Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: gnu
Date: 02 May 10 - 04:48 PM

Warms my heart.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: jacqui.c
Date: 02 May 10 - 04:33 PM

Mary and I are just back from a sortie into the wilds to inspect Maeve & TL's new home. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and making good use of the various feeders put out for them, the daffodils were in full bloom and the blackfly were out in droves.

Mary was given a walk around the estate while I stayed away from the blackfly, in the comfort of the new nest, which is surprisingly roomy for a trailer. It has a slide out, which gives a lot more room, and Maeve & TL have obviously worked hard to make it 'home'. They have done a really good job at that - it is a lovely dwelling.

They will be connected to power tomorrow and are looking at getting a phone line installed. Right now both of them look so much more comfortable, being back on site and able to do whatever is needed to the land without having to travel. It really is good to see them blossom like this.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 02:17 PM

So... are ya ready for some more music? Celebratory-type hymns for instance?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:45 AM

Best news in a long, long time Maeve. Home. Click your heels together three times and say "There's no place like home."
Enjoy.
Mary

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 11:14 AM

Sounds like things are moving along well. I find that setting up a space for minor cooking, and in particular, making a nice cup of tea, makes it feel like I've found a comfortable niche in new circumstances.

Have a good visit, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 01:09 AM

wot a buzzzzzzz

no wonder you're tired

sleep well

sandra

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:11 PM

Sixteen foot 6x6 is in, four feet deep and ready for wiring. We hope it will please our electrician who will do his thing sometime early next week...then CMP will hook the wire and buzzzzzzz we go electric!

A friend came out and weeded the large veggie garden with me. She was suitably impressed by the covered veggies planted in October and February. We enjoyed the conversation, the weeding, the snow, wind, and rain. I brewed the first pot of tea in the camper/caravan.

I bought one stick-on picture hook for our replacement wedding portraits and another for the beautiful hooked rug portrait of our house. After we returned to the apartment we had a long telephone call from dear old friends living near Edinburgh- what a treat.

Tired...content...goodnight.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:50 AM

Still here for you Maeve and Truelove. How appropriate a new beginning on May Day weekend.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:41 AM

Welcome home, love-

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 09:13 PM

"We'll be home by this weekend..." so tomorrow we'll get the hole dug and the power pole in place and hope our electrician can do his thing in time for electric connection or to be restored this week or next.

Thanks, friends. I feel like my brain has been steeped in molasses. Every item on my chore list that is checked off is a major step.

Jacqui- Just your good selves and insect repellent will be sufficient unless you stop at a yard sale with a great deal on a chicken run!

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 08:59 PM

I've been off line for a week (dead modem!) so it's great to see where you are - on your own land receiving visitors!

onward & upwards!

love to you both from sandra

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 07:08 PM

Let us know if there is anything we can bring on Sunday, please. Looking forward to seeing your new nest.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: gnu
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 04:25 PM

Pole in!!! Great. I am sure the power and phone companies will step up to the plate and expedite hookup under the circumstances.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 04:04 PM

Mail service restored, power pole bought, making progress.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 10:05 PM

that sounds wonderful, maeve,,,I am so happy for you!

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 08:56 PM

Thank you, friends. We have many things to plan and arrange for!

Our nearest neighbors are so kind...chortling with joy that we're coming home! Our landlords as well...allowing us to take a bit more time and care with getting things out of the apartment so we can plan carefully without so much stress. And friends are visiting us soon. :)

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Leadfingers
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 04:32 PM

We look forward to first communications from the new abode once power
and Phone line are installed ! Good Luck with the move !

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 11:31 AM

...yet we are not sleeping and must make many important decisions this week...

In my prayers and thanksgivings, maeve.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 10:54 AM

The land has great healing properties. I think, sleeping in the camper on your property and listening to the nigh noises, and getting up and heading into the yard in the morning, those are the things that will make you both whole faster than anything else. Watching everything grow and move forward. Good luck with it all, and may the yard be with you!

SRS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 10:32 AM

A great step forward!

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 09:38 AM

That is wonderful news, Maeve. At least you will be comfortable - a little like Little House On The Prairie without all the kids.
Decisions once made are a huge burden off your shoulders. Sad that we have to make them when we are most vulnerable.
Hang in there guys.
Much love,
Mary

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 09:10 AM

You are correct, Mary. We'll be home before the weekend and not in a shed!

We now have a nice camper/caravan in place at the farm. We'll be home by this weekend; probably without water/elec./telephone/internet. Anyone who needs to reach me by email, go ahead. I'll tap in at a library when I can get a ride. Mudcatters can use the email I save for nice Mudcatters; PM me in the next couple of days or after that, send a PM to katlaughing. I can send you photos and updates that way.

Threads for birds; yes Susan. Thanks.

We are fragile at present. It will be good to be home, yet we are not sleeping and must make many important decisions this week.

maeve & Truelove on the move

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 01:06 PM

You're still on our personal and parish prayer lists, maeve.

Did you find the cotton threads in that last package, for birds' nesting material?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 12:37 PM

Maeve,
You will be home again soon. Even without water and electricity, home is a good thing. You too are on my daily prayer list.
Onward and upward.
Mary

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 12:28 PM

Much stress here getting calls made, chores done, etc. Soon to be out of touch for a wee while.

Thanks for all forms of good wishes and kind thoughts.

Kat- Thanks for the thought, but without a license to send plants out of state, no can do. We're a long way from being in business selling plants anyway.

I bitterly miss music making. So glad to have cds to listen to, and recent concerts to lift me up. Definitely feeling the stress and backlash from fire related PTSD. It's just over 4 months since the nightmare fire struck.

Onward and upward,

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 11:12 AM

Here's to a new yurt/cob house/etc. on the farm! (And, not too long in the shed.)

BTW, may I put an order in for some fresh veggies/plants?:-)

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 07:09 PM

Sending more good thoughts and hugs

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 06:01 PM

Love.............❤

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 11:10 AM

sending a few more hugs

sandra

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 10:49 AM

Busy here, doing the weary-to-death-of-it fire clean up plus paperwork, telephone calls, packing, cleaning the apartment and getting a shed ready for temporary housing. No water, no electricity, minimal comfort. Trying to get the stand ready for business.

My mind and body feel the extra stress, but it's one of those times when one has to push through to the other side. Thanks for your posts, friends.

m

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 04:57 PM

How about a geodesic dome? There are kits.
Hope a few shoots of green and spring colors are making your old house a bit less stark.
SINS

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 10:40 AM

I have first blooms on a couple of small strawberry plants Morgan and his parents gave to me for my b-day a few weeks ago. They made me think of you and all of the green-growing you have both done and are doing, again. I've always thought the yurts look so cozy...the cob houses, too. Either one looks a good fit for you. I am sure the Green Light Luck Duck will stand proudly in either, but, of course, s/he does that anywhere!**bg**

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Cuilionn
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 10:49 AM

Loved the Hobbity House...

Down on our wee farmlet, we've been thinking about ways to add residential space at a low cost too, though under different circumstances. Yurts and straw-bale structures are attractive options, and we've had the chance to tour a couple of each in other Maine towns. It's amazing how cozy a yurt can be in the middle of winter--but we should expect no less of something designed in Mongolia!

We're leaning towards cob-- another traditional building method based on a clay slip/woodchip or straw combination which can be sourced locally and built--with the exception of the frame--by hand, in wheelbarrow-mixed batches. Cob has some advantages over straw bale, particularly a much higher resistance to insect/rodent infestation.

If you have the energy or interest to explore cob building methods/designs further (and it's alright if you don't) I can point you to a few. FoxMaple building school in Brownfield, Maine teaches workshops on cob and straw-bale construction and has demonstration buildings you can tour. You can also see some possibilities by doing a websearch on "cob building." There's also a fellow here in Pownal who has built a few cob houses. He's both realistic and enthusiastic about the material's properties and capabilities.

In the meantime, our prayers and blessings travel to you as you tend the gardens and sift through the ashen soil for more "house seeds."

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 09:45 AM

Jes' checkin' in. Thinking of you both and continuing to pray and give thanks for you.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 09:24 AM

Yes?
maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 06:24 PM

(((?Maeve?)))

~S~

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 08:33 AM

Here you go, Maeve:
Fenghuang, commonly referred to as the Chinese phoenix.
Firebird (Russian folklore), an equivalent of phoenix in Russian mythology.
Bennu, an Egyptian correspondence to the phoenix.
Angha, a Huma, Simurgh, Persian phoenixes.
Adarna, a Philippine version of the phoenix.
Avalerion, an Indian magic bird that drowns itself once it has laid its eggs.
Turul, a mythical bird of the Magyars.
Garuda, mythical bird of ancient India.

Heliopolis is the city where the Phoenix hid its egg - that has a nice ring to it. Although, I prefer Firebird. A kind of "in your face" slap at the fire.
Mary

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 07:50 AM

ranger1- "like seeds from your old home that will grow to make your new home."

Yes, so I've been thinking, ranger1. I wish I knew that the new home would be on the farm.

Gnu- Yup, you did. We'll see what we decide regarding a new home and if we rebuild, what name the new home calls for. I like the idea of resurgo/phoenix, yet I suspect we'll need the name to reflect the place and purpose rather than to be solely a response to the fire.

Another interesting housing possibility:Bill Coperthwaite's Tapered Wall wooden yurts

I like the look and feel of straw bale houses, too; like adobe yet more appropriate to this climate.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: gnu
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 03:09 PM

I had mentioned "resugo" for a name previously, I think. Same thing.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: ranger1
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 02:55 PM

Hmm.. all these finds are kind of like seeds from your old home that will grow to make your new home.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 02:35 PM

I am so glad that you are finding such treasures. Having now seen the site myself it is difficult to believe that so much might be salvaged, but I've seen the proof in your apartment!

Many thanks for giving me house room last week - it did me so much good.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 01:40 PM

I love your ideal house- except for the curves it reminds me a bit of the room I'm sitting in now (we have angles- I almost typed "angels" which is also true!).

Your angels are clearly flying around and amongst you these days. I'm rejoicing with you at treasures found, and mourning your losses with you, too. Love flowing your way.

Alliaon

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:48 PM

It's wonderful you've found such special treasures. Massive effort, I know, both physically and otherwise.

As to your nearly perfect house, be sure to look through the pix HERE. Some are quite fanciful and the cost if really, really low. Just searched "flying concrete" on google and there's a bunch of links.

You continue to inspire...luvyakat

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:25 PM

We cross-posted, Mary!

I dread the paperwork because it's so difficult for my brain to concentrate for long. I do need a break and some fresh air, so I'll head to the laundermat to wash the quilt.

Phoenix- yes. Too bad there's already a farm by that name. We've been given some beautiful phoenix fabric panels made by Open Mike, too.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:21 PM

Some of it is hellish, Maggie, you're correct. Most times I can laugh or rejoice with my Truelove. So far, the fiddle was the worst for me personally, but even that pain was relieved by the awareness that either one of us- or both- easily could have been there instead of my poor fiddle. Thank you for your empathy.

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:20 PM

I see a lot of positive energy in that post that has been sadly missed recently. Phoenix arising from the ashes?
All good news, Maeve.
Now rest a while. Paperwork pushers are torture to be around.
Mary

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:03 PM

What an agonizing process.

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: maeve
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 11:20 AM

Thank you all, kind ones. Working on housing and had some success with the insurance people...can't wait to get home. I'm tired to the core today; brain doesn't work too well as a result. I owe some PM replies. Be patient and you might get a lucid answer.

New treasures: We found some of my early garden & bird notes (for book writing), a beautiful crocheted afghan from TL's mum, and a mostly untouched quilt made by TL's grandmother. We hadn't realized she had signed it until examining the burned places.

My hand-stitched soft sculpture Lion banner (used as a backdrop forTony Bird
concerts 10-20 years ago) has shown up. It's still in the ash but mostly intact.We also found several pieces of African iron money (ours are from Liberia) my dad gave me. Look here for photos. about 1/3 down the page. I've found lots of my spinning fibers (various kinds of wool, cashmere, silk, etc.) and have washed any that weren't burned too badly. I am amazed by what can be found and successfully cleaned! A dear friend has given me her own drop spindle so I have my best sleep aid now.

We also found some of my best loved books of poetry: the "Mentor Book of Irish Poetry" (1964), "Poems of the Scottish Hills" (1982), and a nice fat book of Masefield poems. I'm drying them out despite their pitiful condition because I love them. TL was happy to find several of his best beloved books as well.

Here's my idea of a near-perfect house:http://www.tenchford.com/_images/HobbitHouseInside.jpg

maeve

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 10:19 AM

wishing you all the best

sandra

Subject: RE: Tribulation/ Blessings Maeve & Truelove-off 4 abit
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 06:42 PM

Thinking of you all the time, my dears.