Final Crunch Time - Escaping Cows and Last Work on Homestead Foundation

We're through a cold spell and looking forward to better working weather. A few cows have developed a nasty habit of escaping. So my work tears me two ways... all in addition to writing.

Hi,

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• Farming News - Escaping cattle contained. Ringleader and top lieutenants captured.

• Homesteading - We’ve started the subflooring and have a deadline to meet.

• Writing News - The Max Brand dissection teaches many things, while I work out how to novelize an earlier collection of short stories

• Fiction News - Another new-to-you short story.

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Farming News

This culprit was present at all the breakouts over the last couple of weeks. Finally got her herded into a steel-fenced barn lot where she can’t escape. Should be at the auction by the time you get this. She was also going to go as she never had a calf this spring.

Right now, I also have a couple more who have also often been party to breakouts. One has a calf, who she’s taken out on her journeys beyond on occasion.

This is what turned out to be the bottom line. We have a cow who has consistently gotten out of fences all her life here - but comes back and doesn’t make a deal about it. But - two of these three were direct descendants. Meaning: she’s trained them as escape artists.

Meanwhile, I’m took some time to strengthen all the fences around them. And planning for permanent fences this coming Spring where I’ve used electric polywire on the perimeter in places.

I have three more that need to be separated and moved to auction soon. Preferably this week, but it’s already Tuesday as I write this. Still possible. But time spent on farming takes away from the homestead build.

When I hit the bed in our cottage at night, I often start falling asleep, since the bed is the only really comfortable place to read. Last night I was completely out by about 6:30.

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The guard dogs come and go now, but mostly are happy to be up at our little homestead as long as we are. And I’ve quit feeding them down by the main house, so all their treats and regular food are up with us at our homestead.

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Tiny Homesteading Progress

I’ve got just a few short joists to install, and the subflooring and remaining insulation have arrived.

We verified with the Amish that they are to show up next week. I had to let them know that I was selected for jury duty in two weeks - which I may have to ask off of, due to managing my cows and their escaping. I’m the only one who does any farming here, and it’s not just running a lot of equipment seasonally.

So, with some perseverance, I’ll be finishing off that subfloor this week and having the dry-in show up next week.

We’re both excited about this, since in our long lives, we’ve never built our own home from scratch. Now it’s time to get everything done all at once.

Subfloor now has four days left to get it all in and done before the Amish arrive. I may have a day or so, if they’re late, but I can’t count on it.

So now, it’s working “can see to can’t see” and “early to bed, early to rise”. Wife is helping out as she can, with her life of clerical work, it’s a bit of a training process. Enjoyable, but slow. But she’s renovated several of her earlier homes, so that’s a plus.

I’ll start working on the bigger areas, leaving he smaller pieces for her to measure, cut, and fill.

Taking those cows to auction is time I just have to budget in. Again - working all daylight hours from pre-dawn to post-dusk.

The cows need to stay in, meanwhile.

Once the home is dried in, I should have a bit more time for things. But then, first to hook up inside there is some lights, and heat, so doing the work over winter will be more comfortable. And we have all our home pieces to bring in, and cut that monthly cost.

Donations More Than Welcome

Yes, we’re scratching to get this all paid for.

Our loan amount will be mostly depleted in the next couple of weeks. That electrical cost about $1600, the subflooring materials were just over $1300. The dry-in construction will be nearly $14,000. And that will leave a couple thousand for everything else. Meanwhile, we’ve already been paying on this personal loan, which will continue for years.

I’ve discovered some 2x4 wood stock we’ll be able to use for interior walls, and we independently bought quite a bit of leftover interior insulation. Plus, we got a wood fireplace for free. So the place will be able to be worked over this winter. We’ll have to buy new interior sheathing and trim.

Plus, there’s the interior wiring and plumbing parts.

Some cost-cutting coming up as we trim other expenses. Some tiny retirement and Social Security comes in, plus my book sales.

Right now, we are meeting the small stuff, but we also have to look ahead.

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My other own solution to upcoming expenses is in selling more books.

Of course, in anything else, donations are readily accepted.

Meanwhile, there are some steep bills we’re looking as, even while my labor is one of love.

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Writing News

All my work is in prepping for a bona-fide novel, released here on Substack as a novel. I’m revamping an earlier short story collection and doing the work to get them together into decent story arc with all the bells and whistles that a decent novel requires.

And I’m writing up the research about how to write these as I go.

Along with distilling Max Brand’s perennial classic, Dan Barry’s Daughter.

The idea is to have a 24-installment serial here on Substack which builds audience and pre-sells the novel.

Right now, I’m in construction phase for the novel (in addition to the homestead build and fixing fences.) I’ve about got the backbone story arc set up. Next will be setting up index cards for every scene and sequel as they lay right now. I’ve done some cutting, but the next part is getting down into the weeds with how I wrote those short stories. Lots of index cards in stock to begin.

Writing now is these four newletters each week. The spare pre-dawn moments I have are where my writing gets done. (Of course, I moved this a bit forward today, and am a week ahead, so I should be able to have everything keep coming out in these next couple of weeks.)

I do have some odd times while working or driving where I can have my ereader read my books aloud, so I can work out and refamiliarize myself with them.

This prompts me to so the broad stroke editing, such as moving stories into better sequence, setting up a “cutting room floor” section at the back of the main text document where I keep everything I remove.

Already, a few characters seem extra. They are more distractions than needful. This was built with a larger universe bringing in characters with traits that are elsewhere explained. For a standalone novel, I need to have everything explained in this one text. Again, I have to stick to my story question and story arc and align everything.

Of course, all my studies with the Writerpreneur Series count, and that Forgotten Bestseller Secrets, especially. Just another test of all I’ve researched.

And, as usual, I write up my breadcrumb trail as I go, so you and others can learn from my research and test results.

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I’m still intending to set up some sort of intensive training in my Substack Founding Member area, as rewards for patronage sort of thing. Where I can help people directly and afford to do so. Whether this is called a workshop, or other, it will be a continuing area. These distilled lessons then will have three levels of access - broad for free readers and subscribers, books and materials for paid subscribers, and direct access and assistance and in-depth materials to Founding Members/patrons.

So, feel free to upgrade to paid or Founding status as these benefits will continue showing up. For people who want to get serious about improving their craft and appreciate other’s writing. And want to join in on this journey.

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(PS. I’ve included the pre-release Forgotten Bestseller Secrets for paid members below.)

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Also published this week (ICYMI):

Fiction Posts

Pro Writing Lessons

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I hope your life is not too interesting to be overwhelming, but sufficiently engaging to keep you amused. (Like some of us here...)

Robert

PS. Again, you can always email me about anything.

PPS. And you can always buy me a coffee…

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Bonus:

Again this week, the beta Forgotten Bestseller Secrets is available at author-direct discount - of Pay What You Want bundle.

Available for limited time as pay-what-you-want…

Paid subscribers have instant access to this and other ebooks - see below: