Week Three

Days turn into weeks as we learn more about our US Forest jobs and our fellow volunteers. Most days are long and boring due to the low number of guests. Veteran volunteers remind us frequently that the attendance will increase significantly when the school year ends and people start vacations. We spend our off days with trailer and house chores. That includes laundry, grocery shopping (a 30 mile round trip), trailer maintenance, exploring the area, etc.

Bill and Jan have figured out a way to minimize the grocery shopping trips.  Jan is a Schwan’s customer and arranged to them to deliver up here. One afternoon the delivery truck appeared right outside their trailer and that resulted in a “get together” of sorts from several of us nosey neighbors.  (Nothing like shopping with a glass of wine!)The result of this

gathering was several new customers for Kevin, who will deliver to us every other Wednesday.  They have a great selection of meats, veggies, and desserts (remember Schwan’s ice cream?) as well as prepared meals.  Now if we can just get a garden going, we’ll be set and may never have to go into town!  NOT!!!

Of course, there are always casual meetings and visits with our neighbors. and sometimes those develop into happy hours or campfires. We are loving our new friends up here.

Lydia worked with Howard to publish a volunteer directory. Her part was take photos of everyone and edit them. After retrieving his supplies from our last trip to the storage building, Jim restarted his stain glass projects. The weather is still not warm enough for him to work outside so he works on creating some sketches for future projects. On one of our area explorations he found a man in Brevard that has supplies and teaches classes. Of course, Lydia has some ideas of things he can make, too.  She hasn’t done any new jewelry making yet…too many other things to keep her busy.  Stay tuned, however.

Howard and Linda (Jackson) organized a music fest one evening. Actually, it was harp concert and sing along. They both played a few pieces and explained a lot about their harps and how they got started. After a break for some desserts, they played some pieces and then encouraged everyone  to sing along.

 

 

We did some familiar hymns and and a few rounds. Some of us carry tunes better than others, but the feeling was still there.

After work on Saturday (another slow day), we returned home and Lydia fixed a pitcher of mint juleps. We turned on the TV and started watching the Kentucky Derby. Before long Kristyn, Ken and Joanne joined us. We didn’t bet, but each of us picked a horse to win. Jim picked I’ll Have Another and you probably know how the race turned out. After the race, we all walked to the clubhouse for an appetizer potluck and celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Always an excuse for a party!

Later that night Jim noticed the “super moon” rising over the trees. We wanted to have a “howling” – maybe too many mint juleps. Anyway, it was after 10pm and most of the our neighbors were asleep, so we did our howling inside the trailer.

‘Til next time….