When I was a young girl, I loved the Little House on the Prairie books. Walking through the pastures one summer my grandmother asked me, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "I want to be just like Laura Ingalls Wilder when I grow up!" I remember the ruffled dust cap she surprised me with on my next visit. I have long since lost the dust cap, but never that pioneer spirit that the Little House books sparked.

I have lived in many houses throughout my life. Little cabins, a few "dream-homes", even a 1700's farmhouse! But, I have always wanted to build a home following that pioneer spirit: Doing it on your own,and using material from the land as much as possible (as allowed by codes). Combine that with my grandfather's most urgent teaching, "If you have some land, and you own the house on it, you will make it through the next depression just fine." (As you can surmise, he had a difficult time during the depression, and it was his concern that his family never suffered like that.)

So, I have had the land for over 20 years now. The time has finally come to build the house! We have recently harvested some of the trees, and pulled them out using tractors and winches. They'll be milled by my uncle and neighbor (both have mills!) and then inspected.

The designs have been drawn up....with modern conveniences, but also plenty of old fashioned "forgotten" knowlege. (When sitting in your home, do you know which way is North? Here in the Northeast, having evergreens as a wind-screen aids in heat retention, while southwest facing windows capture sunlight heat.) As I build this lifelong dream, I'll photograph and describe the process. I doubt many will ever attempt copying the project, but it should at least be entertaining!

It will take many many months to complete....so be patient, and check back periodically.

Okay, it's deep summer here. There have been complaints that I haven't written in a while. Frankly... I'm surprised anyone is reading these posts. But, I've been busy in the gardens, making deliveries, pressing shirts, entertaining boys (um....that sounds funny doesn't it?....I mean my son and his buddies!)

Actually, the only reason I'm sitting at the computer right now is because of a complaint of no new stories......and it's raining......again. I should be in the shower because I have to make a delivery in about an hour. I should be in the garden weeding. I should be hooking up that new printer and press set-up....... I should be....well, that's how it goes isn't it?

If you've looked at our shirts, you've seen the "Fish Finder" one. I've put a little note that I almost caught that one last summer. Well, I've been going back to our top secret spot to try and catch it again. A few times I bothered to "do my hair" and put on a little makeup. My son got a kick out of this. I wanted to "look good" when I caught that fish because I wanted to post a picture with that shirt to prove the catch. We actually had discussions a few different times we were getting ready to go. "Where are you Mom?" "I'm upstairs brushing my hair." "So you'll look good for the fish huh?" "You probably won't catch it. Knowing your luck, if you do, you'll be all wet or sweaty." .........."Or I'll forget the camera." I added.

Well, actually it was all three. I was wet. I was sweaty. And I forgot the camera. But I caught it! It was the biggest fish of my life! I was so happy, but disappointed. No camera. This is just like any other fish story.

Except....there were two boys and a father sitting on the dock of their waterfront home. Their eyes were as big as saucers! "Look at the size of that fish!" " I've never gotten one like that!"

And the clincher......we went back to that spot another day. My hair was all done up, I was refusing to take a dip, and I had the camera. I didn't catch the fish.....but those boys, the father, and the mother were sitting out on their deck again. The father yells out, "Are you the ones that caught that huge fish?" My son points at me. "She caught it." The mother yells out..."Well, you are a legend in our house!"

GRIN

It has been quite a winter! We've had plenty of snow, but we've also had a bit more rain than I ever remember. That makes for some really heavy snow, or worse..... slush that freezes.

The past three storms have dropped what seemed to be insignificant amounts. The temperature rose enough that perhaps spring would be early and the snow would just melt? The groundhog didn't think so....but I don't think the groundhog thinks. He reacts. He pops up to see us cabin-fevered crazies wringing our hands waiting to see what he'll do. I can tell you what I'd do......

I'm being that typical rambling yankee again aren't I?

Anyway, we didn't tend to our snow removal chores. The mailman refuses to deliver if he can't reach the mailbox. Yesterday I watched him drive by. This drives me crazy.

So, on with the pack boots, and out I go. When I get up there I'm amazed at the damage the plow did. All that slush was piled up at the edge of the road and froze. I took a few whacks at it with the shovel. Sure, it broke some chunks off, but the shovel bent too. My back wasn't too happy about the whole thing either. I decided to break out the heavy artillery.

I trudged out back to get my tractor. The bucket was buried under a thick layer of ice. I kicked it a bit to break up the crust. I knew it was useless. There was too much snow and ice around it-- and it has turf tires on. But I jumped on and started her up anyway. I guess I was hoping to fast-forward to spring. (Now Dad...and brother...I don't want to hear a thing out of you two, after all....isn't that your tractor stuck out in the field right now?)

So I trudged back to the road with another shovel. It was going to be a back-breaking day. I was at it for about ten minutes...sweating, hair everywhere....and barely a dent. A man stops. He has a plow! He offers to help so I move out of the way. He clears the top of the driveway in a few swipes. Then he waves and moves on.

Well. The mailbox is still buried.

I started hacking away at it again. All the while I'm festering. I know I shouldn't be....I should be thankful, but it was the mailbox I wanted cleared! I stand and stretch my back. My eyes fall on the old Jeep. It's 4wheel drive, and has some mean tires. I really don't like that vehicle. It's a gas hog. Wastefullness is a major irritation for me. Perhaps I could put it to good use though.

I trudge back in and grab the keys to the Jeep. I take off my bulky coat so I can handle the ride better. Oh yeah....you know it! Not too long and I'm up on the bank in front of the mailbox. I put it in gear and floored it. The icy snow roostertailed right out behind me.....into the driveway! A few of these maneuvers, and five minutes later my job is done!

It was easy to clean up the driveway mess too. After all, the Jeep made it light and fluffy.