It has been long between blogs. I find when I'm busy, I'm really an
activist at heart and am inspired to rant about the current
incomprehensible political situation, which Jim dislikes. I have not
been traveling! So I rant. Jim reminded me this morning it has been a
year to the day (yesterday) since I left the motorhome and took up the
business of building a new house and all that transpires both expected
and unexpected.
While in Oregon, I got news of the awful Butte Fire from that
distance, chagrined that my friend Deborah Mullen, a co-worker at the
Calaveras Enterprise, was burned out. A devastating experience.
Today,
after clearing through pounds of mail, I gathered clothing, shoes,
tables, chairs, jackets, and stuff you think people will need in the
aftermath of a complete loss of everything of a normal household.
Deborah posted a picture on FB of herself and Husband Steve; "We have
each other," she said. Always one to look on the bright side.
After
connecting with several recovery, resource sights, it became very clear
that the stuff I gathered was not what is needed right now. It is more
on the order, of paper plates, paper towels, face soap, q-tips, wash
cloths, canned foods, powdered milk, peanut butter, fresh vegetables,
flashlights, lanterns, batteries, ice chests, water carriers and so on.
So, tomorrow, I'll assemble a different set of household goods,and make
my way to Mountain Ranch, then Valley Springs where daughter-in-law
Laurie is holding much of my important paperwork taken at my request
from my house during the voluntary evacuation order. I'll start carrying
my camera again, if I can find it.
My last day in Oregon, I went
to a bridge repair meeting and met some neighbors from the private road
we share, many of whom, I'd never met previously.
I also invited
12 people to a wine and nibble about 4 p.m. Saturday, before my
expected leave on Sunday morning. I thought some of the neighbors might
be curious about what my place looked like after watching the slow
progress from the outside over eight months of building it.
Hmmm. Four people
showed up, three from one family. All but four answered with some
enthusiasm, suggesting they'd be glad to come.
I
thoroughly enjoyed those that came. I'm not a novice at entertaining
guests, but I've never been so royally stood up in my life, and it makes
me chuckle that I've had that experience at this time in my life. If I
were a young bride, I'd have been hurt. Not one person bothered to tell
me they could not or would not come. I thought it was strange but those
that came, more than made up for those that did not.
It has been
fun furnishing a new house, with nearly all second-hand items and
attempting to keep it neat and not over clutter it with stuff as I am
wont to do. I'll eventually get pictures hung and curtains up and take
photos; my goal to hopefully find this page a bit more often.
ciao-Mary
