Day 7

Hello Everyone!

I'm writing this in my 10x10 cabin while drinking tea made from melted snow and sitting in my little chair situated next to the wood stove which has a hearty fire roaring that I built myself.

In the past seven days a lot has happened. I will start with informing you that I felled a 25 foot tree with a handsaw, which for those of you who are seasoned lumberjacks, disregard the following statement.

I, Alana Nason, cut down a TREE with a handsaw!

My reason for so much excitement aside from the fact that felling trees is weirdly exciting is that it is enough wood to supply me with warmth for the next two weeks!

The last 36 hours have been spent farmsitting a homestead in the mountains. Under my watch was 1 cat, 2 dogs, 2 horses, 3 goats, 6 piglets and 2 hogs. Not only was I in charge of 16 animals I was also four miles walking distance from help or means of communication.

It has been 7 days since I've used money. With no stores to buy anything it's quite literally impossible.

While all these small victories have been a large chunk of my time here there is also the difficult part. Chopping down trees is damn hard work and being challenged by a goat with foot and a half long horns in not fun to say the least. It can be extremely disheartening when every single day is full to the brim with tasks you do not yet know how to accomplish. I'm still clumsy with an axe and my knees are bruised purple and swollen from falling on ice.

Getting up to pee means you've got to lace up your boots and face a freezing cold walk to the outhouse and don't even think about sleeping through the night or else you are going to wake up to a stove full of ash and a room that's about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

At times the silence can be overwhelming and the stillness, strange. For the next few nights I've got a half blind pup to keep me company while I read and work and play.

Is it lonely? Yes.

Am I learning? Absolutely.

Until next time from the north,

Alana

#alaska #mccarthy