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Carla’s Niche
Avalon Journal
Copyright © 2007 L/L Research
MT’s Log
August 1, 2004
Car hit on passenger side during the night. Packed down lumber and other supplies for building.
MT’s Log
August 2, 2004
Talked with police in Bedford about the car’s being hit. Gave them a written report. Went to the Trimble County Clerk’s Office and ascertained street address for Avalon, which is 760 Mosser Road. Went to Carrollton for lumber and supplies. Called Bell South to get telephone repaired. Met neighbor BT, who was upset about the car accident. Bell South came and reported that the line had been cut in three places. Telephone is now fixed! Worked to finish ‘chilla’s cage. Made another list of supplies needed and e-mailed Magic Kingdom with an update. Cabin is infested with snakes, mice and insects. There are also birds and squirrels entering the cabin at will. Some termite damage noted. Wasp nests are active and there are field mouse nests in almost every corner, due to the cabin being empty for a while. To crown the menagerie there is a strange cockroach/beetle insect, perhaps a powder post beetle or an apple tree borer. There is an odor from a stray cat or cougar who has used the living space for a sandbox. A priority job is patching all holes and cracks in the cabin walls that are letting these critters in, and cleaning the debris of nests and the smell of wild animals out of the cabin. Learning patience, because life is simple here, with no short cuts. I am on “Primitive Time.” Sawing and drilling is by hand. Packing things down the 7-mile access road, which is also a steep hillside, is time-consuming, slow work. Collecting water from the creek, laundering by hand using creek water, doing the basic living chores and cooking in a way that is safe from rodents, all takes time. All the furniture will need to be sanitized before I can place personal items in the cabin. The nights are challenging, as there is noise from critters in the walls and general insect movement. When darkness falls, there is no light except flashlight or lantern. This is challenging. Stepped on two rusty nails and was glad I had a fresh tetanus shot! Very hot and humid, as KY is advertised to be in August. Finished the day by lantern doing the paperwork of receipt keeping and so forth.
MT’s Log
August 3, 2004
Cleaned the kitchen and the bedroom areas, including the furniture. Sprayed the floor and the walls to a height of 3’ with insect spray. Finished the cage enough to place the ‘chillas in it. Made a clothes line for laundry drying.
MT’s Log
August 4, 2004
Scrubbed kitchen area again. Organized tool storage. Removed an old and fouled 10x12’ area rug and cut it up to throw away. Inventoried available lumber for patching holes. Moved into third room of cabin and began cleaning there by dismantling the beds and packing up all linens to wash and sort. Some are probably useful, but most need to be thrown out due to damage from rodents and so forth. Re-organized bed and furniture storage. Assessed furniture. Some is too damaged to keep, but some is fine. Stored some of my clothing in newly sanitized dresser, but must check often for rodent damage.
MT’s Log
August 5, 2004
Back in main room, converted broken workbench into computer desk. Covered holes in living room and main room ceilings. Got our first Avalon mail at my car. Carrier left the specs for installing a mailbox. Took photos of road for BP.
MT’s Log
August 6, 2004
Trip to Louisville for supplies, errands, and a visit to the Magic Kingdom and a real, all-over shower! Did a lot of e-mail at their computer. Picked up new trimmer to use for access road work. Received requests from BP to get soil and water samples, to get sun data and to take several series of pictures of land and access road. Cleaning is first priority, but will get these done as soon as possible. Packed down two loads of supplies plus the trimmer at day’s end. Talked again with neighbor, BT.
MT’s Log
August 7, 2004
Covered holes and cracks in lower walls, floors and windows of the main room with scrap lumber. Worked on the cage. Repaired furniture. Cleaned, with special attention to the “treasure cabinet.” Packed down the last trunk. Mounted a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and put down contact paper on the shelves.
MT’s Log
August 8, 2004
Started a daily 7 AM and 7 PM ritual of burning incense and pausing to acknowledge “Being.” It was an odds-and-ends day. Worked on the kitchen and bedroom area. Broke in the trimmer, named Bertha. Gave it a long idle to start and a long cool-down idle to end with, since it is new. Cleared a path to the feeder creek stream. Installed a second telephone on the desk by running a cord from the original jack. Made a mini-supply run to town and gassed up. Packed up five garbage bags of trash, such as the old carpet, for a run to the dump. Washed the cabin linens, wall hangings and small rugs. Started clearing a staging area for roadwork.
MT’s Log
August 9, 2004
Quite hot! Finished cleaning wood storage area next to outhouse. Will use to process timbers for house projects. Tracked sun over two days to get solar data. Started cleaning road, taking several breaks to think out the most efficient method of approach and of cleaning debris. The job takes several passes with the trimmer, bow saw, and clippers. Then clearing of debris takes place, using trimmer and rake to remove small debris.
MT’s Log
August 10, 2004
Hit a bee’s nest and had to spray and then wait. Lots of wasp nests also. Will work part of the days on the road, the rest on the house. Got a surprise visit from OM, who is considering working with L/L Research on Avalon. Saw his model yurt of cedar timbers. I need to request notice before any visit so I can better be in hostess mode. Cleared road to lean-to and culvert. Took a few pictures, but memory card was full. Will reshoot pictures for BP. Packed up linens and water containers for Wednesday trip to Louisville.
MT’s Log
August 11, 2004
Trip to Louisville for supplies and to meet C and G for volunteer time at Calvary, C’s church. Had a shower, a super lunch, went to Lowe’s for a self-driving mailbox post and a face shield that fits—yippee! Turned in solar and sun-path research and 35-mm pictures to C for sending on to BP. V, D, and R came in just as I was leaving, so got to see the whole crew. That completed my sense of checking in.
MT’s Log
August 12, 2004
Re-organized tools. I need to work on the tool room to patch remaining holes. Cleared a healthy chunk of road. Spent more time than I scheduled. There is a lot of clean-up needed. But the method is really as efficient as it can be. Mowed the very shaggy lawn with the trimmer. Set up and started to place the mailbox, but neighbor, BT, was not there. I had promised him that he could drive the post with his driver. Ate the first two peaches from our fruit tree—yum! Started a bug collection. Saw another small hummingbird. Will look for tree collectors.
MT’s Log
August 13, 2004
Found Milton’s Post Office and gas station. Explored Madison, IN. Researched via vehicle USDA and Purdue Co-op Extension. Got info for soil and water testing. Picked up several soil sample bags, plus collection info for soil, water and tree/bug testing; also fee schedules and miscellaneous literature. I need to contact a certain chap at the Extension Service about testing. Tended to personal affairs and got BP’s map. Found a Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, lumber yard, Staples and Kroger’s past Madison on 241. Eight miles to Madison and 12 miles to stores. Burned collected debris and brush in fire pit. Installed the mailbox with BT’s and M’s (neighbors) help. Started an outhouse improvement, digging a hole and re-boarding facings and floor.
MT’s Log
August 14, 2004
Cleared road almost to our gate, a six-hour stint. Did miscellaneous chores. J was coming to drop off firewood, but called to cancel. Will come in two weeks to bush-hog.
MT’s Log
August 15, 2004
Patched the outhouse, finished digging hole. Replaced flooring and timbers. Replaced face board. It needs more board and a step. Did some burning and some R&R. Bad day for wasps, so did a night hunt and sprayed nests. Best to remove nests or they will re-use them. Caught a praying mantis for the bug collection. Finally finished the first chapter of D’s book without falling asleep!
MT’s Log
August 16, 2004
I have been here two weeks. My legs are so covered with bites that I have to disinfect them each night. We’re overdosed on silverfish, flies and gnats. I work with a fly swatter by each hand! Worked on paperwork for the water analysis and the insect traps in the morning. Worked more on the outhouse in the afternoon. I do not know how long the floor supports will hold up if anyone except myself uses it. There is a hole starting. I will need to brace it before anyone else uses it. Worked on the road doing overhead clipping and prep for Bertha, the trimmer. Stopped at 5:00 PM and spent time putting up curtains. Tried to match the lace on the curtains already up. Got the cabin telephone on the “do not call” list, so hopefully will stop having these sales calls, which are most annoying. Made a list for shopping in Bedford tomorrow. Saw more hummingbirds. Darkness is falling at 9:00 PM instead of 9:30 as it was when I arrived.
MT’s Log
August 17, 2004
Went to Bedford after morning chores. Worked on library computer for hours on e-mail and never got caught up, either on e-mail or research. Got to the Post Office before it closed at noon. Spent the afternoon and evening on the road. It finally seems as though I am making progress, but the farther I get, the more time it takes to lug up gear and haul down debris, especially the larger branches. Prepared everything for trip to Louisville on Wednesday.
MT’s Log
August 18, 2004
Took a lovely shower in Louisville and tended to bites carefully. Turned in info for BP to C. Sent BP soil-testing fee schedule and enjoyed a cheeseburger! Yummy! V assigned me a Celtic knot for my Avalon log entries on Bring4th. Had so much fun choosing the colors. Missed the bank but did put in a proper change of address. Got fresh water and picked up supplies. Got J a new basketball to replace his old, dead, flat one for the Avalon “court” and on sale for 50% off, too. Now to clean up the hoop and backboard. When I returned to Avalon, I found a pile of mouse droppings on the porch bed and my apple half-eaten. I left this bed intact. This means that it is too soon to leave any fresh food out. I am still looking for a garage sale cooler that will hold a quart of milk upright. Got the lowdown on the topical map. I am sprinkling mothballs everywhere, including a few under the house. The bunnies around the cabin are getting to know me. They do not run as fast when I come near. The fireflies seem to come out more thickly when the evening is really hot.
MT’s Log
August 19, 2004
Had a tough, long day working on the road. It was super hot. I was working on a section that I know BT will regrade, a bank. There was a lot of rake work. Used J’s tarp for hauling the brush; it was most handy to have. I felt J leaning on me and stopped for a proper lunch, and lay down for 30 minutes. Worked steadily through the afternoon until it rained. I was very glad of the tarp for covering the tools. Did an hour of paperwork back at the cabin. Am all set for taking soil samples and have my errands lists ready. I am pooped! A family of deer in the meadow came fairly close. They are brown with white tails. The little baby was so cute. She had one hoof up, just like the mom! How funny! Lastly, an eagle call, just like on “Northern Exposure.” I rarely hear that, but it is a very distinct sound. There was a wild goose convention on the road.
MT’s Log
August 20, 2004
Back on the road work by 8:00 AM, hoping to avoid the heat of midday. Got rained out at 11:30 and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the porch, since the insects were also rained out. Read some of D’s book and lay down for half an hour. In the afternoon, decided to go for it and rehung the tool room door. I had been using lumber, a brick and an oddly shaped walking stick to seal the rodent entry gap and to keep the door closed. This is one of those classic shack doors that has been rehung upwards, backwards and then some, the kind of thing one thinks twice about attempting, knowing there will be all sorts of chisel work. And if one is lucky enough to get it up and swinging on its hinges, you just don’t know until you test it! Yep! I had to chisel here and there and it is still not done. But the rain stopped, so I went back to roadwork for a bit. A humongo squirrel, carrying its baby in its mouth, ran up the porch post and into the rafters. As the mom came back down the post, she looked at me and I told her I had no problem with it where she was—but no living inside the house! Leaves are starting to turn fall colors, and my insect bites are healing. I have been eying a big bottle of Amoretto D’Amore left down here some time ago, but still wonder if it’s filled with kerosene. I recall the sly smirk on G’s face when I told him about finding that bottle! It’s canned chili and pudding tonight.
MT’s Log
August 21, 2004
Spent the morning working on the road: tons of branches and overhead limb cutting. I must be on the last third of the job, though, plugging away. The cabin is more functional, but it still needs more TLC and hole-covering. It is raining through one window—another job for the lengthy to-do list. Left a note for neighbor, BT, who seems over-eager to check on me, especially when drunk. At one point he mentioned wanting to sell the lower acreage, but then corrected himself. Spent the afternoon and evening in Madison. Used the Library computer to work on e-mail. Did laundry, got some computer supplies, and went to the Salvation Army for some cheap work shirts. Got a note from my banker about the Community Farm Alliance Co-op and followed through by writing the Alliance a note asking for info. C was asking for that. Am considering painting my bites with nail polish, as neighbor feels I have chigger bites- but only have red nail polish. Hmmmm. It is late, and I still have to eat. Drat! The skeeters came out early tonight too.
MT’s Log
August 22, 2004
I have lost track of the days—didn’t realize it was Sunday. Woke up to baby deer with a white tail in the near meadow, looking very curious. I saw a granddaddy wasp! I told him, “Chief, move the clan out!” I’ve seen no more wasps at the cabin. I did see a lot of butterflies at the lunch hour. Worked on the road all day. I can only hope I will be able to bring photos on Wednesday. I have taken between 50 and 70. Taking down lot of limbs. The growth is thick and the road is way too narrow, with lots of old leaves and rot on the slopes that slough off at a touch. At this point I have two goals: show Kentucky an example of the concept of ‘road shoulder’ and go for the subtle, air-brushed look, same as an artist. We’ll see! Two puppies have hung round the cabin today, let’s call them Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Dum hung out with me on the road all day. They seem to be strays—neighbor L thinks so. They are covered with ticks and fleas. There is a vet in Bedford who takes in strays, and I may have to lose half a day of work taking them in, to find them good homes.
MT’s Log
August 23, 2004
Worked on the road until about noon. One of the puppies had howled under a window every hour of the night, so I went ahead and called the Humane Society. Their representative came during the lunch hour. I was relieved, as I had been concerned that I would wound the underfoot puppy with my trimmer inadvertently. I also got through to Bell South and they took so long finding our account that in addition to the local phone books I was calling to get, they threw in a Louisville set. Called C as well, who gave me the address for the U. of Louisville Co-op Extension in Bedford. I am still trying to get water-testing info. This last leg of the road is kicking my butt! It is slope work, with mega-hand-sawing. I’ve popped one blade completely. The long handled pruners are threatening to go. The pole saw has to be oiled two or three times a day. All the tools need sharpening daily. Bertha, thirsty girl that she is, has slurped two gallons of mix. There were huge eagles overhead today and a large pack of wild turkeys on the grass in the far meadow. I should get some field glasses! And the squirrel just climbed the post on the back porch to her home.
MT’s Log
August 24, 2004
With more than enough snakes, snails and puppy dog tails, the “Tunnel of Love” road work is as good as done. I am an hour shy of completion—had to take off an hour early because of a bout with heat stroke that forced me to rest with a blinding headache and other symptoms I had to take seriously. Photo mode in one hour tomorrow! It is soup for dinner tonight, with the usual loud chorus of crickets and creatures in the background. The telephone has been cut off again. Tried to call out, and no dial tone. The praying mantis has transformed itself into something winged, I do not know what!
MT’s Log
August 25, 2004
The day’s goal had been to finish up the top of the road, take photos for BP and head to Louisville. Everything changed when I went up this morning. The neighbor had, for some unknown reason, taken his tractor to the access road’s entrance from the public road and torn it up. I won’t go into details. I won’t go into what it took to get the vines out of the way gently, or to cut a grooming line and have it come out so well. Was it a practical joke? Was he drunk? He has ripped up trees, destroyed any good lines the entrance had, and ruined hard work of mine. I am finished with being carefully courteous to this guy, who is altogether too nosy and probably cut our telephone wires doing this latest wanton destruction.
MT’s Log
August 26, 2004
I did a lot of sitting and thinking, having decided to take a day off. It had rained for part of the night and on into the day, stopping about 1:30 PM. After finishing the chisel work on the tool room door, which now works well, I took a nap. I spent the remainder of the afternoon tending the brush I was burning and doing small homestead chores. C had called in the broken telephone line, and it was repaired by 10:30 this morning. The neighbor evidently had slashed through the shallowly buried phone line up by the mouth of the road, as I had thought, as that is right where the cut was. I am still a bit upset about the damage to my work on the road, and did not go up even to get the mail today. I am now parking further down the hill, away from the entrance. The radio reported the expected heat index tomorrow to be 100 degrees. I am a bit concerned for the health of the chinchillas in their fur coats. They go through a lot of water, which is rare, and their coats seem to sweat a bit. I may go shopping to get ice, though I still have not found the ice chest of my dreams. They are either too big or too small!
MT’s Log
August 27, 2004
Well, if my plan was to take it easy for a few days, I blew it! After devoting most of the day, if not all, to the road, I could not resist getting to some household chores. I went grocery shopping, found a new hoop skirt for the basketball hoop and got other necessities. Got 4-oz. water bottles for the water analyses. Applied for work. I found a total of about a dozen contacts in this area. Worked on the outhouse steps. Mowed the lawn with the trimmer. Used up my fresh groceries, eating at one sitting over a pound of meat and vegetables I had gotten. With no way to keep food, it is the only way to enjoy fresh food, and the smallest amounts of meat sold are 1+ pounds each. My body said thanks, though! I am seeing so many sevens today, and lately. Madame Squirrel left the roof at 7:07 AM, and every other time I glance at the clock, the minute hand is on a seven. Stayed up late (10:37 now) working by lamplight. Unfortunately, gnats flock to a lantern, and I got one in my eye! Now that’s a drag!
MT’s Log
August 28, 2004
Very hot again today. Spent the morning doing chores. I raked the lawn, wanting to see how it was reacting to the weed-eating approach to lawn care rather than mowing. Did some weeding and spent some time just sitting and enjoying, resting up. J, C and V all came in the afternoon. C and V went to fine-tune the location of the first building. We sat in the clearing and asked Avalon to speak on a few things. It was super great to have them here. J bush-hogged, as he had planned. V went for a hike, saw some deer and did some meditating. J, C and I walked over to the ruins some distance over our land. Their presence and the hike helped me to make some connections with the map, with BP, and with decisions that had been made prior to my being welcomed into the group. At first, their dimensions seemed too small, but when V talked about the exterior additions of greenhouse, root cellar and patio, I could see it was quite sizeable. J wrote a man-to-man note to the neighbor asking him to refrain from bothering me. I can only hope that he will not retaliate.
MT’s Log
August 29, 2004
It was much cooler today. A lot of birds were around, and I stopped to watch them visit C’s tree. Still in resting mode, I took a long nap and read more of D’s book. I decided to take soil and water samples as my only chores of the day. However, walking from one end to the other and digging here and there took several hours. I also took several soil samples for V’s special herb garden, though she had not asked me to. I had two notably strange experiences. When I was cooking, it sounded like someone rapped at the door. When I responded, “Yes?” and looked through the window, no one was there. Not long afterwards, I decided to turn on some music, not at all loud. Less than five minutes later, really loud Spanish music started up from neighbor BT’s property up the hill behind the cabin. The music seemed to get louder and softer, as though someone were walking back and forth along the property line. It disturbed me, along with his sudden interest in our access road and hearing gun and rifle shots from his land daily. The land is disturbed by this. As one person, I can only help to cleanse so much. I look forward to a cleansing ritual here on Avalon. The “big dog” that Avalon and C talked about to protect me is, I believe, a metaphor for BP. I look forward to his being here, and hope to work well with him. I tend to work too hard on my own. I hope he does not try to push me even harder. If there is any kind of problem, I am the new kid on the block! I have had no input at all into the design, structure or goal of Avalon. I will do all that I can to help create all that is desired by Avalon and the group. I guess I feel restless, not knowing what is to come. The night still bothers me some. There are some strange, large and goofy looking night insects I cannot identify. I wish I had a big insect book. Often their function is as fascinating as their appearance.
MT’s Log
August 30, 2004
Did not sleep well, so am trying for a mellow, low-key day. Mixed the prepared soil samples and sealed the entrance and exit samples from the creek. Went into Bedford. Did a good deal of e-mail at the Library. Visited the U of L Co-op Extension for alternate information on soil and water samples and to compare prices and fees from different labs. Mr. P. was not in his office, so I shall need to try again tomorrow. While at the Library, I checked out two insect books—this is not bedtime reading! Failed to find more info on water testing. Badly-referenced phone book does not help at all.
MT’s Log
August 31, 2004
Still cool today, and a much better day for me. Talked to myself a lot, though I do not believe it helped me to understand my catalyst. To recognize catalyst is not to solve anything, though I feel more aware. I studied the insect books and discovered that silverfish are considered living fossils, older than the dinosaurs. I smash them, all the same. The way they squirm is truly creepy. Read more of D’s book, including, synchronistically, the part about his being prompted to look at the clock. I just went through that. Got out my zamponas. Oh, la, it has been awhile! It is hard to believe I had the wind to get them singing. Digging out my bits of music will be fun—where, oh where, amidst the paper? It would seem Madame Squirrel has invited her whole colony to join her in the rafters on the back porch. I may have to intervene, as I was gaining ground in rodent odor control. And the chinchillas do not like the voices near them. Another 5-6-foot snake has left its mark, or rather, its skin. I am under the impression that he mistook Bertha for a good time and snuggled up to her still-warm motor. Perhaps the smell of gas and oil is an aphrodisiac? I stumbled upon the skin he had shed, next to the trimmer. I found two mice in the cabin. Drat! The water company called back today and wanted to know more about what info I was seeking. I thanked her and said how much I appreciated her calling me back. She seemed unusually persistent, though, asking for far more info than she needed to do testing, and mentioned BT. She seemed eager to send someone by until I mentioned that he would need to contact me first, and that there was a locked gate across the road to prohibit free traffic, it being private land. If he does come, having called first (!), I will have him inspect all four wells, which should keep him occupied. Part of my recent blues and sensitivity is because I sense that Avalon has been abused, hunted and violated. I am over-identifying, perhaps, but I feel kinship here. I fixed the stairs to the back porch today, reinstalling them in their original location by fabricating a sort of double header that allowed me to sandwich the steps with the deck. I then put in a couple of timbers, upright, that, depending on the remaining life of the diagonals, may actually support BP, who weighs considerably more than I.
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