We walked across the ridge
where we were to build our house. Nothing was there. All around was
nothing. The farmer had the ground prepared for sowing wheat but not any
had been sown. Scraps of metal off the temporary shade Rodney built blew
all over the hillside. That was a spooky feeling! Would the winds tear
apart everything we put here as easily as that? Somehow through, we
trudged through each job required for building a house. Once a whole crew
had to be let go because of their neglect, but after that things went more
smoothly.
Going into an area where
there were people who had their reservations (is that a pun?) about
having Indians was tricky too. Mostly the children suffered for that.
This was painful but we took the insults with armadillo skin, just
thankful to be under a roof and in a place to keep the kids warm and
secure. Today, seeing the Anglo people move into the homes originally
built for Indian people who gave up the battle, still give us no
resentment. Life is like that, you know, the new people have children
too and they must be housed. And, we continued onward.
Each project around us has
been extra and above the norm. Always, one has to stop to enjoy the
finished job. Having friends gathered around the computer with enough
space to do so in the extra room Rodney added was payment for the
finagling we did for money and construction of it. So many have come
through this same room to enjoy videos shot of cultural events as well.
Sometimes, my camera work is laughable, but usually people are willing to
overlook that in order to get to the meat of the subject.
Having the children run
through and under the cedars which provide shade and privacy is payment
for having to dig them out of a roadside.
Now, as we firm up our
plans to display my art work as well as the antique photographs much of
the same old situations walk through the door, but hopefully we will
overcome. Ideally this is the time to do the organizing before the fall
rains set upon us as they usually do in September.
Every day we do one thing.
Yesterday a very large old metal desk for spreading papers and documents
across was set on the front patio. A volunteer came up with some of the
materials for a water proof area
which is wonderful. Pulling the file cabinet full of the genealogy from
the back walk in closet making it available again will be next. The thing
is heavy but we have borrowed a large “dolly” in order to move it as
easily as the desk was moved.
Rodney has suggested that
since there is no shade for the car at this time the arbor should be
doubled in size allowing the grape vines to come over the new section in
order to give us shade for our vehicle. The total peacefulness of the
ranch is not here, but we do have a nice neighborhood. With the bubbling
fountain out there and the extras to make it comfortable maybe we will be
able to create a retreat of sorts.
The rocks Mr. Flood
collected over a life time we will attach to a large board. With the help
of one of our friends who has a degree in geology to label them these will
be a nice display also.
Good people who dedicate
themselves to genealogy love to trade and share information. This is a
wonderful thing but the utmost need for order and organization is
necessary. A place can be small with things in their proper place and the
material becomes readily available.
At this moment I'm
listening to the news which is talking about civil unions between people
of the same gender. It has crossed my mind as to what will happen to
genealogical records if this does become legal. Just a moment of a lighter
thought to go into this place.
I can't wait to have all
this wall space in order to hang my paintings. Maybe I can get them all up
out where people who come and go can enjoy them.
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