So that your love may be complete.

[PacNorWest]

#4

Correction, Mark thought; Wayne, Jenny and Ben had come to visit. Curbing his impulse to make a frustrated face, Mark greeted Clora's brothers cordially, welcoming them to the valley.

Both men got out of the pickup and took a deep breath of clean, fresh air. "This air smells sweeter than any other I've ever smelled," Ben observed. "It smells so much like Evergreen, that's what makes it feel like home. I still don't like the hemmed in feeling I get here, but it's a good place for you and Clora. Now take us to those babies," he ordered with a smile, and Wayne seconded the notion.

Jenny got out quietly and didn't say anything beyond a muted "hello" but she followed them up the ramp and into the trailer complex.

"Oh, this is much different inside, than it appears from the outside," she said in surprise. "It's so roomy and open, and you have the wood stove also, how nice." then she lapsed into silence once again.

Gail came out of the baby's room with Lizzy, intending to get the bottle she had set to warm.

Ben perked up instantly, "Hello," he announced, "I've seen you in the store, I didn't realize this was the work you did. I'm Ben Hanson by the way, Clora is our sister."

Gail greeted them all professionally, allowing the newcomers to have a quick peek at the tiny girl that was about ready to announce she wanted her food, NOW.

"Excuse me for rushing you through the inspection," Gail re-wrapped the squirming child, "but if she starts crying, they all will cry, and trust me that's a song you can do without."

Everyone chuckled, and let her sit and start feeding the puckered up Liz before the baby could let loose with her vocal demands.

Clora had finished feeding the other two, and she came to the bedroom door and asked for Mark's help in bringing out which ever child she wasn't carrying. Because the two boys were so much alike, John had his name written on the top of his foot with indelible marker.

However, Clora and Mark had to unwrap one of them to know which one they were holding.

"Wow Sis, those boys are so identical they must be mirror twins," Wayne stared hard at the two bundles of joy that were sleeping with tightly closed eyes. "Their kinda little and scrawny," he observed, "they sure don't look like Tess did when she was born."

"Tess weighed almost 8 pounds as a single, I'm not built for 24 pounds of baby plus every thing else," Clora tartly shot back, and then she smiled, "would you like to hold John?" she asked Wayne.

"Of course, but how do you know this one is John?"

"I looked before I came out here," Clora said with laughter in her voice. "That's the only way I can be sure."

It was a wonderful afternoon with the clan gathered in praise of the new baby's and happy with the way Mark was beginning the new homestead.

The men went down to the Edwards corral and tried to lead the old non descript milk cow back up to her new home. Skinny, with hip bones that stuck up and out like the Washington monument, the cow was in dire need of TLC and grain.

Helga cooked a huge pot of oatmeal for the cow, after Karl came in and whispered something in her ear. "The cow," Helga issued when he had gone back outside, "iss nots in goods shapes, she needs her teeth vorked on, and Karls, he tinks she needs some medicines. No good for milks for muches veeks."

With Mark's blessing, Karl headed for town in his small pickup with money and a map of where to find a vet clinic.

Helga used a good many of their shriveled vegetables to start a soup for lunch; knowing that as long as she had a bushel basket of biscuits, the men would eat anything.

Mid morning coffee break had run the kitchen out of cookies, so she mixed up a couple pans of brownies and had them cooling for lunch dessert. The brownies came out of the oven and the biscuits went in, Helga hollering for more wood or there wouldn't be any food to eat.

All the men promptly brought in an armful each, and every child big enough to clutch a piece of kindling did their part. Meg, Adoree, Mandy, Claire, Tess and Jenny got the table ready, all the while Clora was beaming with happiness from her chair. This was a magnificent way to introduce the triplets to the family, and it had been so long since they all had been together.

Clora asked to say the blessing, and her praise for the people she loved, the God she loved and the many blessings that had been heaped on the family was very moving to the assembled group.

Ben produced a camera at the end of the meal and picture after picture was snapped, recording for posterity the magnificent clan of Hanson-Lindermans.

The fine Spring day was waining into the late afternoon when Milo came tearing into the house, "Hey everybody, the fish are running, help me!"

[sssarawolf]

You know I had forgotten about the fish running , very nice Pac thank you. Hope you are gettin settled in alright.

[Dosadi]

Thank you PAC

We don't get runs of fish in Alabama, but it is possible to catch what we want pretty much any time of year.

Now I"m thinking I'll dig out my new fancy fake tenkaru rig. (I got one of those telescoping fiberglass poles for crappie from wally world that is 16 feet long, tie some braided line or fly rod line to it about the same length and then toss it out with a bit of leader and a hook or fly over the fish and catch em. Kinda high tech cane polin'. LOL)

I'm glad you are writing again.

I'm still keeping you and yours in my prayers and hoping for Gods answer to be soon and his love and wisdom to manifest in good things.)

Thanks again and truly glad to see this story continue. I kinda think it is part of God helping you. And of course blessing us with more of your art.

Dosadi

[stjwelding]

Thanks Pac I hope life has at least started to settle down a little.
Wayne

[Freebirde]

A sincere thank you for more of your story! I hope and pray that you are blessed as you bless us with your story and life. Remember to take care of yourself, we all think you are more important than this story.

[ted]

Time to start smoking and drying fish for winter...Always something. Thanks Pac!

[PacNorWest]

#5

Kids had their boots off in a flash and were standing in the freezing cold water using their hands to scoop up the Silvers and throw them high on the bank. The adults stood watching in amazement at the fish run worked it's way up the small stream, the wriggling, writhing mass of fish moving upstream with frenzied intensity.

"I've never seen the likes of it," Mark spoke as he brought a tarp to contain the fish. "It's like a cobblestone street, so solid with fish you could practically walk across them."

The older boys were shouting and laughing as the fish bumped into their legs, and Milo reached down and clamped his hand around the tail of one of the largest fish they had ever seen.

"Let him go," Toby urged, "we need lunkers that size to carry on the run."

For fun, Milo tried to lift the salmon that was obviously in the 30 to 40 pound range and failed; the fish twisting and turning with more force than his chilled fingers could hold.

Fish continued to be heaved up on the bank until the on coming darkness stopped the harvest. They had three tarps worth of beautiful salmon, and now the fun was over.

Although Jenny was ready to go home, and perturbed and frustrated at the delay, Wayne and Ben joined Toby, Mark and Warren as they created a fish cleaning line that worked for a solid hour and a half to gut and fillet the fish. Karl got home in time to announce that a bad rain storm was working it's way up the coast and would be arriving soon.

Every one worked hard to share in the bounty, and they could hear the water in the stream churning with more fish. It was a seldom seen phenomenon, the fishing restored to historic levels by the inability of man to put boats out in the ocean to harvest.

It was late at night before the last pan of fish guts was taken outside to be spread on the garden spot the next day. Helga was almost beside herself with happiness, "ve haff fishes guts to raise the corns," she said over and over, "so muches fine."

Jenny, as she was packing their fish in a cardboard, garbage sack lined box sprinkling salt in between the layers, was busy thinking phooey, my hands stink. Wisely, she had learned to keep her thoughts and opinions to herself; as it caused much less friction between Herself and the rest of this unusual, nutty family.

When the work was over, everyone went to the sink for a splash of bottled lemon juice on their hands, it removed most of the strong fish smell, but stung like the dickens where the sharp spines of the salmon fins had scraped.

Toby and Meg bundled up their sleepy kids in the van and headed home with a blessing of fish; as did Wayne, Jenny and Ben.


Deep in the darkness of the stormy night, a large furry animal raised his head and smelled the odoriferous fish guts scent that wafted by on the breeze. Hungry, he went to investigate the source and fill his belly.

[Rabbit]

So much for garden fertilizer.

[ted]

At least they may get their garden tilled for free!

[SammiP]

First salmon, then bear. Do they have enough canning jars left to restock a good pantry?

Oh yes, and a deer promised for the fall. Nice variety!

[kaijafon]

ah, the adventures are continuing! I figured we would have a longer wait! so thank you so much. I sure hope you are getting settled and Mr. Pac is doing better.

much love and prayers sent.