Month: October 2020

Adaptation is key to being here. Adapting to the pace, the quiet, the stillness, the wildlife, the alone-ness (not of spirit, distance). The body has been conditioning since the arrival, as too the mind, but the remoteness is finally settling in. There is much to embrace, and much to readily comprehend to survive.

Visited Spines in Alamosa for the library sale and returned with a box full of books (sixty!) to add to the winter collection. Great finds, known and unknown, and a myriad of topics to explore. The new pressure canner arrived and I soon experiment with some organic squash. The wood piles continue to grow, as does this silly new beard. As I condition, the need for conditioner grows or this fuzzy white monster will scratch me alive.

Happy foliage Season!

My new bear friend has been visiting repeatedly, both my home and my neighbor Tom’s. He is hungry.

The grill has been cleaned, and is no longer in use. The PDBs also suspended for now, rodent proofing takes different forms now, at least until this persistent little fellow decides to hibernate.

Moon Bug has completed its break in period, quite easily and enjoyably. The dog loves to ride and will go with me anywhere, including a routine mail run. Decided to explore Floweree Drive on the ride home – what a lovely new piece of land I’d not yet seen.

Life is good.

Yesterday was a valuable lesson in looking around my environment before leaving the home. I’ve been shown footage of mountain lions and bears and neighboring lots, but opening the storm door yesterday to discover only said door’s glass as a barrier between me and a brown bear a mere three feet away? A bit unnerving to say the least.

He was not scared of me at all, merely curious and attempted to follow me into the house as I closed first the storm door and then the heavy main door. Yelling at him had not phased him in the least. Still undeterred, this fellow strolled around my wood pile, onto the covered deck and peered in the south facing bay window, continuing to circumnavigate the house.

He headed to the south deck, peering in the windows until he smelled the grill, for which he bee-lined. I grabbed some pots and pans and started banging, which he did not like and finally left. My pan lid is dented, but at least he left.

Next time? Look before you leave!