No rain today, just overcast. Foggy going into town on Tank Grrrrrl. This is the new name of my car. Phonics wasn’t fitting. Tank Grrrl, a woman of considerable courage and integrity, a fitting name for a vehicle that gets me to where I need to go, safely, and in a timely fashion.

I got the dogs out for a walk. Up the street, around the corner, the owners of Yvonne’s old place have yet another litter of puppies. I did not see them on the porch, but I heard puppy yipping. They had a previous litter with seven puppies. I do not know how many puppies are in this litter.

The horses are holding their own, being incredibly cooperative. In the mornings they wait by the far gate for me to give them their packer pellets. I open the gate and they race around, then wait to be allowed back into the enclosure, by the front gate. In the evenings they all go into the shelter enclosure now and wait for me to give them hay.

Hanging food on a trip in Colorado

I am so looking forward to our going on a horse trek next spring. We may have to close the book project down for a bit. It’s not like we’re dealing with bakery items or any other perishable item.

Today, Cherokee took it upon herself to find us very sturdy banker boxes. I then made note of the time she put in on the volunteer sign in sheet. She was pleased. It has occurred to me that this project is life changing for her. She said this afternoon that she’s trying to give up cigarette smoking. I am going to tell her that if she succeeds that I’ll allow her to clean books.

Cherokee was the first person in the door. All day, others appeared. I now just keep working because otherwise, nothing will get done. I sorted, cleaned, and stamped the rest of the nonfiction boxes, and later Pete categorized a good many of them. I did not finish the job because I had to head home. Once again, it’s that time of year in which it gets dark early. Grr, grr, grr.

The lulls in the book project that used to be long are now getting shorter. I come up for air and go down.

I am glad that we live here, a place of quietude. So many are not as lucky as we are. Everyone wants what we have, a nice place with buffers and few neighbors. What happens is that when they can no longer build individual places for people, they begin building upward. High-rises and apartments are now pretty much the norm. Me, I would find it hard to live in such an area.

If push came to shove, I’d end up sitting in a living room, staring at pictures of my horses. I can’t imagine not running out first thing and checking on the horses, as well as the goats.

Yes, I am lucky to live where I live.

Next: 281. 10/13/23: What happened to October 12?