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Carla’s Niche
Avalon Journal
Copyright © 2006 L/L Research
July 1, 2005
LoneBear's Log
Had a heck of a storm last night. Dumped 1.5 inches of rain, but got the creek going again, and knocked down some trees. Even had a few tornados graze the local town area, knocking out power lines.
Avalon survived with minimal problems. One tree down across the access road, and one, big branch down out of the Box Elder between the Shack and the Shed. Fortunately, the branch fell right between the two, and didn’t even damage the bushes.
The garden is much happier with the rain. Even have some squash sprouting now.
We are running into an insect problem, ants seem to be #1, as they like to cut down the plants like falling trees. Lost a pepper plant, but I put out some diatomaceous earth around the bases of the remaining ones to try to slow them down.
The well I am digging filled with water—about 5.5 feet of it! It has previously only gotten to a depth of about 8 inches. It is amazing what only 1.5 inches of rain can do to the ground water table.
(I’m typing this in on the 3rd, and have been watching the water level fall about a 1.5 feet a day. I guess there are a lot of thirsty plants out there.)
BlueEagle’s Log
Thursday, July 7, 2005
Ranger Gathering
Adair, Iowa. I began my trip at 7:45 this morning. Every thing has gone fine.
Tomorrow I will arrive in Milton KY, and shall see what happens. I am looking proof as well as inspiration. This may truly be a turning point, to see which peak I will climb.
Bombings occurred in London today; not many were killed, but too many died.
The west wind will raise the dark clouds and lit the banners high.
The sun will once again bring light nigh.
Mist and fog are driven away, with green fields and cobalt oceans stay.
By our hands it has begun, from strife and toil we have not run.
Friday, July 8, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
Back at Avalon at last! Gods, I love how this place talks! Elementals, spirits, little people, ancients, trees … everybody chattering away in a silent cacophony. I’m getting better at picking out differences, but still sometimes have trouble identifying who is who.
BlueEagle just arrived this evening from Colorado to help set up for (and participate in) the Ranger Gathering. Most of my day was spent teaching D how to use QuickBooks so that he can keep his own checkbook. In all, six hours or so were passed in this endeavor. D is a quick study, but he had almost two months of backlogged receipts to catch up on and reconcile. It was tedious. Midway through this routine, Bear and I made a run to Madison for tractor parts. I took with me a couple of check payments for which they had been patiently waiting. We then stopped at a bank to cash Bear’s reimbursement checks. We also stopped at Kroger (big chain grocery) to look for a better kitty-nail trimmer. I did not find one, but did pick up a new toy for the girls. One last stop at Lowe’s and it was back to D’s.
Until BlueEagle arrived, at which point we went out for pizza. The pizza was at Bear’s request and we shared the restaurant with a local kids’ baseball team. Wow, what a ruckus!
Bear, BlueEagle and I stood outside for about two hours tonight after dinner, watching the fireflies. We admired the night sky and listened to the animals, watching ghostly images float by our inner eyes.
It is good to be back with my cats. Silly, but they really are like my kids. I miss them terribly when I’m away. There’s just nothing like my own cat snuggled against me at night.
BlueEagle’s Log
Friday, July 8, 2005
Ranger Gathering
I am sticky and hot.
While driving today it occurred to me, “What are you doing? You are driving 1100 miles from your home, to meet some people you hardly know, save a few, to work on a farm… Huh.” But being here at Avalon has already enchanted me, even with it bugs, and spiders, and humidity. I also received and answer from Avalon about the previously mentioned question; to build four pillars, which I presume to stand for 1) relationships between people, 2) Avalon, 3) the Rangers, and 4) my self.
The giant tree in Avalon which is at least 5-6 feet across is incredible. The forest itself is packed with spirit and life.
It is good to be among my soul group. It is an odd feeling fitting into a group immediately with no hesitation.
Avalon is full of entities such as Greenman, elementals, and the Little-people.
The Greenman is an ancient being/energy. He—I use the pronoun he only for ease of use and in the effort of giving it a little more personality in words—is and integral part of Gaia. LoneBear and GhostCat are more knowledgeable on this subject.
The elementals are entities which appear to us as personifications almost, of the four elements; air, water, fire, and earth. Each has its own location, usually by its own element, and each has a range of colors which it will often lend to the eye. Air is light grey to almost white, water is blue, fire is orange, red and yellow, and earth may be a variety of earth tones. Beyond these few details I know little more.
July 9, 2005
LoneBear's Log
Tent Raising Day
We have our army tent, without stakes, which we will create with some T-post and rebar.
BlueEagle (orange helmet) and Gman set out cutting up the 6 foot T-post into three sections, to be used as the stakes that hold the ropes that hold up the tent. This will give us 2 foot long metal stakes that should hold quite well in this ground.
Next up was bending a hook in the end of the rebar, which is used to hold the canvas around the base of the tent securely to the ground.
Gman made use of my backhoe for a helping hand, throwing a 90 degree curve to the end of each piece of rebar.
The tent required 27 2 foot stakes (for which we used T-posts cut to size), and 46 16 inch foot stakes, which Gman is making here.
BlueEagle tried to help with the bending, but due to his much lighter weight, the rebar kept winning.
With the stakes and canvas in hand, we set out to put up this monster, which requires 4 people to raise it. It went a lot smoother than we had expected; I guess the Army knows what it was doing when it designed them.
Victory, at last. The tent is up and plenty big.
BlueEagle enjoys a Gatorade after setting up the tent, discovering how much more humid it is here than in Colorado.
Also did some brush hauling, so we can make some more chips later on for the composting toilet “bulking material.” Discovered that we must make sure that there are no cedar chips in the bulk mix, or it kills off all the good bacteria in the compost.
Saturday, July 9, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I got up at 8:30. After Oreos and Gatorade for breakfast, I watered the garden. This requires dipping water out of the dug-out well (i.e. BIG HOLE) and transporting one bucket at a time to the thirsty plants. Oh, the gratitude! Plants are so spontaneous in their joy! They never hold back.
All watered, I collected my kneepads to weed, then doubled back to thin the radishes, lettuce and carrots. Somehow, we seem to have achieved 100% germination and boy-oh-boy do we have plants!
By 10:30, Bear and Eagle had arrived and were puttering about, hunting for the break in the fence that let 30 or so cows through on to our property, looking for some way to identify the owner of said cows, and fixing the tractor. I guess it was about 11:30 when Jim and Gary showed up with mowing equipment, as well as a cooler with prime rib, bread, sodas, chips, and the fixings. Woo-hoo! They set about making the “yard” tidily beautiful. By then it was 90°F in the shade, and work in the garden was toasty. I plugged away, taking Gatorade breaks as necessary.
I gave up due to the excessive heat and humidity around 2:30, sat down in the shade on the porch and applied mink oil to my hiking boots. Then I happily took a siesta, munching on some Vienna sausages, dozing and simply resting. The guys cut T-posts and rebar, making tent pegs for our “GP Medium,” which we erected before stopping entirely for dinner.
Gary elected to eat cold soup straight from the can—silly boy. Bear, Eagle, and I partook of Bear’s Alfredo Rotini. Yum!
Then, across the meadow we went, sans Gary, for another evening gazing at the fireflies.
(Sigh) Good day!.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I awoke at 3:30 this morning, having to pee. Welcome to the summer habit. Heat requires Gatorade, and thus precipitates into a bladder full at inconvenient times. Much to my surprise, the sky was light at that hour. Of course, it didn’t stop me from going back to bed! LOL!
I got up for real at 8:15 and went out to water the garden. I was, however, forestalled by the re-appearance of cows, and not just cattle but cattle heading for our newly erected tent. I called Bear and told him we were about to have a “cow pavilion” and then went over there to try to keep them away from the tent with its ropes and pegs. He and Eagle rushed to the rescue.
While they repaired the break in the fence, I returned to the garden. I finished the watering and tied up the cucumbers, then tagged along to TSC and Lowe’s to pick up some things on our list. Upon our return, Bear went off with the backhoe to clear a path to the south end of the property while Eagle and I chatted at the Shack, waiting for Starlight.
She arrived in good order and the rest of the afternoon was spent setting up the tent as living quarters. She and Eagle will share this space, so we created a central sitting area, and used bed sheets to divide “boys” from “girls.” By the time we had shelves set up, cots moved in, table and chairs, lamps, munchies, etc, it was dinnertime.
We enjoyed ravioli and soup for dinner, Eagle and Starlight doing all the cooking and cleanup. Bear went back to D’s and the three of us walked out across the meadow. We stretched our psi muscles a little bit, met a number of curious entities and did a fair amount of giggling.
It was a lovely evening. I am enjoying the energy of this group as it gathers.
Ranger Gathering
Sunday, July 10, 2005
BlueEagle’s Log
To night I will be spending the night down in the big tent with Starlight, down in the big tent at Avalon. The learning has started in earnest.
But to the more physical facts first. This morning we had about 20-30 cows roaming Avalon. They leave quite a mess. We attempted to fix fences and tried to use the 20 year old wire (a guess) but the barbed wire has a tendency to turn to dust in your hand.
Starlight came down around 3:00 PM, and was immediately adamant about getting things done. I am glad we are all of the same mind. LOL. Bear began making a break through the forest so we can fix the fence on the other side of Avalon. A fairly relaxing day for me, though Bear and Hotaru always work hard.
Hurricane Dennis (it needs a better name) will come one little cloud at a time, it’s falling rains may hit on Wednesday.
The very interesting part came this afternoon and evening. Hotaru lent me advice on how to commune with trees. (Doesn’t that sound funny). Using my psychic skills, I was able to talk to my first tree. It was a mulberry tree, a very happy mulberry tree. I asked, for lack of a more creative question on my part, what it thought of rain. It answered with a laugh and a very jolly yes. I was just happy to received a reply. I then asked a rose bush the same question and it must have thought me silly, because in a polite, yet haughty manner, it told me merely, “good.” Starlight and Hotaru, along with myself took a walk after sunset down to the northern field. We had a nice time sitting and watching entities watch us. It must have been an amusing scene for a casual observer.
More to come.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Starlight*s Journal
Avalon it is exactly as I imagined her. Peaceful and beautiful. I felt welcomed by her, GhostCat, BlueEagle, and LoneBear.
When I finally reached the bottom of the hill, I was immediately greeted by GhostCat and BlueEagle. Bruce was somewhere out on the tractor hauling dirt and rocks. I also met both Mocha and Shawnee, Avalon’s two female cats. I see a lot of potential here and much work to be done.
There is much needed rain, hopefully, we’ll get some of it, if the hurricane comes our way. Late afternoon, LoneBear and I went grocery shopping for items to fill the pantry some more. We all had a late evening walk, we meditated on whatever came our way. The fireflies were everywhere! It’s late I’m very sleepy.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
Woke several times last night to pee. (Sigh) I wonder when I’ll sleep through the night again? Arose at 8:30 and went out to the garden. I put down blood meal and bone meal, both organic fertilizers and critter ridders, while Eagle drew water and watered the plants.
Starlight hadn’t slept at all well, so we let her rest as late as she was able, and she joined us when she got up. By that time, we were doing more thinning of the lettuce and carrots. Bear arrived and we took a heat break. Shortly, as we were chatting, I saw we had cows again, and we were off, in the rain this time, to find the newest break in the fence.
We found four or five holes in the fence line. Our neighbor hasn’t maintained his fences in something like 30 years, so the barbed wire generally just crumbles in your hands. By the time the cows were back in their proper field and the fence was mended, Cointreau had arrived and walked out to meet us. What a sight we must have been, trudging back across the field soaked to the bone.
We spent the early evening getting acquainted, eating, and walking in the meadow. Eagle addressed a certain “wall” he had encountered on a psychic level the previous night, while I noticed a certain glow at the edge of the trees. I had to solve the mystery, finally, and walked over to investigate. It was a firefly that had been killed by a spider. In death, the firefly continued to glow. This provided an interesting meditation:
What do we see? Do we focus on the death of the beauty? Do we focus on the bug clinging to its light? Do we see the bug continuing to share that light? Do we see the spider taking that light into itself?
The five of us sat, cross-legged, in a circle near the tent … something I’m certain we’ve done many, many times before. The edges begin to blur …
Monday, July 11, 2005
Starlight*s Journal
We had rain, finally, much needed rain, but we need more. Organic garden sprung back.
Cointreau arrived in the afternoon. I met him as I walked up the hill, while BlueEagle and GhostCat went after cows. GhostCat says the cows have been a problem. I suggested milking them.;-) Maybe the neighbors will mind and do something about it. Cointreau being the beef lover that he is (along with LoneBear), suggested turning it into meat. Can you imagine! Poor cows. I prefer chicken, LOL.
GhostCat took us to different areas around Avalon and laid out the plans for Avalon’s future. A well that’s located behind Sugar Shack next to the garden. There will be 2 cellars, 1 by the side of the hill and another existing behind an old abandon building. Above one of the cellars, rooms for the workers will be built, this will be a 2-story building. On the second story, I believe will be storage of eatables. A couple of feet away from the cellar, a pond, within a creek. Creek needs to be leveled. LoneBear has been removing dirt and rocks from it to make way for water when it rains. There is a LOT of stone. Beautiful stone. A lot can be done with this stone, it is good building material. Oh, that brings to mind - a bridge across the creek is also planned, hopefully made from this stone.
So much to be done! I look forward to the hard work and the natural flow of energies that Avalon brings.
We actually made progress today, speaking “discussion group.” BlueEagle and I opened up some more. I feel the connection to the group getting stronger. And there are no coincidences as you know. Each day is a step on the right path. There’s not one day that goes by, where I haven’t learned something new. How truly blessed we are … I’m grateful for that.
July 12, 2005
Carla’s Journal
Ranger Gathering
Upon my return from Britain (for an account of which, please see GhostCat’s and my trip journal elsewhere on this site) I had been flattened entirely—the very day I got home—with a stomach virus. This virus left me with severe nausea, diarrhetic bowels, muscles spasms in back and abdomen, which caused talking to be painful, and continuing dizziness from low blood pressure, a result of the continuing purging. I had planned with Lone Bear and GhostCat to drive up to Avalon and visit daily during the week of the Ranger Gathering to offer teach/learning sessions for the Rangers’ circle at Sugar Shack during the heat of each day’s afternoon. However, that plan had to be abandoned for obvious reasons.
The Rangers decided to come to me here in town instead, not every day, given my current condition, but at two times during the week. Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis, today was predicted to be quite rainy throughout the area, so the Rangers made plans to caravan over to the Magic Kingdom for a teach/learning circle and lunch. Before the group arrived I prayed and tuned my energy somewhat. After they gathered for the session, having performed some ablutions and washed their clothing, we tuned together in a formal sense, sitting in the circle, I doing my singing and praying and invoking the archangels and they lending their energy and developing the circle’s focus. This was most helpful for me. With all of this good preparation in place I felt transparent, just as I had hoped, out of the way of Spirit.
When they requested that I simply begin wherever intuition led me, Spirit led me hither and yon very nicely. It helped that I had spoken to a number of groups recently in Britain, working repeatedly with basic Law of One elements, which gave my mind sharp focus on a large body of material. As well, I had in my mind the various topics that Bear had requested I consider when we had originally planned this event back in May. Gradually, with lots of help from Spirit, I worked my way through the basic topic list we had discussed.
After a good long while we broke for sandwiches and then reformed the circle to pursue the topics of the opening session however they wished. To some extent the second session was a Q and A on what had been covered; to some extent teaching was requested on some new topics. It all felt inspired. One can do no more in achieving real coverage of a topic than to make a start on it in the space of one day. However, if the words carry a good heft of solid material with a leavening of inspiration and humor, that is enough to achieve a teach/learning instrument that will fly. I think we soared!
The daylight waned too soon and it was time to stop! The group’s wonderful energy and questions had helped tremendously in powering me through the effort involved in talking. It was terrific to spend a time of sharing with the gathered Rangers, none of whom I had met before. I was extremely sorry to see them go, though admittedly exhausted!
It was simply a great day.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I rose at 8:30, and Cointreau was already outside cleaning up. I checked on the garden and tied up more of the cucumbers, then joined him for a morning chat. We were still chatting when Starlight and Eagle surfaced and Bear arrived. A rain-shower forestalled our work activities, and we sat talking for a time. I am becoming more and more convinced each day that the building of Avalon is about our internal processes more than about building physical structures. The building simply provides a framework, physical and to an extent metaphysical, upon which to hang our interactions with one another. Here, with “manpower” to help, spirit has arranged to provide our much-needed rain while simultaneously helping us find time to sit down and talk.
Later, Cointreau and Starlight chipped wood in “Dervish,” our chipper-shredder, while Bear cleared more trees to be hauled and chipped and Eagle lined the well-bottom with rock to slow the rate at which it fills with silt. I foraged for appropriate rocks and handed them down to Eagle. We made up a new mix for the composting toilet and then collected our things for the trip to L/L.
We arrived in the small village of Anchorage around 3:25, about a half hour early. All three showers were immediately employed. I started a load of laundry. We collected after the cleaning event and Carla talked for nearly four hours on the Law of One. Everyone reported that she was answering their questions before they could even ask them. They, including Carla, said they really enjoyed the visit. We hope to return on Saturday, and, if Carla’s strength is sufficient, participate in a channeling session with Q’uo.
We went to Hometown Buffet for dinner and had a great follow up conversation about everything that had been occurring to date: curious entities on Avalon, rain-showers, points about the Law of One, etc. Cointreau was really struggling with his asthma. Upon our return to Avalon, he retired immediately to the shed. I hope he’s all right!
Bear went back to D’s, and the last three of us sat out on the porch talking until 2:00 AM! What fun. We just lost track of time.
I forgot to call my mother tonight. She faithfully phones me every Wednesday morning on my cellphone, which does not receive a signal at Avalon. I’ll need to call her directly tomorrow morning or she’ll worry.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Starlight*s Journal
BlueEagle and GhostCat worked on the old well today, dug a little and placed some rocks to hold back some of the erosion, which is temporary. Cointreau and I chipped some of the branches in the chipping machine.
It rained most of the afternoon, not much got done. But we headed to L/L Research. We met Carla, Jim, Gary and all their cats. Carla did some intuitive discussion with the group; as to why we are here in 3rd density, our awakening, what it means, our responsibilities, lessons to be learned and so on. Touched on those things written in the Ra Material, but broke it down. Cointreau asked about meditation. BlueEagle asked about tuning and I asked about meditation in the concept of Love. Without my asking Carla directly, she managed to answered 3 questions which have concerned me for long time. BlueEagle and Cointreau each had one similar example. I enjoyed the discussion. We had dinner afterwards and summarized our visit at L/L Research.
Saturday she will channel Q’uo with any questions we might have.
July 13, 2005
LoneBear's Log
Gardening
Hotaru, BlueEagle and Starlight* set to weeding the garden, getting rid of some nasty tobacco horn worms, and strung up some cucumbers.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I was up and about again at 8:30 AM. Considering we stayed up until two o’clock, I was surprised to see Eagle up also. I was even more surprised when I learned he and Starlight had been up until nearly four o’clock, chatting in the tent.
Today was a slow day, gently lived. Rain stalled any building or clearing projects, and we spent most of our time on the porch, talking and listening to the insects, frogs and birds. I phoned my mother, who chatted the usual hour.
All day I pondered the significance of finally having available “manpower” and Spirit delivering rain, right on cue—asking us to slow down, to meditate, and converse with one another. It is an interesting lesson, and one that greatly illuminates the nature of fourth density. Building will occur, but it is not the purpose. Rather, it is the framework upon which less tangible interactions are hung.
Jim came by tonight to share with us about living alone in the wilderness. He covered some basic safety, and then went from there into the less tangible lessons to be gleaned from a wilderness setting. He talked about meditation, and opening a dialogue with the unconscious mind, bringing the conscious and the unconscious into greater alignment. It was a beautiful discussion, with much sharing passed around the porch as others in the circle joined in.
Eagle hit a major milestone on his own journey as an awakened being. It is his story to relate (or not), but I will note that he works his process diligently. I very much look forward to watching—if I am so permitted—where he goes from here. He is surprisingly conscious, and wonderfully open to new horizons.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Starlight*s Journal
Today I woke up almost at 10:30 AM. How embarrassing. Yes, I did set the alarm, but guess what? I turned it off. BlueEagle and I stayed up ‘til 4 AM.
More rain means no labor work for the day.
Jim arrived in the afternoon, we had a cook-out, chicken and burgers. He had a discussion with us about etiquette, much of what GhostCat, Bruce and the group had been discussing in the previous days. Jim talked about his life’s experiences, which were interesting, and reasons behind Avalon project. I sensed honor, service and kindness from him. Avalon stands for everything I have been searching for. Coincidence? No. Jim was the last piece of the puzzle.
BlueEagle had a personal breakthrough. I feel everyday brings us closer to more understanding of one another as a whole and as individuals.
Cointreau will be translating the Ra Material to Spanish, let’s cross our fingers!
July 14, 2005
LoneBear's Log
Cointreau, Starlight* and GhostCat chilling out at the picnic table behind the Sugar Shack after a tough day. Not getting much done because Hurricane Dennis decided to park itself right over the top of us, and just stay there.
BlueEagle, with the help of Starlight*, ran some outlets from the solar electrical feed, so we now have power in each room in the Sugar Shack.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
It was another quiet day—though fascinating in its own way. Father sky chose again to drizzle on and off all day, so we engaged in more talking.
We motored over to Ponderosa for dinner, meeting Oma in the parking lot. She had just arrived into town, and picked up our phone message at her hotel. What fun to welcome another resonant soul into the circle!
After dinner, she invited us over to her hotel so that any who wished to shower might do so. We gladly took her up on the offer, and gloried in the comfort of her air-conditioned room while we talked some more.
All week, we have been meeting one another and saying things like “I know you!” or “You feel like a sister! So it was natural that we began “pinging” the connections we feel among us. Oma insisted from the first moment that Eagle’s name should be “Don,” so we began there, looking for any images or sensations that seemed to be related. The picture that developed was one of a probable past life together where “Don” was the title of a man we knew as Don Esteban (Eagle), a Scotsman living in Spain with his granddaughter (Oma) and brother (Cointreau), as well as a housekeeper (Starlight), groundskeeper (Bear), and stablemaster (GhostCat).
A scenario unfolded in which the stablemaster had come originally from Scotland with the Don and his brother, all essentially one step ahead of dire trouble. The Don was called back to Scotland to settle a family affair, and chose to take his brother with him, disguised for safety as his coachman. I (the stablemaster) loaned him my own horse, because he knew the fens and I felt certain the Don would need to traverse the fens during his journey. The granddaughter was left in Spain under the care of Estella and Emberto (the housekeeper and groundskeeper). The Don did return, but his brother was lost at sea, and my horse was lost in the fens, helping him to evade capture.
LOL! I found myself still feeling acutely put out with the Don for losing my horse, and could not resist needling Eagle a bit about it. He kept apologizing, but could not seem to do so with an entirely straight face … another interaction that felt so very familiar. I think we must have played a lot of jokes on one another in that lifetime.
Finally, it was late and past time to call it a night. We bid farewell to Oma, who would of course be staying at her hotel, and motored back to Avalon. Bear dropped the other four of us at the top of the hill, and headed back to D’s for the night.
Cointreau, Starlight, Eagle and I walked down the hill and settled ourselves … naturally reconvening at the picnic table under the mulberry tree. It was not planned or awkward in any way; we were simply not ready to let go of the energy yet. We sat for a long while, not speaking, just listening to the insects and enjoying the night air.
I thought I saw a movement off toward the creek crossing. When I looked, it became apparent that I could not have, as it was much to dark to see anything. I began again to “ping” on a psychic level, looking for the source of the “disturbance.” Normally, when I encounter nature spirits or elementals or trees, I “hit” something … here, I instead “lost” the signal. There was not a “bump” in the atmosphere, but rather, an abrupt absence of anything within certain spaces. Curious, I probed it a bit, looking for orientation, identity, intention, etc.
Starlight and Cointreau did not seem to notice anything, but Eagle picked up on them immediately, and we both got the impression of Little People. Shortly, we were both giggling, as Starlight and Cointreau began asking questions while we translated the replying impressions.
What a hoot! And such a good conversation, too! Once we had established that we wished to change the way we thought, wished to learn to think in terms of alliance across-densities, and be more conscious of the ramifications of our interactions with other living beings, they became very interested. We suddenly had the feeling of sitting at the bottom of an amphitheatre, filled with spectators. We asked what we could do for them, and they said “Love!” Since they exist in Time/Space, exactly inverse of our Space/Time reality, Love is to them much like manna from heaven.
As a side note, I would add this: I recently related this story of talking with the Little People to a member of my family. He asked me “Love of what?” It is a pertinent question, and I share it because the answer struck me as especially profound … simply “Being. Share with us your Love of Being.”
Finally, the conversation unwound to a natural closure and we retired to the porch. Exhausted as we were, we could not stop! It was already 2 AM, and we did not retire to bed until 4 AM. What a week this is turning out to be!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Starlight*s Journal
Today, I learned to install electric plugs. A couple were installed at Sugar Shack. That was easy.
In the organic garden, we found 2 more horned caterpillars on the tomato leaves. The squash has been growing quite fast now that we had some rain. Shawnee, GhostCat’s cat, is becoming quite the social one. She’s allowed me to pet her.
In the evening, when we got to the Ponderosa for dinner, Oma was waiting for us at the front door. We said our hellos and gave hugs. After dinner, she kindly offered the use of the motel’s shower, since there are no showers at Avalon. While at the motel, we mediated and made a couple of more connections. BlueEagle had a story to tell that included the group in past lives. Unfortunately, I missed quite a bit of the story, since I had gone to take a shower.
After we were done, Bruce dropped us off at Avalon. It sure was dark going down that hill! The flashlight is a real necessity at Avalon. We sat outside Sugar Shack, next to the Mulberry tree. GhostCat and BlueEagle talked more about the little people. Cointreau joined us for a bit before calling it a night. The rest of us chatted ‘til 4 AM.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
My weariness is showing. The notes in my notebook for each day keep getting shorter and shorter. As I go back to transcribe them to digital format, I see the trend. I’ve gone from writing out a coherent story of the day to (two days ago) jotting a few fragmented paragraphs to (yesterday and today) scribbling a few key lines that were still significantly stuck in my mind as I faded off to sleep. Those lines work, certainly, to jog my memory, but it is unfortunate you cannot see the difference also in my handwriting. LOL. A week ago I was still alert at the end of the day to take care in it. Not anymore.
Today, Roman came to Avalon to offer his assistance, and for a change it didn’t drizzle all day. Bear, Eagle and Roman dug postholes for the relocation of our machinery lean-to that used to reside where the bottom-of-hill parking area is now. It will soon stand to the creek-side of the field gate. Starlight and Cointreau went out looking for postcards of the area while Oma and I drove to Madison to acquire cookout supplies for this evening and birthday stuff for tomorrow’s trip to see Carla.
Again, we did a lot of talking. I had a wonderful opportunity to get to know Oma, and now I feel as though I’ve really been able to “touch-in” with each member of this circle. We are an interesting bunch, and surprisingly well suited to each others’ company.
Today is “Sci-Fi Friday” on television with Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica all premiering the new season tonight. We’re all a little sci-fi crazy, so about 6:30 we (sans Roman) headed over to D’s for a cookout. At least three of this group came to know about L/L and Avalon through D, so it was especially nice that they were able to meet him in person.
We enjoyed good food and great company, chatting freely during all commercials and browsing happily through Bear’s library. Oma has a special relationship with what we believe to be her higher self, calling itself “the Q”; we were privileged to speak with it, also. Before we left, D shared with us a video of a man named Lawrence and his wife demonstrating spoon bending.
We came back to Avalon very late, of course, and proceeded to stay up talking metaphysics until 3:15.
Final note: I am utterly polka-dotted with chigger bites. I counted twenty-seven between my left ankle and back-of-knee. Beyond that, I stopped counting. I’m just not sure I want to know.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Starlight*s Journal
When Oma arrived at Sugar Shack, we said our good mornings. Cointreau and I took a hike up the NW side of the hill. Cointreau used a machete to to clear some path for us. Half way up the hill, we found some eatable black and red berries, along side them is an existing path. The deer probably travel on it. We did see some young deer a few days ago. We also came across lemon/lime trees, but no lemons, a couple of miniature roses, no flowers. It is somewhat dense from all the overgrown vegetation. Lemons and roses need lots of light to bear fruit.
Neighbor’s cows have been an issue finding there way into Avalon. Cows won’t leave unless they are scared away.
Coming back from our hike, we saw BlueEagle and (whom I found out later to be) Roman shredding some branches. LoneBear made some holes with what looked to be a huge drill bit attached to the tractor. He, Roman, and BlueEagle also placed some wooden posts into the holes.
Arriving at the Sugar Shack, Oma and GhostCat were getting ready to go grocery shopping for cook-out items for today. Cointreau and I headed to the souvenir shop for postcards.
Early evening, all of us headed to David’s place for a cook-out. I got to meet David. His website led me to L/L Research and others in the group said the same thing. We watched some Sci-Fi Friday on TV—Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis and Battlestar Galactica—and saw a video, which David took of a man who demonstrated spoon bending. David offered salmon which he cooked himself on the grill. He specially marinated it, it was quite good!
LoneBear has a large collection of very interesting books, I wish I had more time to look through them. A particular book really got our attention, it was a book having to do with matching mates by birthdates. We found this pretty entertaining. Something very interesting happened while we were gathered. We got to speak to what I believe to be Oma’s guide/higher self. This was wonderful. I sure had fun!
July 16, 2005
Carla’s Journal
Ranger Gathering
This happens to be my birthday! I am a proud veteran of 64 summers now. Unlike many who bemoan the passage of birthdays, I look on each one as a personal achievement, having been told since birth that I was to die immediately (or at least soon). People still predict that I will die soon. It is certainly true that I remain fragile, but I am triumphantly tougher than I seem.
I had been quite drained from the effort involved in sharing with the Rangers on Tuesday and had spent a good 48 hours sleeping and resting afterward. However, by Saturday morning, I was recovered and quite eager to see the Rangers arrive again for their second visit here. They had requested before they left on Tuesday that we have a channeling session during this visit. Before they arrived here I spent some time tuning in anticipation of that.
By 10:30 they had arrived and we were settled into our circle to begin the session. I met one new Ranger who had not yet arrived last Tuesday. There were also a few gathered for the channeling session who were a part of our extended L/L family, but new to the Rangers. I like to begin by having a round-robin discussion around the whole circle. This tunes up the circle and unifies it. Each person shared a bit, whatever they wished, regarding the past few days and events. I went upstairs to finish tuning myself as an instrument for the channeling.
In a few minutes we reconvened in the living room and started the channeling itself. Recording of the session began after the preliminaries of the musical selection and the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer were completed. There was a short silent meditation while I established contact, and the words of the Q’uo group opened the session. At their request for queries, Lone Bear asked the first question and we were off. Lots of interesting material was discussed in the course of the Q’uo’s responses to the various questions over the next hour or so.
For a complete transcript of that session, please visit: www.llresearch.org. Click on the Don Quixote graphic to enter the site, and then navigate by clicking on Library, Transcripts, 2005, and July 16 2005 (at the bottom of the page).
The session ended with a short silence, then a brief prayer from me (Carla) and the repetition of a Native American chant:
I am the circle and you are healing me.
I am the circle and you are healing me.
United people, we are one.
United people, we are one.
This was essentially the Rangers’ last day together and there was a lot of sadness mixed in with profound gratitude as the Rangers said farewell to me until next time. There was a feeling of sweet fortune that we had come together in such a good connection. Groups that come to L/L Research have often expressed to Jim and me that it is like coming home, and it was that way this time as well for us all.
Much L/L- Carla
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
LOL … my handwritten notes for this day are exactly forty-two words long. The day definitely warranted a few more than that. Let’s see if I can properly expand on them …
TOO TIRED! I woke up so tired I felt sick.
We left fairly early, arriving at L/L somewhere around 10:15, and getting settled for the channeling session by 10:30. We joined the circle, each talking briefly about our week—whatever we wished to share, whether it be the physical experience, the emotional significance, the spiritual learn/teaching or just “I’m glad to be here.”
For myself, this week has been an exercise in surprise and delight. Never before have I actually fit into a circle. I have always been an outsider, even among outsiders. Throughout my life I have watched people come together—often being the facilitator of that meeting—and have stood apart from that circle of deep togetherness. Please don’t misunderstand; I do have a handful of close friends, but even among them we connect on only a social or emotional level. It is as though who-I-am is just too strong to have a balanced role among them.
Here in this circle of Rangers, each of us knows who we are. We know our strengths and our weaknesses, and we automatically shoulder roles that capitalize on strength, balancing one another. Here, who-I-am takes a back seat to the role that is mine within the group. I like who I am among these people, and I like my role among these people.
It is odd to be a part of a group. It is odd not to be the youngest. It is odd to be respected. All of these things are also very, very nice. For the first time, I’m not working to enjoy this incarnation.
Following our sharing, Carla tuned and channeled those of Q’uo. I’m sure the material was good, but I’ll readily confess I was not listening. I was riding the energy, surfing the wave, basking in the flame that was our joined circle.
After the session, Eagle had to head directly back to Colorado, so we bid him farewell. We watched the Stargate SG-1 episode “Maternal Instinct” so that Oma could finally understand the origin of her nickname, and headed over to Hometown Buffet again for dinner.
Back at Avalon, sans Oma who went back to her hotel, Bear, Starlight, Cointreau and I stood out in the meadow as we had not done for a while. Cointreau has been frustrated by his apparent lack of psychic sense and Bear began to work with him to stretch his senses, to make him more aware of the talent he does have. Starlight and I meditated and watched the stars, looking for satellites and trying to identify the planets (I learned they are the ones that don’t twinkle). As is the way with all things spirit, one thing led to another and Cointreau discovered he has a significant block against something traumatic that we believe he witnessed as a child. These things take time to unravel, and the work was only begun tonight.
C decided he would like to lie out there in the meadow alone for a bit, so we withdrew and let him be. As these last two minutes or so transpired, in which he expressed and we agreed, Starlight and I saw what we at first believed to be a satellite that then suddenly vanished and reappeared immediately at some distance, streaking at a much greater speed off into the cosmos. We glanced at each other in surprise, and continued to watch that corner of the sky. Very shortly thereafter, we saw another “satellite” make an abrupt 90°
turn and also streak off into the darkness. As we pointed and blurted, “Did you see…?” yet a third very bright “star” appeared, blinked a measured 1-2-3 times, and also vanished. We both had the distinct sense that the third was blinking directly at us as if to say, “Did you see? Are you paying attention yet?”
Bear went back to D’s, and Starlight and I talked briefly out at the picnic table, waiting to make sure Cointreau made it back from the meadow without falling in the well. After he was safely back, we moved to the bug-free porch. Our conversation was more personal than metaphysical tonight, like two sisters, estranged at birth, who had just rediscovered one another and were catching up.
It has been quite a week. I am exhausted, but sorry to see it end.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
Oma left directly from her hotel in the early hours of this morning. Starlight and I, after staying up until nearly 3:00 AM, were up by 8 o’clock, puttering about. We set the back two posts for the machinery lean-to, and Cointreau made a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and corned beef hash. YUM!
After breakfast, Cointreau started making phone calls, arranging his trip home, while Starlight packed her things. I attended to the cucumbers, and Bear set more fence along the creek side of the garden.
Cointreau departed around noon. Bear took Starlight up to her car at about 1:30, when she, too, was ready to depart. Having thrown his back out yesterday, he elected to go back to D’s and relax for the afternoon.
I puttered. There was a fair amount of clean up to do: lots of empty bottles to be washed and filled with drinking water, linens to put away, tools to re-file, office to tidy, trash to empty, laundry to sort, dishes to wash, etc.
It was too hot to move by 3:30, and I sprawled in front of the fan with my cats, trying to catch up on my sleep. I arose around 5:30 to begin the evening routine. It was still really too hot to function, so the hours passed in slow motion.
Finally, I couldn’t help it. I had to count my chigger bites. By my count—which means there are surely more—I have 167. I itch!
Tomorrow I’ll head back to L/L, to catch up on the bookkeeping and other projects that have been on hold this past week.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Cointreau’s Journal
I made it to South Florida intact, but I’m already missing the serenity and lack of friction of Avalon. It is hard to get my brain back to the “material world” mode. I enjoyed this gathering tremendously and would like to thank Jim, Carla, Starlight, Blue Eagle, Ghost Cat, David Wilcock, Oma and of course LoneBear for being who they are and bringing so much richness into my life. A piece of me stayed in Avalon, now it is just a matter of going back to reclaim it and be whole again.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I came back to Avalon last night. Perhaps I should say “this morning,” as I arrived about 2:00 AM. While I was packing up, a friend rang and asked if he might stop by with Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew. It sounded wonderful so I said, “Sure!” He did so and we spent about an hour outside by my car, chatting. He also did some massage work on my head, neck and shoulders. My neck injury from the England trip is not going away, and I believe I may need to see a chiropractor.
Bear, on the other hand, is not well. He is missing a bit of time and has a bump on his head he cannot explain. We must have back up out here! We cannot push too hard alone, or we put our lives at risk. He has retired to D’s to rebalance his bodily system, and asked me to please return to see to my cats.
So—I got off to a slow start this morning. Dawn was beautiful, with the mist hanging in the trees. I spent a moment admiring it before stumbling back into bed. After the moisture burned off, we had a cloudless sky, rapidly approaching 90°
F by 10 AM. I watered the garden from our diminishing well supply this morning, and set aside a couple of extra buckets just-in-case for later.
I then spent a couple of hours in my Root Cellaring book, rereading, refreshing my memory and scribbling notes. The cukes started crying for water about 12:30, getting that pitiful, limp, droopy look. So, I collected my buckets and saw to them … and pried yet another hornworm off the tomatoes. That done, I set about threading a few of the wayward ones back through the trellis. By the time I was satisfied, it was 3:30 and I was drenched in sweat. A check of the thermometer on the porch showed 98°
in the shade. Time to sit down!
I drained my water bottle, refilled with more Gatorade, and resumed my reading. About 5:30 I couldn’t stand it anymore and walked down to the creek. I splashed water on my face and arms and shoulders, ran my wet hands through my hair and sent out a heartfelt prayer of gratitude for the miracle of water.
I walked up to the Sumai site and took out my compass to work out the alignment of the eventual greenhouse and gardens. Note: the butt of the Sumai points WNW.
Returning to the Shack, I zoned out for an hour or two—it’s too bloomin’ hot to think. I’m not at all surprised Bear ran into trouble.
Mama squirrel came back and made an unholy racket on the roof. The cats kept giving me startled looks as though it was my fault. I went into the back room and ranted at the ceiling for a while … things quieted down until dusk began to fall.
I called Bear around 8:30 to see how he was doing. He is recovering himself, if slowly. I think we very nearly lost him yesterday, and MUST take better care to slow down and make sure we have back up. Perhaps whoever is down here should check in once a day.
Finally, now, at 10 PM, the temperature has dropped to 80°
and it has become a glorious evening to lounge on the porch. My cats have revived and begun to look lively … it could be a long night. (Chuckle)
Friday, July 22, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
Wow—great rainstorm last night! My friend T called just as I was going to bed and we talked (well, he talked—I mostly listened) entirely too long. Finally I could hold my head up no longer, but I had the oddest sensation …
Throughout the conversation, we had faint lightening flashes and distant rumbles of thunder, punctuated by two-minute splatters of so-called rain. When I checked the front step, the drops were so widely spaced I could actually count them. I was hoping for more and kept “pulling.” As I hung up the phone, I heard the trees … there was wind above, blowing hard and descending. Perhaps that doesn’t make sense, but that’s what I heard. I put my shoes on and began to “batten down.”
The phone rang. Bear said, “Grab the cats and get in the Shed; there’s a wall of tornadoes heading straight for us!”
I said, “Yeah, I can hear it. Okay.” I hung up, closed and latched the back door, and the wind hit the valley, carrying the rain with it. I scooped up Shawnee and my flashlight and sprinted for the Shed. Dropping her off, I went back for Mocha. Cat in one hand, Gatorade in the other and flashlight in my teeth, I wrestled the Shack’s front door closed and latched. Then I sprinted for the Shed again and danced at the door with a panicked Shawnee, who only wanted to escape. I not only had to get myself and Mocha IN without letting her OUT, I had to simultaneously get the door shut. Jeez.
Thus began the wait. All of us inside, I looked around. I had my cats, shelter, food in the fridge and Gatorade. There was a mattress on the floor (upon which I stretched out), but no blanket and no facilities for the cats. Hmm. Note to self: keep emergency supplies handy in the Shed.
I grew up in MN, and am familiar with tornadoes. They pass through in a rush and then you have to wait out the rainstorm. So, wait we did. Mocha plunked down by the hydraulic fluid, growling, utterly miffed by this turn of events. Shawnee paced around and around the room, crying, frantic. Thankfully, she kept returning to me on the mattress, looking for reassurance. I gave it gladly, but still she paced and cried, working herself up until she was panting like a dog. However, I’ve known this cat for 13 years. In extreme cases she has been known to go literally catatonic, so I wasn’t worried yet … merely puzzle-solving how I could make drinking water available.
The Shed is an interesting experience in a storm. Its walls are well-insulated, so all you hear inside is what bleeds through the windows or hits the door. I do understand why Shawnee was in such a state. She must have felt like she had been shut in a tomb.
At length I dozed and awoke with Mocha pressed against my legs. Shawnee had taken up residence between my left shoulder and ear. She continued to cry, and against my ear it was deafening. Yesterday’s heat must have really sapped me that I was able to doze with that racket.
Eventually, my “spidey-sense” told me it was all bluster and rain from here to dawn and I reversed the process of moving the cats. Mocha again played the miffed and hungry princess, while Shawnee settled in as though the whole ordeal had never occurred.
Just as I was dropping off to sleep, back in the Shack, I became aware there was a cat on the bed just behind my head. Still in “comfort-the-cat” mode, I reached up to scritch her. I don’t know which cat it was—I suspect Mocha—but the instant my hand touched her fur she uncoiled in alarm, flinging herself across the room to land noisily among the water dishes in the far corner. I apologized, of course, and sleepily explained myself, but was met by stony silence.
My dreams were a fascinating jumble. In one I sat on a white floor in a white room, listening to a dark-haired woman, similarly seated, talk about Timelessness. We were both clad in white robes and she was presenting/installing me with a flawless amethyst the size of a golf ball. She inserted the amethyst at heart-level, and then brought it upward to the third eye. It was a kind of insert-slide-lock movement that brought to mind Carla talking about the open heart as a gateway for travel between all the chakras. I interrupted her monologue to ask about the other, lower ones … ruby, amber, etc. Impatiently, she shook her head, saying, “They are already crystallized; this one is yours now; next will be diamond.” I felt detached and chastised, as though I had known this and allowing my conscious mind to interrupt had been juvenile. The woman returned to her talk about Timelessness.
The temp this morning was 70°
F, a full 10°
cooler than the same time yesterday. A check of the gauge this morning indicates we received one-half inch of rain in last night’s blow. The birds are in fine form and the garden is happy.
I thought perhaps I would drive to Hanover today, but I became engrossed in a how-to book on stonework. We will need to build a root cellar at the back of the Sumai site, and Avalon seems to prefer we use native stone, so I’ll need to know the “rules.”
I spent some good “country time” down at the creek admiring all the life in the little pools. I also checked the garden, picked our second cayenne pepper, and tidied the cukes, which are growing like weeds. Stonework info in hand, I spent the evening and early dark (until midnight) drawing cellar plans.
I’m tired. Two nights in a row with less than five hours sleep, followed by days of >90°
F temps have sapped my reserve energy. I have company coming tomorrow—both Roman and Bear say they’ll be here by 10 AM—I must get some sleep. The ticking of the clock has set off a low thrumming in my ears.
July 23, 2005
LoneBear's Log
Lean-to Relocation
A while back we dismantled the lean-to over in the parking area, and saved all the posts and pieces. Today, we got some extra help in the form of Romi, who decided to take on the project of getting it back up, so we could have some shelter for the power equipment.
We used the auger on the tractor to start a bore for the holes, but hit solid rock, which we had to break thru by hand with a 10# sledge hammer. Poles were placed, and stones were crammed down along the posts to hold them in position, then they were filled with clay and packed down.
Lean-to Completed
The finished product!
Sugar Shack Roof Overhaul
LoneBear and GhostCat busy applying a coat of white rubber compound to the Sugar Shack roof. It will serve two purposes: first, to help waterproof the shack, and second, it will deflect 85% of the heat away (at least that is what the can says). This should help a great deal with the extreme temperatures that occur in the shack on a sunny day.
Coating the Shack
GhostCat using a roller with a 16 foot extension handle to apply the roof coat. Given the 100+ year age of the shack, and the condition of the timbers, we thought it best not to try to climb on it.
Caught Kitty
Mocha, our local version of Garfield, tried to sneak off today when nobody was looking. Got as far as the gate, and when V. caught up with her, she just sprawled out, rolling in the grass like nothing was wrong.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I awoke too many times last night having to pee to really say I slept well. I finally got up for real at 8:30, grabbed a bucket and set to work weeding and thinning the garden. It’s best to get to it before the sun gets too high in the sky.
Roman arrived about 10 AM as I was finishing the lettuce. He tackled the rear posts of the soon-to-be lean-to, which had begun to wobble after Thursday night’s rain. I finished with my project to find the cukes wilting in the sun and switched to watering. Oi—hauling water gets hot in a hurry.
Meanwhile Bear had arrived and was excavating more of the Sumai site, relocating the dirt to the area that will hold our greenhouse. I will get to practice my rock-stacking on a retaining wall, there.
By noon the temperature was in the mid-90’s again, and we took frequent water breaks.
Once the posts were set, we hoisted the roof back up, using the backhoe, and secured it. Roman spent some time adjusting the back poles while Bear and I tackled painting the Sugar Shack roof with “Elastomeric Roof Coating.” What fun! Still not feeling well, Bear needed to keep a low profile on the physical work front. So, he hoisted me up in the loader bucket of the backhoe and supervised my efforts. I, with my bucket of goo and extendable roller, slopped and rolled until the entire SW face of the roof was covered.
We found that our goo reacts to tar—it turns an ugly brownish beige—and will need to be applied in at least two coats. Overall we area quite pleased. Even if it doesn’t seal (but we think it will), it should definitely deflect a huge portion of the sun’s rays and keep the Shack much cooler. Now all we have to do is figure out how to paint the other side.
After Bear left for the evening, I stripped and took a delightful sponge bath. I am positively reveling in the smell of SOAP on my skin. I believe I will call it an early night—perhaps read for a bit, but my body tells me it requires more rest. I intend to honor that request.
Before I leave the journal of the 23rd, I should mention a couple more things …
First, we now have a society of wasps with white feet/butts/abdomens. They couldn’t resist landing in the goo and investigating the change to Sugar Shack’s roof. I can’t help myself, either … every time a wasp approaches me, now, I stop and look to see if he has been playing in the white roof goo. I find myself addressing them, “Hi, Whitefoot!”
Second, I had a dream about a druid…
I was having a conversation with this Elder as we walked the corridors of an underground temple. He showed me the heart of the temple, and how the altar opened like a coffin. Within was a dry, fine earth—nearly dust. He told me that every so often, the highest among the order would be ritually slain—a willing, conscious sacrifice—and laid to rest there. The spirit would remain, by its own free will, to guard those who came after. The current guardian was nearly spent. My friend/mentor’s day had come. He asked me to—on the next turning of the (dark?) moon—perform the rites of his passage. I swallowed hard. This was something I did not want to do, but I could feel how much it meant to the old man—how deeply ingrained it was in the essence of his being. I asked many questions, wanting to be sure I fully understood. I would do it.
We concluded our conversation; he closed the lid of the altar and we gathered ourselves to depart. Just as we did so, a rogue monk entered, seizing the Elder and declaring that his wisdom was “too valuable to lose.” The rogue would lock him up to “protect” him. Disturbed though I was by the idea of the Elder’s essential suicide, I was far more disturbed by this rogue’s behavior. His lack of respect for the Elder’s wishes, and lack of desire to understand felt deeply dissonant to me.
The rogue swept along down the hall, preaching to all the monks he met, drawing a crowd. I trailed in the wake of this confusion, learning the location of the Elder’s cell and responding to the questions of the monks as the rogue swept ever onward. I came across a young acolyte in the hall and pulled him aside, explaining to him why the rogue must not succeed. I gave him directions to the Elder’s cell and the most basic outline of the rite to be performed, asking him to see that it was done if I did not rejoin by the coming (dark?) moon … asking him to ensure the guardianship circle would remain unbroken. He looked appropriately shocked, frightened, and horrified, but bowed his understanding and scurried off toward the Elder’s cell.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
It was another up/down night last night, but I feel somewhat more rested. I awoke at 3:15—not to my bladder this time, but to the ITCH. Unable to resist any longer, I snatched up my pocketknife and evicted five of the most persistent of my resident chiggers. A liberal smearing of hydrocortisone cream soothed me back to sleep.
I got up at 8 AM and watered the garden, then settled down to write some last notes about yesterday in my journal. My neck felt surprisingly good today, but my left wrist was quite sore.
By 9:30 everyone had been watered, including the cats and I, my journal had been scribbled upon, and I was off to educate myself in the practice of choosing and stacking rocks. This should be day one in a very looooong process. I believe I will practice on the retaining wall around the greenhouse area, and hope to gain enough know-how to then do a respectable job on our root cellar.
—Later—
Okay—no choosing or stacking rocks. Step one is of course planning. A dry stacked retaining wall requires no footing, but still must be constructed in level steps. My wall will be on sloped land, thereby requiring much digging to level. Where to dig? We don’t exactly have a clear picture yet of what the site will look like. “Visioning” is in order, and a thorough walking tour, to observe from all angles.
I do see it now, and we have a long way to go! The next step will be laying it out with stakes and string. I began hauling a pile of brush into a configuration that will define the corner where the “approach” curves up away from the creek. An hour’s work and I was dripping sweat at such a rate I honestly wondered if it was sprinkling. LOL!
Soon it was too hot to work in the sun, and I decided to hike the hill to my car. I ran some errands in Madison, obtaining masonry tools, new batteries for the cordless DeWalt tools, stakes, mason’s line (string), and a line level for laying out the retaining wall and cellar projects, along with some proper knee pads (mine are designed for garden work, not rock, and K broke our other pair), gloves, and tools. Bear had promised to give me and my “haul” a ride back down the hill, so I also picked up another bucket of roof coating. Then I got thoroughly lost in Wal-Mart trying to find bandanas.
I found them eventually. As of this writing, I have one on my head, another on my sore wrist, and a third around my neck. All are sopping wet and blessedly cool.
Tomorrow morning before it gets too hot to move—and after I’ve watered the garden—I think I’ll dig the cats a little cave under the back stairs. They’ve GOT to have someplace to retreat in this heat. The forecast says it’ll be over a hundred degrees tomorrow …
… which is why I went BACK to Madison again this afternoon with Bear. We need some kind of shade screen material to protect the garden. We found some burlap, which I erected tonight. It’s a sloppy job, but temporary and should help a little bit.
So—I’m off to get some sleep. I hope. Wish me luck.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
“How to deflate a potato chip.” Potato chip—HA! How to deflate any organic object: remove from optimal/sealed environment, and expose to Avalon humidity for one hour. My potato chip actually wilted—limp—when I picked it up. Wow.
I slept somewhat better last night—only got up once at 2:45 to pee. Next pee call was 7:00 AM and then I was off to water the garden. The well was getting low by the time I finished, and by the end each five-gallon pail took 15+ dips with the bucket to get it full. It took a full two and a half hours to get everybody bloodmeal-ed, bonemeal-ed, and watered to my satisfaction.
NOTE: as I am writing, I’m munching on leftover popcorn chicken from yesterday’s Wal-Mart trip. Mocha (usually the Hoover extraordinaire) is sprawled flat as a pancake on the table next to me—head down—gazing half-heartedly at the Tupperware container. It’s only 90°
so far. We’ve got at least another 10°
to go …
At 7:00 AM when I arose, it was 78°
, 75% humidity.
At 9:30 AM when the watering was done, it was 84°
, still 75% humidity.
At 10:45 AM when I finished suspending bed sheets over the squash, it was 88°
, still 75% humidity.
Butterflies accompanied my watering efforts this morning—happily slurping at my salty-slick skin. By the way—I pulled an extra ten gallons of water from the well and set it aside for any emergency watering that may be needed this afternoon. There’s no way I want to haul water from the well when the temperature is over 100°
.
I have a new crop of chigger bites around my ankles. I’d bet anything they’re from scuffing around outside in my slippers. They seem to prefer tight spots.
The bandanas I purchased yesterday have again come in handy. Here I sit with them around my head and neck and wrists (wet, of course).
I gave up on digging out a spot under the stairs. The garden work took too long and got too hot. My back-up plan is to put the cats in the kennel and take them down to the creek. The kennel fits easily into the yellow garden cart … I have it set up and waiting with a large bath towel (which can be wetted and draped over if necessary) just in case.
At 11:45 AM, it’s 90° and 70% humidity.
At 1:30 PM, it’s 98°
and 60% humidity. I got up, ate the last of the popcorn chicken (shared with Mocha), drank another quart of Tang, refreshed all the wet stuff (fan, bandanas), and lay down again. Oh—I also eyed the garden. The cukes are starting to wilt—I don’t blame them. I’ll check around 3:00 PM and probably water. The butterflies are having a hey-day under the canopy.
At 2:30 PM, it’s 98°
and 55% humidity. I replenished the wet stuff, and spoke briefly with Bear, who called to check on me. Then, I went out and watered the tomatoes and the still-droopy cukes on the east end of the other row. I also checked on the creek—will probably need to draw water from one of the deeper pools tomorrow. Going to need to find or fashion lids to keep the water from splashing out of the buckets.
At 4:00 PM, it’s 101°
and 50% humidity. The cats look good—just utterly zonked. I’m scheming what to do differently in next year’s garden. Three dogs ran through about an hour ago—yellow, brown, and black—they had a marvelous time splashing in the creek.
At 5:00 PM, it’s 98°
and 55% humidity.
At 7:30 PM, it’s 92°
and 60% humidity. I got stir crazy and went outside to read. It was no cooler, but I just couldn’t stand being indoors anymore. I propped the door open for the cats and Shawnee came right out. Eventually I went to check on the garden again and became absorbed in untangling/guiding the cuke vines, which have shot up several more inches. Mocha came out at last and followed me from row to row and end to end.
We have some very impressive spiders in the garden! And a toad or three. I’m delighted to see them.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
Funny—journaling is the only way I can keep track of what day it is.
Today was more of the same … I woke up at 5:35, nauseous. I had actually slept the night through for the first time in ages, and dehydrated all at once. So much for getting to the garden as early as possible—I had to re-hydrate before I could do much of anything.
By seven o’clock I was feeling fit again, and set off for the garden. The well looked like it might have one more day in it, and indeed it did. I found a slightly deeper spot that speeded things along nicely.
After watering, I loaded up with my 3# cross-peen hammer, stakes, string, and Gatorade, and headed over to the Sumai site. The trees over there are tall enough that it remains cool enough to work until about 10:30. I got what I’m calling the “avenue” roughly staked. The job isn’t complete, as it got much too hot, but now Bear should be able to see what I see over there.
I came back to the Shack and buttoned everything up for the day’s heat. I managed to successfully keep it a few degrees cooler within than it was without … at least until the outer temperature finally dropped. I spent much of the day perusing my greenhouse book again. Bear had mentioned that the same people who sold us the shed kit had greenhouse kits available. I called over there to see what kind of options they had, and was referred elsewhere: to a place called “Frozen Rabbit Farm.” Apparently, the kind of setup we would prefer (moderately large, freestanding, and entirely solar with passive venting) is not what Carter Lumber has to offer. The gentleman on the phone gave me the number—which dumped me into voicemail—to follow up.
I went out about 1:30 to water the tomatoes and cukes again. Then, came in to make sure the cats had food and plenty of water available. About 2:30, the worst of the heat hit, and we all zonked out. At one point, Shawnee was on her belly on my office chair, back paws dangling off one side, front paws dangling off the other, chin down … looking like a draped lap rug.
I guess I got up around 5PM, replenished wet stuff, checked on the cats, eyed the garden, and got out needle and thread to repair the hole in the porch screen.
Rumor has it we have rain coming in tonight, so when it finally got cool enough to do so, I went out to the garden and dismantled the shade screen and “awnings” (sheets) I had erected. By the time it was all in and put away it was past 9:30 PM. I collected and took out the garbage, collected and packed my clothes for tomorrow, and put the Shack to rights in half a dozen minute ways. It looks like I’ve gone through four gallons of drinking water in the last two days. Wow.
Assuming rain does fall (though the sky is clear with flashes of heat lightening now), I will not have to water in the morning. That would be nice, as the well was down to dregs last time I looked. Also, assuming the temperature drops as they say it will, I’ll be off tomorrow to L/L, leaving the cats in Bear’s care.
NOTE: While pounding stakes this morning, I whacked my hand with the 3# cross peen hammer. Yowza! Wouldn’t you know—I had JUST removed my “impact protect” gloves to tie string. I hadn’t put them on again, knowing I had more string to futz with. Hmf. I can take a hint—that was a warning shot! I’ll wear the gloves! I expect that warning will develop into a lovely bruise.
P.S. It is actually cool enough to need to wear a shirt! Woo-hoo!
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
NO rain last night. Welcome to the Ohio River Valley. None last night, and none this morning. As I watered the garden, I watched the clouds that formed that huge front just roll right on past.
I hiked the hill at 8:15 AM, and arrived at L/L around 9:30.
July 29, 2005
LoneBear's Log
Road Drainage
LoneBear and Romi finally got around to adding some drainage to the road section just before the gate, which is usually a pond that you have to drive thru every time it rains.
We’ve got three 18-inch pipes running under the road, so there is plenty of carry capacity. All we need now is rain to test it.
Greenhouse Grading
Initially, we had the greenhouse as part of the Sumai building. After some discussion, and V.’s reading of a number of greenhouse books, we found that not to be feasible for a number of reasons, like not facing true south, contamination problems, and a few other odds and ends. Our solution was to move the greenhouse apart from the Sumai, and make it its own building. Problem was there was no flat spot. So, with the extra rocky clay from the Sumai excavation, we made a flat spot for it.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I was in my car at 11:30 this morning, but various stops at the bank, post office, and pet supply store (for more litter) slowed me down. I arrived at Avalon at 1:00 PM.
Coming down the hill, I met Roman, diligently working away at the new culverts he and Bear had just installed under our infamous “soggy spot.” I do believe he loves working up a sweat as well as seeing something tangible at the end of the day. He is one of the hardest workers to visit Avalon. What a blessing!
I continued down the hill and soon met Bear coming up in the backhoe. We had a brief “welcome back” update and chat, and continued on our ways.
First item of business was to check in with the Shack and my cats. The Shack is noticeably cooler, since G came up yesterday and painted the back side of the roof. It definitely feels as though much of the heat is being reflected off that bright white surface. Shawnee is miffed with me. Mocha is not eating well … what she does crunch, she drops on the floor. I believe her mouth is hurting her. Perhaps one of the back molars she won’t let me see has gone bad.
Then, I was off to see the garden. I was untangling cukes when Bear and Roman finished and came down for lunch. We talked for a bit about the logistics of getting my computer set up, and Roman stretched out on the porch bed for a nap.
Bear and I drove to Madison to pick up more roof sealant for the second coat, and while we were out we headed over to Hanover to deliver their check. When we returned, roman was busily digging out (by hand) the entry and exit ways for the culverts. Wow. He also lined them with rock to slow erosion and shore the sides.
We (Bear and I) unloaded the truck and I put things to rights while Bear went to finish up with Roman. I revisited the garden.
Soon it was time for Roman to leave, and Bear and I went over to D’s to watch SG1, Atlantis, and Battlestar on “Sci-Fi Friday.” I got back to Avalon about 11:20 and readied myself for bed. I feel like I’ve done a whole lot of nothing … except for two days (at L/L) of 12 hours each of computer work. Why am I SO tired??
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I SLEPT last night. Hallelujah! It felt so good, I stayed in bed an extra hour.
Yesterday, Bear and I theorized that perhaps the garden was getting too much water—it wasn’t draining. So, today will be a water-less day for the green ones.
I collected my stuff and headed over to “the Avenue” to see about the next step on the retaining wall. It got too hot too fast, and I was back at the Shack by 11:30.
Needing to stay close to my supply of Gatorade, I tackled coat number two of the roof sealant. The ladder was still set up in back with the plywood sheets still on the roof to distribute the painter’s weight. I slathered on the sunscreen and went to work.
Wow—does it get HOT on a bright white roof! Even with the plywood sheets, the Shack’s roof cannot be trusted to support my weight. So, it was a slow process of kneeling on one piece of plywood, maneuvering the other piece of plywood around—taking care to be sure it was on one of the sturdier beams where the rooms join below—and making my way with my bucket of paint (carried up the ladder) to the area to be painted. Then, painting until either my bucket or my stamina ran out. Of course, if my body began to tell me I was in need of a break, I had to go—not work up to the last minute—because it required a significant amount of time to make my slow way across the roof back to the ladder.
One hour on, half hour off … I plugged away, and finished at 6PM. “Excellent,” I said to myself. It was still early enough that the roof would have three hours to set before night and dew-fall.
Utterly filthy, I stripped and took a thorough sponge bath. Ahhh—the smell of soap. Reassembled, I checked in with Bear to let him know I came through the heat okay. Dinner was a prime rib I picked up yesterday and instant mashed potatoes. I have a happy belly (and so do my cats).
Tonight, I sit on the porch, watching nightfall and listening to the creature calls in the trees. Sounds like some “people” are just getting revved up for the day. The ululating calls lend an eerie surrealism to the valley, and I rather feel as though I’ve warped into a sci-fi movie. (Grin)
Shawnee got to racing back and forth through the Shack last night. I suspect, if the back room, with its two interior doors (one to the office and the other to the porch) were made available, she would happily turn this into the Sugar Shack Speedway.
I’m TIRED. I don’t expect Shawnee’s antics will affect my ability to sleep tonight.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Hotaru’s Journal
I dropped off to sleep last night like a stone falling into a pond … and then the phone rang. It was my dear friend Ashom, just calling to be friendly. He apologized and hung up immediately, but my sleep cycle was already thrown akimbo. I spent the rest of the night half-awake but too exhausted to really wake up.
I stayed in bed until nine, trying to achieve a state of “rested-ness.” It didn’t work, so I got up and went out to the garden. The garden chores seen to, I went back to the porch and dozed for a bit, waiting for Bear. It was swiftly becoming uncomfortably warm, and I decided to sit under the mulberry tree while picking at the liquid (now dry) rubber roof sealant now stuck to the inside of my garbage can, which had so valiantly served as my paint bucket. I was still at it when Bear arrived.
We discussed how to get a proper shade over the garden and headed into Madison. While there, we also investigated organic bug control and fruit trees. A local nursery has dwarf apple trees (Granny Smith, Golden and Red Delicious) for less than $20 each. It looks like no one carries rotenone … the lady at the nursery said she would look into ordering some for us. We did pick up a Safer Japanese Beetle trap … I’ve seen instructions for how to make the traps, but needed (and was looking for) BAIT. No luck buying just the bait—we had to buy the whole thing. But, for about $6, we figured at least we would know if it worked.
Well, it DOES. If Japanese beetles have ever decimated your roses or veggies, you will get a big kick out of this. The one we bought—made by Safer—contains a dual bait, sexual and floral, to target both male and female bugs. This thing works! I read the directions and assembled it, then walked through the garden to ascertain the wind direction, and hung it on one of the fence posts. I guess I didn’t expect it to work at all. But, as I tied it off, wonder-of-wonders a beetle flew right in, bonked against the bait and dropped in the bag. I heard myself let out a delighted squeak …
I walked back into the garden and snagged another beetle. I walked him back to the trap and looked up to abruptly realize there were multiple beetles swarming the trap! The one in my hand leaped from my fingers, bonked into the bait, and dropped into the bag. (Chuckle) Thus began a solid three hours’ entertainment. Bear, standing in the garden, kept saying “Holy cow! I didn’t know we had this many beetles! They’re coming out of the woodwork!” Indeed, they were rising like a dark fog from the foliage and heading en masse toward the trap.
What a hoot!
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