Woke up last night to the sound of the wind, again a roar with louder roaring, the louder roaring is the gusts. As soon as it was light enough (yes we slept in), I looked out at the birch trees lining the driveway and saw that they were again swaying slowly in the wind.

Yes, it was to be another day of hunkering down in the house. I did get out and tend to the horses, even picked up the poop. The horses were standing in the middle of the pen, looking right at me when I approached the enclosure.

I again stayed warm as I cleaned up because I was wearing my Refrigirware suit and my Steiger mukluks. I would not have been able to stay out for long as I did, an hour, if I lacked warm gear.

Pete made sourdough pancakes. Then he worked at his computer in the kitchen addition, and I worked at the kitchen table, next to the woodstove. He worked on a grant. I worked on Shelf Life.

We sometimes bicker. We don’t seem to bicker as much on days like this when our attention needs to be focused on surviving. Today I forgot to latch the latch on the goat shed door, and the door split when it blew into the wall. Pete went out there with his drill and fixed it. He screwed a piece of plywood onto the inside of the door. If he had not done this the door would have split further and broken.

The chickens gave us two eggs today. The red hen has gotten very broody. I think broody means to be obsessed with sitting on eggs.

I spent most of the day working on a new chapter – this was about Pete and my attending our friend Becky’s 2020 solstice gathering. This seemed to me to be a very Alaskan setting and event, one in which we were asked to make a wish—mine was two words – “More books.” I subsequently say that I got what I wanted – which reinforces the adage, be careful you might get what you want.

I feel good about this chapter. Chapters appear in Shelf Life with some regularity – Becky is one of them. I write about working at her plant sail, in this chapter, and in the Alaska State Fair chapter. I have not yet started on that chapter – it will be the final chapter. After, I’ll include a epilogue in which I write about what has happened between the Alaska State Fair and the conclusion of the book.

Today I also worked on the Foraker Group training and summit chapters. I was going to take them both out but decided to rework them. They’ll fly editor.

Once I finish this, I’ll need to find an editor and a publisher. I need a connection, and I don’t have one. The catchy title is the bait that draws the fish’s attention.

I know, I know – don’t shirk your work for the sake of a dream. A fish in the dish, is worth two in the stream.

Next: 350.12/29/25: Dreams