Remembrance of Eve *NANOWRIMO13*

Chapter 16

There was much to do. We found that the rain had washed the earth. The natural fields of grain were no longer there. We would need to replant. Searching in our baskets of grain and seed: wheat, oats, rye, and beans; we found some of each kind was bulging with life. These we separated into smaller baskets and took with us into the fields. There we bent over the earth, lovingly planting the seeds. Each variety had its own field. We remembered the sizes needed from last year, and added just a little. With our herds growing and a little one soon to come, we needed more food. Our supply was dwindling, some of our baskets empty. We did not fear. There was enough for us until these grew and provided us with fresh food.

Adam surprised me with a basket of different seeds.

“What are these?” I asked him, as he drew them out of the basket. “They are not grain seeds. They are much too large.”

“No. These are not grain seeds. These are vegetable seeds, seeds I saved from the pumpkins, and other squash we ate before the rains came.”

“Where will you plant these?”

“In this field, near the house. I remember their beautiful flowers. We need flowers near us.”

Flowers grew in the hills, but with our planting, we did not have flowers.

“Thank you.” I said, as we finished planting the squash and pumpkins. “Thank you for thinking of flowers.”

Not long after, there were flowers blooming all over the hills: lupines, tulips, crocus, small precious orchids. It was beautiful. Adam chose a few, dug them up, and planted them near our home. Now I could look at flowers every day.

As time went by, we found root vegetables, beets, potatoes, carrots and onions. We tried them, making sure they were good to eat. We planted brussel sprouts and cabbage, tomatoes and peas, cucumbers and peppers. The last few were planted in a small garden, near the house.

Birds flew over our valley: bright, colorful birds that sang and squawked, filling our world with color. What a beautiful time!

------------

Time passed. Adam completed his Book of Remembrance, at least up to that date. We worshiped on the Sabbath, and sacrificed when needful. We found new plants that we had not found before. Beans. We gathered them and put them into our house. Adam built a stove in the house, and we made another bed inside. We still slept out in the open, for we loved watching the stars together. Adam had created planks from the tree logs, splitting them lengthwise, and had fashioned two chairs and a little desk to use indoors. On rainy days, I sat in one as we ate. Adam had finally had time to shape some spoons and bowls for us to eat from, even a small bowl for his ink.

I had woven a soft mat from the softened palm leaves. They were forgotten for a while, as I worried about Adam after his fall. Then we were so busy with other things, it took a while to get back to it. Happily, I had left it in a covered basket, with water in it. It kept it soft and pliable. I was able to pick up where I had left off, and complete the mat. It was not as warm as our leather cloaks. But it was beautiful, and was nice to sit upon when we ate outdoors.

After sacrificing an elk, we again soaked the hide, stretched it between the trees. We purposefully left the hair on this hide, and used this as a covering for our bed, for the nights were becoming cooler, and the rains came more often.

My body had become large with the weight of our little one. I could not move as fast, and waddled, like Mrs. Goose who had provided Adam with his precious writing feathers. We had found more near the shore of the stream when the geese flew on. It was another gift from the geese, and from Father.