Boulders and Blockages...An Update

The days are becoming shorter. And the speeding Train I am on this year has not slowed...each day brings new beginnings.

But the Train will slow...within a week, my family from the Coast will travel up to the Cariboo to visit for a few days...an extremely welcome reunion. And then, visitors will arrive within a few days of each other until the end of August. And that Train...well, it'll just have to slow down enough for me to jump off for a time and enjoy my company.

The kitchen is finished and the guest rooms are freshly painted and decorated. The septic tank, which had not been attended to for fourteen years, due to lack of access, has been found and pumped out...just in time, I was told. Especially with the amount of visitors I am expecting.

Disaster averted.

The Excavator came in last week. The operator/owner has a great affinity for Boulders and Stones. It seemed as if the bucket was a true extension of his hand, as he moved great Stones and lined them in place in the retaining walls that hold the roadbeds.

And he stood our Guardian Boulder upright, at the entrance to the driveway. We found him after Snow melt; we instantly realized his predicament in lying face first in the draw near the driveway. He makes a strong statement as he guards the drop-off to the draw...big and black, he will show his presence during the snowy Winter months.

The Excavator uncovered giant Boulders, as he levelled a spot for Graham's wood working shop. Some he could not pick up and move...he nudged those along, with his bucket, until they were placed correctly. It will take me time to know all these newly exposed Stones. Each has his or her own identity and personalities and some send stronger energy than others.

The Shop space was levelled and is awaiting the concrete workers. It seems, at the moment, at least, that they might be difficult to find, as the population prepares for the coming Winter by working hard in the Summer months, when construction is possible.

After the concrete base for the shop has been poured, the Excavator will come back and finish backfilling all the areas uncovered for the process. And he will correctly place a chimney on the septic tank so that it can be easily accessed. No more near disasters!

I can visualize the finished look to the area, where raw dirt now lays exposed. Construction and landscaping, outside of my home, is truly exciting for me...I love to watch expert operators of big machinery. They make it all look so smooth and easy!

I look forward, now, to building garden beds in the Fall. I will plant shrub Roses along the driveway, at the top of the new Rock wall. The area outside the front door will be tiled eventually, along with sidewalks built around the house.

I will have Soil and aged Horse Manure trucked in...in this rocky, boulderous area, there is little friable natural Soil. With great anticipation, I look forward to placing my hands deep within those piles of goodness.

It seems so long ago, since I built new garden beds. It is one of my very favourite activities...it gives me huge creative energy. But this time, I must take into consideration the fact that we have a Well...and only one. Water could become an issue in this dry climate. Xeriscaping becomes important here.

We plan on using cisterns, etc. to collect water for the garden...but this will be Spring's big project.

It seems, as the landscaping took shape (in my mind, if nowhere else), I have felt more grounded, more centred. Blockages to my intuition...to my creativity... have been removed, rather suddenly. I am ready to move forward, much to my surprise.

Those blockages were removed as quickly as each Boulder fell into place. I am filled with gratitude to Spirit for allowing me to witness Stone energy in action, in such close proximity. Becoming acquainted with Stone energy can sometimes take a lot of time; with the Excavator, the time was shortened by far. Those Boulders...blockages...have been dealt with and firmly rooted in their places.

As have I.

So. The curtains have been hung, the kitchen churns out Muffins and Scones and Pies, the septic system is doing whatever it does, the rooms are ready and the Guardian stands tall.

The Inn is open...with widely extended arms.

Scrambled Eggs

It's been a couple of months since we moved into our new home. It's been more than six months since the Tower Card of the Tarot came into our lives, turning my brain into scrambled eggs.

The upheaval hasn't abated. In fact, life has become a series of welcoming contractors, early in the morning, for this or that job which must be done. Change is a constant these days.

We began, after taking possession of the property, with the new kitchen. We decided to move the whole room to the other side of the house, leaving me with a workable kitchen while the new one is being built.

The new kitchen is now ready for cabinets, which are floating around somewhere between different carriers. This morning, we were told the carrier had left a message with Ann and Bob.

And who might they be? I do hope they enjoy their new kitchen.

I wonder if it is possible to ever receive kitchen cabinets in the timeline stated by the seller? This is the third kitchen I have built, and the same problem has surfaced once again. However, I have learned a few things in the years between the different kitchens...I no longer get upset about it.

The cabinets will surface when they surface...pushing the rope on this one really is useless.

There are other projects which are slated for completion before Cariboo Winter sets in. And these are moving ahead with great gusto...to the point where I am having difficulty keeping up with all the changes.

Yesterday, we had Trees cleared from the West side of the House. The logs will be used for landscaping and general fencing...and the space for Graham's woodworking Shop. It was a morning where I had my heart in my mouth, watching the Fallers taking down tall Trees growing right next the House.

The Fallers were complete professionals, however...their expertise coming through many years of experience. Not a branch hit the House, nobody fell or had a Tree fall the wrong way, and the Logs are trimmed and prepared, for their new incarnation as a fence.

I also took delivery of the new garden tractor, which has a Trailer. I am looking forward to using it for moving Logs and Stones I want to incorporate into the landscaping. And there is nothing like meditative mowing, where the World passes by while Sun shines and the smell of cut Grass transports me to different places, different times and different realms.

This morning, the Fencing Company arrived. Their machine is not bothered by Boulders or Slopes or Drop Offs on the land...it barrels through underbrush and Trees as if it were swimming through Water. I hear the long drill scraping Boulders as it tries to find a clinging anchor for the Fence Posts...I hear the sound often.

There are many, many Boulders on this Land, all making a very strong statement. But, eventually, Man and his machines will find a way, including moving the more stubborn ones to a different location. And the Fence will be built, foiling Lucky and Nate's escapes for freedom, as they become more accustomed to the Cariboo and its ways.

When the Excavator arrives, the landscape will change once again. The West side of the property will be levelled and prepared for building, the Logs will be placed at the spots where they will be used. The slope will be tempered; the driveway will be extended to become a circular driveway around the house.

Taking Trees down has made the Land look ever so much bigger. Having grown used to a small, enclosed space in my former home, I find so much space amazing. My morning walks around the property take me through Hills and Valleys and Meadows. I found someone's fort deep within a dark belt of the Forest, after following a game trail. The Land is still new, to me...its many surprises yet to be discovered, day by day.

Right now, however, I hear the machine pounding posts into the ground and I begin to see the outline of the area being fenced. I hear another sound...a deep, growling, tearing sound.

I go to investigate.

The corner of the house is now hanging slightly askew. It seems the machine caught the corner, as it pounded posts...and knocked the house off its hinges, as it were.

Luckily, Graham has his journeyman's Ticket in Carpentry; he was able to look at the damage and figure out very quickly how to fix it. I am sure the Fence Builder was grateful for Graham's expertise; I wonder if I have ever written about how grateful I am for his presence in my life.

Graham can take almost any problem and come up with a positive solution. I am in awe of this gift he has been given...he is a wonderful role model for me, when anxiety takes hold of me and my brain becomes scrambled eggs...

The Excavator Man just called...he will be here in a day or two...

Changes are multiplying; one change begets another. I say to my Guides...Too fast, all this is happening too fast. Help!...And the answer comes...You wanted it done quickly...are you asking for delays?

And of course, I'm not. Delays are excruciating for someone as impatient as I can be. And then, I am directed to Talking to Nightlights newest post...

Scrambled eggs or not, life is accelerating, going from 0 to 60 in a minute second.

I guess I'll just hang on for a very fast ride.