hi Leslie

yes--I know what you mean--we didn't have the long cattle drives but we did have cattle out on pasture--they acted the same way, a little cold rain or snow sure meant a mind change in their heads--the warm stable was their reward, but it was not shared by the drivers that would be cold wet and tired at the end of the day!

My father and his dad and generations before him were tied somewhat to the land but shared a similar trait and it was a strong liking for timber construction which usually consumed the time from fall to spring, an exciting time--if such a thing existed then--

one thing that has been revealed in these 100 or so pages is that many others also shared that liking--proud of their ancestoral lines--ours being German--coming over in the 1700's to escape persecution, but trailing behind them came their family who practised the old ways, built the old ways, but adapt they did, spoke a new language, ran their fingers through a different type of soil, worked with different wood species, adapted to a decidedly different climate,--even ran across different strange looking tools and axes, which seemed to handle nicely, watched other close neighbours use them to build and construct unusual looking houses and barns--even churches with drivesheds, a lot of buildings were needed--

One thing that did happen was the interrelationship of cultures, and ideas which gradually emerged like broadaxe styles, timberframe building styles, like the 3 bay English barn--it just seemed that win they should--like the saying "the strong and best will survive"

sorry for rambling on

hope you enjoy

NH