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Hi, Rusty!
I was very lucky in that some friends had experienced all the traumas of sorting out their Capital Gains tax, having sold an investment property that they owned.
They very kindly gave me the benefit of their experience!
Without their help, I could never have done it.
Is "Nurse at the Front" the book based on the diaries of Edith Appleton, that you were telling me about?
We thought it might be similar to "Roses"?
I haven't heard of the term " in high feather" either!
I shall seek an opportunity to use it!
I have finished the section on Lame Beaver.
The average life span then was very short, wasn't it?
He was considered an old man in his late fifties, and was ready to end his life.
He was a great character.
Very hot here!

Good evening, Elle!
No, these are unedited diaries written by Edith Appleton.
Nothing else.
Unfortunately some are missing.
The last one covers the end of the war and her serving on a hospital train going into Germany. Then, nothing!
"High feather" is not in Brewers.
There is a website dedicated to Edith.
Lame Beaver was killed, but in his fifties.
That would be quite old then.
Has Pasquinel entered the tale yet?
When they speak of Our People they are referring to their own tribe, the Arapaho.
They do not like the Utes!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, Lame Beaver staked himself out, didn't he? feeling that his life was over and that he could best serve his people by that act of sacrifice in drawing attention away from the war party and centring it on himself.
But it was sad that Blue Leaf had to suffer too as a result.
An Indian wife seemed no longer to exist without her husband's protection.
And she very soon died from neglect.
"Our People" - the Arapaho - seem to be kind of in cahoots with the Cheyenne - so far anyway.
Pasquinel enters on the very next page...... I just looked!
Now......in MY Brewers....18th edition.....
Under "feather ", it gives "in full feather", see "full".
Then under "full", it says "In full feather" means "in good spirits, also in fine / good/ high feather!"
It is surprising how the various editions vary.
Okay.........back to meeting Pasquinel..........

Hello, Elle!
Yes, a great pity about Blue Leaf, but that was what happened in those far off days.
The Arapaho and Cheyenne seemed to normally be at peace.
If you are about to meet Pasquinel, McKeag cannot be far away. Then, Levi Zendt, who was probably my favourite character in the book.
So, is "high feather", "full feather" a new phrase to you?
Seemed to be quite popular back in 1916!
I hope you and Pasquinel get on fine!
He is a tough cookie!

Good morning, Rusty!
A very, very wet morning!
We have had a tremendous thunderstorm - the lightning was quite frightening.
It was all I could do to get the dog out into the garden, she was so scared by the storm.
I shall wait till it calms down before attempting a walk.
The rain is flooding the patio - and we seem to have a leak over the patio door!
The rain is much needed but the timing could have been better!
And it is finally cooler...our expected high today is only 15C!
What is it like with you?
Miss O flies out today, doesn't she? I hope these thunderstorms aren't widespread and she won't be affected by them?
No, I haven't come across any version of "feather" - be it "high" or "full", meaning in high spirits.
Definitely, a new phrase!
How are you today?

Good morning, Elle!
No storms here.
Tomorrow for Miss O for America.
She goes to a different school today, in a village that I did not know had a school!
I still have a slight temperature, other than that, I am in high feather.
I mentioned to La Bamba that I thought I had a bit of a chill and she thought that was great.
"Chill" means something completely different to young ones!
She thought I meant that I was very relaxed!
I'll find out a bit more from Miss O this night about her schedule, carrier etc.
That will be Miss La Bamba on her own (apart from Gran and Granddad, and me!) until Monday when Mum and Dad return.

Terrific storm here early this morning and, guess what, the conservatory door leaked! Not worried, it was a tremendous amount of rain.
I am clearing up my bookcase and found "Scarlet Feather" by Joan Grant (1945), saved from my Uncle's bookcae when packing up years ago. I did once try to read it but didn't get very far. It seems to be about two First Nations children of the Heron tribe (perhaps from Huron?). Maybe I will now read it. I very much enjoyed the other book I rescued, "The Greengage Summer" by Rumer Godden. Fav fruit, fav author. My uncle wrote inside when he read it- and re-read it twice! "Black Narcissus" is probably her most popular book; I have re-read "In This House of Brede" many times.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear.......I seem to be going through a spell when I cannot get anything right....I was sure you had said that Miss O went to Orlando today!
Yet another senior moment! (they will be senior "hours " soon, at this rate!)
Still pouring down, although dog has been persuaded into the garden to "perform"!
Are you still taking the paracetamol at regular intervals? You need to get your temperature back to normal.
I was planning on going down to the Post Office with my Capital Gains Tax forms....the guy on the phone suggested that I send them by Recorded Delivery - he intimated that the 'powers- that- be' might deny receiving them otherwise!
(Probably so that they could fine me because they weren't in on time? the deadline is October)
But I am not venturing forth in this downpour - I should need a canoe!
I have now met Pasquinel (a stoical character!) and the red-headed Alexander McKeag!



Hello, Ros!
You have a similar problem to me! We haven't had a leak over the patio door before - I think it must be something to do with which way the wind is blowing and the rain is driving!!
I haven't heard of either of those authors whom you mention?
Although I think that I have heard of a film called "Black Narcissus"? - not that I have seen it!

Hello, Elle!
Miss O comes off on holiday today, may be I said that.
It is a fine day here!
Once I take a paracetamol I feel less warm.
It is good stuff!
So, what do you make of Centennial now you are well into it?

Hi, Rusty!
Well, if you said that about Miss O.......then that lets me off the hook!
(I'm not as doolally as I 'd feared!)
You had maybe better carry on taking the paracetamol for another 24 hours.........but if this raised temperature persists, then perhaps you should see your GP?
It has gone on for rather a long time?
Yes, I am liking "Cetennial".
It is very engrossing now that I have "got into" it.
I did find the first chapter about the Land rather heavy going...I think because it seemed important to retain the images, and so it was sometime necessary to re-read certain passages - as I tried previously to explain.
I do appreciate the referral to "U.S editors" at the end of each chapter!
That is a very effective touch!