their way under the door. Thankfully, they didn't have much luck and looked like they gave up for the time being. Little Lady and her little one were nestled in the back of the barn near the coops. I decided to make a brick footing for the barn door to deter any more attempts. Around mid-morning the messenger came by and dropped off a letter from Big D, asked if all was OK and mentioned they were doing well getting the train down the mountain, then, he headed back down the road. Before he was out of sight, I opened my letter with excited anticipation. Dear Annarchy, Hope you are doing well. We are fine, don't worry. Naomi is a dear and is handling everything just fine, though we are both missing James terribly. He always does the outdoor work and poor Naomi has blisters on her hands. She won't listen when I tell her to take it easy, just like you don't listen to me. The garden is growing really well and we have been harvesting and preserving as much as possible. We have put some aside for you and GS808. I hope to see you two soon. Love, Mom I refolded it and put it in the house on the hearth, then went out and checked the garden. Most of it was growing nicely, but those darned wolves had trampled on a couple of the plants when they passed through, they should be fine, I hoped. With the bricks mixed, formed and set to dry, I rummaged through my art supplies for a pen and my writing tablets. I wanted to send a note to everyone! I set them near the fireplace for something to do in the evening by the firelight and went back out side and started the water in the canal for the garden. While the canal was filling, I dug the footing strip under the barn door and made cob from the remainder of the brick mixture, then started the water at the top of the garden rows. I grabbed the telescope and went to the top of the cliffs and sat down, peering down at the lodge to see if I could recognize anyone. There was really not much activity there at all so I gathered an armload of grasses and alfalfa and went back down to the house. By that time it was time to pull the water pipes anyway. Lil Lady was in her pasture and the chickens were scratching around the mound of dirt from the footing trench. I checked for eggs, but she still isn't laying. I gathered more wood for a while, stacking it in the wood pile next to the house, shoveled poo from the barn into a bucket and took it out to the area we've set up next to the mulch bin. Not very scientific, just a pile of leaf litter and a pile for the poo, but it will work. Around noon, I focused on taking care of the deer skin. It was hard and dry so I placed it hair side down in the water and placed rocks on top of it so it could soak, then noticed the wolves had tried to get into the smoke house too. It looked like they almost made it in, by the size of the hole, so I went to work preparing a footing for it too. By mid afternoon, the bricks were set enough to use and I poured some cob in the footing holes, plopped the bricks on top and covered them with the last of the cob, hoping there was enough day light and warmth of the day to set the mixture. Aaawww shucks! Now how am I gonna get the animals in the barn without them stepping in it?!!? I grabbed the axe and chopped a couple logs in 1/4 pieces and laid them across the threshold. I pulled the skin out of the water and laid it on the sandy beach, using handfuls of sand, scrubbing it in a circular motion removing the sinews, meat and fats that remained from skinning it, then took it in the barn and laid it out in the loft. As the sun was touching the mountains, I put the animals back in the barn and locked 'em in, grabbed an armload of wood for the fireplace and prepared the tinder for my evening fire. Picked up my tablet and pen went out and sat on the porch and began writing letters with Frank on his tether at my feet. I wanted to know if Big D, AH or Mother had had any problems with the wolves. Saturday, July 3 All had been quiet during the night, or at least I didn't wake up until after dawn broke. I made a cup of tea on the coals in the fireplace and went out to see what the day would bring, let the animals out and checked the hide. It was drying and looked like I'd be able to work with it today. After hanging my laundry, I grabbed my backpack and headed up to the cliffs. Looking out across the valley, I could see quite a bit of activity at the lodge, chiding myself for not bringing the scope with me, then headed for the berry bushes near the forest line. Many were still green, but there seemed to be enough to do something with. I gathered quite a bit and headed back home, not wanting to be gone too long in case something were to happen. I've been extremely cautious of my surrounding since the wolves have made themselves a regular presence in this area. Back at the house I smashed the berries, all but 2 handfuls, into a puree and spread them thinly on a piece of aluminum foil and put them on the kiln to sun dry, and made a small pie with the left over, anticipating the arrival of my dearest and KJ. The messenger came and told me they were fine and were going to continue to make sure everyone got to where they needed to. The rest of the day, I busied myself with anything I could think of doing. Barn poo cleaned out, replaced the grass bedding, no eggs, gathered more wood, gathered more grass for winter. Went up to the cliffs, with the scope and peered down at the lodge for a while. People, wagons and animals were everywhere, but I couldn't make out the faces. I gathered more grasses and alfalfa and headed back and worked on the hide, rubbing, pulling and stretching it as best I could over a taught rope tied between two trees. Late in the afternoon, I started the fire pit and rigged up a tee pee over it and draped the skin on it, then added some wood, I had soaked for 10 minutes, to smoke cure it. With the animals buttoned up and dusk encroaching, I started the kitchen stove, baked the pie and settled in next to the fireplace with tablet, pen and jerky. Today I wanted to send a note to Q & M23B to see how they were getting along with all the new arrivals. Sunday, July 4 I'd fallen asleep next to the fireplace wrapped in my sleeping bag, until Frank stuck his nose in my ear. He was awake and I should be too, I guess. I got my tea and went outside. The sun was cresting the eastern mountain top. After letting the animals out, I gazed down the road. Would my dearest come home today? I hoped so. When the messenger arrived mid morning, he told me they were planning to head up today. I almost whooped for joy, I missed him so. Anticipation hit me, adrenalin kicked in and I almost fell over my own two feet. My mind was whirling with things to do to accommodate his arrival. Food! What to make? Ribs and.... salad... maybe potatoes. I grabbed my gallon jar and put a couple of tea bags in it for sun tea, checked my supply of potatoes, and snipped some spinach leaves from the garden. I couldn't sit still, constantly glancing down the road. By noon, I was a wreck, worry kept nagging... where were they? Finally, I saw a wagon crest the hill, then 4 more!! Gunslinger808 was driving the first wagon, then KJ. I squinted to see who was in the next wagons. M, was that really her? and J in the next wagon with X? Wow, I couldn't believe it. James was bringing up the rear with a horde of animals. 3 cows, 2 goats and 4 sheep. I almost started crying, I couldn't believe they had come, how did they know where we had gone? After the initial hugs and squeals they ushered the animals into the pasture. We had a chance to talk. Seems, KJ had come looking for us and when he got to our house we were gone, that's when he called and found us. M met him in town and he filled her in and they decided to travel together. They said the local prisons had lost control of their populations and overtaken the area. Their only option was to get out as quickly as possible. We spent the rest of the day talking, catching up on the news from over the mountain and dreaming of a better life in the safety of this valley. Edited: Spelling

Morning came early. I had trouble sleeping waking to every little sound, I felt so alone. Around dawn, I crawled out of my sleeping bag, got dressed and went out to start the fire. Stars still filled the sky with a sliver of light gracing the eastern mountain tops. I laughed at myself for using the fire pit instead of the stove or fireplace, but there was still some comfort in knowing the fire pit would provide some security around the house. After getting my tea, I walked over to the barn and let Lil Lady and her little one out. They weren't in a big hurry to leave the barn, but at least, if they wanted to they could. The chickens have had free range in the barn and were up in the loft. I checked the nest but it was empty. As light filled the sky, I began thinking what needed to be done. KJ had said he was coming and I didn't have a clue what he was bringing or if he'd even have a plan. I looked around and wondered if we would be able to handle an extra person. The garden was growing well, several of the seeds we planted didn't sprout, so I planted some extra in the bare areas. Humph, so much for "guaranteed to grow" on the packages. I gathered grass and piled it in the back of the loft, thinking how far behind I am in preparing for winter. Every 'what if' seemed to be racing through my mind. The rest of the morning I gathered dead fall wood and stacked it near the smoke house, then worked on slicing stips of the deer meat for smoking/drying. After filling one of my large kettles to the brim, I started a pot of brine boiling to dip the meat, then, hung the stips in the smoke house, started a fire and shut the door. I sat down at the fire pit and stirred the ashes, scraping the excess into one of the buckets, then added some water. We were running low on soap and I wanted to try to make lye. Then, I decided to go for a walk up to the meadow above our homestead. I walked over to the ledge and sat down gazing off across the valley. I could see specks moving around the lodge area and wondered if they had made it down off the mountain yet. A few bees were buzzing around and I watched them for a while. They were flying down the cliff side almost like they were following a trail. I moved over some and looked down again near where they were coming from. Somewhere down the cliff they were thicker. Courious, I headed back to the house and went up to the cliff face looking in the general area they had been the thickest. Near the top of the cliff near the forest line was a small opening full of bees doing their business, in and out, out and in. Making a mental note, I went back to gathering more wood. Winter was really beginning to bug me. How would we have enough? Food, heat, water? I sighed and kept on. Late in the afternoon, I sliced a nice steak and gathered a handfull of spinach from the garden, threw it on the grill and boiled the spinach. I took it in the house and started the fireplace. Frank sat with me for quiet some time before I decided it was time for bed.

I've used the plastic wick holders that float on the oil, but for long term, the plactic will warp from the heat. The slit lid works well, but I usually use thinner wicks instead of the large width wicks. My thicker wicks I cut into thin strips and they work just fine. ETA: spelling

Saturday morning after my studies, I untied the knotted ropes and rehung my clothes line. If he wanted clean clothes, he'd just have to find another way to deal with the plane. James showed up shortly after I hung the laundry and we spent all our time working on the house, finishing the kitchen, stove, living room & fireplace. When the messenger showed up, he and GS808 talked for quite a while. He looked at me and mentioned they were taking letters on their routes. I thanked him and said I'd probably have letters going out about once a week or so. Sunday, we went to the Lodge, hitchhiking a ride with Big D at the "Y". My dearest headed for the library to exchange books and I took some more dried herbs to the medical building, then went in for services meeting my dearest as we sat down with Big D. After services we had time to socialize and I was surprised how much I missed talking with the ladies. The Ladies that wanted the tatting lessons decided to postpone it until everything settles down. Everyones conversations were fixed on the incoming group and who, what and how. GS808 had mentioned he and James would take their wagon up towing the 4 wheeler. We spent the afternoon and evening digging the root cellar next to the kitchen, then retired for the day in the living room in front of the fire place. Up before dawn on Monday, I wrung out yesterdays laundry and hung it to dry. Lil Lady seemed extremely distressed most of the day. I kept an eye on her, but she stayed close to the barn in the pasture, grazing occasionally, as we worked on cobbing the walls of the root cellar and set the footing for the walls. James showed up mid-morning and he and DH worked on making planks for the floor/door and steps going down. By mid after noon they had completed the stairs and the floor. The walls were almost finished and they set in the framing for the shelves for the pantry above the cellar. James spent quite a bit of time talking with GS808 before heading back to his place. I had to ask if he was coming tomorrow and DH said "Yeah". He has become quieter than usual and I've had to probe him for any information at all. I guess I'll have to start writing letters to get any info 'cause he certainly isn't sharing. Tuesday was much of the same, except, Lil Lady gave birth to a beautiful golden tiny girl during the night. She was nursing when I got up, but, I couldn't find the afterbirth to bury it. Nature has a way of taking care of itself sometimes. With James's help the pantry for our kitchen was finished before noon and they worked on the patio roofing using lentels and log pillars. He looked at me once and said, "You've gotta make the terra cotta tile floors, but...." he hesitated for a moment and continued, "I might send Naomi down to give ya a hand." We let Frank loose in the house and he went nuts, dancing, prancing, and ferreting out every nook and cranny before settling down between my feet near the fireplace and passing out while I stroked him. My dearest and I sat by the fireplace as dusk consumed the land. His plans were to go over to Big D's tomorrow evening and he and James would head up the mountain with everyone else to help at the pass to bring everyone down. I will stay and take care of things here. Wednesday James came over in the buggy and they set to work on our smoke house. He said he & Naomi had gone to the little cabin north of them, and dismantled it, to use the planks and hinges. By noon they were done and my dearest gave me a hug and kiss and they headed down the road towing the ATV. I finished the day cleaning up the area, checking on the calf and chicks, then settled with Frank in front of the fire place .

LOL, I've been lost for some time, hiding out up north. Annarchy: Me Gunslinger808, aka GS808, GS, my dearest: My DH Frank: The ferret Little Lady aka Lil Lady: The heifer w/calf Hen & Rooster - 4 chicks 2 Turkeys/Male & Female: Not really named, other than 'Tom' Big D: MIL James: Her butler Naomi: Her maid 1 horse 2 Ox and the rest of the turkeys Coming to the Valley in WH2: KJ - age 30 (Widowed) Female Jersey Cow 1 Hen MJX - M: age 30 The Mom J: age 35 The Dad X: age 4 Their Boy Animals: Sissy Pig aka Scissor: Pot belly pig (She wouldn't let me leave her, LOL) Franchesca aka Franny: Bull Mastiff Dog Rest of the animals: TBD, I need to call her and get her list..................

Q, my DH said your guy was the pilot. LOL CeeGee, nice to see you back, looking forward to services. AH, wish you'd update your story line some more. Gotta go, 'todo' list is looming.

We slept in late. Really late. Wait, how late is it? I rolled over, 'ohhhh pooohhh' I ache! My right arm and legs were numb. I balled up into fetal position for a moment, pulling my knees against my chest to stretch my back out. Groan... rolled onto my knees and crawled to the ladder. I sat there a couple of minutes, Frank opened his eyes and yawned. I looked over at the sleeping bags and they were empty. Where was my dearest? Shoot, he's already up. I looked back at the ladder and slowly made my way down and opened the barn door. By the looks of the sun, it had to be around noon. I hobbled over to the fire pit and put the coffee pot into the coals for some tea, as I turned GS was walking back from the lake, smile and said "'Mornin Glory', 'bout time you got up." He said he hadn't gotten up much earlier and the coffee water was still hot. Ooopps, I checked, he was right. I sat down with my back to the sun, it felt so nice, deep heating and relaxing. He studied me a moment and asked if I was up to doing some swimming today. Ummm...water therapy, just what I needed. "Suurre," I replied, "let me wake up first." He went to the house and pulled out our gear bag. I looked at him puzzled and asked if he wanted to see where the fish were. He chuckled and replied, "Of course." He'd come up with the idea when he got up and knew I would need to recuperate from all the work we had done down at N's place. I sipped my tea gazing across the lake imagining what the bottom would look like. He seemed ready to go, so I got a move on and suited up, he was right behind me and beat me to the shore line, masks and fins in his hands. I stepped into the water, a chill rippled through me momentarily as I set my mask in the water to acclimate. I sat down, slid on my fins, picked up my mask and spit on the lens, rubbing it around then rinsed it off, splashed some water on my face and put the mask in place checking the snorkel to make sure it wouldn't leak. Looking up, GS808 gave the "OK" sign followed by "You lead, I'll follow" sign. I stood up and dove in. Water rushed down my suit tensing every muscle in my body. I stiffened and floated to the surface. Blue gill fish, and baby fish scattered from my path along the sandy bottom. I looked up again to see his fins go under. I headed in his direction as the sand turned to silt substrate, tree branches and rocks. I took a deep breath and dove down to the bottom stretching out and arcing back up to the surface to catch another breath. My dearest was waiting for me to surface and gave the "come here" signal. As I approached I vocalized "What?" through my snorkel, he pointed down. I couldn't see anything at first from the surface, taking another breath I dove under. "What in the world!?!?!?" I could hardly believe my eyes, I turned and surfaced. He was waiting for me as I came up. "Can you believe that?" He asked. I replied, "You've gotta be kidding me, a plane?!" We laughed and dove down again. It was sitting in about 25 foot of water, fish were schooling around it and it had a good bit of silt on it. I went back up and we swam back to shore. By the looks of the pontoons on the small plane, he suggested it could have been a fishing or hunting party that went bad. At this point we couldn't tell. He was excited and was devising a plan to pull it out. I changed out of my suit and dried off. Made me another cup of tea and sat there warming back up. I still wasn't moving the greatest yet and decided to get dinner started. I used one of the few packages of yeast we have left to make a loaf of bread and set it in the kiln to rise, then put some dried meat with small amount of water on the fire to boil, then went over to the garden to see if any thing was sprouting yet. A few of the zucchini and beans were pushing clumps of dirt up. I went back to the house and pulled out amy last can of spinach, some minced onion, powdered garlic and a bullion cube and returned to the fire. I took the meat off the fire and poured the water into a small pot, mixing in the spices and bullion in the water. (French dip of sorts) About an hour later I checked the bread, punched it down and formed it into small oval loaves to rise again. My dearest had rounded up several rolls of rope, including my clothes lines (!!) and was knotting them together. Definitely a man with a mission. I picked up a branch and began whittling a tatting shuttle, looking up now and then to see what he was doing next. As the sun reached the mountain top, I started the fire in the kiln and let it heat, put the bread in and heated the rest of our meal.

Thanks you Lady M23B. I'm such a dork sometimes. DH is always laughing at me. IRL things have been upbeat and rapid, I've hardly have time to do any online typing. I get a chance to read, then things pick up again, Praise God, and I don't have a chance to sit down and relax. Late in the evenings, I sit down with pencil and paper so I can jot down notes and ideas to post. I stayed home today and took care of the house and some extra duties that needed tending to. I'm so excited, one zucchini plant has broken ground, seriously, I planted my seeds when I wrote it in the story, mainly to make sure I didn't exceed the time that it would take them to grow. Real life example so I wouldn't flub up and make a blooper. LOL and I did anyway. Other spring things here in the desert, the pomegranate tree is budding and everything is turning green with weeds. Whoop, I have a choice, mow 'em over or pull 'em. <looking for a kid to do it for me> I'm almost ready to harvest the parsley and dry it, carrots need another week and spinach is being thinned for salads. DH's whimsical look ensures me that I'll have to harvest them and make him some 'home grown' spinach for a veggie meal. California poppies, blue bonnets and yellow clover flowers are already blooming and I expect the primrose to bloom in the next few weeks. Thanks again, everyone, for this adventure in writing........ To be continued.............

Ok, someone screw my brain back in.... I thought yesterday was Thursday all day. Good grief. I hope it dosen't mess everyones story up. Sorry for the blooper. Sheesh, I'm usually days late and now I really messed it up. I tried to edit it this morning to remove "Thursday" but the button is already gone. Sorry...

Sunday I was up before dawn scrounging around the fire pit for dry pieces of wood, scrapped out a patch of ashes to ground level and started a small fire. It sputtered and sparked lighting the general area enough for me to read. The lake was blanketed with mist adding to the serenity and peacefulness until the rooster decided to sound off. I finished my reading and grabbed 2 handfuls of grain for the animals. Lil Lady accepted a handful and shifted her weight groaning. I looked at her swollen tummy and could see a little hoof sticking out underneath. I noticed her udder was beginning to swell, she shifted her weight again and I let her wander out into the pasture and turned my attention to the chicks, scattering the other handful of grain in their area. The chicks hurried to get their share. Ol Tom ruffled his feathers then pushed everyone out of his way. I checked the nesting box and found an egg! Excitedly, I cradled it in my palm. I headed back to my fire adding a few more small branches and re-warmed the water. My dearest came out and joined me watching the mist weft across the water. I went to my 'hole in the ground' refrigerator inside the kitchen area and checked the milk from Mother. We had found the jar next to the front door with a note, when we returned from Big D's Saturday. I held it up and saw the butter curds at the top. I shook it vigorously for a few minutes and it clumped together more. I carefully removed the butter into a bowl and replaced the lid, putting it back down in my frig, sprinkling a pinch of salt on the butter and stirred it, then spooned it into a 1/2 pint jar and put it down in the frig too. I put my first egg into the frig and we got ready to head to the lodge for services. We had gotten to the fork in the road and Big D was waiting for us. Not like we couldn't have walked the rest of the way, but I think she's having fun getting there and waiting for us to give us a ride. We got to the lodge just in time for services. Mr. CeeGee gave a wonderful sermon on "Pride" referencing 2 Chronicles kings Ahaz, Jotham and Hezikiah. After services the whole lodge was filled with talk of the storm and it's aftermath. They were rousting everyone to help rebuild N's house that had been destroyed. My dearest offered his services and they asked he be at the lodge early Thursday. We walked home, declining Big D's offer for a ride. The 3 miles seem not that far anymore after all the healthy work and exploring we have been doing. We passed the hot springs and he suggested coming down to take a dip occasionally. Arriving at home we took it easy. He had replaced his books and was reading while I worked on tatting. Monday We took the goo of bricks the storm had left us and remixed them and set them to dry. My dearest decided around mid morning to go for a walk, he said, "You seem to have the bricks under control" "No problem, enjoy" I replied. He donned his utility belt, his backpack and headed north, while I continued to re-mix and form bricks. Late afternoon, I heard a gun shot, it was only a few minutes later when he returned. He looked tired and had a slight limp. He wanted me to go with him to help bring back a small deer he'd shot near the waterfalls. We brought it back using a large branch to hang it between us. Then he hung it up in the barn and gutted it. We needed the intestines and immediately went to work on cleaning them before they got cold. Evening we sat around the fire, he read, I tatted. Tuesday We worked on the bricks during the morning then turned our attention to the deer. I took my buck knife and sharpened it, then worked on skinning the carcass, scraping it and stretching it up to dry. Mid afternoon we settled down and I made a batch of tortillas while he threw a line in the lake. Wednesday we worked on setting the bricks for my kitchen stove. Mid afternoon he took the axe and and split a log to make the doors for it, carving it to fit with the saw while I used cob to cover the whole stove. By evening we were able to stuff wood in and lit it. We pulled up our chairs and watched the fire adding more wood as it burnt down. I had started a pot-o-beans in the fire pit and we had dandelion greens for a small salad with vinegar & oil dressing. I tatted and he read well into the evening until the 'stove' was glowing red hot when we let the fire die down. Thursday We got up before dawn, checked the animals and headed to the lodge. We were there before dawn, but the place was a buzz with people. My dearest headed towards Mr. S while I chatted with several women from the B group. A couple of the ladies were admiring the tatted doilies I had brought and wanted to learn how it was done. We scheduled a meeting next week on Wednesday at the lodge. I only have a couple of shuttles, but they are easy to make. (Note to self: Make a couple more shuttles for them) DH & I rode in the supply wagon with a few of the men while others came along on horses. We got to N's place and began shoveling ash to prepare for the building. Around noon, Mr. S suggested a lunch break. Gathered everyone around and we headed to M23B's house. I was impressed how nice their place looked. Their garden and crops were starting to stand back up and the animals seemed content. I went into her house. She was up to her elbows in preparing the food for everyone. I said "Hi Lady!" but she didn't hear me, so I went over and wrapped my arms around her from the back and said "Hi" She turned around, I couldn't believe the shocked look on her face. We talked for a few minutes before I pulled out the 4 yellow tatted doilies and handed them to her. Her eyes twinkled as she replied she knew exactly where she could use them. We talked for a little bit and she handed me a dish of meat to take out to the guys. Most of the men were grouped together chatting and eating. They readily accepted the dish as I set it on the table and then went back to their conversations. We headed back to N's place and the rest of the afternoon was spent following the blue prints Mr. S had supplied for the new house. Late in the evening we caught a ride back to the lodge in the supply wagon and walked back home in the dark. We were beat and when we arrived, we jumped into the lake, washed up and crawled into the loft and passed out.

Saturday 19th We followed the ridge above the stream towards Big D's. Clearing the forest into their north field revealed the severity of the storm. Cotton plants looked like someone had pushed the whole field down in one direction, yet, after further inspection, it didn't appear that the stems were broken. We quickened our pace toward the house passing the garden. Everything looked similar to the cotton field, laying on the ground pointing northwest. Some of the leaves had holes in them. Sheets and tarps were in a pile next to the laundry barrel. James and Naomi were picking up branches. They said the messengers warning had given them enough time to cover most of the garden, secure the animals and get indoors. They invited us in. Big D was in the kitchen washing breakfast dishes and gave us a quick hug. Their house was warm and cozy, a small coaling fire in the living room fireplace and the stove were radiating heat throughout the house. Terra cotta tiles surrounded the area around the oven, a block of tiles were set in front of the fireplace and front door. Naomi quickly described how they were making and firing them in the kiln. The kitchen west wall was framed with 2 inch boards. They explained they were making storage shelves. On the northeast wall corner they were making a pantry out of smaller bricks, most of the shelf framing was done and a few shelves were leaning against the wall. We walked outside chatting about their building plans. We needed to get back home to the animals, said our goodbyes, and headed back.

(((MT3B))) (((Q))) Yesterday, we had black clouds and rain all day, with ferocious sporadic winds, the mountains and north country got snow, and mid afternoon we even got pea sized hail for a minute or two. This storm was predicted to clear out for today, but the news mentioned we have another storm on the way.

You all left me reeling with that storm stories. I got to my MIL's and read the installments for the day, when I got to the storm, the wind was whistling through the partially opened window blowing cold air into the room. I was so engrossed I didn't want to get up and close it until I started shivering. LOL Then, I was outside BBQ'ing for her penning the storm part and the wind abruptly picked up whooshing my paper out of my hands. Looking down to the city's valley quite a dust storm had filled the air. Talk about an IRL incident that made the story come alive. Welcome back CeeGee! Looking forward to your next installment.

Monday, June 14 James and three of the Benefactor men came up bright and early, helped finish the lentel ceiling and roof on the house. They brought several iron wedges to split planks for the doors and windows. They set me to the task of making 12 six inch long dowels the size of my thumb from walnut branches, to use as pivots for the doors and shutters for the windows and as many thinner 2 inch dowels as I could make to dowel the planks together. Then asked me to cut some thin leather strips for latching from the cured ox hide. I watched intently as they used my old hand drill, lining up the holes, inserting the dowels after rubbing pine pitch on them. They wrapped the leather strips around the next to the last plank before setting the last dowels, for latching and handles. Then, they rubbed some candle wax on the larger pivot dowels and set the door in place. Lunch was a pot of mulchaca started early, tortillas and a small batch of boiled cow slips I'd found by the stream north of the waterfall. Later in the afternoon they helped empty our wagon by moving the heavy ammo & weapon crates into the loft of the barn using the rafters and ropes while I stacked the lighter stuff against the back wall in the house. They talked with my dearest for a bit at the fire while I was planting two more rows of corn. By the time I got back to camp they had left. I stoked the fire in the kiln and baked a small batch of biscuits, fried a couple sausages and made gravy from the drippings. We ate and sat around the fire a couple of hours, watching the stars before retiring in the loft for the night. Tuesday was a busy day making more bricks for my kitchen, the next room for our home. I'm having to travel farther now to find grass/straw. GS808 decided about noon to dismantle the wagon to make an hand cart to save his back and knees. The wheels seem too big, but it does the trick for what we need. James showed up early in the afternoon with a small box of nails and they finished the cart. He also brought a basket of greens from their garden, an 1/2 pint jar of vinegar and a small loaf of bread. "Big D wanted to make sure we were eating our greens." he said with a smirk. My trek to collect grass has allowed me to explore above the waterfalls north of us. Patches of thick forest opening into small enclosed meadows with an abundance of plants, shrubs and trees, which has me cataloging the varieties in my notebook I keep in my back pocket. As I followed the stream today, I came to another waterfall, this one cascades off a 40 foot ledge, splashes across a large cave opening then empties into a deep crystal clear pool at the bottom. I had 2 large bundles by then and needed to get back to camp. James had left and DH was sitting near the front door reading, he looked content and peaceful before he saw me coming. I'm sure he needed a break from all the work we've been doing. Dropping my bundles, I came over and gave him a kiss, then went into the house to see what I could make for dinner. Jerky stroganoff, we still have a couple cans of cream of mushroom soup with a handful of egg noodles. I went back out and checked the birds. They seemed content in their reed coops. Mr Rooster was allowed to leave his confinement with the turkeys when he decided to bug the Mrs. on her nest. The turkeys don't seem to be the most diligent about setting on their nests, but either way, we now have 4 in there. Two chicks hatched Monday afternoon. She raised such a ruckus when ol Tom came near her that it was his turn to be segregated. I had looked at my dearest and asked "where's the love?" He laughed as he got out the cage. I headed to the lake side with a small hand saw and knife to cut the reeds and cat tail fronds, then set down and began weaving coop walls. I'm still not sure if we can free range them with the large amount of predators we have in the area. I'd finished two of the walls by the time the sun was setting on the mountains and quit to start some water boiling for dinner and our bath. (Dang, I sure miss a nice hot shower so bad.) Wednesday I was up early, studied, hung clothes to dry and off on an adventure to find grass for bricks. I bring my backpack with me every time now outfitted with zip locks and ropes. I headed northeast this time. Forests and meadows pepper the landscape. I collected a pint bag with blackberries along the way and found about a handful of red choke cherries. Several nut trees were heavy with fruit buds and june berries!?! Sweet. I gathered as many as were ripe filling a zip lock 1/4 full and headed back with my bundles of grass. As I trekked through the forest, over logs and around trees, I almost stepped on a small patch of morel mushrooms, hastily I dropped my bundles and gathered several of the larger ones and added them to my pack. Still crouching I heard a bird call that caught my attention, looking up I could see one of the small meadows. I crept forward, near the tree line were a few grouse. My hand and mind went for my gun, slowly I inched forward more, while pondering how I could get two accurate shots off before they scattered. I sat there a moment watching, then pulled the trigger, one down, quickly I aimed and shot again. Shocked, the other bird fell still as the rest of the flock scattered in all directions. I was shaking as I stood up and went to collect them. I tied their feet together, tied them to the back pack, picked up my bundles and made a bee line home, knowing he had heard the shots and would be worried. Sure enough, I was right. He was standing looking in my direction as I cleared the forest. He said 'if he'd heard a third shot, he would have come running'. His face shined into a smile when he saw the birds and took one of my bundles to lighten my load. We saved all the feathers and he wanted some of the innards to see if our little lake had any cat fish. I kept the liver, hearts and gizzards for soup, while he took the rest and headed to the barn for his fishing gear. I started the kiln/oven to bake our dinner, using left over bread, I shreded it and set it on a baking pan to dry as I mixed dried onion, garlic, celery, sage, thyme & oregano in a small cup, and mixed in two table spoons of olive oil, placed the birds opposite of each other, rubbed them with the spice mixture and poured the rest over the bread. DH doesn't like dry stuffing so I surrounded the birds with the stuffing. I found some wild onions the other day and thinly sliced them and put them inside the cavities, added a 1/4 cup of water, sprinkled the june berries, salt and pepper over it all, sealed the aluminum foil and slid them in the kiln. Then diced up the mushrooms and simmered them in 2 tbs of water with 1 tsp of vegetable oil sprinkled with dried butter flakes. DH had set his line with one of his metal leaders about 40 feet out in the lake and sat on the bank till dinner. I joined him lakeside after cleaning up. It was so peaceful that I startled when his line played out. He worked the reel for quite some time before landing a 20 lb cat. Oh my! He drug it up the bank, gutted and skinned it then brought it up to the fire pit where I filleted it, 1/2 was dipped in cornmeal while the rest was placed on the grill to smoke, using some maple dead fall branches as the smoking wood. After wrapping the fillets in foil I put them in the coolest corner of the house in one of the empty tins. Before I got back, he was working on another, unfortunately the fish won, as he was reeling in the line it snapped leaving him off balance and laughing. "Another day" he commented as he put up his gear. Thursday we were busy with making bricks in a mechanical manner. We made 100 bricks with the two bundles of grass, then spent the rest of the day doing miscellaneous tasks. For dinner, I pulled out a potato but needed another after slicing off the eyes to plant later. After they were diced and fried in oil, I put the breaded fillets in. Before I finished saying "Come N Get It" GS808 was standing behind me with a plate in his hand. "The Storm" I didn't sleep well last night. Tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable position. Some time before dawn, DH growled at me for moving too much and stealing his covers. I gave up and got up. After stoking the fire pit, I sat in the dark with a cup of mint tea staring at the flames lick the air as coals glowed in the wood. The silence was eerie. As the sky began to lighten I could see dark ominous clouds lining the southern mountains I got up and gave lil' Lady a handful of grain and two handfuls of alfalfa I found growing wild on the plateau above us. She was next to the barn door opening instead of out in her field. Not thinking much of it, I went and pulled the clothes off the line and folded them up. Glancing back at the clouds I could see thunder heads building, then it hit me, Crap, it's coming our way! I had let my dearest sleep in but the clouds were moving fast, I made him a cup of coffee and brought it up to him. Gently I reached over and massaged his shoulders a couple minutes before he rolled over and sat up. I handed him his coffee and told him about the storm. He quickly got up and we stood by the fire pit watching the clouds whoosh across the sky. About that time a rider came anxiously into camp pulling his horse to an abrupt stop in front of us. "Batten down the hatches, a bad storm is on the way." He yanked the reigns and galloped back down the road. The wind was already whipping my hair into knots stinging my face, balling it up and stuffing a twig through it we each grabbed a bucket and headed to the lake and doused the fire. Lil Lady was still next to the barn and didn't hesitate going in. The birds were all in a thither as we pulled the stakes, removed the nesting boxes and slid the coops, birds and all into the barn up against the back wall under the loft. I headed back to the house to get the camp stove, my tatting, his book and an extra blanket. You could see a sheet of rain crossing the valley in front of the darkness by the time I got back to the barn and latched the door. We sat in the loft listening to the thunder and rain. Later in the afternoon, DH went out for a moment and came back with 2 MRE's. Chicken casserole and beef something telling me to pick one. I chose the chicken but I really wasn't hungry. I sat in silent prayer most of the day hoping everyone was ok. The next morning we came out to survey the damage. The house and barn seems to have fared well, but the garden furrows were much deeper and a few feet near the far end had washed away. I glanced across the unplowed meadow wondering if the seeds would still grow, since we had planted only a week ago nothing had sprouted yet. Tree branches were scattered around and the bricks we had made and set to dry looked like piles of goo. We fed the animals and headed out on foot for Big D's place.

LOL, Leah, you should. Your critiques have been inspiring and dead on. MT3B, missed you the last few days. I still need to read today's segment, but I read this first. (((((Q)))))) I hope you feel better soon. Amazing how many pages there are on this adventure. I would never have guessed when we started that it would still be going now. I know I've caught myself telling other people about it and daydreaming, when I should be working, about the next segment, what happened yesterday and what's going to happen tomorrow. It's quite a task to find solutions when you don't have something, that I can't just put it on my grocery list then go out and buy it. We did it years ago and didn't bat an eye. Stuff we didn't have we didn't need or want, but our society has moved so far away from that type of life, I find myself searching the stores, when I go shopping, for things that are storable, even when I don't need any more. It is growing season here. We live in the desert, things had to be planted in Oct/Nov, Jan/Feb. My tomato plants were really in pots when this trip started, I put them in the ground Monday when I planted zucchini. Spinach survived the few days of frost we got in Jan and is about 6" tall, the last of the radishes were harvested last week and the carrots should be ready in a week or two. Gonna go read.......

June 8th Tuesday evening GS808 and I climbed up into the loft and made our bed in the back corner setting one of the lanterns nearby. We sat there quite some time discussing what still needed to be done, prioritizing each task. After he blew out the light, I laid there recalling the events of the day. Mt_R was extremely interested in learning the art of adobe bricks. I smiled as I remembered her leaving a handprint in one of the bricks. After our walk to the falls, I had noticed several varieties of plants I planned to inspect in the near future. June 9th, Wednesday We got to work on the 10 acres of plowed field. Smoothing clumps of soil, removing roots and rocks, planting as we went along. A row of zucchini, 2 rows of corn, one row of pinto beans, spinach and carrots. Around noon we stopped for lunch and decided to walk to Big D's. We grabbed a back pack and headed down Strawberry Hill toward the forest and stream below the beaver dam and veered southeast into the forest. We stopped several times to pick ripe black berries, tho most were still green, and to collect herbs and other greens. Water speedwell (figwart) leaves filled one zip lock - raw or cooked, they are loaded with vitamin C and as a salve that is good for burns. Blue lettuce's milky sap is a mild pain reliever, used to treat insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and rheumatic pain, some Medick (hop clover) has antibacterial properties. Bisquitroot, pealed, dried and ground into a powder would be good in soup with a parsnip like flavor. I got excited when we found a patch of wild hyacinth. I dug up some of the bulbs to transplant, they are like potatoes but with a sweet nut like flavor. Ummmm. As we cleared the forest into the field north of their place, I pointed in the direction of the old cabin, but we turned south away from the stream towards their northern field. The corn and cotton were up and looking good, their garden was flourishing and my tomato plants were thigh high and covered in green tomatoes. It had taken us 2 hours to get there with all the stopping we did on the way. James was fishing when we walked up and welcomed us with a bear hug. Naomi was filleting his catch, salting and hanging the fillets to dry. Big D was in the house reading. They had finished the last room with it's own fireplace. A large pile of wood was stacked between the kiln and the house. We visited for a couple hours. Naomi packed a few of the green tomatoes, some lettuce and spinach leaves for us and we headed back. We cut due east into the forest. We found a few more ripe black berries and a patch of moral mushrooms, by the time we came to the road up to our place. The sun was beginning to set when we arrived home. After putting the supplies in the wagon, we checked on the animals then climbed into the loft and passed out. June 10th, Thursday My dearest was up early fishing. He caught 5 crappie and 3 perch which we filleted, salted and smoked. While he was fishing, I spread the herbs on a baking sheet and dried them in the kiln. James showed up mid morning and we worked on the house setting and making bricks. I took Mt_R's hand print brick and copied the pattern on a piece of paper before they used it in the wall. After we quit for the day and cleaned up, I took the pattern and cut out a pair of gloves to match her size from the cougar skin. We had a nice salad for dinner with fried mushrooms and mulchaca. June 11th, Friday As I sat with my morning tea, I worked on sewing the gloves. James rode up early and they finished the fence for Little Lady's pasture then began digging a 3 foot deep 'V' shaped canal across the top of the garden towards the lake, while I gathered some large bamboo reeds and made several 8' arched tubes, melted some wax sealing the connected sections. We made a bunch of cob and coated the sides of the canal. They stopped about 4 foot from the lake and cut some medium logs to fit crosswise and covered the logs with one of the tarps. We invited James for dinner, beef soup and biscuits, but he wanted to get back home before dark. June 12th, Saturday I finished the gloves during my tea time by the time GS808 got up. We took the reed pipes and turned the arc up, dunking it in the river, then quickly turned them draping them over the berm creating a siphon effect. A couple of hours later the water had filled the canal and we did the same at the top of the planted rows. By lunch time the water had made it to the end of the rows and we pulled all the pipes to stop the flow. James showed up again and we worked on the house. The walls for the main room were done and we used some of the logs the 'Group' had prepared and stacked for us, with the help of his horse and ropes to lift them in place, then laid the last 2 rows of brick before calling it a day. June 13th, Sunday After tending the animals, we walked to the lodge for services. Big D & company met us on the way and we hitched a ride. I delivered some of the dried medicinal herbs, comfrey, blue lettuce, white daisy and some alfalfa to the medical cabin, while GS808 talked with Mr. S. After services, GS808 exchanged books at the library then we rode with Big D to the "Y" to our place. We took it easy the rest of the day, playing with Frank and relaxing.

Sunday Evening After arriving home, I couldn't resist opening our boxes. Seeds, I was hoping for seeds.... NOT. They turned out to be my dearest's order of MRE's. I wasn't thrilled, but I was grateful. They would provide when we needed. Late afternoon, Mr. S. visited in a buggy and talked with GS808. They loaded up several rifles, pistols and boxes of ammo and he was on his way. DH was slightly elusive as to their conversation, so I didn't press him. I'd caught glimmers, like "....we are really concerned about how it's getting out there...", and "...they can use all the help they can get..." We hit the sack shortly after the sun set. I laid there wondering, pondering, and hoping things would get better. Monday We staked out the area for our house, barn, and smoke house using a spool of string and twigs. The rest of our time was spent gathering and making piles of sand, grass and straw. After lunch break we made cob and began making the kiln, between the house and smoke house. As the sun began to set we were finishing the outer cob layer. Dinner was left over beans while we sat quietly at the fire listening to the stillness settle across the valley. Tuesday After tending to the animals, I filled the kiln with wood and lit it, stuffing as much wood as possible in it to increase the heat. I stood back and watched the flames for a moment before noticing someone cresting the hill, then another and another. I called for my dearest. It was a crowd of folks, 6 oxen and a couple wagons. We stood there watching as they approached, in awe at so many people. Leading the group was Mr. S. He went straight for DH and they began discussing their plan for the day. They were going to make a barn that would have a loft for living quarters until we were able to construct our adobe home. And he had 6 teams to plow the acreage for crops. Everyone seemed to have a mission and went straight to work. Teams began plowing and others headed to the tree line and started cutting trees. I stood there watching, not knowing what to do when a tap on my shoulder startled me. I swirled around, almost bowling Mother over. "Oh My! You scared me." I exclaimed. I hadn't noticed she arrived with everyone else. Mr. S had arranged the whole thing and they had brought the meal for the day. I was stunned. She smiled at me and gave me a hug assuring me not to worry about anything, that everything was under control. She lead me to her wagon and we chatted about how they had heard we had left Big D & company for our own place, but we hadn't made much progress, so they had made plans to surprise me. She showed me their wagon was outfitted by Chef for the group. I stood there looking at all that was going on and didn't know what to do. Mother and I went over to the kiln first and I added more wood to the fire, explaining how the extra heat would set the cob, enabling the kiln to reach high enough temperatures to make pottery without falling apart or cracking. She noticed my collection of herbs and we began to talking about all the herbs and wild edibles I had found. I mentioned I had taken most of the ones I had collected to the medical building on Sunday. We walked down to the lake and sat on a log chatting about the many species and the tinctures that could be made from them. The beavers at the end of the lake slapped their warning, causing us to pause a moment. She looked at me with surprise and commented "beaver pelts". "Yup." I replied. "I've made a pair of gloves out of the cougar pelt. "Really?" She commented. We got up and went to my wagon and I pulled them out of my sewing kits. She tried them on and they fit perfectly. "Go ahead, take 'em. I can make more with what I have left." Groups of people were beginning to gather near her wagon and we wondered back after adding more wood to the kiln. As soon as lunch began being doled out, everyone seemed to notice and began filing in for a plate of meat, potato salad and biscuits. Mother said chief had prepared everything by the time they arrived at the Lodge and had loaded it all up. Mother & I went up stream in the afternoon, so I could show her the waterfall at the north end of the lake. She questioned whether we found any caves yet, but we haven't really looked. She & I explored the meadow above the cliffs and she collected some of the chamomile and wild thyme and terrigon, asking me if I would gather some of the more medicinal ones for the Dr.'s Office. I chuckled, "No problem, after all they are doing for us, I don't think I could object." We chomped on a few raspberries, black caps and blackberries as we passed the brier patch, then talked about preserving the nuts and other berries we passed. At the top of the lake, she commented, "I bet there is a cave under that waterfall." "Probably" I replied, "we haven't had the time to explore yet." By evening the field was plowed and the barn was up. I was still in shock and feeling very humbled at the progress that had been made. Hugs and handshakes ended the day and one by one they headed back down the trail, that is now a road to our home.

Wow MT3B, we're gonna have to take a vacation and come visit your family. Sweet.

Sunday, when we arrived at the Lodge, Big D and company went into the Lodge while GS808 headed for the library. People were moving around everywhere. It kinda felt strange to see and hear so many people and animals after being alone for a while. Conversations drifted together before I started recognizing voices. I headed for the medical building with several marked zip locks of herbs we had harvested and dried and my books of medicinal natural plants and tinctures. Hopefully, they could use them. Several small groups of people were standing nearby waiting their turn, I slipped in and handed the package to MrMt_R and left. I went into the Lodge and sat down with our family, watching people come and go, laughing and chatting, after stopping to say 'HI' & hug every one along the way. So much was happening and so much needed to be done. My mind was whirling. Big D told me they had received a letter that their supply orders had been canceled, but they were sending out another hoping to get what they could. GS808 came in, sat down and told me he put some books in the buggy. I enjoyed the message about waiting on the Lord, encouraging others who face struggles similar to our own and continue, in the meantime, letting God take care of the things we can not. After services, we mingled for a couple hours catching up on all the news that had happened. We had brought our last canned ham for the potluck. Mr. S called us over and said the messenger had ratted on us and they had a group planning to show up Monday or Tuesday. I handed him a letter with an order in it for supplies. He said they would try to see what they could do, then pointed toward the corner at two large boxes. He asked if we had enough weapons and supplies to outfit some of the people going out and they would trade us what ever animals or supplies they had extra that we might need. I left the men talking and went back out to visit. I sooo enjoyed seeing MT3B & family, the Qs, Mother & family, Mr. & Mrs. AH and the Mr. & Mrs. Mt_R. It was hard to wrap my mind around how many people will be in the valley in the next few months. Concerns about the natural resources and setting up a working society swirled through my thoughts. I was comforted again by the message of our service... 'letting God take care of the things we can not'. We loaded the boxes on top of the buggy, James said we'd pick up our bikes and he'd give us a ride over to our place as we headed home.

Yup, that's me, usually late and out of sinc.

IV's *shudder* don't like 'em, not one bit. *shudder* makes my arms ache just looking at that picture. *shudder* brings back bad memories. *shudder* You all left me speechless after that last change. I'd checked yesterday and was going to post this sketch of the Lightening Ox Ranch, (sorta blank in areas 'cause we haven't explored yet, lol) and where it is located on the map, but I ran out of time reading the next chapter. It took me a few to gather my senses and figure out what to do next.

Saturday we started the day as usual. The clouds had thinned substantially and we divided our day into sections to be able to work on several projects, the garden, cutting & preparing logs & lintels, and making bricks. Mid morning, I was digging sod and preparing the soil, pulling off the dead grass/straw and stacking it in a pile for bricks, as I went along, when I was startled by a visitor. I was so intent on what I was doing I hadn't notice him until he was almost in our camp. DH & I welcomed him and offered a cup of coffee. He handed us a couple of letters. Letters!?! I never expected any. I hadn't told anyone we had left. Excitedly I shuffled through them listening to the men talk. "... another wagon train coming in..." Two of the letters were from the companies I had ordered supplies from; "... we are sorry, but... we will attempt to fill your order, however.... " I was disappointed, but we could still handle it. ".... things are really getting bad out there.... " caught my attention, I looked up and listened for a moment " ... you have a couple of packages at the Lodge..." Fantastic, I hope it's the seeds. I opened the letter from my brother next. They had gotten the other 3 boys, their wives, children and mom and gone to his 'safe' property in northern NE. They were doing good and assured me not to worry, suggesting if we needed, we could join them. They had also heard from my sister who had headed north into Canada with her DD and family. The last letter didn't have a return address or stamp. I opened it almost expecting junk mail. It was a letter from a young man we hold dear. He lost his parents when he was young and we were there for him as he grew up. He had visited a few times through the years, introduced his wife to us, then, we shared his sorrow with him when she passed away. "Dear Aunt Annarchy, ... " He said he was coming, [iRL: He'll be here today ] on the next wagon train!!! I looked up and told GS808. The currier smiled, stood up and thanked us for the coffee. He looked around and shook his head. Then said, "I'll tell the guys at the Lodge to get up here and help ya'all get things going", as he turned and headed back down the trail with the two oxen in tow. I stood there for a few minutes not knowing what to think. "He's coming!" I blurted out again. I had butterflies in my stomach. My sweetie came over and put his arm around me and gave me a gentle squeeze. "See, God knows what we need and He's provided." We both looked up and said "Thank you Father." in unison. He reached down, took my hand leading me back to the fire pit, suggesting I have a cup of chamomile tea to relax. We decided to make the coops next. Gathered and stripped a couple arm loads of reeds and wove them into 4' x 3' walls, setting them against the lean to. We used some rope to connect the walls and secure the top and doorway, making two 8'L x 4'W x 3'H coops, then, put the hen, chicks and her cage in the one with the tighter weave, and the turkeys and that noisy rooster in the other. During our lunch break, (jerky & tortillas) we decided to go over to Big D's early tomorrow and go with them to the lodge for Sunday services so we could bring back the package they said we had received. We worked on stripping the branches and bark off the logs the rest of the day. The sun was about an hour away from touching the west mountain top when my dearest called out to me. I set down the saw and went to see what he needed. He was hiding behind the wagon and as I came around the back corner, he grabbed me with a twinkle in his eyes and whisked me toward the lake. WAAAA!!! What are you doing!!!!.... NOOOO!!!!! I dug my heals in ....to no avail. . ***SPLASH**** Gasping I stood up, "You BRAT!" He was laughing so hard he had tears.... I slapped the water at him and he ducked still laughing, so I grabbed him and pushed him under. We swam for about 5 minutes before it was time to get out, brrrrrr...... refreshing, but brrrrr. We changed, hung the wet clothes up, and sat down next to the fire with a fresh haro of beef jerky soup I'd started during lunch. We ended our day wondering which package made it and when the next wagon train would arrive. Sunday This morning we were up at before dawn, tended the animals and used the mountain bikes to ride to Big D's. They were up preparing to leave when we arrived and welcomed us with big hugs. He rode with James out side and I got in with the Ladies.

Yesterday as we sat in the wagon listening to the rain patter on the tarp, I finished a small doily and got board. After lunch, a can of Campbell's Beef soup, I put on my drover and went outside. The rain was annoying, but things needed to be done. I looked at the stack of bricks and sighed. It would take those brick a couple of dry days to set. That's life. I got out my hand saw and headed to the trees, sat my butt on the ground and began cutting a 3" tree. The rain had a chill but the activity warmed me up. I could see our camp site, the fire was soaked, the wagon looked water logged, the little lake was grey and the cows were huddled under the lean-to. I wasn't too energetic and took a couple of hours to cut down three. DH came out and chided me for being out in the rain, warning me "You're gonna catch a cold.". "Yeah, yeah, Ok, I'll come back." I responded. He could tell, I could care less. "Rain, rain, go away, come again, another day." I got up and followed him back dragging the trees with me. He just shook his head as I dropped them by the camp fire. We climbed back in the wagon and I changed into dry clothes. He patted the sleeping bag next to him and said "Come here". I sat there for a few minutes with my head on his shoulder before I began to doze off lulled by the sound of the rain. It was dark when I snapped awake. My dearest had the camp stove going in back and asked if I would like a cup of coffee as he handed me a steaming cup. Ummmm, it tasted so good. He handed me a bowl of soup he had made from some jerky and a can of mixed vegetables. We talked for a while in the glow of a candle before snuggling back into the bags for the night. I woke several times in the night and laid there listening to the silence. Around dawn I slid out of the bag and moved the tarp to see what it looked like out, grey clouds still covered the sky. I climbed out as quietly as possible and went over to the fire pit, poked the ash with a stick before deciding to go and find some dry dead wood. I headed for the thickest part of the tree line knowing that if there was going to be any, it would be where the trees were the thickest. It took me quite a while before I found some around and under a large pine where some of it's branches had fallen. I stripped some of the bark off, stacking it in a pile then broke the driest branches into smaller pieces and stacked them on top, then took an arm load back to camp. There, I used the bark and the moss growing on it to line the fire pit, putting the smallest twigs on top leaving the center hollow. Carefully, I put a couple of larger sticks around the twigs and lit it. It took a minute or so before one of the twigs finally caught. Very gently, I added more twigs and a few larger branches before it finally caught enough to add more. I took the larger branches and wrapped them around the pit close enough that they would dry out more, then went back for another arm load of wood. When I returned, the fire had consumed most of the little branches and was almost out. Quickly I added a few twigs to re-kindle the fire then broke more finger sized branches into 6" pieces and stacked them over the flames that were fighting to stay going. I waited, "Should I blow?", "No, let it go a minute" I thought. I grabbed a couple more twigs and poked them next to the flame one at a time, waited a minute before they caught. "Yes!" This time I stacked a little more of the small tinder around the flame before adding the larger branches. It crackled and sparked as the flames licked the moist pieces of wood. I pulled out one of the larger branches we had left over from the other day, that had been rained on and broke them by hitting them on a rock. Those pieces I set around the outside of the fire, by the time the fire was able to handle them, the heat from the fire will have dried them enough to catch. I pulled up a rock and sat there watching the flames, slowly adding twigs and small branches before I was able to add the larger branches. By then you could see some coaling on the bark. The flames were licking up through the stack and vigorously consuming the twigs, so I added more of the little branches and stacked more of the larger ones around to dry after taking the ones that I had first put down to dry and laying them across the flames. Relieved the fire was finally going, I went over to the animals. The cows were standing there looking at me, Little Lady looked expectant, like "Where's my treat?" "Ok, just a minute" I whispered to her, turning to get an handful of grain. We didn't have much left, but she needed all she could get. I sprinkled a little around the chickens and heard the 'peep' of her little ones. "How many does she have?" I thought as I bent down to check. Awwwww, they are so cute! 4 little chicks scrambling to get under their mamma. The turkeys grumbled at me. "I know, I know", I told them, knowing we needed to make a coop for them. Mrs T was still on her nest and Mr T seemed very protective. "Soon enough, and you'll have your home." I went back to the fire, it was finally coaling and a couple of the larger branches had caught. I staggered stacked more branches on it and went to get another armload. This time I headed deeper in the forest, looking specifically for pine, the taller and thicker the better and found what I was looking for. Next to the tree was a smaller tree that had fallen and was partly decomposed. Perfect! I removed the top layer and found the dryer wood underneath and gathered quite a bit of the branches until I had another arm load, then headed back. This time, the fire was still maintaining itself, I dropped my load next to the remaining wood and switched the drying wood for wet wood, putting the dryer larger pieces on the pit rocks and put a small pot of water next to the flames to get warm. Satisfied the fire was going well enough, I went down to the lake, pausing as I passed the bricks. Sigh, hopefully it won't rain today as I looked up at the clouds again. After a few minutes of gazing at the lake, I heard my dearest stirring in the wagon. I met him with a warm cup of coffee as he was climbing out . "Turn about is fair play". He smiled, took the cup and went over to the fire and sat down. With the rain subsided, we marked out where we wanted the garden. He took the axe and chopped down 2 trees while I turned the soil in the garden with the spade. By evening, we had taken a break for lunch, when I had started a pot of beans and put it in the coals to cook for dinner. Tired from a long day, we ate and climbed back into the wagon. We let Frank run around until he got tired and we all passed out.

Morning broke with looming dark clouds all over the valley. I re-kindled the fire to heat up some water, then got a handful of grain and checked on the animals. They were under the lean-to and had some shelter. I stood there a few minutes gazing at the clouds skate by when a tiny "Peep" caught my attention. I whirled around, bent down to the chicken cage and there was an adorable tiny ball of fuzz. The little peeper quickly darted back under mama, so I left them alone. I forgot about everything else at that moment and congratulated Mama hen and gave thanks to God. The sound of rolling thunder in the distance brought my thoughts back to the reality. I scooted the stuff in the wagon making room for us, pulled out the sterno stove and checked to see what canned food we had left. By that time my dearest was up and had a cup of coffee. I took down the tent and put it in the wagon just as the rain started. We climbed in and put a tarp over the front and back. GS808 rummaged through one of the boxes and pulled out a book, looked at me and smiled, as he propped himself up on the sleeping bags. I pulled out my tatting and began another doily.

Yesterday, I woke around dawn to a splash in the little lake. I slipped out of the tent grabbing my duty belt, moccasins and an extra sweatshirt. There was a vague glow of the sky shimmering on the water lighting up dew like steam across its surface. I stirred the coals, added some tinder and a few branches and set water on to warm, then went down to the waters edge. The lake seemed to be about the size of 2 city blocks, ripples were still cascading across the water after another fish jumped for breakfast. I stood there gazing relaxed in the peacefulness of the moment. More ripples drew my attention to the south where the stream continued down stream. The ripples were constant indicating some type of activity was disrupting the water. After a few minutes, I figured it wasn't a threat and turned to walk the shore line north, having to veer in land to go around cattails, cottonwood, and willow trees that were growing close to the water. As I ventured in land, I climbed a fairly steep hill that lead to the top of the cliffs that bordered the area where we had camped. The plateau was another beautiful meadow surrounded by a variety of trees. Curiosity got the best of me, the flowers were stunning. Some appeared to be fruit trees, but I wasn't quite sure if they were peach, plumb or pear. They were scattered along a line of maple mixed with walnut, beach nut, pine and aspen. A closer look at the meadow charmed my socks off, red and white clover peppered the field, mingled with grasses and shrubs, thistles and goldenrod, bluebells and buttercups. I continued north toward the lake's inlet and as the forest encroached on my path I went back down to the waters edge. Here most of the beach was clear sand stretching along it's northern bank. I walked along looking at the tracks in the sand. Squirrel and skunk, deer and goat. And, "what is that one?" Beaver?! "Yes, indeed." As I came to the stream feeding the lake, I was again pleasantly surprised when I looked up stream. About an half a mile up the stream, was a small waterfall over another rock cliff. "Beautiful!" I thought. "That would make a great painting". I turned and headed back, when I reached the plateau, I went to the edge and surveyed the valley below. The fields leading up to the cliffs looked like they would be good for the garden we would need. I could even see glimpses of the big lake over some of the forest. By that time, the sun was edging over the mountain top and I knew I needed to head back before my dearest began to worry. I gathered dead wood on my journey back and had a large arm load when I returned. Nope, he was still asleep, but the cows were now up and grazing. I took a handful of grain to the birds and another for Little Lady. She nudged me, "Ok, ok, hold your horses." I said as I pulled a zip lock out of my pants full of some of the clover I had found. I had to keep the oxen away while she munched. If I didn't know better she almost looked like she was taunting them "See what I got...hahaha". Gunslinger808 got up shortly after the sun hit the tent. I had his coffee ready and we sat there for some time listening to the silence, birds, crickets, frogs, splashes, and the occasional cock-a-doodle-do from the rooster. He sure can break a peaceful moment. We discussed where to begin. He asked if I'd seen clay, I told him I went north and what all I'd found. He suggested after he finished another cup of coffee and woke up more, we'd check the south side of the lake. I took a walk east along the trees with a handful of bandanas and wrapped them around 3" trees that would make good lintels for the roof and on a few of the 6"-10" trees making sure I didn't clear too much of the forest. I came back and he was ready to go. We went back to the waters edge and walked south about 100 feet and found our clay. The bank and part of the incline was red and sticky. We topped the incline and walked south toward the outlet for a little bit, just far enough to be able to see the outlet stream was blocked by a beaver dam, then came back to camp to plot where we were going to make our house. I got out my saw and file and sat by the fire sharpening it. My dearest went up hill another 40 yards and began pacing out the floor plan. He had chosen an area about 200 yards from the cliff face to avoid falling rocks and high enough to avoid spring floods. When he returned, he grabbed the axe and handed it to me to sharpen. After I sharpened it, I got the fire going for some coals and put a pot of beans on to cook. The rest of the day, he worked on chopping down 2 of the trees I had marked while I managed to cut down 4 of the lintel trees. By late afternoon, we stopped on the trees and I got the plastic and buckets ready for the bricks. We decided we were done for the day and sat by the fire until sunset letting Frank roam around his new home. His little tail poofed and he danced around before planting his nose in the ground vigorously smelling all the smells, running back and forth. LOL He's such a riot. Today, I began gathering piles of sand and grasses while GS dug the footings for the walls. By noon-ish we took a break, ate a bowl of left over beans and got back at it. The footing trench for the first room was complete, he gathered buckets of clay, I mixed and formed bricks. By evening we had 30 bricks formed and set to dry. We had re-fried beans and corn tortillas for dinner, let Frank play and we passed out.