Venturing outside with the dogs late last night, I was treated to a crystal-clear Ozarkansas sky — starry as I’ve ever seen it, rivaling dry and bitter-cold mid-winter nights.
A rising moon peeked over the distant ridges.
It’s just after 5am now as I begin writing. First light hasn’t yet brightened the sky. Temp in the upper 50s. Winds are calm.
All is quiet.
I’m still grinning about doing my first load of laundry on The Mountain last night. Yes, it was a milestone moment. Just as gratifying was the ritual itself — I absolutely love doing my own laundry. I always have.
That LG washer-dryer unit, bought at scratch-and-dent discount, is impressive. I don’t expect to make use of all of its whiz-bang features, like the dryer’s steam cycle (it has its own cold-water supply, which I didn’t hook up) and wifi connectivity (I don’t have that right now anyway). Still, it’s efficient, capacious, easy to use, and does the important stuff well.
And it sings to me. Seriously. On power-up, power-down, and at the end of a cycle, it serenades me with a pleasant electronic ditty.
Now, it may occur to you to wonder why I chose toilet and laundry as the first two water hookups in the cabin. I think that’s a reasonable question.
Keep in mind that I already have hot and cold running water in the camper — two sinks, a shower and a toilet. Though imperfect, that takes care of basic daily needs.
Getting the washer-dryer up and running, even cold-only, was my top priority because it’d add a function that I didn’t yet have here. Eliminating weekly trips to the laundromat in Gassville will save me considerable money and time.
The toilet was second on my list. It duplicates an existing function, sure, but given the sketchy condition of the camper’s black tank and dump valves, a flush toilet in the cabin moves me away from a likely point of failure.
Three fixtures — kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower — remain to be installed. Supply lines and drains are plumbed for all three. What do you think I’ll do next?
Shower. Connecting the water heater to propane will be part of that.
It has nothing to do with how great it’ll be to leave the water running and shower like a normal person. (I’ve been taking “combat showers” in the motorhome and this fifth-wheel for over four years.) No, it’s a practical matter.
Think about it — I can’t take a shower in a sink, but I can use a working shower as a sink until I have one.
The fourth fixture to be installed will be the kitchen sink, simply because I can set it up (temporarily) quickly and fairly easily. The bathroom sink will be last, since that involves converting an antique washstand into a vanity, which is a project of its own.
At the core of my efforts to Make The Mountain Great Again is to Make The Mountain Rational Again. I’m working hard to wrestle projects away from whimsy and back toward smarter choices.
Given my limited resources and capacity, that’s absolutely imperative.
I thought we weren’t supposed to get rain ’til tomorrow. Something must’ve changed, and there it was, in today’s forecast and, later, in the air.
With plumbing happening the past four days, I had a long list of to-dos, both cleanup and regular chores. I dove in early with a task I’ve been looking forward to — I re-buried the water and septic lines next to the cabin.
The ground had settled some since I dug those holes back on October 1st. I wondered if I’d need to add gravel to avoid leaving a dimple where water will collect. And I probably should. But I came pretty close with the tailings I had, so it’s fine for now.
Next, I tackled residue left by the plumbing work. There wasn’t much. It was a simple matter of putting stuff away, charging batteries, organizing leftovers so that we’re ready for the next job, and brooming the cabin.
I’ll run the shop-vac another time.
Weather forecasters are puckering about the threat of severe weather come Sunday, and they’re encouraging Ozarkansans to pucker, too. As usual, I mean to get routine chores handled before the storms arrive.
Re-fill the dogs’ food canisters. Haul compostables down to the tumbler. Top-off the camper pantry. Secure items prone to taking flight in high winds. Lots of little shit.
I’ll probably exercise my generators tomorrow, to be on the safe side.
If it sounds to you like I’ve found a rhythm again, you’re right, I have.
I stopped pretending that I feel the way I’m supposed to feel at a moment like this. I centered myself, discovered mojo repressed for years, and recommitted to moving forward with intent and purpose.
Rhythm is the result. It’s reflected in what I do here every day, even the simplest and most ordinary things.
Better.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable