I didn't realize how thin I was
stretching myself after building the healer house for my dearest of
friends, Karen. When I went to build the kennels for Jennifer, I did
not plan properly. The area I had originally selected for the project
did not have the orientation or space I needed. I began building and
tore down several structures behind the healer house. It just didn't
feel right. I was in the middle of trying to re-build the kennels
once again, when I fell off the one story structure. I sprained my
ankle, but it could have been a lot worse. Karen ordered me to rest
for a few days. After that, I grabbed my building tools and supplies.
I wanted to get right back to my project. I felt it was of utmost
importance. Karen caught me before I could so much as remove one
wooden plank from the building I had started a few days before. I was
on “light duty” for the next few weeks. She had the whole town
watching me after that. I realized I must really have been getting
better because I didn't mind the hours upon hours jobless and allowed
to wallow in my dark thoughts. I had never been so bored and yet so
restless as those few weeks of light duty. They allowed me to walk
around the town, to plant flowers and the remove some weeds, but I
was encouraged to sit down and talk to the women of the town
(preferably with my leg prompt up and a cool beverage in my hand).
After two long weeks of socializing me, Karen finally relented. I
suspected that it wasn't just my ankle she was worried about. I think
she wanted me to get to know others, to let them into my life, and I
had given her the perfect opportunity.
One of the best things that came from
being on light duty? I figured out the perfect plot of land for the
kennels. I redesigned my overly extravagant and large plans, and I
knew what I had in mind would be perfect for Jennifer's needs. The
new plans brought me some happiness, but I would not be content until
my project had been completed. I thought about the benefits of having
a kennel close to the houses. The dogs that Jennifer cared for could
act as an warning system. They sleep at night, so they would only
bark if something were to threaten the area. Jennifer would like the
kennel pretty close to home anyway. I cleared the area once I had
been given town approval, and I finally started building with a clear
vision. I used a lighter wood for the kennel because we had an over
abundance of birch. The town had decided that the main buildings and
homes of the town should be of the same wood, and the most prominent
tree around was oak. Christopher was used to building with this type
of wood as well, and the lumber jack we had attracted felt oak was
the best quality. I readily agreed with this, but I wanted the
kennels to feel more open and airy. With only the front of the kennel
being open, it would be easier to get enough light in there without
causing danger to the animals or putting in unnecessary windows.
Jennifer liked the lighter wood and readily agreed with my choice.
I knew that I wasn't a master builder,
especially after this endeavor, but I felt that it was functional if
not beautiful. I got a little creative with some fences, but I liked
it. Inside there was 3 main fenced in areas. One area was for the
sick or injured animals. Another area was for the expectant and new
mothers, and the last area was for any animal (mainly dogs would be
using this kennel) that wanted a place to sleep or rest in a shaded
and cool place. I made sure there was a place for fresh water, and I
put in a chest that Jennifer could keep stocked with anything she
might need or want for the animals. I wasn't as proud of it as I was
the healer house, but I thought it would fit with exactly what
Jennifer wanted.
After I finished the building, Jennifer
went through it, and she seemed pleased. I felt like I had done a
good job, and it was such a nice feeling that I wanted to keep doing
special projects for the people of our town. I moved some of the
wheat fields behind the healer house. I had planted the additional
wheat originally by Steven's farm. It was awkward and everyone had to
be careful walking through that area. Steven didn't mind where the
wheat was planted, but he seemed to be pleased with the plot of land
I tilled behind Karen's building. Karen thought it gave the view out
of the back window a nice comforting view. I couldn't have been
happier with it.
There was one sad thing that I noticed when I was on light duty. Our original lumber jack had decided to leave the town. He and his wife received a letter from some distant family with many woes. They had done some heavy thinking on the matter, and while they loved our town, they could not let their family suffer if they had the ability to ease the hardship. We wished William B. Williams and his wife a tearful farewell. I made sure they had plenty of bread and apples for their journey, and the other townsfolk sent them off with similar gifts. Karen hugged them both, cried while saying goodbye, and kept telling them to be safe. Jennifer was somber and held Christopher's strong hand. Luckily, one of the new men in town was a lumber jack.
William worked with him a little before he left, and he assured us that Charles E. Harris was good at his job and nice fellow. I wasn't sure how I felt about the Williams family leaving so soon after arriving here, but mostly, I felt relieved that someone was there to take up the job immediately. I did feel a little sad because I liked William B. Williams. His name always made me smile, and I would miss saying hello. Was this a bad omen that some of our settlers were already packing up and leaving? I hoped not, and I held onto that hope. After all, Karen, Steven, Jennifer and Christopher were still my family and still there with me.
