Donsetc

Donsetc

( 8:30 AM ) Don
Finally...our first rendezvous of the season! We made our way down to the lower end of the Sheynne River to the Dakota muzzleloaders Kindred spirits. The Dakota wind was rough on Saturday and the shooters were bellyachin' all day. Didn't seem to be quite as many lodges there as usual, but the night were pretty cold with frost on the blanket in the morning. Trade was slow but steady and Turtle Woman and I got to visit some as well. Butterfly, as always, fluttered around camp and played with the other young-uns and helped out real good. I'm looking ast a trip out on the Missouri seeing as I will not get to go to the High Plains in June. Great time! Thanks to all of the Kindred spirits. #

( 10:49 AM ) Don
I know. Another long period absent without an explanation. The search for a new post and my travels have kept me away from my journaling. My apologies. I traveled to the North Shore of Kitchi-Gami (the lake called Superior) with young explorers to Wolf Ridge Environmental Center this last week. A refreshing and replenishing experience, I must say...Winter still lingers there though. A fearsome, but beautiful, thunderstorm passed through while I was there. The rains spurred the budding process of the trees and shrubs among the evergreen cladded rocky ridges. I mostly rested and prepared for my time to guide them back here to the headwaters of the Mississippi...three days in all. #

( 12:19 AM ) Don
Again....Errant in posting to you! I am consumed with preparations for finding a new post to practice my teaching endeavours. Monday next, I will travel to the new city near the Falls of St. Anthony near Mendota for a rendezvous of factors seeking new teachers...for posts through out the territory. I have sent out numerous correspondences to posts within the nearby regions and will soon branch out farther in my searches. Information on my new scholarly credentials can now be found here as well.
Plans are being made for the coming Rendezvous season and my trade goods grow. I will need and extra canoe and voyageurs to haul it all. #

( 7:14 AM ) Don
Ahhh! My apprenticeship is over. Only two obstacles remain to my becoming a teacher of books and writing. I am preparing my trapin's for rendezvous and finding space for the special books I will bring with on my TradeBlanket. I must also begin my search in earnest for a new post. One or two exist in the near by, but I must look beyond. #

( 10:49 PM ) Don
Sorry for my neglect. My time has become consumed like dry tinder before a raging fire for the last weeks. I am one week away from the end of my apprenticeship in teaching how to read and write. I long for the spring rendezvous and the fellowship of others eager to learn of the past. I have been saving precious old journals and writings on our past for several years, and look forward to sharing some of them with others this summer. I even hope to present some of the most choice on my TradeBlanket sometime very soon. I will also attempt to be more timely with my posts here. For now, I bid you Fond Adieux. #

( 10:57 PM ) Don
Felt almost like Spring today! The birds and squirrel were out in force and with the south breezes and the ripple of water flowing, it really made Winter melt away to a memory. I imagine the winds will change again tomorrow, but it sure 'nuff felt pleasin'. I missed Winter Camp at White Oak last weekend...had a qualificashun inquiry to meet. Next rendezvous on the calendar is on the Sheyenne River down south of Kindred come May. #

( 11:18 PM ) Don
Another day of snow. It is beautiful and serene with the soft, fluffy snow hanging on the pine and clumps of birch. I love my travels each day to and from my teaching post. I do long for spring and rendezvous. By the end of this month, I will have completed my teaching practice and will search for a new post to settle in to...a new, exciting journey, again. I have enjoyed my practice so far, but look forward to apprentices of my own. #

( 6:26 AM ) Don
Errant again...and for some time now. I passed through a period of illness was slow with recovery. Then, work at teaching was to get bacl on track and my efforts were diverted there. The week end before this last was a rendezous at post west of Fargo with the North Dakota Muzzleloaders...great enjoyment and fellowship! I will be able to update the CamPaignItinery for the coming season soon. Now I am preparing fro examinations of my teaching skills and the final month of my experiences at Laporte. Time has gone by so quickly. #

( 11:13 PM ) Don
Another week has ended. My work has gone well these past days and I feel that I am doing some good in my work with young people. I have been busy enough that my words and writing have been somewhat un-inspired and less frequent than I desire. This week I will be visited by one of my factors and I must prepare a report before Monday...much is to be done. With the weather becoming more moderate, my thoughts of Spring and Rendezvous quicken. I hope to travel more this coming season. #

( 9:23 PM ) Don
The weather is warmer...my teaching tasks are going well...and aside from leaner than desired rations and resources through the dead of Winter, all is well. Health has been with us, aside from Turtle Woman's persitent maladies; and though trade and work for all has been less than hoped for, all make do and my sons' lives make slow but steady advances. I hope your Winter fare is well. Peace be with you. #

( 5:44 PM ) Don
COLD!!!... -37° without the chill of the wind on your cheeks today! Most activities were called off for fear of frostbite or worse if over-expossed to the elements too long. It is a good time to catch up on work in the cabin and do some reading and journaling. We have sufficient food and warmth and should be well. #

( 10:39 PM ) Don
Today was the second day of a new quarter at Laporte School, and the big day for the Minnesota Comprehensive Writing Standards Exam...very busy day! i feel more a part of the school and routine every day that goes by and it's a warm, comfortable feeling on this cold Winter day. Tomorrow will be colder, with predictions of below zero daytime high temperatures, and below -20° nights for several days to come. It puts a stress on everyone as we haven't seen a cold snap like this in several years. #

( 12:45 AM ) Don
My week at Laporte student teaching has been a pleasant experience. This is the end of my third week with only nine more to go. The time is flying by quickly. I have a report due this weekend, and am sure that it will consume my attentions.

I have also been visited by my eldest son, Don, and my grandchildren. By tomorrow night when we have other company arriving, we will have a full house...just the way I like it.

A good night to all. #

( 11:11 PM ) Don
Here tonight in the north woods...-20° without the dire effects of the sharp winds in the open places...It is our good fortune to be warm and safe with family. It is also good fortune to reflect upon the memories of our gathering this past week end with our Hangfire fellows, and hopeful plans for our annual Ron-Dee-Voo. Butterfly made fast her friendship with Dogwalker's spotted companion. Food, fellowship and interesting conversation was in plenty. It is our prayer that all are as safe and in comfort as we through this long, cold nite.

We look forward to longer days and the warm sunlight of spring time. A safe, peaceful, and warm eve to all. #

( 12:12 AM ) Don
Just dropping by to touch base. Saturday nite will be a small gatherin' of the Hangfire gang for our annual party/potluck. I talked with Butterfly to make sure she can come with us...she can, and is excited. She's anxious to put on her party finest. #

( 11:47 PM ) Don
My first week of student teaching is now complete and tomorrow week two begins. I'm fortunate to be working with a supervising teacher who allows me to be an active particpant in teaching in each class. Laporte has small classes and there is a good chance to get to know the students. I am enjoying my practice. #

( 11:23 PM ) Don
My first two days student teaching have been interesting to say the least. I was like a little child before their first day of school Sunday night. I couldn't get to sleep and the excitement rolled over and over in my mind...only three hours in dreamland, but I had slept in Sunday morning and rested well in my favorite chair in the afternoon...fortunately I was rested for Monday morn. I'm feeling comfortable with the fit and am starting to settle in to the school routine. I will be journaling daily on one of my wikis about each day's activities, for my course work as well as for my own observations. #

( 12:49 PM ) Don
Errant again! But I return none the less to try to begin a new role here at the post. On Monday morn, I begin my practice teaching at Laporte and begin to help young people learn to write and tell their ideas in story. With my formal studies completed satifactorily, I will be venturing out into the last phase of my formal studies. I will also begin to look for a new post for my teachings. This last year has been a fruitful one, and aside from several bouts with illness, a happy and healthy one. #

( 12:35 AM ) Don
Been errant in postin'. Sorry! Terrible busy learnin' words and writin' ...n how to help others learn the same. After the New Year, I start practice teaching for twelve weeks. It'll be quite a change, with even a bigger one coming when I begin looking for a new post. Turtle Woman has been spending time with my middle son. Their lodge is within sight of the Falls of St. Anthony down south on the Mississippi. I miss her dearly. Last week, I traveled down and got to spend four days with them and visited other traders at the confluence with the St. Peters River. Good to see old friends. #

( 1:15 AM ) Don
Sorry! Been gone for a while. I've been trying to restore things lost and make the things work that broke. Turtle Woman's bin gone too so's I been batchin' it, top of all the rest. Miss her round here a lot...she's a big part of my spirit n' pushes me to work harder when I most need it. Try to get back sooner next time. #

( 1:33 PM ) Don
I had an accident over the week end that has caused some difficulties, but no major losses. Many records were destroyed by accident...some were just lost in the confussion and ignorance of how to recover from the problems. Much of my post information has been lost and I have spent considerable time re-constructing lost files. Some information will be lost forever. My Journals were spared due to the method of storage. #

( 8:01 AM ) Don
Another week end at post. Quite uneventfull. I failed to take advantage of the perty fall weather and found myself inside to trade trying to git ready for winter's coming. Turtle woman and Butterfly Girls mad a journey though down to the Yellow Medicine for the wedding of close friends. It is good to have her safely back home. My oldest son will return today from the Forks...I am anxious to see how his trade and exploration went. We are running low on buaffalo and should make a trip to hunt soon. #

( 8:01 AM ) Don
Another week end at post. Quite uneventfull. I failed to take advantage of the perty fall weather and found myself inside to trade trying to git ready for winter's coming. Turtle woman and Butterfly Girls mad a journey though down to the Yellow Medicine for the wedding of close friends. It is good to have her safely back home. My oldest son will return today from the Forks...I am anxious to see how his trade and exploration went. We are running low on buaffalo and should make a trip to hunt soon. #

( 12:28 AM ) Don
Well, no camp again this week end. Saturday rain kept us at home post. We will need to store our rendezvous gear for winter. I am in need of making a trip to White Oak to learn of happenings at that post, but it was not to be today. We will wait for next summer, when hopefully more time to travel and explore wil be available. Fall gathering is going well and stores for winter seem sufficient. #

( 3:01 PM ) Don
Well, we watch the weather for the coming weekend hoping to join others at White Oak for the Fall Camp. Butterfly Girl is anxious for a last rendezvous before winter. I have some fine trade items if we are able to go. We were unable to go out anywhere last weekend as several family and friends stopped through at post to visit. I have been slow to post in my journal as there is much to do to prepare for the coming winter and weather will hold for only so long. it seems that there is so much to do. #

( 2:15 PM ) Don
October is upon us, and last night was our first hard frost. The colors of the Fall will be with us in full bloom as the spirits of nature around us turn about to prepare for the cold blasts of Winter. "Fawn-Killer" shared tales of his adventures in laying in meat for the winter with his rattlesnake bow yesterday...the true heart-kill of a warrior. I too hope to get out to hunt soon, as game is in plenty in the area of the post. I hope to have at least one of my sons join me for the hunt. It appears from the last message I recieved with the courier, that White Oak Post continues have problems with organization and direction of the post's operations. I look forward to Fall Camp to catch up on the news and find my way to help. #

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