On Moccasined Feet
6
The next morning Mike and Starr and another couple followed David and I up the hill. I showed them what I wanted done with the Gazebo and left them to unload the trucks and get started while David and I hiked on up the path to the lake to introduce ourselves to my guests. By the time we left they had all promised to be at Sanctuary the first thing in the morning to get started. I asked the kids if they wanted to walk back down with us and maybe help for a while. "Is the Fairy House yours for real?" 3 year old Joy screamed jumping up and down. "She means the little porch thing where the statue is, she swears she saw a tiny spirit there." "It's an alter to The Goddess and I'm sure Joy's right. I used to see Fairies there too when I was her age. There even used to be a Fairy ring and a village in the woods by the Creek that my Daddy built for me to play in when I was little but it's probably gone now." The older chidren stayed with the others to plant and paint and help with the cleanup while Joy ran off to see if she could find the Fairies' homes. I spent a few minutes with Paul then David and I left saying we'd see everyone later. ***** The Long Feathers and their family were there the next morning just after sunrise and after being conjoled into eating something first. insisted on getting started . We soon discovered the old man is quite handy with tools and his wife used to be a seamstress and also possesses an extensive knowledge of medicinal herbs and medicines thanks to her Native American parents. The older children are also hard workers and very handy. Joy, the baby is a treasure - she follows Suzie like a second shadow. ***** John and the twins worked with the men while Megan and White Eagle helped me gather herbs and medicines for the clinic.. As we worked I expained what The Goddess had told me to do. After a while I said: "You make me look like a novice in comparison to your knowedge of The Mother's Bounty so I will leave this in your expert hands and go get some work done elsewhere." ***** "You're not going to believe this," Starr said when I walked into the library where she and Antionette were working. "Mike stopped up on the ridge to leave some lumber and things so the men could finish up later and everything's almost done. John and his family's finished it. They even cleared a path to the lake and uncovered the old Fairy village; they have started bringing up stones from the creek for a fire pit and what John says is to be a drum circle to intice the Spirits of The Ancient Ancestors there to join the others." "When Mike tried to thank him John said The Great Father and Ms Jo's Goddess are kindred spirits and that it was his family's honor to do this and they would like be the caretakers for that sacred place. Do you believe it - they must have worked half the night." Sometime after lunch White Eagle knocked on the door. "Ms Starr I was looking for a place to hang some of the herbs we gathered to dry and noticed the shed the men had put those boxes in this morning has high eaves and I was wondering if we could hang them there." "Try the loft in the small barn instead, it's already set up for that - there's probably some already up there that are ready to prepare for storage." I said coming out on the porch. ***** "You really need to take a good look in that supply shed though when you get a chance. I bought a second hand store out and it's full of clothes and things I'm sure your family can use" "In fact that's a perfect job for you if you'd be willing to take it on; I understand you are quite a seamtress and a lot of them can probably use a loving hand, I'm sure. I'm not good with a needle and some of those who will be coming won't have much more then what they're wearing when they arrive." "The least we can do is offer them decent clothing and warm blankets. Would you be interested in the job? I think there's even an old sewing machine or 2 in there somewhere. You might consider turning it into some sort of General Store, we can install a solar panel and come up with more space if you need it I'm sure" "In the meanwhile take the kids in and let them pick out what they want and see if you can organize it enough to give me a general idea of what we have, and White Eagle: Thank you, all of you - for everything." ***** The next morning when I started out to visit the barn I overheard the girls on the front porch. I called Starr and we hid behind the curtains and listened to them talk while they were getting the snap peas ready for dinner. "Ron and Roy got 6 pairs of jeans and some shirts and socks, and underwear, and a jacket for each of them, and a pair of boots a piece - they said that was more then enough because they could share and that meant they actually had twice as much." "I found 3 of the prettiest dresses I've ever seen and some jeans, and sweaters and blouses and a pair of Sunday shoes and everything I need to go with my new clothes including ribbons and headbands and I got the most beautiful coat ever with a matching hat and scarf and some gloves with fur on them and a pair of boots." "There were so many pretty things that fit Joy that she couldn't make up her mind. She wanted everything and insisted Grandmother let her put on one of her new outfits and took off all her old clothes right there, down to her skin; of course she got her way and as soon as she was dressed she ran off over here to show Ms Jo and you." "I know, Ms Jo let me pick out some stuff after the fire and told me I could get some more stuff later. Everyone's so nice here I want to stay at Sanctuary forever, don't you?" ***** "Starr authorize some money for a couple of shopping trips and see if you can arrange transportation into Oakgrove and Dover for White Eagle and some of the ladies. I want to hit all the second hand stores and even Walmart as well as Cosco and Sam's and places like that(we have my cards); also call Ed and order a few of the largest sheds he has that can be hooked into the solar power and see if you and White Eagle can come up with some kind of voucher or barter system for purchases -unless you think we need to wait until the meeting to get Board approval." "Well since the 5 of us and Mr Steve are the only Board Members right now I think I can have you a majority vote in about 5 minutes if that's convenient but I do think you're right; we need to discuss what can be purchased and an amount someone can spend without prior approval." "Agreed, go ahead and let everyone know. I need to see if I can get ahold of Amy and Tina and find out if they received those cards and letters of authorization yet; which number is my private line? Oh and let me know when the people from the restaurant supply company get here," I said picking up my coffee cup and heading for my office. "Since when do you need anyone's permission to spend your own money?" David asked coming into my office without knocking and dropping the mail on the desk. "Since it's not my money anymore and as of tomorrow Starr wil be handling Sanctuary's finances." I answered. ***** Starr knocked on the door about an hour later. "The kitchen equipment is here; the men are helping get it set up in the barn's new extension. The man in charge said thanks to our electrical crew they should have it ready to hook up today and the ladies are ready to storm the house and parade you around the grounds as a conquering hero they're so happy. They can't wait to try it out. You coming?" "Be right there," I said picking up the phone. ***** "If you all will excuse me I need to go pack." Carl said after dinner that night. "Thanks to your resident, retired, but still certified electrician here - things went a lot faster then planned. I will be going over everything with him and Kyle first thing in the morning and hope to get on the road before noon, so I wanted to say goodbye now." "I'll have our secretary send all the final paperwork to you along with the rest of the equipment you ordered and the revised invoices next week. I'll also have her send a copy of everything to the attorneys and I've left some business cards with Starr in the event you need anything else." "Please tell everyone I said goodbye in case I don't get a chance to see them and good luck with Sanctuary. Who knows my family and I may even come down for part of this Gathering I keep hearing so much about." *****
*****
