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LIFE

Chapter 31

The morning came with a big surprise. Winds were howling, snow was blowing like crazy, and there was ice on all the windows. We had the heat going, along with the additional space heater. I tried the water, and we didn't have any problems with it. TG

I got up, went to the bathroom, grabbing a few towels, and going into the kitchen. I got coffee to going, and sat down with my laptop. I tried to pull up information on the weather, but nothing was up to date. I called the weather center, and sat about making a cup of coffee.

I sat down just as Edward walked in, and they answered the phone at the same time. I asked them what was going on, and they said there had been some changes, as in the wind speed of th snow blizzard that was suppose to have arrived by this weekend.

Instead of forty mph they were now seventy five. Once the storm had hit the Bering Strait it had picked up the wind velocity. Along with the artic blast, it was a disaster waiting to happen. It hit land, and with pretty much nothing in it's way to slow it down it took off.

We were in for one hell of a weekend. Temperatures were expected to now go down as low as minus forties. The snow was also going to be non-stop. At present temps in our area were around minus teens, to twenties. Just lovely.

I thanked them for the information, and asked them to call with anymore updates if just in a text message.

We sat drinking our coffee, kind of just looking at each other. I was so tempted to just grab his hand, and head back to bed. I knew we couldn't as we had three dogs that needed to go. Plus we needed to go, and let everyone else know we had been told.

I went into our bedroom pulling out lannel lined jeans, thermal socks, thermal shirt, pull-over sweater, boots, coat, gloves, and hat. I went to the bathroom, washing my ace, plaiding my hair, brushing my teeth, and getting dressed.

I came out to Edward going in, with a pile of clothes in his hands. I fixed us another cup of coffee, and started dressing Lise. I got her a coat, boots, a sweater of Sasha, and got all three of their leashes ready.

I walked back into the bedroom getting Edward's coat, gloves, and toboggan. We sat drinking our coffee, and I told Edward we would just take them to the end of our trailer, not out to their trees. At least not until we knew what we were really facing. I grabbed Lise, Sasha, and the towels to dry them off. Edward grabbed Baxter's leash, and we tried to get outside. He had to put his shoulder into it, as it was frozen. Just lovely.

We step out to a big snow bank built up, and let the dogs do their morning business. We weren't even out there more than five, or ten minutes, and it was awful. We finally made it into the building shaking off snow, and my dogs are just as covered. I ask Edward to get us something to drink while I try to dry off our babies. I go sit down, pulling off coats, gloves, hats, Lise's coat, and boots. I run a towel over her, then sit her down. I grab Sasha pulling off her sweater, and running the towel over her hair. She is a right mess. Baxter comes over, and I remove his leash, taking the towel to dry him to some degree.

I then step over to get them some breakfast. They scrambled some eggs with cheese, hash browns, sausage, gravy, and biscuits. I get them some eggs, sausage crumbled up, with a little gravy. I take them each a bowl, and one of water. They chow down like little piglets. To cute!

I then go over fixing Edward, and I some breakfast. He is already sitting with us some coffee, and a glass of orange juice. I sit down by my baby giving him a kiss, and we enjoy our breakfast. Once we're done with that, we get another cup of coffee, and I look around to see if everyone is here. It seems Jake, and his men are just now making it in here.

They get them some breakfast, and once they are sitting I get everyone's attention. I tell them what the weather center told me earlier. So, we will be staying indoors today. I make sure Jake knows to try to keep a fire burning in his yurt all day. I also advise everyone in the trailers to keep the space heaters running all day with all cabinet doors open.

I make sure all the water barrels we have inside are filled up. I also advise them to keep the water running in the bathroom, the kitchen sink at a very slow run. It will help keep it from freezing up. I also tell Edward to get a couple men to go check on the propane tanks, and if they are close to being empty, to go ahead and replace them. Also, I ask Emmett, and Sean to get some men to go check the fuel levels in the generators.

Then, we need to get some men to at least attempt to shovel the snow back even if it means making a kind of wall around everything to keep more out. It would be like a wagon train, with a wall of snow all the way around. I also ask Jasper, and Peter to take a rifle, and try to check on the saw mill. To make sure it's still covered.

The winds are still blowing like crazy, so I walk over to talk with the ladies. I ask what they plan on making for dinner. They were talking about making some soups since it's so cold, and someone mentioned goulash soup. I had never heard of it, but Esme had a recipe for it, and it was very simple. I also mentioned a thick beef macaroni vegetable soup. They could make some cheddar biscuits, and cornbread. Maggie was making apple, raspberry, and rhubarb strawberry turnovers.

Alright, that was taken care of. Some of the men were coming back telling me they filled the generators. Then the men came in from checking the propane tanks, and told me they were all pretty low so they changed them all out. Jasper, and Peter came back, saying the saw mill was still covered, but snow was accumulating all around it. I told him not to worry about it right now.

They went over grabbing a couple snow shovels, and went out to help pile the snow up around the building. I knew one of the next things we needed to worry about was the snow accumulated on the roof, and the tarps. A couple hours later the men start piling back in grabbing cups of hot coffee, tea, hot chocolate, anything to get warm.

My Edward looked almost like a snow man. I went to help him out of his coat, and stuff. The ladies were coming around with cups, and pots of coffee, or whatever they wanted.

"Is it bad, baby?"

Shaking his head no, "It's bad, but we got a lot of it cut off with the wall we built. It should help a lot. We are going to have to look into the snow accumulating on roofs, tarps, everything. It is really piling up out there."

"Yeah, I was just sitting here thinking about that. We got everything else taken care of though. We got new propane tanks, fuel in generators, and Jasper, and Peter checked up on the saw mill. He said it was being covered all the way around."

I sat running my fingers through his hair, while he was trying to thaw out. "Jake, everything alright out at your yurt?"

"Naw, everything is alright. We got a good steady fire burning, so everything is good. We may have to get out there, and dig a path to it in a little while though. It's really bad out there."

So goes our day, and for the next couple weeks is a never ending battle trying to keep ahead of the snow, and cold weather. This weekend was just the beginning of quite a few storms we were to face, but we were all determined to make it through.

A JUMP IN TIME

It was nearing the end of February, and for a few weeks we had had a break in the weather. Sure it was still very cold, and we had occasional bouts of snow. But things had really tapered off as to severe storms. Of course, I probably just jinxed myself. No matter, I was going to enjoy it while it was here. I got up putting on my coat, picking up Lise to put on her boots, and a sweater. I thought I'd take my babies outside for a spell.

We stepped outside, and the sun was shining so bright. It was absolutely beautiful. We walked over to their trees, and then we walked down towards the lake. It was pretty, and I knew without a doubt I wanted my house built facing it.

We continued our walk, and ended up back at the building. Some of the men had been working with the saw mill, and there were men out cutting the tree line back some more. I stood out there trying to imagine the different things I was wanting built, and where they were going to be the most beneficial.

I knew where the building we had at present would be the start of the horse barn. I had also decided to have it built to house one hundred stalls. I also knew I would probably end up with more being added. Then the area off behind it to be fenced in for an open field for the horses to be let out in during the day.

Off to the left hand side of the horse barn would be the cabins for the employees. I had also decided to have twenty five of them built containing two bedrooms separated by a bathroom. In the front of the cabin would be a small lounge area, with a television mounted on the wall, a desk, and a small refrigerator for drinks. I didn't want them in rows, but staggered out.

From there was going to be a small building for the veterinarians. There would be four rooms; an exam room, an x-ray / ultra sound room. Then across the hall would be a small lab, and then an operating room big enough to handle a horse. There would be doors exiting to the outside from each room. There would be a hall separating the four rooms, also with doors leading to the outside.

Up on the hill would be where my version of a longhouse would be built. This would house a big kitchen with a staff of possibly five people, where the meals would be cooked every day for the employees. There would be a dining area off it. From there would be a small library, with desk in different areas equipped with computers. Also a fairly big fireplace in the front.

Then, stairs leading to the second floor where there would be a game room, and then a television room. Going outside to the side of the building would be a separate laundry facility for the employees.

Now further down field would be a big fenced in area for cattle. I would have heifer sheds built to house at least starting one hundred fifty head of cattle. There would be enough area off to the side to build another heifer shed when I got ready to expand.

There was also a big area off to the side of the house running along the lake I had planned for our garden, and a big greenhouse. I also needed to talk to Alice about possibly having a chicken coup built to handle about twenty four chickens, and one rooster. I didn't want to venture off into any more animals than that though. I just knew if we raised the chickens, we could kill them for food, but also raise baby chickens to replace them, and we would definitely use the eggs.

Oh, and I couldn't forget the small blacksmith shop I was going to build for Alistair. I was thinking about building it near the back of the horse barn, but then thought o the possible fire hazard, and decided to build it near the refuse incinerator would be. I was going to build it off to the side of the longhouse.

I also needed to determine an area for the garage, and a parking area for the employees vehicles. I would also park my horse trailers there, too.

Thinking of all this I could just about see it, and it was going to be beautiful.

Not much going on here, but a small time jump, and some ideas o what I got planned or some of the property.

Now, let me know what you think.

Thanks muches...