A Tale of Magical Ramblings and War

By Sharon Baldwin

Fasten your seatbelts and leave all preconceptions of the fantasy-sci-fi-eqsue genre behind.
A cross between Sci-Fi and Fantasy, "Ramblings and War" bleeds with adventure and brings a mixed bag of feelings to the depressing state of Roxi's world.

 

 

"A Tale of Magical Ramblings and War" kicks off with a landscape of a city obliterated by a force outstripping any marvel of human technology. A story staying true to its title, you'll hear ramblings in the daily life of Roxi the witch and her friends. Poor Roxi can't seem to catch a break from all the misadventures that plague her. She jumps from one calamity to the next, and races toward a monstrous quest to save the world from evil aliens. Phillipe the halfling comes to Roxi's aid, arriving on one of his dragons and brings elven magic to add to Roxi's book of spells.

Join them on their adventures and see if old magic can trump technology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharon Baldwin
• Release date: Apr 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9780578946351

Book preview

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank my friends, Brigitte Ruckle, Lori Lyttle, Cindy Shultz, and Anne Jasper for their help and continued support with this project. Thanks especially to Rick Getsinger, for jumping in at the last minute and designing my gorgeous cover. And, to Chrissy Wolfe at EFC Services, LLC for doing a jam-up job of editing and putting up with this cranky ole lady. I couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Table of Contents

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Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter One

A portal opened in my mind’s eye, and I saw a raven’s view of what appeared to be a recently attacked city. Framework still standing, blackened and smoldering, the once tall, proud monuments to man’s engineering prowess were gone, obliterated, and the devastation went on for miles in every direction. Gray and black vapor wound its deathly pallor up into the atmosphere, adding to the haze that already enveloped the ghastly scene.

The buckled pavement rose and fell like huge speed bumps, the cracks as wide as an old Cadillac. Over by a muddy narrow river was an overhead tram track with some of the cars draped haphazardly, barely hanging on by a frayed cable, and others still sitting eerily on their rail. I didn’t see any bodies amid all the wreckage, and there were no vehicles on the streets. 

The vision faded and was gone. I opened my eyes and realized I was still sitting on my big broad round rock with the flat top where I usually sat to use my far-sight. My crystals were still right there glistening in the afternoon sun, and I smelled the sage I’d burned to purify myself and this space. The small fire I’d started had burned to ashes. I saw a few grains of the cornmeal I’d offered to the ancestors around the rocks edging my sacred fire. What in hell’s gate did I just see? Where in the name of all that was holy was that? More questions than answers today.

I guessed it was time to go home; I’d ponder on this later. The animals needed to be fed, and come to think about it, I was hungry myself. I stood up with creaking bones and groans, thankful for my faithful walking stick that a friend carved for me years ago. I’d come to rely on it more and more as the years went by. 

C’mon, dog, I hollered, and in the distance, I saw her ears, then her head pop up from behind some wild roses she’d been sniffing around. As Annie bounded toward me, I squatted down to gather my stones, put them in my pouch, and scooped some dirt up and tossed it onto the fire. 

Ouch, I said as I tried to stand from my crouch. My knees fussed and bitched, not so gently reminding me just how much abuse they’d taken through the decades.

There’s my girl, I said as I ruffled the tan fur around the neck of my German shepherd. She stuck her nose and head into my hand.  Let’s be off, ole girl. It’s time we fed the critters and ourselves. I stuffed the leather medicine bag into my red-and-white gingham skirt pocket, gathered up my hem a bit, rechecked the fire, waved my hand over it, thanking and releasing the spirits, and started off. 

A herd of deer made this trail through the meadow and woods. We’d helped keep it open with our forays through the mountains over the years on horseback and on foot. We’d walked a right-good way from the farm earlier in the day, and the way back surely wouldn’t be any shorter. 

The sun was making its way further down toward the horizon as we ambled home along the well-worn path through a canopy of majestic oaks, pines, maples, elms, and poplars, most interspersed with dogwood and mountain laurel, and this time of year a profusion of wildflowers bloomed here and there, adding color to the green of the trees. 

We meandered along for a couple of miles and then crossed the four-foot-wide creek at the shallowest spot, me stepping on well-placed flat stones with my old brogans I wore for just about everything when I was out and about these old mountains. Further down there was a great swimming hole, but here, unless we’d had a big storm or rain for days, there was easy access to the sloping bank. Annie splashed in and about with her four big feet for one more dip in the cold mountain water before we made it home. 

My old log cabin was set deep in the woods of the Blue Ridge. Annie raced ahead, happy to give the farm a once-over before I stepped out into the open. I knew if anything was amiss, she’d warn me quickly. All was quiet. Well, that was not quite the truth. My welcoming committee let out a raucous racket of caws.

I had a murder of crows that shared my space. I loved those satiny-black tricksters; they’re good watchers. I barely heard the squirrels and the smaller flying feathered critters because the big guys’ voices overpowered the rest. We didn’t have many visitors back in this holler, and that was the way I liked it. The road in was rough, rutted, and winding, discouraging all but the few who knew they were welcome to the house anytime they chose. 

The woods ended at a wooden gate. There was no fence, just a gate. It stood on its own, held there by a spell I’d cast just to see if I could. A long time ago when I was learning my craft, I got myself into quite a few pickles with my spells, but not this one. Blessed be! I opened the gate, pushed my hair back out of my face, and walked through, then I took a gander around with my eyes to be sure nothing was out of place and stepped forward. The gate closed behind me. 

The one-story cabin had stood in the same spot for way over two hundred years. No one was quite sure who built it. I came upon it fifty-some years ago when I was out riding one day. Got lost, got separated from a friend during a violent thunderstorm that came up out of nowhere, and somehow someone guided me here. I knew right away this place should be and would be mine. 

There was an old shed half buried with vines that my horse and I managed to take shelter under while the storm raged and finally passed on by. Now, everything was different but still the same in many ways. The shed had been cleared, rebuilt, and a paddock added to the side. Further to the right, a four-stall barn sat with an exit out the back to a four-acre field where my two horses grazed. There was an overhang to the side of the barn for what little farm equipment I had—my old tractor, bush hog, and a pretty decent riding mower. Back over to the left, the cabin looked especially good with its hand-hewn logs and shining windows glistening in the late afternoon sun. I hadn’t changed much on the outside, although I did add some windows for light and a tin roof. The inside got a pretty thorough remodel, though. I really did like indoor plumbing. 

I figured I might as well feed before I headed into the house to get cleaned up. Sunny didn’t miss much, she saw me coming from way up on the hill near the copse of trees. She flipped that bright chestnut tail up, and she was off and running down to meet me at the gate. It took Dufus a minute or two before his brain fired, and then he was right on her heels. Both of these horses were rescues and family. Sunny was an Arabian, fine of head, sleek of body, and she tended to live on air. She stood about 14.2, which was a good height for me. I wasn’t quite sure what breed Dufus happened to be. He was short and chunky with a dark bay coat that curled a bit in cold weather. Whatever it was, he was an awfully good, surefooted pony. I’d had both for close to twenty years. 

Well, look here, I said to Annie as she trotted into the barn with her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. 

You better slow down a little, old girl, I told her as she headed over to a big bucket of water for a drink as I reached to open the feed room door for a scoop of grain. I gave each horse a bite or two of oats in their bucket hanging on a hook in their stalls and wandered over with a slogging skirt to take the board down that kept the horses out of the barn. They ambled over and walked into their stalls for dinner. I took the scoop back and grabbed scratch for the hens that I’d heard cackling since I got halfway to the barn, and just to be safe, I pulled the door closed behind me as I left the feed room. Horses will be horses, and they could eat a lot even in the few minutes it would take me to feed the hens. 

As I walked around the corner to the coop, I caught the chickens walking up the ramp to go inside for the night. 

Good girls, it’s a little early, isn’t it? I queried, but not getting a direct answer, I went ahead and put some feed in their pans, threw more into their yard, and checked their water. All was good, almost done. In years past, I had a few head of cattle and kept a hog or two, a few goats, and even had a mule once. But that was too many critters to take care of these days. By the time I got back into the barn, the horses were ready to go back out. They’d been standing patiently waiting for me to give them a once-over with my eye and in some cases my hand to be sure neither had any boo-boos that needed doctoring. They seemed fine; I gave each a rub on their shoulder. Off you go, guys, I told them as I stood back and out they went. I followed and put my board back up, got back through, and made sure there was no poop that needed picking. Some evenings I spent time grooming and loving on those big galoots, but not tonight. I was tired. 

Alright, Annie, let’s head to the house. Off we went, two ole broads who had a busy day, and neither of us were walking too fast, especially me with this damn wet skirt swishing between my legs. 

We entered the house through the mudroom door. I propped my stick in a corner, and not only did I kick my boots off, I dropped the skirt after retrieving my medicine pouch from the pocket and laying it on the stool and kicked the skirt into a pile with the boots; the shirt wasn’t far behind. Teach me to wear a flippin’ skirt out in the woods. What was I thinking? Off to the shower I go, Miss Anne. She gave me the look and flopped down onto the cool slate floor in the kitchen. 

I walked through the house in my undies, turned on the shower, shucked the rest of my clothes, and stood there waiting for the water to get hot, then I stepped in and let that heavenly stream beat on my bones and muscles till I started feeling everything start to melt, then I scrubbed from my head to my toes and everything in between. By the time I got out, I could have dropped right there and slept. 

But my girl and I needed food, and before that I had to pee. I grabbed some comfies off the back of the bathroom door that I donned after a quick dry, I wrapped my head in the towel, and I plodded back to the kitchen. I found Annie’s bowl where she’d pushed it up against a cabinet close to the back door. I expected she was hoping for a morsel she’d missed last night. I opened the dog food container that was hiding under the canning sink and ladled out her ration—she watched with a hungry gleam in her eye—and decided to give her a treat since we’d had an adventure that day. 

I pulled the leftover fried chicken out of the fridge and pinched some meat off a thigh, stirred it all around, and put it down at her eating spot in front of the washer. She got up, gave me the tail wag, proceeded to her bowl, and dug in. 

I went over to the kitchen counter, pulled a red wine glass down, grabbed a bottle of something I’d opened the night before, and sat my ass down at the table. 

And then Annie and I heard a car. She went tearing through the house like a bat out of hell, barking her head off in a deep, throaty bark with a growl kinda attached right at the end. 

Holy shit, who’s here? I took a sip of my wine, set it down, and followed in Annie’s wake to the front door. 

There was no way to peek out the window to see who was there since there was no window covering on my huge front glass. I could cast a spell so that no one could see in, but what the hell, I didn’t feel the need. The good thing about the way it was, was that we could see who was there just as well as they could see in, and let me clue you, my faithful friend would not allow just anyone into our house. 

On another note, I had wards set up that surrounded the house and grounds that let me know if we were threatened, and if anyone were to get too close, they’d get the shock of their life, literally. 

As soon as I saw the old Bronco pulling up I relaxed, and when Melvin stepped out of the car, I dropped the spell I had drawn around the front door and opened it. I stood at the screen door with Annie standing beside me and watched as Mel made his way up the stone walkway. 

Hey, Mel. What’s up? You don’t look real happy. 

I pushed open the old-timey door, and Annie flew out to meet our friend with a doggie smile from ear to ear. Mel leaned over and gave Annie some scratches around her ears, and they both came up onto the porch, then we all played follow the leader into the house. I turned and caught the door before it slammed with a wave of my hand. Mel shook his head like he was disgusted about something but didn’t answer me and started toward the couch. 

C’mon, head on over to the kitchen. You want some wine? I just poured me a glass. Annie passed me and made a beeline to her bowl to finish her supper.

Have ya got a beer, Roxi? Mel asked. 

Yeah, getcha one out of the fridge on the back porch if you would, I’m whipped. 

I sat my ass back down at the table and picked up my wine and took a good glug. Mel wandered on past me and opened the old Kelvinator and got some kind of fancy brew one of my clients had brought over a while back and brought it to the table. I knew better than to ask if he wanted a glass cause if he did, he’d get it himself. 

Mel and I went way back. He’d always been a good-looking bugger, and not much of that had changed in forty years. Tall, I’d never put a measuring stick on him, but I’d say he was about six foot three, he still had lots of dark almost black hair that he wore long, and it was usually pulled back in some kind of tail with half a foot hanging down his back, and he had violet eyes with long, thick, curling lashes that most women would kill for. The man’s face was strong, that was about the best way to describe it, lots of character in that face, his nose was a little long, and he had high cheekbones. I could definitely see a bit of his Apache heritage chiseled around the few lines he had these days, but hey, not many of us that have reached our seventies didn’t have some of those. When he smiled, he got crinkly lines that were happy lines, and he still had all his teeth, and they were straight and white as ivory. I’d guess he weighed in at about 220 or close to it. He was put together right nice.

We’d been lovers off and on through the years, but mostly we were just good friends. He pulled out a chair across from me and sat down at my old rectangular oak table, popped the top off his beer, and took a swig. 

I figured he’d get around to telling me what was on his mind when he got ready. Annie drank a bunch of water and lay down, stretched out like a week’s wash, and went to sleep. It was twilight, and everything seemed to have a green glow. I could feel the day creatures winding down. 

My stomach rumbled loudly. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Mel looked up, raised a dark eyebrow, and we both laughed, and then we really got tickled and let ’er rip. 

You want some chicken? I asked when I could say something without sputtering. Not much better than laughter to release some tension. I could think of another way, but I was really hungry.

Whatcha got to go with that chicken? Mel wanted to know as he wiped the tears off his face.

Well, let me think a minute. There’s some potato salad and a few deviled eggs. Will that do?

Sounds good to me.

I stood up and stepped over the dog. She lifted her head and put it back down. I got some plates and forks out of the dish drainer and set them down on the table. 

You want some help?

Nah, I got it, thanks.

I got the plate of chicken off the counter where I’d left it earlier, set it down, and opened the fridge for the rest of the stuff. Found the salad and eggs right off and brought them out. 

We didn’t stand on ceremony around my house. I ripped off a few paper towels and turned to ask, You want some tea? Nope, but I’ll have another beer. I’ll get it, he said. 

I poured me some tea, got the wine bottle off the counter, and poured me another half glass, and sat down. We filled our plates and ate some supper that was way overdue for me, especially since I’d missed lunch. It didn’t take long for us to devour all the leftovers.  You want some coffee? And I’ve got some brownies. You just sit there, I’ll fix it, he replied.

Okay, I’m not going to argue.

He got the coffee started, pulled two mugs out, added half-andhalf from the fridge plus a spoon of sugar to mine, and left his cup for black the way he liked it, and came back to pick up our plates. He scraped them into the trash and put ’em in the sink and rinsed them off before adding them to what was already in the dishwasher. By that time part of the coffee was ready, and I was ready for it. He handed me my cup. 

The brownies are in that blue tin in the pantry.

Mercy, that coffee’s good, I told him. Maybe I should just keep you around to make my coffee.

These brownies aren’t half bad either, he told me after we’d both snagged one. 

We smiled at each other knowing we were both full of it. We couldn’t live with each other for a week before we’d be fighting like a bear and a wildcat. He did make good coffee, though. I could make it the same way, but it never tasted as good as when somebody else made it. I could see he was starting to unwind, so I decided I might as well start this conversation by telling him about my day. 

I walked over to the back porch and took the towel off my head and shook out my hair. This month it was dark, again. Through the years my hair’d been about every color in the rainbow and more. I’d let it gray out a few times and got bored with that, then started with some other color for a while. I might go back to burgundy next time. I kinda liked that one. I’d always kept it fairly long so I could twist it up in a knot if I decided to. It still had some natural wave, and mostly I didn’t do anything with it at all. I just let it fall where it would. I draped the wet towel across the lid of the washer and came back to the table.

I had an interesting afternoon, I told him. I’d been feeling kinda antsy for the last few days and couldn’t figure out why. So, I decided to take a walk and go over to my little place in the meadow. Figured I’d do a reading for myself or connect with someone out in the Universe who might have some insight with what I’m feeling. Now, I’m more confused than ever. I’m not sure what I saw.

What do you think you saw, Roxi?

Mel was open to what I did and who I was. We met at a prayer circle over on the reservation. We’d both gone to honor the ancestors at a full moon celebration eons ago and just hit it off right then and there. 

It was weird. I haven’t had time to process it yet, but I saw the destruction of a city, buildings burned and some still smoking. I just saw the aftermath. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I don’t know if this is something that’s going to happen or something that already has happened. The framework of the structures is different. Well, what’s left sure looks like a futuristic model someone built, and there was an aboveground tram system and these little crafts that maybe could have flown that were scattered about on the ground. I just thought of something. All of what I saw could have been something Disney created for the Magic Kingdom. Now, if that’s not strange?! I haven’t looked at the news today. Ya don’t reckon there’s been a bad accident at a theme park? Jeez, maybe I should turn on the TV. 

I took my coffee, walked into the front room, sat down on my overstuffed comfy chair, picked up the remote from my burl pecan side table, and clicked it on. Mel followed me and sat on the couch. Annie came straggling in and lay down at my feet. She wasn’t going to be left behind. 

I started flipping through the news channels, and all I saw was political balderdash, and although as important as it was to stay informed, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear right now, so I kept flippin’. 

Finally, I scored, maybe. An offbeat news station had a picture on screen of the night sky projecting some constellations with this little arrow pointing to a little white dot way out in the Universe. The announcer was saying a satellite picked up an image of fire on a distant planet, and it was being analyzed as he spoke. I looked over at Mel and raised my eyebrows. 

Hmm, it may not have been Disney after all. I keep feeling like what I saw has already happened, and I’m being drawn toward another planet, but hell! It still could be a Disney-type fiasco anywhere.

It sounds like we’re both into something out of the ordinary. Sam is driving me crazy telling me he keeps seeing these strange aircraft cruising around over his cousin’s property. We both know Sam’s not quite all there, but he swears and be damns he’s not lying, and he says he’s still taking his meds Doc Swainy gave him. He’s called me a zillion times in the last couple of days. Day, night, middle of the night till I’m frazzled. I finally asked him what he thought I could do, and he said, ‘Well, you used to be our sheriff, and we’re kinda friends, who else should I call?’ And I asked about Sheriff Brown, and he said, ‘I don’t know him like I know you, and I don’t particularly like him anyway.’

That explains what’s on your mind, mister, I told Mel. 

Dang, I can’t imagine how any of this could be connected, but maybe we should take a drive over there and check it out. Do you know where the cousins live?

I do, and it’s about an hour drive. To be honest, I don’t think I’m up to it tonight, Roxi.

Well, I’m not either. Do you want to shoot for tomorrow night? Where is this place anyway?

It’s over in Mills River. We’re probably going on a wild-goose chase, but I can at least tell Sam I’m going, and hopefully he’ll quit calling and leave me alone. I’ve had my phone turned off since I got here, or we wouldn’t have had any peace and quiet. We could stop at the fish camp in Pisgah Forest and get some supper before we head over there if you want to.

Sure, that sounds good. Mel, you’re welcome to stay tonight, but whether you do or don’t, I’m ready to call it a night. I’m mentally and physically worn out.

Thanks, yep, I know the feeling. I’m going to head on home. I’ve still got a few calls to make before I turn in, so why don’t I call you tomorrow, and we can come up with a time to leave.

Okay. I turned the TV off and stood up with a grimace. He started to get the cups, and I said, Just leave those, I’ll get ’em. 

We walked to the door slowly. Annie, knowing Mel was leaving, ambled over to get one more scratch before he left. He didn’t disappoint her, then he leaned over and kissed my forehead. I could use a hug too. He enveloped my five-foot-three frame with his big body, and it felt so good. 

Then he was out the door and gone. He turned back once and gave me a mock salute before opening the creaking door of his Ford. I waved, then closed my door. I reset the magical wards and went to get our mugs to take them to the kitchen, dumped the little bit that remained, and stuck them in to wash. 

Shit, I said, I forgot the brownie mess. 

I went back, got everything we’d left on the table, finished loading the dishwasher, put the brownie tin back in the pantry, and went back to the table one more time with a dishcloth to wipe the table. I came back, wiped the countertops, and by that time Annie was standing there wagging her tail. 

Just a minute, I told her. I opened the cabinet under the sink, got a dishwasher cube, threw it into the machine, and turned it on. 

Now, missy. You need to pee? 

More tail wagging. Yep, I’d say you do. 

I smiled, and she followed me to the back door. I opened the door and watched as she made a quick trip to do her thing. Back inside, I locked the door, made sure my wards were set not only on that door but on all the windows all over the house. 

It was definitely time for some sleep. I managed to brush my teeth, strip, pee, and grab my night shirt before falling into bed. I slept the sleep of the dead for several hours. I knew because as I turned over, I looked at my pyramid clock on the nightstand. Three o’clock. I knew I should go to the bathroom, but I figured I could wait a little longer and sleep more. 

I did sleep, but my dreams were troubled. I kept seeing the same destruction as before in my vision, although it was out of focus this time, and I saw a figure standing there beckoning to me. I couldn’t see his face, although I was sure it was a he. He had on dark loose pants, a dark fitted shirt with blousy sleeves, dark boots, and he had a sword or rapier hanging in a scabbard by his side. His hands were bare of gloves, but he had a huge ruby on the middle finger of his left hand, and on his head he had a dark fedora with the brim pulled down low over his forehead. It seemed as if he was trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t discern his words. I didn’t feel threatened or anxious; however, I felt he needed my help right away. The next thing I knew there was a wet nose poking my hand. 

Whew, that woke me up. Good morning, sunshine. What a good girl you are. You saved me from that awful dream, I told Annie. 

It was still dark. Five, huh? I sat up and gave her some loving and padded off to wash my face and do my thing. I picked up my dirty clothes I’d left on the floor and put them in the hamper. Guess I’ll do some laundry later. First, coffee. 

I made it to the kitchen, ran a glass of water from the tap, sucked it down, and reached for the coffee can. The phone rang, and I plucked the receiver off the charger. Hello. I didn’t bother to look at caller ID. Quite a few of my friends know I’m an early bird but most didn’t have the nerve to call this early. 

Hey, Roxi, it’s Sue. Sorry to call this early but I really need your help. My old boy colicked last night, and the vet’s been out twice already, and he’s not much better. I wonder if you could check in with him and find out what’s going on.

Oh man, Sue, I’m sorry. Sure! I’ll see if he’ll share some info with me. Give me a few minutes, will ya? I’ll call you back.

Sure thing, thanks!

We hung up, and I bustled around and made some coffee, let Annie out and in, then sat down at the table with my mug. I’ve been talking with the animals for nigh on forty years. I didn’t accept new clients unless they were a referral anymore, or unless it was an emergency situation. Sue and I went back a long time. We used to ride together, and we’d covered most of these old mountains at one time or another on horseback. As a matter of fact, I was riding with her when I got lost in the storm and found this place. 

Neither one of us rode much anymore, but we’d always had horse fever and kept a couple around for our sanity. Bobby Bingo was the old man she called me about. He must be thirty if he was a day, and she’s had him since he was a youngster. I cleared my mind, took a few deep breaths, and reached out to him telepathically. Within seconds, he was there for me.  

Hey, Bingo, it’s me, Roxi. What’s happening, old man? As soon as I asked, I knew he was in a lot pain.  

I hurt.  

I’m so sorry, mister. What can we do to help you?

Please let Sue know it’s time to let me go. We’ve had a beautiful partnership through all these many years, but it’s time for me to move on.

And then he showed me the most beautiful ray of light he wanted to follow up toward the sky.  

Oh, Bingo, we’ll miss you so, I said with tears streaming down my face.

And I’ll miss you; however, I’ll always be here in spirit, he said with pain in his voice.

Yes, I know you will. I wish you well on your next journey, my friend. We send our love. Blessings to you, Bingo.

And we broke the connection.

Holy shit, this is never easy, I thought. I called Sue back and gave her the news that she already expected but really didn’t want to hear. We cried together for a minute, and she hung up to call her vet back. No matter how long we have an animal, whether it be days or years, it was never easy to let them go even when we know it’s in their best interest. It’s sad when we lose our friends. I sat there with a cup of cold coffee thinking about all the animals I’d lost through these many years. I was so blessed to have each and every one. 

Okay, time to get moving, I said to myself. 

I nuked my coffee and carried it back to my office. I knew I had a few clients lined up for today, so to make sure who and what, I turned on my computer and opened the calendar. I also pulled my notepad out of the desk drawer. I’ve always been a note scribbler, and I have to double-check myself to make sure I haven’t missed something. Looked like I had a phone session at ten, then another at eleven, both of those were animal communication. After that, a lady who wanted some herbs was supposed to drop by around lunchtime. I grew most of my herbs here on the place, and although I didn’t make it a business, I did share some now and then. 

I might take a ride over to Franklin and do a little rock hunting this afternoon. I didn’t imagine Mel would want to leave till about six or so, guess I’d find out before long. I still hadn’t processed what I’d seen in my dream. I’d do that later. I