For as much as I am reminded by nature to remain in the present season, something deep inside us always gives us reason to dream. We are stirred to see what is not yet there, but what could be there with just a little effort, just a little time. I do not want to stop dreaming. It is this force which drives us to do our best work, give others the most of ourselves, and build something beautiful where before there was nothing.
The Little Cabin by the Big River in the snow storm
Yesterday as the snow poured down, we walked down the new road to visit our Little Cabin by the Big River. Just to be there, in the softness of the storm. To sit there, to feel the shared solitude, to here the complete silence as the Big River remains tightly tucked under its deep blanket of snow. And once there, we began to envision it as our new home will be: the wood stove will go here, the kitchen table there, some shelves here, lets build in our bunk beds there…
And outside in the big wide white world that surrounds that little cabin, we had to continue our dreaming: the chicken coop will be here, the yard fence there, the foaling shed here, tack shed there, hay barn over there…
The view from the window of the Little Cabin by the Big River
It is a thrill for us to build from scratch. It is just work and time, and I suppose some money for whatever materials we need to purchase above and beyond what we can use from our junk/recycled materials piles. But it is a creation; building a homestead is a work of art. And you talk about the clean slate, the blank sheet of paper – that is what we feel we have down by the Little Cabin. With the ground about it solid white, it reminds us even more so of the endless possibilities we can create there. All we have to do is dream…
Now, yes, we could be having big dreams. But it’s us talking here. So we’re dreaming about things small, simple, frugal, green, safe, cozy, warm…
And then we began to think about the outhouse! And the dreaming really was set free First, where should it be? Why, of course there by the bluff so you can leave the door open and have a magnificent view of down the canyon. But the dreaming did not stop there, it only started, as we discussed an outhouse I once built when Forrest was a baby (my brother helped me dig the pit through the caliche – I bet he will never forget). It was back in New Mexico, so again, we had sunshine, and I was going to use that sunshine! I designed the outhouse to be just a little large, and instead of “second hole,” I left a bench, above which I could hang my solar shower bag. The roof was southern sloping, and made of clear corrugated roofing, so the outhouse would be warm, and the solar shower bag would be hot at the end of every day.
We discussed this concept, and the dreaming took off from there. Well, the water from the solar showers could/should be used to grow herbs. If you built a plank floor with plastic under it, sloped down towards a trough, this could water the herbs in front. Nothing would be wasted. And with all this solar gain and protected natural heat, wouldn’t it be a good place to start plants? So shouldn’t we build in shelves for flats? And what about humanure? Perhaps we don’t need to go there… As you can see, our dreams are simple, but we sure have fun with them.
Under all this snow, and from the looks of the storm that is still lingering, it looks like we have another foot to add to the collection. It will be at least two more months before we see dirt down by the Little Cabin, and three at the soonest before there is any unfrozen and dry ground on which to build. But in the meanwhile, we can dream. And we do.
Posted by: highmountainmuse
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