The peasants are beginning to return to the land. They are resuming their duties of yore and will this year raise grain and hay for animals. The trees in orchards will be pruned this year, so we may see a good crop of fruit this fall. There are gradual changes taking place. We will

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help the locals to be better farmers in the long run and needful changes will take place in society as well.

One striking change will be in clothing. We are teaching the people to weave their own wool into cloth and are teaching patterns, which chiefly fascinate the young. We are teaching them to weave plaids, which are new to this area of the Isles. There are some who also like to embroider and will develop a small home industry in that art as time goes by.

You might say that we are changing from agriculture for sustenance and trade to the crafts. We have not enough strong backs left to make a living from the land, but all ages can be employed in tending sheep, wool, and the resultant products.

We will go more to fortified towns as time goes by; not so much the open fields and scattered cottages and castles of before. The brigands and the caravans of traders that will come will need good strong cities and sturdy roads.

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Good morning. Our sun also rises. We go first to prayer and then to breakfast.

It is spring in our world so we have fruit and tubers for breakfast, with a little cheese. There are groundings edible in these parts, roots of herbs that are sustenance until first crops.

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The few children rush to play in the early sunshine, and soon all is abustle. Housewives shake rugs and bedclothes and men set out to do their early spring chores on the land.

There is much activity in the courtyard of the fort. Men build furniture and new tools and equipment for the farmers. Much experimentation is carried on these first years in redesigning tools and farm equipment, adapting it to changes in need and the changes shown in the tools our new residents bring in from other lands.

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We are full of satisfaction over the fruit of our efforts. We are into our second spring and the behavior of the people is so encouraging. They seem truly glad to see the spring and are generally eager to try new things.

The children in our group are thriving. Many lost their parents and are being raised communally. These children are much loved and seem to be unusually gifted; they seem wise before their time but are also jolly of spirit.

We are in the vale playing with the children. We lead a morning song- prayer and an evening dance of celebration. It is our special joy – the children – they make our life light and give us much hope for the future; they will make the future and our special care will

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ensure their development to restore society. Our fruit is green before us. What a joy to anticipate God’s plan fulfilled.

These special children excel at crafts and in patience. They are full of joy and love work. I see the mothers’ eyes fill with tears of joy over their children, often not their own by blood, but of heart, with jolly ways and songs continually – they cheer the whole camp.

What a wondrous renewal in our children, our hope restored, our faith restored, life spread new before us untainted by despair.

The new lambs are the same; their gamboling is a delight. How we hate to eat them but bless God and ask their forgiveness. Life goes on and ever its mysteries beckon and confuse.

The tares rise victorious while the wheat is fallowed – what a mystery – but in all good time Man rises again – Bless our Lord for his mercy and patience.

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We are off for a journey to the sea. It is rumored that our crops need sea weed applied to the soil, so we find all the carts we can and go on a jolly procession to harvest the ocean’s fruits.

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This mission accomplished within two weeks, we can see a difference in the gardens. The crops are green and firm, so crisp and dark in color; what an amazing difference there is in form. The peasants are astounded at the change. This is not a local practice but is suggested by Roseo the Italian; he is from Sicily where this practice is performed. He is destined to become head gardener for kitchen crops.

There is much lively talk about the benefits of sea grass to lovers and to the complexion – lots of laughter over the vaunted properties of this magical plant.

It is quite funny what the mind of man will seize upon as worthy of trust and consideration. He is likely to look at a beetle as his long lost friend in time of need. Magic abounds in man’s consideration. How humorous, the human spirit.

There is talk of sea battles on the strand. Much talk of disruption on the continent. We hear of armies marching in Austria, threatening the King with assassination and dethronement. He is very fearful of the assassins. They are rumored to come from the East, from Bulgaria, Rumania, or Turkey.

Italy is also troubled; Italy’s remaining royalty is threatened by assassination, also. There is much ill

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sentiment directed at royalty these days. It is a feature of disaster, someone to blame for ill fortune.

The only wealth, to speak of, is presently held in royal hands, so it can be seen how a peasant would pay to see the wealth redistributed. I do not sympathize but to see how this feeling comes about. You are still the same in your time: “hate the rich!”

There is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in all levels of society following the Plague. One would think the human would crave order and dislike disruption, but no so – he went for the top to unload his grievances. The King became a very unpopular figure and suffered much abuse.

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