Whenever I see the word “scattered,” I think hit-or-miss. Not a big deal. Could, but probably won’t. So when I read “scattered showers and thunderstorms” in the forecast for Thursday afternoon into Friday morning, it didn’t budge my needle.
This time, my patch of Ozarkansas got the hit, not the miss — a half-inch of soaking spring rain was scattered over The Mountain.
And yeah, I’m still eyeballing what may be in store for us Monday and Tuesday.
Ryan Hall (Y’all) is saying, “Early next week is about to be plum wild.” He’s not alone in that assessment. Should be interesting.
In the meantime, the beat goes on. I’ve devoted considerable attention (though not much in the way of sweat) to next steps on the cabin. It has me looking at diagrams like this:
And this:
And, with fingers crossed, evaluating items like this:
(Among many others.)
I’m not the least bit ashamed to admit that I’m on thin ice when it comes to this shit. Fortunately, I’ll have help with this last push from my plumber-neighbor.
I also put another touch — the finishing touch, for now — on my sleeping quarters. A pair of plastic shelf units, bought a year ago at Harbor Freight, will give me space for clothes and such ’til I can build-in storage. I zip-tied a closet rod to the top shelves to accommodate a small amount of hang-up stuff.
The queen-size mattress in the camper soon will be moved over to this bed frame.
If there ever was an example of how simply I’m willing to live just to be here, that image just might capture it. Honestly, it’s exciting to have reached this point.
I know there are outside forces with the ability — and the intent? — to make sure I don’t stay on The Mountain. That, of course, is out of my hands.
And so I move forward. It’s all I know how to do.
Friday on The Mountain began foggy. Mists lingered on the shoulders of Hall Mountain, and it took that fog a long time to burn off.
The sun eventually broke through and made it a postcard day.
I went easy on myself Thursday and Friday. No particular reason, other than maybe feeling a bit sub-par physically. Everything important was handled or could wait, so there was no need to press.
It’s great to live where the work never ends, and to have lived long enough that I can work at my own pace.
And so, for a couple of days, I paused my steady advance. Just routine chores, for the most part.
I took Scout for a couple of nice long walks. She did great, but it wore her ass out.
I found a big link of Troyer’s Trail Bologna hiding in the deep-freeze. Simple pleasures.
Today, I believe, I’ll head east and handle some business in Mountain Home and Gassville. Before the weather arrives on Monday, I expect to make a ten-dollar run to the transfer station — five bags of trash (including one from the cabin and two produced by cleaning the camper), plus two bags of recyclables and cardboard from the gas range.
Tomorrow? No idea.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable