While it's been raining here for what seems an eternity, the temperature finally dipped low enough last night to make snow. We're only getting flurries down at the ranch but everything above us is covered in white. Reports on the CB radio today talk about 18 inches "up top." I guess we're truly snowed in now.

Well, winter is here at the ranch. We've essentially had no snow to speak of but it's rained a tremendous amount. The nights are cold and the days are semi-pleasant though. We still have lots of firewood to keep warm and for cooking. There's a load of good food put up for the winter and we've been eating well....steak, ribs, salmon, crab legs, hamburgers, mexican dishes, garden goodies, and lots and lots of homemade baked goodies.

Things are hopping around here. We've invested in a new set of batteries for our hydro-electric system. We've got a ranch truck now.......such a relief not to have to rely upon others that come down the road to haul stuff or get to Forks of Salmon! Our fruit trees are raging with fruit! There's lots of canning going on now.

Well, the annual Women's Gathering at the ranch is this coming weekend and ALL men have to skiddadle! I'm headed over to Petey and Geba's for the duration. Will be nice to do a few nights off the ranch. I love it here but, it's nice to get away for a little while. A hell of a lot of work going on around here right now....4 more loads of wood brought down from the upper gulch and the garden ditch has been weed-whacked from the Gatehouse down as far as the SteamBath. There's been yet another load of wood trucked over to the Sweat Lodge as well.

More and more visitors from the river area keep coming by. Our friends of the ranch and outlying neighbors just come by to hang out for a while, share a meal or dip in the pond. So many friendly folks taking a new interest in the ranch. I'm so pleased to see this transformation taking place and to be a part of that process. I think the Bear is off and running now! Lot of work to be done yet.....both socially and physically but, we're getting there.

Boy! I sure do get the "woe is me" alot. Things aren't really that bad. Guess I'm just in a funk or something. I feel in good spirits tonight and have a bright outlook for tomorrow. Just the ups and down of living at the Bear I guess.....plus I haven't been off the ranch but 4 days in 4 months.........maybe a mini-vacation is in order. We got a surprise 2 inches of rain yesterday and last night. Great news for fire season after a month of 100 degree days. We've had several visitors that used to live here many years ago, come by the past couple of weeks and every one of them has commented that they've never seen the ranch look better. It makes my heart swell with pride to hear that. The small group of us here have dumped loads of energy and love into this place. It feels just like home for the most part. I really "GET IT" when the greater Bear family talks of this place being "home".

Well, solstice is over and there's been a sense of depression and confusion around here since then. I don't know about anybody else but it was a depressing event for me. Things just don't look or feel the same to me anymore since then. I really have no desire about the place these days. The thrill of being a part of something wonderful just isn't there anymore.....I can't see it...and, whats worse.......I can't feel it either.

Onne more week until Solstice! I'm getting excited about meeting so many new (to me anyway) people. I hope things go very well and we have lots and lots of people visit. I wonder what the weather will be like. Last night we got another real good rain. Fire season is really getting pushed back....we're off to a great season thus far I've pretty much got what I wanted to do pre-Solstice done (leaving a few things for the "city folks" to do when they get here. The hot tub is cleaned out and full of water. Casey started a sweat for the middle of the day today. Daniel from Cecilville hiked up the trail this morning to spend a couple of days cutting wood for us before Solstice. We've been eating good and the garden is coming along nicely. Apples, cherries and grapes are forming on the trees/vines and it looks like we'll be getting one hell of a crop this year!

Last night me, Davey, Wind, Ernesto, Doriann, Casey, Jake, Geba and Karuna had a "name change" party for me. I've been wanting to change my name for quite a while and so everybody thought up several names, wrote them on slips of paper and dropped them in a basket. I drew them out one at a time and we placed them in different piles. I finally narrowed it down to "Thatch". So the old John is no more! Things are getting really ready for Solstice here at the Bear. I'm very stoked at the prospect of meeting and greeting so many past and a few potentially future Bears. Big day tomorrow......gonna get started on cleaning out the hot tub and getting wood ready for it. I love the idea of having a good soak in the moonlight.....especially since its located just below my cabin. I live in the LoveShack. Folks are gonna be drifting in here to the ranch starting tomorrow and I expect 3 or 4 folks this Monday. This is gonna be great!

Got some good work done at the ranch yesterday. Built some steps into the steep little hill between the summer kitchen and the workshop. There's just Jake and myself here right now. Some of the other Bears in residence are off on the coast for a day or two and others are on an extended pack trip in the mountains. Kinda feels like I have the Bear all to myself. I think the rain has finally stopped for a while. Walked up to the Pelton intake early this morning and cleaned it out (gotta keep the electricity flowing). Fixed a big bowl of popcorn for us and a large pot of beans. Also made a loaf of bread and a pot of homemade vegetable noodle soup...mmm....mmm....good! Old bears I've never met will begin arriving tomorrow and bears I already know will be here beginning next week right on up till solstice. I'm so stoked about meeting folks.

Well, I finally made it out of New Orleans and made my way to the ranch (with the amazing help of Kat). Been here 3 weeks now. I've been overwhelmed by the natural beauty that surrounds me here. Coming from the heart of the French Quarter to the rocky banks of Black Bear Creek has been like traveling to Mars! Yesterday the clouds were hanging low into the surrounding mountains and it was a sight to behold. All the fruit trees here are in full bloom and look spectacular. I now here the buzz of bees instead of the buzz of city life....what a difference it makes to one's psyche. I've made friends here and with several folks from the greater Bear family...and thats the right word to use...FAMILY. It feels like family to me. As somebody who has spent most of my life being "alone in a crowd", I now feel connected with a group and feel "a part of." I think I'm in the midst of something that can be great here on so many levels. Life for me now seems to have a more intrinsic meaning other that just striving to keep the wolf from the door back in the city. I'm sure all of this is part of the "honeymoon" phase that comes from making a drastic change in my life but at the same time, I can see it virtually lasting a lifetime. I have many, many things to learn here but am eager to do it.

Well, I'm just a couple of days away from leaving the world of French Quarter New Orleans behind and venturing off to the woods. Living in the "rat-race" here has drawn me down spiritually and emotionally to the point that I just couln't take it anymore. I know this is right for me. I've toyed with the idea for over a year now and finally decided to take the plunge. The VERY day I made that decision I found a buyer for my car, got my tax refund back and two days later, got a ride guaranteed into the ranch. Looks to me like the gods agree with my decision.