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Carla’s Niche
Avalon Journal
Copyright © 2007 L/L Research
MT’s Log
September 1, 2004
Had a Wednesday at Calvary with C and G, showered up and did a lot of Avalon paperwork. Sent soil and water samples to be tested after checking for B’s input.
MT’s Log
September 2, 2004
Went into Bedford at 9:00 AM and collected information on steel piping, the Bedford Apple Festival, maps of our area and information on the activities and crops of neighboring farms for knowledge of what pollutants we need to test for. Requested more info from B on steel pipe needed for solar power system and road work. Upon return to Sugar Shack, did mixed Avalon and personal paperwork. Wild turkeys came very close to the cabin early today. There were a dozen feeding near the well while I sipped my java. A nuthatch’s pretty song accompanied my work in the cabin office. I keep wanting to flush the outhouse! Went to sleep reading D’s book.
MT’s Log
September 3, 2004
It rained during the night, so my plans to be up early and work on the paths were stalled. Did clerical work, out-waiting the wetness, and made calls researching assorted info, including farmer’s markets and steel pipe. I am finding it helpful to read about the insects with which we are dealing. We have made progress, in that there are notably fewer insects flying at my face than when I came. The cylindrical nests on the porch are mud daubers, which have a bad sting. As well, we have several species of paper wasps and hornets, the heavy, honey-bee yellow and black type. All can be quite aggressive. At 11:37 AM, the day was definitively ruined by a bold trespasser in a yellow ATV. It came from BK’s property, but not from his far meadow, into our meadow and into the dooryard and looked directly at me, but without saying a word. Before I could scramble up to go out and meet him, he had driven back down the meadow and into the woods, the way he had come in. I had heard the ATV but after determining it was not coming down our access road, had written it off as being on Bret’s land. I had trouble believing he had not stopped to speak, as people in the country always do. This must have been someone scouting out the place for… what? It was surreal. Especially since J had sent BK a note just recently requesting that he call before he comes by, since privacy is an issue to one who must take showers outside. I reported the incident to the county sheriff, who took my information. I felt stunned and violated. It is seeming quite difficult to establish clear boundaries for privacy here. It seems to me to be hard-core small-town rudeness, and it has me on high alert and uncomfortable. I had less trouble living in the ghetto! It makes little sense- I am.7 miles from the nearest road, and a fence-line from the nearest neighbor. Restless, I went to Carrollton to do laundry.
MT’s Log
September 4, 2004
Slept very lightly, up at 3 and then 7. Feeling somber, solemn. Green flies eat mosquito larva so I do not swat them unless they do not mind their zone. With fresh batteries, I can pull in a really funky early-80s radio station. Whoa, time warp! Saw a swallowtail, yellow and black. A big one. Started a couple of foot paths across the creek. Went to Madison. Did e mail and stopped at the very lame swap meet. Fueled Bertha.
MT’s Log
September 5, 2004
Finally got a dialogue going with some insects. Three healthy barn spiders rigged up some awesome netting on the east pillars of the back porch. V and I were just talking about how she used to feed silverfish and flies to the spiders. Here I have had only nuisance spiders, dangling into my face from road, shrubs, outhouse and ceiling. So this is a splendid treat. As a ‘cheers’ to V I fed one a silverfish. I had to swat it first, as it was creeping fast! So all swattings are now flung to the three musketeers. They even snag the gnats! One drawback: they also catch pretty, unaware butterflies. They also seem to be vehemently opposed to wasps. If one gets caught in their webs, they won’t go near it. Bertha and I went for power walks today, one hour on and half an hour off. We are blazing trails. This method would seem a time waster to anyone using a bush hog, but we’re doing our own dumb thing! Thanks to J’s previous labors, nothing has exceeded Bertha’s capacity. I got a bit of an appetite back despite the disturbance yesterday, enough to cook up a batch of pancakes and eggs topped with unsweetened applesauce and sugar-free syrup. Did some chores and saw my first large bat, or possibly owl, flying by.
MT’s Log
September 6, 2004
Snake sighting! I saw “Mouser,” the 8-footer, slither into the wall siding near the back door of the tool room- a call to pay attention when putting tools away. Sugar Shack has a mild case of Asian Lady-bug beetles. This is a ladybug that has been infesting KY structures since 1993. They hang out on window ledges but supposedly do not breed indoors. They do excrete an odor and can stain surfaces, like paint or carpet. They look like the classic red and black ladybug but have a distinct “M” mark on the head. Literature on file. Extremely hot and humid today. Worked on the Sumai site, clearing up the bank. That location needed too many cuts for the bush hog to take care of. Got some dogs with collars coming through. When that happens, I am on high alert for the next hour, waiting for the owners to follow. The barn spiders are now enjoying katydids, which is good news since they can be serious crop pests. They are spiny-backed, green night-flyers. Read more of D’s book as I went to bed.
MT’s Log
September 7, 2004
Got gas, went to Madison. Got stopped by a road block. The State Patrol had one on 421, just out of Mosser. Researched chemical for treating chiggers, which are terrible here. Stopped by a water equipment company to get pipe info. Found a half-decent bale of orchard grass for the chillas, at last. Been looking for over a month. Got e mail, worked up a new list, did paperwork for H. Experiencing a lack of motivation because of the trespassing incident.
MT’s Log
September 8, 2004
This entry made from H. Worked on several L/L Research projects, Avalon paperwork. Showered and had a good lunch with C, G and J. Had a good talk with V and C. Worked on B’s requests.
MT’s Log
September 9, 2004
Up at 6 but forgot it was my birthday until 7:30. Bertha and I went on a power walk as planned. Cut a footpath up to the third knob road, which is grown over with big low growth. Finished the path to one of the ruin wells. Could not find the other one which is dug. Could not find the seeps either. Very dry. Now is not a good time to venture yonder. These footpaths are lovely trails for some and traps for others. Hope you know what you’re about if you embark upon one, especially if mounted on an ATV! Came back to do office work, call-backs and preparations for Friday errands. C and J might come out for Apple Festival. There is something about when C laughs or J smiles, one of those brief moments when all is well. I take note at each of these occasions. Trimmed the lawn, which is requiring steady maintenance. The grass is still growing fast. Went through two tanks and a couple of hours to get it done. Found C’s sun glasses! Bertha slimmed over them by millimeters. They were lens-up but were unscratched. A miracle! Saw a really neat turtle with a good 7-8” shell and yellow markings. I picked it up to say hello and it popped its head out which is rare. I did not want to hit it with Bertha or scare it with the noise so moved it to safety. I know there’s a way to determine the age by counting grooves or markings but have forgotten, if I ever did know. Lastly, there are lots of goofy little flies, quite small and narrow to look at, but a bit like bees. I am calling them ‘play flies’ because they come up to you, still airborne, dart left, dart right, then stop again. One would swear they were trying to get a game of catch-me going. Grabbing the swatter is my way of saying, “Sure, I’ll play!” Tractor Supply of Madison carries a nice line of women’s work clothes, boots and gloves for all sorts of farm work. This was a good, productive, 12-hour day, not too hot, plenty of breaks, pretty good spirits most of the day. Rehashed a bit here and there, but it was not unmanageable.
MT’s Log
September 10, 2004
Went to the county Clerk in Bedford to research the public records room for deeds affecting our easement and access road. Did not know the name of the third new owner of an adjacent parcel and had to go to PVA to see a survey or map. Met JP, a surveyor, in the records Room, who was very helpful in trying to interpret the wording of all these deeds. In Madison I picked up fence repair materials. G will come out to help next week. Got groceries and a CARE box for PT. Raked the lawn and leaves. It looks great but wow, is it time-consuming. Here-s a highlight- got peed on by a frog, which is what happens if you pick one up, apparently. Moved another turtle out of the way. Doing the footpaths, I have uncovered a tree growing up right through an ancient toilet. Funny toilet tree! Long day.
MT’s Log
September 11, 2004
Did chores and went up to brave working on the upper road, since C and J were en route. Soil test results arrived. Arsenic and water tests still in process. Will try to get some literature for interpreting the numbers and symbols for the lay person. Looks very good. I am pleased with this lab and like the graphic display. J and C arrived. They dropped a good bit of brush into the part of the ravine needing shoring up. They loaded up one of the beds stored here to take back to replace the bed R took with him. We all went to the Apple Festival in Bedford. It was just lovely! Got treated to a BBQ pulled pork sandwich and C got a kool anchor for the H door.
MT’s Log
September 12, 2004
Lazy day! Must have needed one. Got up early, read, ate breakfast and then slept for another two hours. Took photos of the sumai, the foot paths, the ruins, the toilet tree, flora and the cabin. Saw another turtle. Both the Sugar Shack well and the ruins well are dry. Also they are only 6-8 feet deep at this point. Did paperwork. G is coming out tomorrow to help walk the fence and repair some of the perimeter fencing. Finishing D’s book. I had one of those “glancing up the road” afternoons. Often, that indicates an unexpected guest, sometimes accompanied with anxiety, when I stop to notice how often I might be looking up the road. Around 6:30, sure enough, D showed up. I did hear something, but no alarm bells went off. When I told him that, he said he did not usually set off people’s alarms. We visited a bit. He brought some honey, which I had been dreaming about to go with my peanut butter, and also some apples. We walked the paths and I showed him the toilet tree.
MT’s Log
September 13, 2004
Worked in the office in the morning. Prepared for the fence work with G. Worked on the access road opening until G came- he had gotten a late start after a late night. He arrived just as I finished trimming a newly sculptured parking area. We worked the fence lines NE, then N and W to the gate along the K property. Sent G off at 5 PM so he could make it back before D’s reading. Went up the road to see him off and to rake out this morning’s work. Received a very informative newsletter from the Community Farm Alliance which I will pass on to C on Wednesday.
MT’s Log
September 14, 2004
Started with some reading over a mug of java. Did some office calling about pipes for the road work ahead. USDA was not answering, as usual. MP, with KY Extension Service, was not there, as usual. Went to Milton to send the CARE package to PT. Then Madison, for laundry, e-mail, haircut, and grocery shopping. Then back to the cabin for more phone calls. I have an employment interview on Thursday. Prepared for trip to Louisville and H. And voila! There went an entire day! And enough hard work to encourage me to lie down for an hour—happens!
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