#and winters freezing and in spring it pours. weather up here sucks

[silverislander]

i think abt that "don't turn yourself into a sad zoo animal" post a lot lately. helped me go outside multiple times in the past two days so that's definitely a step up from what i was doing to myself before that?

[daily-jaspvid]

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Jaspvid fluff

This is the first chapter of my prequel series. This takes place the winter before the show takes place, in which Jasper happens upon David at a party. 

This was supposed to be a one-shot, but it is quickly turning into at least 3 chapters. I can’t post the second chapter here, but chapters 1 and 3 will be here! No plot happens in chapter 2, just NSFT content heh.

also the title song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Or6-HOveg

Here's part 1! Merry Christmas!

Gem insisted this party would be good; that she had seen this band perform before and how great they were live. With nothing better to do, I decided to tag along. After all, finals were over and we were due to celebrate before we headed home for winter break. 

When we arrived Gem was immediately distracted by the punch bowl conversation. From how many people stopped to greet her, I was reminded of how gregarious my friend was compared to me. Not wanting to harsh her style too much, I took my cup of punch towards the dance floor.  From the looks of it, the band was starting to set up, so the waiting stereo pumped out indie tunes. 

I idly bopped along to a familiar song when a firm force bumps me from behind. I stagger, holding out my drink to steady it. In the next beat, I feel hands brace my waist to steady me. The hands are warm, firm, but didn’t feel of ill intent. 

“Oh, sorry about that!” Chirped an equally as warm voice. I turn and the hands pop off me like old stickers peeling away. I see an auburn-haired man who offered a genuinely sorry smile. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied abruptly as anxiety swelled in me. Sure, I was expecting to meet a few new people today, but a cute ginger boy right off the bat? I guess Christmas was coming early. 

He wore a red button down and a pair of blue jeans. He appeared to be wearing a band tee, but I can’t figure out who in particular. His face shown with simply the brightest smile I have seen in years. It felt familiar. 

“So, uh… you ever see this band before?” I ask after a few awkward seconds of standing together. 

“I haven’t. Honestly, this is the first party I’ve been to this semester. I’ve been pretty busy between classes and student teaching. You?”

“Pretty much the same. I’m studying to be a writer. Not as exciting, I’m sure, but it’s an excuse to spend all my free time reading at home.” I admit with a quick and strained smile. Before he could respond, Gem came upon us with one of her friends. 

“Hey, you two! See, Cathy? I told you they would get along! We didn’t even have to enact the master plan!” Gem exclaimed, causing Cathy to stifle a laugh. 

“David, you’ve met Gem from my psych class,” she motioned to the mutual friend. “So you must be her friend from therapy, was it?”

I shoot Gem a look, which she just shrugged to. Damn psych majors and their gossip. “Yes, Jasper,” I confirm, offering my hand to her. She gives it a firm and professional shake. 

“Isn’t he just the cutest, Cathy? Hes such a little crab! It took me weeks to convince him to come!” Gem lamented. She moved in front of me to adjust my clothing, tugging at my popped collar to lay it down. I grimace, hand twitching with a desire to hide my exposed neck. I see David’s eyes flicker down to my neck before looking away, tension filling into his eyes. That was most people’s reaction when they see the scars there. The polite ones, anyway.

The conversation was cut short by the music lowering and a mic switching on. The band introduced themselves as Florist and began playing their easy, folky tunes to the milling crowd. Gem scurried off through the crowd to get closer while Gem hung back to tap away at her phone. Just as quickly as they came, I was once again left alone with the lithe ginger. I spent most of the set watching him from my peripherals. He swayed gently to the music, expression fixated intently on the band. He seemed to pour all of his focus into them and I could feel the aura force field around him, seeming to block everything else out. 

Before I could fully process his energy the set was already over. The band thanked us for listening and the previous playlist switched back on. By this point, people were beginning to collect their friends and head out. David seemed to be remembering his place among the crowd and looked around. Our eyes catch each other’s and I find my voice springing out before really even considering my words. 

“Hey. You wanna get some coffee?” The words tumble out, and by the time I get to the end of the statement, I can feel myself quivering with unease. If David picked up on this he didn’t show it. 

“Yeah, sure! I’d love to!” He chimed. David caught Cathy’s attention to let her know the plan. I felt a little bad about ditching Gem, but it wasn’t like she seemed very keen on hanging around me. It’s what she would want.

When we stepped outside it was, unfortunately, pouring rain. Freezing rain. I unrolled my sleeves to save myself from the cold a little bit.

“Damn, so much for getting anywhere in this. I’ll call us a Lyft.” We hung out on the porch while I set up the ride. 

Despite the weather, it arrived within minutes. We ducked in, only made mildly damn. Though the café was only a few blocks away, it felt longer in the silence. Once again I found myself watching him from the corner of my eye. As we turned the block the side of the road through his window showed the dark abyss of dense forest. His reflection in the window became water-warped, and the familiarity finally clicked. I let out a quick huff of my breath, catching his attention.

“Davey?” I asked tentatively. His head snapped up from his phone, eyes wide. He looked like he had seen a ghost. 

“Nobody calls me that. Not since I was a kid - except for Mr. Campbell, but-” He paused, his confused expression shifting to concern as I recoil at the name “Campbell”. Memories of my 11th summer come crashing back to me and I suddenly feel ill. As if on cue, our driver stops to drop us off. I have never been more thankful to stand in the pouring rain.

“Come on, you’ll get soaked to the bone!” David exclaimed, grabbing my hand to pull me into the café. 

Thankfully this place had good heating. The cozy café had few patrons. Most people were either at parties or already homeward bound to family. We stepped up to order and it wasn’t until the barista gave us a knowing smile that we realized we were still holding hands. Flustered, we take turns ordering our drinks. 

“So… You’re the Jasper I knew all those years ago? From summer camp? It’s been, what, 13 years? Man, it must really be a small world, huh?” He sighed nostalgically. 

“Honestly, I’m surprised I recognized you,” I admit with a shrug. “I guess I remember more about that last summer than I thought. For a long time it was such a blur, to be honest.”

We collected our drinks and headed to a space heater in the back of the café. It had a couple of chairs surrounding it that we settled in to. David flopped into his with a heavy, content sigh. I sat more forwardly in mine, resting my elbows on my knees and leaning towards the warmth. I felt numb, like neither the aching cold nor the radiating heat could break through to me. 

“You seem sad.” David’s voice broke through the silence once again. It was low and tender as he leaned over to me.

“I’m fine, really, just… a lot is coming back to me, is all,” I chew on my lip and spoke through grit. “A lot of not great thing happened that last summer we knew each other. Not great things that lead to worse things. It isn’t your fault, of course, It's just… forget it.”

David reached out a hand and placed it on my leg, giving it a squeeze. his eyes scanned as if searching for the right words to say but ultimately decided to remain quiet. We sat like this for a few minutes before I pulled out my phone.

“Hey, can I have your number? I’d like to keep in touch again if that's ok?”

“Of course! I would love to catch up!” Davey perked up as he received my phone and punched in his number. “So, what do you like to write?”

Hours soon had drifted by as we conversed. I soaked in every smile and laugh. Craved every new emotion I could draw out of his expressive being. Anything he had to give, really. Davey radiated with life. It poured out of his being, passion radiating like a star.

Oh, God.

I can’t be falling in love.

I feel my breath hitch as I suck in air. Davey notices and pauses his story to ask if I was alright, only for the clock to ding for 4 am. Shit. 

“You can crash at my place if you’d like.” he offers as we stand. I feel like I am going to faint back into the chair. Clearing my voice and adjusting my flannel, I nod.

“I’d like that more than anything right now.” I reply, taking up his offer and hoping I don’t sound too desperate. Just like that, we set back off into the rain and caught a ride across town to his apartment.

[calpops]

veiled valor | 11 | c.h.

last luck

series masterlist

Days passed in a demure sort of bliss. Elodie slowly felt better after burning off the fever that had plagued her when they first came to the small home. Snow still fell from the sky and painted the grounds in a dazzling blanket of white. Calum spent his days torn between two worlds. In the comfort of home with a princess in his arms, fireplaces crackling as background noise to stories of the stars and lessons about life. Elodie taught Calum to cook, Calum taught Elodie to build a fire and navigate the stars. They found a rhythm within each other. One not rocked by salt water waves and running footsteps trying to leave the past behind. It was a slow and subtle build of rhythm; brought upon by daily routines and motions that kept them together. But Calum also lived a life outside four walls. A life where a sleeve concealed his secrets and trades needed to be made. He’d go to town for business and leave home behind. Elodie having to stay in the house; day in and day out, sheltered by the same four walls.

They worried her identity would be discovered. That even though time had changed her appearance—face slimmed, hair shorter by the swipe of shears, and commoner’s clothes providing a distinct transformation—running the risk of being found out felt too precarious. They’d discussed it at length, during the night when the world felt more at ease, they had whispered words of uncertainty and exchanged worries. They had come to the conclusion that playing it safe through the winter months would help bring them to an easier spring. Elodie had little resistance to the situation though she had mentioned walking through town with her hood up; just as they had done to get to the inn months ago and to the home days before. Calum had cleared his throat and apprehensively reminded her of her compromised identity, of the shot of a gun and anxiety that flooded her eyes and kept her awake for nights to come. She had bowed out of her small resistance and desire to walk the town, promising she would be okay inside.

Calum worried her new life and routine on land was becoming much the same as it had been when she’d run away. He could still picture the desperation that captured golden eyes the first night she’d boarded his ship. He could nearly feel the tension that tightened her shoulders though she managed to walk with refined posture and an air of confidence following her down galley steps. He never wanted to see the glossy eyes and trembling lip of a princess scared to stay and worried she wouldn’t be able to leave again. Those worries drowned in her smiles. They drifted away and became lost with her soft touches and gazes that held such sincerity and warmth he’d be a fool to think he wasn’t enough. Calum didn’t know if this was the life she was seeking when she fled a palace in search of something more. But he could see she was content. At least for now.

Calum would come home from his days in town to find Elodie sat by the largest window pointed toward the backyard, watching the snow fall. Or prattling about the kitchen, fixing tea or dinner. Sometimes she’d be tucked away in the room they had come to share without question; pouring over a chart, trying to decipher the stars on her own. Those days made Calum anxious to sail again. Ready for spring to bloom and ice to melt away the woes winter could bring. He’d secure a trustworthy crew. One smaller than the last. Only men that would take a bullet for him; men that would keep a secret for her. Michael, Luke and Ashton. Men like those Calum unabashedly thought of as friends. And he’d find her a place outside of galley walls. A place where the sun could shine down and brighten her days; reflect off of golden eyes and bring adventure to a princess longing for something more in life.

Calum came home to find the house empty. He had wandered the first floor, no princess touting about the kitchen or looking out the window. His steps quickened up the stairs and to their empty room. His pulse was racing as he was met with a made bed and organized stacks of books and charts. Usually they left the bed unmade, knowing they would be climbing back in as soon as Calum got home, a fire to keep them warm and charts and stories to keep them busy. Calum’s breath caught in his throat as he checked the other bedroom to no avail. He ran back down the stairs, a million scenarios rushing through his mind; all born of trepidation and swirling bits of the past playing out in distilled moments.

It came to him in a flash, a princess with her eyes to the sky and snow settled in golden hair. He sprinted to the door at the back of the kitchen and threw himself through it, footsteps falling into fresh snow and eyes finding a sight to behold. Elodie stood still, feet sunken into snow, proper jacket Calum had bought her bundled around her to keep warmth as frigid breezes passed them by. She didn’t hear or didn’t mind Calum approaching, too caught up in watching winter unfold in small tufts; individual snowflakes blending into the blanket of white. Calum gently reached out to her, expecting a jump of surprise but being greeted with a slow turn and glossy eyes.

“What are you doing out here?” Calum asked, voice concerned and hands settling on her waist, pulling her close without inhibitions.

He sought out the form of intimacy unflinchingly. And as he brought her closer he reminded himself that the backyard was as secretive as she was. Shrouded by trees and covered in hills. The anxiety of her being seen melting away like snow in spring.

“It’s lovely out here when it snows,” she said in answer. “Lovely and lonely. It’s so quiet I can almost hear the snow falling.”

Calum could hear the melancholy in her tone. The dip in cadence in the two syllables of lonely. It had him bringing her even closer, hoping his presence may drown out the solitary feeling his absence and an empty world outside secure walls had brought upon her. The wind blew, frosty air chilling any space between them and though Calum wished to go inside he could see that her gaze held wanderlust and bringing her back to a place with no escape other than the yard would not be fair. So Calum stood with a princess in his hold as snow swirled through the air and silence became broken with the snap of a branch in the distance. Elodie was quick to react, pulling away from Calum’s hold on instinct at the noise intruding on their intimate moment. Calum was quick to follow, hands hovering over her in a protective nature as she stepped completely out of his embrace and toward the sound. Another crunch followed the initial snap and their gazes drifted to the thicket of trees lining the yard.

Calum’s blood ran cold until rationalization became him. The snaps were too soft to be made by a heavy footstep; the chances of a person roaming through such a heavily wooded area in the winter were slim to none. He’d chosen his home with purpose, made it a safe haven and an escape from a chaotic life surrounded by people. No one had yet to stumble upon it. His eyes scanned the tree line but only dancing shadows of the afternoon light played past his vision. He couldn’t make out a formidable shape or presence. His frozen hands still hovered over Elodie until a gasp fell from petaled lips and broke his reverie of uncertainty. She was moving past his broken hold on her and he stepped in time behind her on instinct. His eyes followed hers; downcast at the accumulation of snow on the ground but cast out to the tree line. She bent down with arms outstretched and Calum didn’t understand the motion until he dropped to her level and caught sight of black among white emerging from the trees with a slow gait and curious eyes.

A small dog limped it’s way through the snow, barely keeping its head above the pile of white sweeping the ground. His paws sank into the cold though the dog favored the front right paw, seemingly doing what could be done to keep weight off the left. Calum sucked in freezing air as the dog made its way straight to Elodie’s welcoming embrace. The soft gaze in her golden eyes warmed Calum’s heart as she brought the injured creature into her hold. The animal was tiny, barely surpassing the height of Calum’s ankles. Black and white fur made up the dog; dark eyes exuding innocence and a small whine crying for help pulling on Calum’s heartstrings. Elodie coddled the dog as she stood, trying to provide warmth and be cautious of the hurt paw.

Calum was stunned; but the way in which Elodie so naturally comforted and cared for the animal was not surprising. Just the fact the dog had wandered so far in such cold and treacherous woods astonished Calum. Elodie turned to him, lips already in a pout and eyes begging with words yet to be said and questions yet to be asked. Calum reached a hand out to the dog, ruffling ears to which a nuzzled response came from the dog and a delighted giggle left Elodie, taking any doubts that may have crept in and washing them away with an airy laugh.

“How’d you get all the way out here?” Calum asked, the words directed at the dog still soaking up his affection and looking comfortable in Elodie’s arms.

“He must be a stray,” Elodie observed.

The dog was weathered and clearly exhausted. Under fed and soaked from snowy travels. Calum surmised that Elodie was correct in her assumption. Calum’s hand dropped from the dog who immediately took the chance to burrow against Elodie, nose pressed to her neck and tired body finally fully relaxing with ease.

“Can we-“ Elodie began but Calum already knew the question that was about to fall from her lips.

“Yes, we can keep him,” Calum answered amidst a beaming smile from Elodie as she nearly swayed in delight with the dog still in her hold. “But we should all be getting inside. Our little traveler is probably cold. And you can’t risk falling ill again.”

Calum bit back words of I can’t bear to see you ill again and even more morbid thoughts as he ushered the princess and pup back towards the house. Elodie went straight to the kitchen, mission set on feeding the stray. Calum went to light a fire to spread some warmth back into the home all the while thinking of the companion he hoped Elodie would find within the stray. He hoped her loneliness might subside on the days he had to be away. He hoped the smile and soft gazes would stay with her until spring gave them open oceans and all the adventure a runaway princess, a pirate, and stray dog could crave.

***

Night brought routine back to normal with an added layer of company. Calum and Elodie huddled close together in bed, fire crackling away as they reveled in its warmth. Their new companion had found a place with them, settled and snuggled in what small distance separated their legs. Elodie kept a steady and admiring gaze on the dog, Calum kept his on her. She shifted, a hand reaching down to pet the dog’s head. Calum felt another smile pulling at the corners of his lips, Elodie’s obvious happiness infectious.

“What’s his name?” Calum asked into the quiet night.

Elodie thought for a moment, fine blonde hair set ablaze by orange firelight, ivory skin tinted and glowing, chapped lip bitten in her pondering. Her eyes caught his and he saw the spark in hers; could dictate it was the moment she knew.

“He’s a brave and noble Duke.”

Calum grinned, he found the name to be a paradox for the small dog and his huge bravery of traveling unknown lands. The innocent eyes and small whine that had escaped him paired with the valiant effort to find a better life was right on theme with Calum and Elodie. He knew he’d fit right in with them; that he’d found a home with them and Calum and Elodie had made a home together.

“Duke it is then,” Calum confirmed with a slight smirk and eyes locking on Elodie’s as her gaze flitted over to him.

Routine from nights on the ship had faded and left a nostalgic want for them back; Calum craved to hear simple words said in a hushed tone, wanted nothing more than to say three different words with the same meaning back to her. Elodie pushed herself up, leaned forward to better ruffle Duke’s ears as a last form of affection before sleep. Another way in which Elodie bid goodnight. She settled back, slid even closer to Calum and he welcomed her presence with contentment. Her eyes closed as soon as she rested her head against his chest and his arms wound around her. It was rare for Elodie to find troubles with falling asleep; it was during sleep that disturbances plagued her. Dreams often turned to nightmares and woke her, the restless motion waking Calum.

“Sleep well, Princess,” Calum murmured, bringing back three words he was not sure she heard. There was a pull in his mind to add an extra word, one that felt like a tidal wave crashing into his heart. He had thought it before but it had never dared to break past the shore and escape him. “Sleep well, my princess.”

Elodie’s breathing was even by the time Calum’s revised wish was said into the night. He was sure she was already asleep. His wish was still standing and his revision of a tradition was holding hope like a lifeline cast into choppy waves of a storm. He supposed it would stay that way through the night, that the storm built in his chest might possibly stay until the words were said to a listening ear. He did not know when he might build up the courage to do such a thing.

“Good night, my captain.”

And so the storm passed in an instant. The lifeline was brought back in and hope was rewarded. Elodie’s voice was soft, the verge of sleep keeping her words to a small whisper. But the inflection of the last two words mirrored the sentiment that Calum had in his revised and revisited tradition. He fell asleep that night with more certainty than ever. With a can we and a my captain lending him faith that Elodie was where she wanted to be. Where she belonged.

***

As days wore on and winter turned from blustery winds, frigid air and piles of snow to something more timid and approachable Calum discerned a need before they were to board the ship in just a few short weeks. It had come to him during a stark night. When wind beat at the shudders on the windows and howled with a vengeance. It was a realized need born of nightmares detailing the past and a reality that could be. One that Calum would fight tooth and nail against. It had woken him as quick and as sharp as a shot from a pistol.

He found himself in town that next morning, back to John’s shop, Calum knew John could see the worry creasing his forehead and the concern clouding his eyes as he was presented with options he needed to make the right decision on. A fine blade lay before him. A delicate balance from pommel to tip. He weighed it in his hands, feeling the drag and pull the weight had on the blade. It felt appropriate for its intended use. The jewel in the pommel separated it from an ordinary made sword by a common blacksmith. This was designed not only for battle but for show. He considered it for a moment, let his fingers trace from the hilt to the edge before blowing out a breath and reaching into his pocket. He felt the pendant that had become a beacon of serenity and hope. He bypassed it to the gold coins and handed over the payment.

“For a special occasion?” John asked, noting the sword was much finer than weapons Calum usually carried. An old and beaten sword still hung at his hip in its equally worn leather sheath.

Calum’s hands went to his hips after he put the new blade back on the counter and handed the coins over. He let out a breath and a near sarcastic chuckle. Someone special sat on the tip of his tongue but a strangling air of secrecy kept the words from spilling out. The less people who knew there was someone in his life he’d give his life for, the better.

“Something like that,” he settled for, eliciting a smirk and a closing deal handshake from the older man who had counted the coins and was appeased with the amount.

When Calum got home after closing the deal—pendant in pocket and sword in hand—he found Elodie in the kitchen. He had just fully stocked the pantry on one of his previous trips into town. She was amidst a mess of flour with Duke at her feet. Calum was glad the small dog had taken such a liking to her. Calum took a moment to swing the new sword behind his back and appreciate the view before him; Elodie’s hair piled atop her head and concentration gleaming in her eyes, before joining her in the kitchen. During their time through the winter Elodie had been teaching Calum to cook, in exchange for lessons on the stars and the more practical she had never known before. Things other people had always done. Things she craved knowledge of and wanted to know how to do on her own.

Calum hoped his new plan for lessons would be received well. Amidst the chaos of preparing something Calum determined would be a sweet treat Elodie looked up with an easy smile and hair falling into her face. With the sword still behind his back a grin of his own to accompany him he moved towards Elodie and came to stand by her side and the wooden tabletop.

“Need any help?” He offered to which Elodie only shook her head and kept working, lips pursed and deft hands moving with precision through dough.

Calum switched the sword to one hand behind his back and leaned an elbow on a free space of the tabletop, Elodie was too consumed with her recipe to notice his behavior was amiss or the hidden object behind his back. One foot crossed over the other and his weight leaned more against the elbow on the table.

“How about another trade?”

That question piqued Elodie’s interest immediately and had her hands stalling in their work as her eyes met his in question.

“What kind of trade?”

Calum hummed a moment as he thought his way through how best to approach the question. Elodie finally caught wind of the suspicious stance Calum stood in, eyes flitting to the hand behind his back and sparkling in wonder. Calum’s grin tilted and shifted into a smirk, eyebrow raising as he noted her newfound curiosity.

“A story for a lesson?” Calum proposed, sword in hand feeling heavier than before. “You tell me how you know to cook and bake and I teach you to wield a sword.”

Elodie’s breath caught in her throat at the explanation and a gasp fell from her lips as Calum swung the sword around to be in her view. He saw her gaze land on the ruby in the pommel, saw the slow arch of a smile replace her surprise and determination take a stronghold. She nodded, words seemingly lost to the possibilities of the sword. Her dough covered hands reached out before thinking better of it and dropping. Calum chuckled slightly.

“Story first, lessons once your hands are clean.”

“I suppose that would be best,” she conceded and went back to kneading the dough. “Though I do fear it’s really not much of a story.”

Calum shrugged. “You know I find any part of your past to be of the utmost importance. I must say I’ve become quite the bargainer with you.”

Elodie cocked her head to the side. “How so?”

“Getting a story for a mere sword lesson is a grand robbery. You see princess, if I were to pay you in the face of how valuable I find your stories, I’d never be able to afford them.”

Elodie looked down but Calum caught the blush that stained her cheeks and the smirk that captured her lips. As her hands worked through the dough she mumbled, “Such is the way of a pirate.”

Calum let out a chuckle as he discarded the sword to an empty space on the table and let his hip lean against the top. His arms folded over his chest and Elodie looked up from her work to give him a once over. He cocked his head to the side to indicate he was waiting, ready to hang on her words and show her their worth.

Elodie sighed before starting; an attempt at showing how menial the story was. “The only escape I could find without consequence was the palace kitchen.”

Calum already felt the pull of her words, the weight of her world already hanging heavy with just a sentence spoken.

“Through childhood I often hid there, watched the bakers and cooks go about their duties. I suppose I learned some from watching; I could remember recipes based on images. It wasn’t until one baker spotted me in the shadows. She had a nurturing soul; much more motherly and comforting than my own mother. She was warm and welcomed me. She often showed me what she was doing, let me sit on the table and watch. And then she let me help—it was the first time i was allowed to do something on my own. For myself.”

Calum watched as Elodie’s forehead creased and her eyes clouded. He could tell she was getting lost in the memories. Unlike with some instances he didn’t detect distress. It was a more calm and easy descent into the past. With just a glimpse Calum already knew this baker was important to Elodie; maybe even familial and loved.

“Sometimes she would even help me hide from the court or my mother,” Elodie laughed fondly. “She always snuck me sweet treats because my mother forbid them. If I helped make them I could have two.”

Calum smiled and bit back the undertone of sadness to the story. He found the silver linings just as she had. So many of her tales were born of woes and tragedy. To find a piece of happiness carved into her past felt invaluable to Calum. If he were to trade fairly he would have to give her the world in exchange for this story. He hoped giving her his world and sharing it with her would be enough.

“So she taught you with rewards?” Calum mused, a sparkle of mischief entering his thoughts and plans for lessons with the sword.

“Yes. And I expect the same from our lessons,” Elodie responded without missing a beat, always riding the same wave as Calum’s thoughts, always giving him something to spar with. Her wit always charmed him. Left him wanting more and more.

“I’d give you nothing less, Princess,” Calum promised, hand running delicately over the blade. “Lessons start tomorrow.”

***

Remnants of snow still littered the yard and created obstacles to sword lessons but Calum persisted with his promise. Never one to falter out of a deal. It was late afternoon when they wandered to the yard, Duke trailing Elodie much like her own shadow in the casting glow of the sun dazzling against snow piles. Calum had taught Elodie the terminology of the sword the night before; watched as her eyes kept in time with his words. Glancing from pommel to tip and soaking in his instruction like oxygen. She had yet to bear the weight in her hands, Calum only left to hope it wouldn’t be too heavy.

A bite of winter wind blew her hair back and had her hands tugging at her jacket to keep warmth in. “I didn’t realize lessons would take place in the snow. I thought you might teach inside.”

“Battles do not wait for the weather, nor do they always take place by the warmth of a fire.”

“And what battles shall I be fighting?” She wondered aloud though Calum was sure scenarios flooded her mind.

“Your own,” he answered and let golden eyes crash emotions through him. He stepped closer to her. “With me by your side. Always.”

What could have been a tense moment broke when Elodie nodded with eyes flooded with determination. “And when I become a master at arms I will fight your battles too.”

After a smile and skipped heart beat at such an offer Calum presented her the sword and followed her unsure gaze to it. Delicate hands hesitated before reaching out for the specialized weapon and the contrast of the situation struck Calum in a swift collision of memories. Hands used for baking and tracing soft lines on Calum’s skin handled the grip much too carefully; fingers light, blade dragged down and leaving her utterly defenseless.

“You need a firm hold,” Calum instructed, his hands guiding hers to right the position on the grip.

“Why wouldn’t I just shoot?” She asked, motioning to her leg where on the ship she kept a holster with a pistol handy at all times.

“Let’s say you don’t have your pistol. It’s already been disarmed. All you have left is your sword,” Calum suggested to which Elodie only arched a curious eyebrow.

“How did they disarm the pistol first? Wouldn’t I have shot them before that could happen?”

“This is supposed to be sword training not verbal sparring,” Calum said around an amused laugh. Her line of questioning was clever. She was always seeking answers past the obvious. “Amuse me. Your pistol is disarmed and the sword is your last line of defense.”

Elodie nodded her affirmation of playing along. Calum guided her through simple motions with the sword, arms wrapped around her from behind and hands covering hers. He could feel the shake in her grip; the weight foreign in her clutches but she remained determined and made it through a few instructions. She asked questions he didn’t know she would know to ask and when she saw the surprise on his face she smirked.

“I never handled a sword before but I could watch the guards out the palace windows,” she explained. “I always wondered. Always watched and wanted to know. I was never allowed to ask questions. Not of that nature in any case. But sometimes I could hear the arms commander calling out orders during training.”

Her observations provided her with knowledge. It was minimal and loaded with questions—what is it called when… how do you… and what if… all tumbling from her lips as Calum guided her through simple motions. He showed her stance, angles and a block. He didn’t want to overload her during their first lesson. It was short and concise, as much as he enjoyed their time in the yard together with his arms around her to guide her and keep her warm he still worried about her health. The end of the lesson came with a sword dropped to the snow from hands not yet strong enough to cut with it on their own. Duke let out a bark; he had been quiet and just as observant as Elodie during their training. He scampered from their sides to the sword and gave it an interested sniff.

“This is why we don’t practice inside, Princess,” Calum laughed but settled when he realized the horrified expression Elodie wore as she bent down to pick up Duke and keep him away from the blade. “And this was just the beginning.”

“Lesson learned,” she confirmed and gave Duke a small cuddle.

“Let’s get back inside shall we?” Calum offered as he retrieved the fallen sword. “We can carry on tomorrow. Soon you’ll be good enough to defeat even me.”

Elodie smirked as they started back for the house. “I’d never fight against you, captain. Always by your side. I’m no mutinous traitor.”

As they headed back inside and found themselves wrapped up in the normalcy of home they had created Calum found himself thinking ahead. As much as he loved knowing she was safe here—happy even—he knew adventure laid plans in her thoughts that her heart and soul could not ignore. His own heart could not ignore the pull she had. His mind could not contradict the visceral reaction his body went through when worst case scenarios charged through his longing thoughts.

Calum would keep teaching her with the sword, show her to handle both sword and pistol. He would make sure she was prepared for spring sailing and any trials life on the ship may bring them. As he promised, he’d fight her battles with her. But he’d also make sure she’d never have to be in danger because of him. He’d find a way to ensure the ship would not go awry on his behalf. He swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep her safe. Even if it came down to his last luck.

***

Copyright © 2020 calpops. All rights reserved. This work is not allowed to be uploaded by anyone else on any platform in any format (translations included).

Tagged: @rosecolouredash @irwinkitten @golden-hood @who-do-you-love-5sos @caswinchester2000 @wildflowergrae @empathycth @cuddlemecalx @calumsmermaid @babylon-corgis @outerspaceisbetterthannothing @mariellelovescupcakes @xhaileyreneex @goth5sos @gosh-im-short @feliznavidaddycal @loveroflrh @findingliam-o @flowerthug @g-l-pierce @talkfastromance4 @cashtonasfuck @sc0ttish-wildfl0wer @wastedheartcth @calumscalm @thesubtweeter @akafeliznavidaddy @myloverboyash @treatallwithkindness @cals-wildflower @wiildflower-xxx @calum-uncrowned @egyptiangoldhood @rosecoloredash @imadontstopacoustic @grreatgooglymoogly @becihadshawn @notsooperfect @sublimehood @seedless-vascular @cheyennejoy5sos @clockwork124 @lukeinblue @rainingcal @fallfrxmgrace @thenextteen @curly-cal @valntynemccan @parkerspicedlatte @cocktail-calum @cals-eyebrows @xcarondimoniox @rotten-kandy @youngblood199456

[peacefulheartfarm]

Prepare for Disaster

Prepare for disaster is a motto I grew up with living in rural Michigan. Back in the day, when the power went off due to a winter storm, it could be off for several weeks. Today we have much better electrical systems and our current provider has kept us in good shape. We have never been without power for more than a few days. But even that can be disastrous if we are not prepared. Today I want to talk about how we prepare for disasters that may or may not happen.

First, let me take a moment to say welcome to all the new listeners and welcome back to the veteran homestead-loving regulars who stop by the FarmCast for every episode. Thank you so much for your time and attention. I appreciate you all so much and I couldn’t do it without you. It’s midwinter and life goes on here at the homestead.

Our Virginia Homestead Life Updates

The cold weather has been consistent for weeks. Not too cold, getting just below freezing at night and 40s and sometimes 50s during the day. This is a typical Southwestern Virginia winter. I look for a few days of freezing weather sometime in the near future. A typical winter will have at least four or five days when the temperatures drop all the way to the teens and occasionally single digits overnight. That four or five day stretch usually happens at least once and sometimes twice, usually in January. It hasn’t happened yet. Still waiting for that shoe to drop. We did have some unseasonably cold weather in December, but January is proceeding right long the normal line.

Cows

The cows are handling the cold weather as they always do. It amazes me that these animals can go through the winter without seeming to notice it too much. I go out there and the cows are moseying around, eating grass and/or hay looking like they don’t have a care in the world. If they are eating, they are laying down, relaxing and chewing their cud, again, like they haven’t got a care in the world. Personally, I don’t handle cold very well, but I’m so glad they do.

Donkeys

The donkeys handle the cold very well also. Their coats are full and thick. Just about everyday they come up to the milking shed looking for a treat. Scott or I will give them a small handful of sweet feed and a petting. When they are finished, they head on down to the creek and out to pasture with everybody else. Our donkeys are the friendliest animals on the homestead.

Sheep and Goats

The sheep and goats always prepare for disaster in winter. They have really thick coats. Our goats are cashmere goats. They have a really thick undercoat of cashmere that they shed in the spring. Our sheep are hair sheep which means they also grow a thick coat of wool and shed it in the spring. No shearing for these sheep. I was watching the ewes graze in the front pasture. Just like the cows, not a care in the world.

Quail

The quail are even more amazing to me. They have feathers and I can’t see that they have any extra feathers for winter. Whatever they have is what they have and that’s it. My ladies and gents have it better than they would out in the wild. There is a box shelter where they can get completely out of the wind. They can huddle together for added warmth. Sometimes I go out there and they are kind of fluffed up, but other than that, not a shiver. Nature is amazing.

Garden

This time of year is the time to plan for the spring garden. What plants will we grow? How many? What will be rotated to another location? And so on. I’m a bit behind on getting started with that but I just can’t seem to drum up the energy. It’s too cold and I don’t want to think about going out in the garden when it is cold. Anyway, I’ll get to it in the next couple of weeks.

Creamery

The creamery roof is nearly complete. Scott is putting the finishing touches on the peaks. He spent much of the day yesterday rigging up a way to safely move around up there. Today he is full steam ahead getting those ridge caps completed.

Still to come is all of the ends of the building above the ground floor. I think they are called dormer walls or something like that. It’s basically the area from the top of the block building to the peak of the roof. All of that will be covered in the same metal as with the roof.

It’s cold out there every day. And every day Scott is out there working in it. He doesn’t mind the cold and he prepares for it with layers of clothes.

Preparing for Disaster

Speaking of being prepared, let me get into how we prepare for disaster. Some of it anyway. I could probably talk all day long about how we created and executed our plan. Some of it is still in progress.

No matter where you are in the world, there is always something you can do to prepare for disaster. You simply never know when power is going to be out or something disrupts the flow of goods. For instance, I got caught short this summer because there was a shortage of canning jars and lids. In the end, I did have enough for what I needed to save our harvests, but it was touch and go sometimes. Recently I came across canning jars while in town and I purchased just about everything they had on the shelf. Still no lids but I got a better stock of jars than I have had in the past. We learn from our mistakes.

Let’s start at the beginning. The first thing to stock up on is water.

Water

You should always have water on hand or access to clean water. Making this happen doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Today, we have a hand pump connected to our well so we can always get water when needed whether we have power to the well pump or not. Still, we keep water on hand in the house. While it’s easy to go out there and hand pump some water, it is still easier to reach back in a closet or go into the spare bathroom and get some water for cooking, cleaning and flushing.

The recommended amount of water you will want to store is 7.5 gallons of water per person per month. A family of four would have 15 gallons of water stored if preparing for a short-term disaster lasting a few days or weeks. That’s where you always start. How much do I need for 2 to 4 weeks? Then get it done. You have the blue 5-gallon containers at Lowe’s, Home Depot, the grocery, and so on. Invest in a few of those and you are good to go. Strapped for cash? Buy one a week or even one a month. Your stored water will need to be refreshed regularly. Either use it or pour it out, but replaced what you have stored in the containers every 6 months or so. You don’t have to get there all at once. But you do want to get your water situated first.

Food

The second item is food. This one is a little trickier and takes quite a bit more time. So, start now. There are many methods for building up your food stores. Set several goals with this one.

How Many Days to Prepare for Disaster?

First, how many days of food do you need to store? That depends. Start with a week, then go to a month, then three months and so on. Ideally, you get to a place where you have a full year’s worth of food stored for your entire family. That may seem like a lot and it actually is a lot. But for my peace of mind, I wanted a full year of food. You may make your cutoff date sooner – and some even plan for longer.

What Food Should Be Stored?

Second, don’t store anything your family won’t eat. What are you eating right now? That’s what you want to stock up on. Forget the MRE’s and whatever else might sound great or someone might try to sell to prepare for disaster. What you want is food that your family regularly eats. Most foods have a shelf life of at least a year. If you rotate what you have saved, using the oldest stuff first and adding back what you have used in the back of the shelf, you can come up with a system that keeps you stocked up at all times. This is the first in, first out method. Instead of having one box of cereal, you have 12, or whatever you determine is the right number. Buy an extra box or two whenever you shop, or whatever you can afford. Build up slowly. You’ll be there before you know it.

Bulk Foods

One of the best ideas for food is to store some products in bulk containers. I’m talking about beans, rice, sugar and wheat or flour. You can live a long time on beans and rice. And if you are into making your own bread, having wheat or flour on hand at all times is a great idea. This is another place to build slowly.

The pieces you need to do this part effectively are: 5-to-6-gallon food-grade plastic buckets, mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and a standard household iron. The mylar bag goes in the bucket. The beans, rice, wheat, or flour go in the bag. Toss in a couple of oxygen absorbers and seal the bag with your iron. The oxygen absorber will suck out all the oxygen in the bag, And the sealed bag without oxygen will keep the food fresh for up to 30 years. I said 5 or 6-gallon buckets, but you can use smaller buckets. I like the larger buckets because I can buy 40 or 50 pounds of beans or rice and it fits in the larger bucket.

Canned Goods

Let’s talk about canned goods. These can also last for a very long time – not so much as the beans and rice, but still a long while. Those “use-by” dates on the can are not expiration dates. They are CYA dates for the manufacturers. As long as the can is not damaged and the seal is in place, canned food in jars and metal cans will last for years. Food in jars needs to be kept out of the light. And all canned foods need to be kept at room temperature or lower. Keep that in mind when you are planning where to store your stuff. Strapped for space? Under the bed works pretty well. Use that cabinet space up high that is empty because you can’t reach it easily. Find used shelving at yard sales and put it up in your garage. Lots of ways to make the space you need.

And don’t forget the can opener. Not one of those electric ones. No! a hand-operated can opener is needed.

Self-Protection

I’m not going to talk about this one because I’m not educated enough to know what to say. We do have weapons and ammo and such but Scott handles all of that. I’ll just mention it here and say find someone who knows what they are talking about with this and follow their podcasts or YouTube videos. It’s definitely important. And don’t forget to get the proper training. It’s no good to have weapons you don’t know how to use safely and care for properly.

Energy Needs

This is the last piece I’m going to touch on today. There is so much to cover on this topic I couldn’t possibly do it justice. So, I’m just going to give you a bit of information to get you started. Every person’s situation is different and your energy needs are going to be different.

Gasoline

Keep extra gasoline on hand. That’s an easy one. We try to keep 12 containers at all times. I must say, we are not as efficient at this as could be desired. If you have 12 containers of gasoline labeled one each month, rotate through that stock at a particular date in the month. In other words, in January, you empty the container labeled “January” into one of your car gas tanks. Pick a day of the month that you do this. The first, 15th or last day of the month are good choices. Take the empty container and refill it. That newly filled container won’t be emptied for a year and it will require a fuel stabilizer to keep it fresh and usable.

Generator

Having a generator that has enough power to run your refrigerator and freezer is a great tool. Again, add these things as you can afford them. Get your food stores up to a couple of weeks at least before moving on to a generator. Your generator will need to be started once a month to keep it in tip-top shape and so you know it is in good working order. You don’t want to be without power and find out that your generator is no longer working.

Living off the Grid

You may decide to go completely off the grid – or at least be prepared to go completely off the grid. That takes a great deal of planning and the choices are endless so I’m not going to go into that topic. But I will say keep in mind that, while solar sounds really good, if you don’t live in a really, really sunny place it may not be the option for you. There are other options.

Having a wood burning stove is always good. At the very least you can use your gas grill to cook meals – if you have planned ahead and have an extra propane tank or two. We took out our electric stove and put in a gas stove. The oven won’t work but the surface burners can be lit with a match. Keep some of those on hand. I like using what I’m used to using for cooking, so this works for me. We have the wood burning stove as well – complete with an oven. I really should learn how to cook on that thing in the event we run out of propane.

Communication

This is the toughest one to get prepared for in my opinion. How do we communicate? As long as the cell towers are up and running and your phone battery is charged, we can communicate. Well, we would have to climb way up to the top of our property and then maybe, just maybe, we would get a cell signal.

Right now, we have all sorts of social media where we can find out what is going on with family, friends and co-workers. But what if you didn’t have that? How would you get in touch with people? Could you get in touch with people? This topic requires some deep thought, lots of planning, and practice sessions to make sure your plans work. You don’t want to be isolated.

There is a significant amount of banning of communication going on in the large tech communities. They have a great deal of power. Indeed, more power than the US government. They can turn off anyone with the push of a button. They can make you disappear. You might want to consider broadening your reach to smaller platforms if you can find one that works for you and your family.

I have created a page on a site called Locals. You can find me on locals by searching for peaceful heart farm. Once you’ve joined my community, you can post whatever you’d like on my page. We can have a conversation and share insights.

I think I’m going to end there.

Final Thoughts

The animals go on and on and don’t give a thought to whether there is power to heat the house. And as long as the grass and hay keep coming, they are good to go. For us, it’s more complicated. As I said, I don’t like being cold. I’m grateful for our wood burning stove. It saves on electricity in the winter and is quite useful in a pinch for cooking.

I’ve spent years gathering food, both for ourselves and now saving up in case our neighbors are not prepared or not financially able to make it happen. And our water supply will also help out – and indeed has – helped out our neighbors. There is so much more to prepare for disaster but these two pieces are key. Water and food. Start today. You just have no idea when the power lines are going to go down with a winter storm, a hurricane, tornado and so on. It may be only a couple of days but it very well could be weeks. Remember hurricane Sandy and what a disaster that was and not so long ago.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please hop over to Apple Podcasts or whatever podcasting service you use, SUBSCRIBE and give me a 5-star rating and review. If you like this content and want to help out the show, the absolute best way you can do that is to share it with any friends or family who might be interested in this type of content. Let them know about the Peaceful Heart Farmcast. And please give locals.com a try.

Thank you so much for stopping by the homestead and until next time, may God fill your life with grace and peace.

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Check out this episode!

[dcroofingarizona]

Flat Roof Leak Repairs

You will find the first release of this post Flat Roof Leak Repairs right here: DC Roofing website

Flat Roof Leak Diagnosis

Today we'll be walking through a case study of a flat roof leak diagnosis and repair. Understanding the process that a qualified roofing contractor goes through can give you insights into your own roof and problems that may arise.

There are two types of flat roofs. The ones that leak and the ones that are going leak. Additionally, many flat roof leaks are misdiagnosed and many times, unnecessary expensive repairs are performed.

The owner of this flat roof case study has had flat roof leaks since the day the building was purchased, which was roughly 10 years ago. The building owner employed many roofing contractors to make roof repairs which included the installation of new roof membranes, installation of new flashing, and the installation of new top reflective sealant coating. After all these repairs, the roof membrane still leaked. The building owner and his secretary would control the roof leaks with buckets. The last roofer decided to get an opinion from a building scientist (Marko Vovk) to help diagnose the root cause of these roof leaks.

Upon arrival and beginning inspections, the roofer cut the roof membrane and found trapped water. Water was running between roof membranes and leaking at two different room locations below. While on the roof, the maintenance man was adked to bring up a 5 gallon bucket full water. Several cups or water were thrown to an upper elevation brick wall. The water beaded off.

The maintenance man was asked who sealed the brick. He said, that 10 years ago, when they bought the building, the previous owner disclosed that the window at this location leaked and it was repaired. He wasn't sure about and brick sealing. He stated that since this repair, the window has not leaked.

Well it was quite obvious that somebody 10 years ago knew it was the brick that was leaking and not the window. This is why they sealed the brick with what appeared to be a water resistant coating.

While walking and inspecting the roof it was noticed that a higher elevation roof brick wall also existed at this area. Several cups of water were thrown onto this brick. This time, the water was absorbed or sucked into the brick. Brick and mortar joints are naturally absorbent; this is why you need weep holes in brick.

This brick upper roof wall did not have weep holes. This brick wall was once an exterior wall of an older building. The building roof that has the two flat roof leaks was an addition that was built over 20 years ago. The brick was getting saturated during long duration rains. This wall also faced the southern and western exposure which is more susceptible to weather. The water was getting sucked into Brick and mortar joints and running down that back side of the brick in the ¾ capillary space.

This newer addition building had roof joists that rested on pocket ledges that were cut into the brick 20 years ago. Instead of water running down into lower levels, it escaped at these cut pockets.

This was going to be an easy fix. Simply by sealing the exterior brick would fix this leak.

The owner was warned though, that when you seal brick, it no longer breaths and the potential of brick spalling may occur. I told the owner to control indoor humidity by running a dehumidifier during cold climates.

The reason for this is that if you have high indoor humidity it will travel to the exterior through a vehicle called vapor diffusion. If the brick is sealed on the exterior, it will act like an exterior vapor barrier. During the winter, when it is cold, it freezes, and brick spalling can occur. So controlling indoor humidity when you have sealed brick walls is very important.

The second leak diagnostic was also simple. Directly above this second leak was 12 year old HVAC unit. We cut into the roofing membrane at this location and encountered moisture. When a 5 gallon bucket of water was dumped into the HVAC unit fan area, it wasn't long before the water started dripping into the room below.

In the room below you could see a roof fasteners rusted and dripping water. The secretary said, the roof would leak for several days after rain storms. This leak existed for 12 years due the HVAC installation contractor not being a roofer.

Go hear to read about How To Patch A Roof Leak

This roof top unit had a roof duct penetration that was poorly sealed. The HVAC installing contractor created this leak 12 years ago. This was also an easy repair.

The HVAC unit needed to be lifted and roof membrane needed to be replaced.

Sometimes when looking for leaks you need to apply some building science knowledge, not just roofing knowledge. Sometimes, roof leaks are not roof membrane related as they were in this case.

DIY Flat Roof Repair

Transcript

Today we'll be discussing making repairs to an old flat roof which, to be fair, is long overdue for a total replacement, but the owners haven't quite decided what to do with it yet. It's had a few minor repairs over the years including a temporary repair with an acrylic based paint on sealant, and in fact that's still waterproof and holding good, but what we'll be considering this time is a low-cost paint on repair that's within the grasp of most people, and it will seal the whole roof not just small areas. The first place to start is with a clean dry roof and as you can see it's dry but not very clean. All we're going to do is thoroughly sweep the surface with a stiff bristle brush, and if any of the dirt or moss is really stuck, it may also involve scraping with a paint scraper as well. What we need is a dust free, dirt free contact with the roof surface so we can prime it up in a moment. You'll probably find the tiny mineral finish or mineral edging like this grips onto dirt really well so it's important to remember that any debris you leave on the face of your roof will into the bond we're looking to achieve. When you've removed as much as feasibly possible just sweep it up or into the guttering ready to removal later on. This is a bitumen primer and all sorts of makes are available. The fastest and easiest way to apply the primer is with a standard 9 inch roller. And if you haven't got a dedicated roller extension you can make one. Simply sure a broom handle straight inside the roller and here I'm spinning a roller into place but you could also use gaffer tape if you really wanted. To just pour out some primer into a puddle about a mugful or two at a time don't go berserk this stuff goes a very long way. As you can imagine, it's not worth bothering to cut in neatly with a brush. I'm just doing the whole lot with a roller because I'll be stripping this roof off in the next year or two anyway. But if you want to do neat but full sheets best for the outside edges.Now let me explain at this point how much primer you want on the roof, and the answer is as little as possible to do the job. By all means be generous on your first pass, but on the second or third what you're looking for is the least amount of primer as possible. Once it's done its job by bonding the loose particles on the surface of the roof, that's it. Any puddles primer is not only a waste it's going to take longer for your roof to dry. The exact same applies to the mineral edges or drips. Once you have it primed roll it out to get rid of the excess less is more. With that done you just need to let it dry or flash off. In the summer this can be as little as 20 minutes but in the winter it can take a couple of hours. So go and have a tea break and come back when it's done. Now this is a roll of glass fiber scrim and it's just like rendering or plastering scrim. And if you want to you can skip applying this stuff totally but I'm going to show you how it's done in case you want to. What I'm going to do now is place this onto the prime roof and roll it out. Just make sure that you get it nice and parallel now roll it to the outside edge of the roof and cut it just short of the drip edge. Next roll back the other side all the way back to the halfway mark and when you get there pin it in position with something just to stop it springing back or blowing around. Fantastic now we're ready for the roof sealant and this is what I'll be using again there's many manufacturers but this is basically a solvent based bitumen roof sealer, and 25 liters of this should be enough to coat this roof twice. Once you've popped the lid off you're going to need to give it a stir a good one the solids always settle to the bottom and the liquids to the top and obviously you want a consistent even coating. So with a flat sided stick nice and carefully pull up all the solids from the bottom and only when you're happy stop mixing. Applying the roof coating needs nothing more elaborate than a decent soft bristled brush. A nice natural fiber like this works best not too stiff and not too soft. If you don't want to work directly from a 25 liter container consider putting a couple of inches off one side of your brush with a hacksaw. Not only does he make it slightly easier to work with but you can also get it in a standard builders bucket. Handy if you don't want to look a whole 25 litres up the roof you. Back on the roof we can now start applying the roof sealant to the room and because we've already primed it it should stick like an absolute beauty. It's just a matter now of applying about two millimeters of sealer over the roof everywhere that the scrim will sit when it's rolled back out. That way when we apply more bitumen on top the scrim will effectively be sandwiched between the two layers. Now using a scrim like this does make this type of repair slightly harder and messier than not using one, but there are two distinct benefits. Firstly it guarantees a minimum depth of coating of two millimeters, meaning no drama spots or missed areas. Secondly when dry it will add additional strength which is important if you have lots of cracks in your roof or it has a slightly soft feel to it. This as you can imagine helps to stop most cracks reappearing as the bitumen sealant dries out with age in the years to come. When you have the first half done roll back the other half and start the process again. Now there are two disadvantages of using a scrim and here they are. Firstly it's a messier job and you have to keep pressing over the roof filling up any holes that reappear. This obviously takes a bit more time and you will use a bit more product. Secondly if your roof isn't flat or has nasty hollows or ridges in it the scrim can resist following these contours which will make it a lot more difficult otherwise known as a pain in the arse. Okay so here on the second run I'm going to do exactly the same process this time making sure that one scrim overlaps the first scrim by two to three inches. Then we're going to cover it up, just as we did before. On the third one though I'm going to show you a slightly easier and lazier way to apply the scrim. Here I've just placed a couple of dabs of sealant onto the roof and I'm going to stick the scrim in it and roll it out into position. This time though I'm just pushing the bitumen straight through the scrim from the top surface alone whilst this isn't as good as the previous method it does still work. But like I said it's a lazy method not quite as good. Your roof your choice at the end of the day. And of course there's the no scrim method. If you're looking for a repair that's a little easier and cheaper just apply the compound directly to the roof. Yes the depth of the sealent becomes harder to judge and it doesn't add the strength that we've talked, about but you can always have a second coat later on and to be honest I would do that as a matter of course anyway. Now all we're doing is covering the whole roof with a nice even coating trying to achieve the two millimeter depth that we require. Covering the whole roof and working back to the ladder or exit point. With that done you should not have something that looks like this. On a summer's day it will be fully waterproof in about an hour, and re-coatable in five to twelve hours. What you want the surface to look like if something like this, nice and even with no pinholes. But sometimes especially if you've used scrim you might get some small pinholes like me near the edges where I was trying not to flip bitumen into the gutter or on the floor below. A second coat of sealant here we'll pay absolute dividends and because the hard work has already been done recoating will be so fast it's almost embarrassing. Any small flecks of bitumen that find their way onto the floor can usually be dealt with by applying building sand generously to them and treading it in. Let it absorb the bitumen for as long as possible and then just sweep it off. For a really nice finish and to protect your hard work for longer consider applying solar reflective coating. Again this stuff settles to the bottom and it will need a darn good stir until the solids flow freely. Then it's just a matter of cutting in around the edges with the two inch paint brush and applying the solar reflective coating with a cheap 9 inch roller just as we did with the primer.

[leftysmambosal]

Rain or shine, Pioneer Valley in Western Mass. is great for a quick getaway

Get the best of the magazine’s award-winning stories and features right in your e-mail inbox every Sunday. Sign up here.

WHEN SPRING ARRIVES in New England, some of us kind of lose our minds. Can you blame us? After being stuck inside all winter, we welcome those first feeble rays of March sunshine like a long-lost friend, greeting 50-degree weather with T-shirts and smiles. Behold, the prodigal sun!

But spring around here is fickle, and often very wet. As much as we long to get outside, sometimes nature just doesn’t cooperate.

That’s why the four-season playground of the Pioneer Valley makes for a great spring getaway. Amid the collage of college towns and rolling farmland, there’s every opportunity to hike, bike, or play outside when the sun is out — but also plenty of ways to get your outdoor fix indoors when Mother Nature douses your best-laid plans. And that’s not to mention a hyperactive year-round cultural calendar that, buoyed by the nearby colleges and universities, defies the bucolic landscape.

On my latest visit with my wife and young daughter, we stay at the historic Hotel Northampton (413-584-3100, hotelnorthampton.com). We always seem to end up there, just because it’s smack downtown in Northampton, the artsy epicenter of this “Happy Valley.” Northampton’s stroll-inducing Main Street and offshoots are jammed with art galleries, restaurants, bars, music venues, and unique shops worth a visit in any season.

With sidewalk musicians, cheap eats from all over the world, and a student-bohemian energy, downtown Northampton, only about 100 miles from Boston, feels a lot like Harvard Square; there are even familiar facades, like the original Raven Used Books (413-584-9868, ravenusedbooks.com). But one big difference is that driving for 10 minutes finds you not “almost to Watertown,” but rather enveloped by gorgeous countryside and pastoral landscapes immortalized by artists of the Hudson River School.

The Pioneer Valley is the Commonwealth’s bread basket; this is where farm meets table. I’m not just talking about the trendy restaurants that serve locally sourced ingredients (there are plenty); I mean that some working farms also serve food on the premises. In the past, we’ve stopped for lunch and a sweet treat at Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery (413-586-2142, barstowslongviewfarm.com), which offers ice cream, cheeses, and more. The burgers, when available, come from cattle that are raised on the pretty, family-owned Barstow’s Longview Farm in Hadley. But in the spring, perhaps no other foodstuff is better enjoyed on site than maple syrup.

On weekends during sugaring season, a number of Massachusetts maple farms serve syrup-soaked pancake and waffle breakfasts. So we stuff our faces full of blueberry pancakes, thick-cut bacon, and virtually unlimited pure maple syrup at the North Hadley Sugar Shack(413-585-8820, www.northhadleysugarshack.com), where breakfast is available daily through April 15 this year, and you can watch syrup making up close on weekends.

I’m of French Canadian descent, so I take maple syrup pretty seriously (though not as seriously as my mom, who used to carry a small bottle to breakfast in case a restaurant tried to pawn off some grotesque, gooey forgery). And I have to say: I’m in maple syrup heaven. I could do this every morning if I lived nearby, so perhaps it’s best that these breakfasts are as fleeting as spring itself. (The sugaring season typically runs from late February into April, but it depends on the weather; sap runs best when it’s below freezing at night and warmer during the day.)

We try to burn off some of those gloriously empty, syrupy calories by hiking to the historic Summit House, a former hotel teetering atop Mount Holyoke in Hadley’s J.A. Skinner State Park. The interior of the 19th-century landmark has been off-limits due to ongoing restoration work, but the wraparound (and around, and around) porch still offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the Connecticut River Valley and beyond.

The roughly 3.5-mile round-trip hike is on a paved, winding road, so we’re able to manage it in street shoes and with our 5-year-old. There are a variety of trails through the woods as well, but bring your duck boots — it’s mud season. And if you’re short of time or breath, you can drive halfway up — or even all the way to the summit — later in spring when the park gates are open, and soak up the scenery without breaking a sweat.

If the dramatic bend in the river below looks familiar, you might recognize it from Thomas Cole’s famous 1836 painting, known as The Oxbow. Around that time, Mount Holyoke was the second most popular tourist attraction in the United States, behind only Niagara Falls. That surprised me, too, at first — but after a long look and a deep breath at the summit, it makes a lot more sense.

Other great beginner or moderate hikes in the area include a flat, 3.7-mile loop around Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke; trails in Mass Audubon’s 724-acre Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary (413-584-3009, massaudubon.org) in Easthampton; and Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation in South Deerfield, where a variety of trails are open year-round, with the summit road opening in mid-May. But our legs are wobbly enough for one day, and spring is starting to do that thing where it openly mocks your optimistic wardrobe decisions.

With rain clouds approaching, we seek shelter and find serenity in nearby Montague at the Montague Bookmill (413-367-9206, montaguebookmill.com), whose delightfully beckoning slogan, “Books you don’t need in a place you can’t find,” reads like a dare. We accept the challenge and find both the bookshop itself — a rambling collection of cozy rooms and creaky floors in a former mill on the Sawmill River — and an armful of used books begging to come home with us.

Attached to the Bookmill is the Lady Killigrew cafe and pub (413-367-9666, theladykilligrew.com), an equally enchanting space with industrial remnants and giant windows overlooking a mesmerizing waterfall. We pass up the tasty-sounding sandwiches grilled on local sourdough for the peanut-ginger udon noodle bowl and warm brown rice salad, paired with picks from the small but excellent draft beer list.

From Montague we meander west and then south on Route 5, where we make a brief detour into the Old Deerfield Village Historic District. Even if you don’t stop to visit the Historic Deerfield museum (413-774-5581, historic-deerfield.org) — a collection of a dozen or so impeccably maintained 17th- and 18th-century houses and furnishings — a slow drive down Old Main Street feels like a time warp.

When we reach South Deerfield, it’s pouring. But we enter a waterproof natural wonder: Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens (413-665-2805, magicwings.com). This 8,000-square-foot indoor tropical paradise hosts nearly 4,000 different exotic butterflies, who flit all around us as they dart through the lush greenery. Other inhabitants include colorful Gouldian finches, waddling button quail, and terrariums filled with frogs, lizards, and other critters. One of them, teeming with cockroaches, leaves me squirming but our daughter squealing with gross-out glee.

We were in the neighborhood, so I figured we ought to see what draws half a million visitors each year to Yankee Candle Village (877-636-7707, yankeecandle.com), the candlemaker’s 90,000-square-foot flagship store in South Deerfield. I was fully prepared to poke fun at this global capital of kitsch and candles . . . but, I’ll admit, it was pretty amazing as giant stores go.

Like some kind of New England-themed Disneyland ride, there’s an old-fashioned general store, a fudge and candy shop, and a Colonial candle-making museum. On top of the family-themed events and performances, kids can create their own colorful candles from scratch or make wax statues of their hands (after repeatedly plunging their fists into ice-cold water, then melted wax). There’s a 20-foot indoor waterfall, antique toy trains chugging along elevated tracks above you, and even, in the Christmas-themed Bavarian Village, indoor snow every four minutes.

A cure for the ensuing overstimulation can be found at Paul and Elizabeth’s restaurant (413-584-4832, paulandelizabeths.com) in Northampton. Its lofty ceilings, tall windows, and dozens of potted plants give off a refreshing, spring-like simplicity. And the menu, with a focus on seasonal specials, fresh fish, and locally sourced vegetables, was at once creative and comforting — and surprisingly affordable. The sesame-seed-encrusted catfish is perfection — light but incredibly flavorful — and my wife doesn’t leave so much as a trace of her organic pasta dish.

Just downstairs is the flagship location of Herrell’s Ice Cream (413-586-9700, herrells.com), which might ring a bell if you lived in Allston or Cambridge in the 2000s. I’m not ashamed to admit that we get dessert here two nights in a row. If your sweet tooth doesn’t do dairy, even the almond milk ice cream we sample is delicious — but you can also get fresh-made doughnuts, including vegan and gluten-free options, at Glazed (413-270-1885, glazeddoughnutshop.com), around the corner.

Walking around Northampton is its own urban hike, and we pop into store after quirky store. From the decidedly nonessential delights of Essentials (413-584-2327, helloessentials.com), which now shares space with Strada shoes, to the curated and crafty shops in Thornes Marketplace (413-584-5582, thornesmarketplace.com), it’s easy to find one-of-a-kind gifts and unique household items here. If your parents are bird lovers like my dad, talk to the helpful staff at Backyard Birds (413-586-3155) for a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift. We always struggle to get much farther down Main Street than the wonderful Broadside Bookshop (413-586-4235, broadsidebooks.com), which invariably sucks us in and spits us out over an hour later and a few books richer.

When you need replenishment, excellent coffee and sandwich-type fare is easy to come by: Haymarket Cafe (413-586-9969, haymarketcafe.com), Tart Baking Co. (413-584-0717, thetartness.com), and Woodstar Cafe (413-585-9777, woodstarcafe.com) are all the type of coffee shop you wish would open up in your neighborhood.

After ice cream and a stroll around town, it’s time for us to turn in. But if you’re without a little one in tow, make sure to see who’s playing at the Iron Horse Music Hall (413-586-8686, iheg.com). This legendary but intimate venue has hosted some of the biggest names in folk and roots music on their way to the top, from Tracy Chapman to Beck to Wynton Marsalis. The same ownership books bigger shows at the Calvin Theatre and club acts at Pearl Street; you can check a combined calendar of listings on the website, or call the Northampton Box Office at 413-586-8686.

When it’s not sugaring season (or when your travel companions don’t share your compulsion to guzzle maple syrup two days in a row . . . harumph), morning in Northampton means French toast and omelets at cheerful Sylvester’s (413-586-5343, sylvestersrestaurant.com) or eggs and the house hash at the cozier Jake’s (413-584-9613, jakesnorthampton.com).

Both get crowded on weekend mornings, so if you can’t stomach the wait, grab some bakery treats and coffee to go and have a picnic breakfast in Look Park (413-584-5457, lookpark.org) in Northampton’s Florence village. The 150-acre expanse is run by a private nonprofit that charges a fee to park, but it’s a beautiful place to spend a few hours outdoors. A small, free zoo includes pygmy goats, peacocks, owls, deer, and other animals kids can feed by hand, and a seasonal steamer train makes a 1-mile loop around the park for $2 and change.

Speaking of trains, the Northampton area is blessed with miles and miles of paved bike paths along former railroad lines. These flat, car-free routes make for the ideal bike ride (rentals start at $25 a day at Northampton Bicycle; 413-586-3810, nohobike.com), and they’re also nice for walking when hiking trails are muddy with spring snowmelt. The popular Norwottuck Rail Trail connects Northampton with Amherst, but if you take the Manhan Rail Trail about 4 miles south, you’ll come to a new gem in Easthampton: Mill 180 Park (413-203-1687, mill180park.com). Of course, you can also drive there, which we do.

Mill 180 is an indoor public park inside a huge brick industrial building on Lower Mill Pond. Designed to emulate a lively city park, but indoors, it has a landscape of artificial turf, various lawn games, and hundreds of hydroponic plants that eventually make their way into the cafe’s delicious salads. Local beers and wine are on tap, too; I enjoy a Nightshade Stout from Abandoned Building Brewery (413-282-7062, abandonedbuildingbrewery.com), whose taproom is a couple of buildings down.

We meet up with friends and let our kids explore the park’s features together; they include a giant chess board, foam building blocks, and a whimsical mushroom-shaped cabin. Weekends often bring some type of family entertainment, and our daughter gets her face expertly painted for the price of a small tip. It’s tough to get the kids out of there, but by early evening, the family crowd begins to dissipate and the grownups take over, with periodic concerts and other events.

Despite the soggy weather, we return home with our spirits brightened. And thanks in no small part to the area colleges, the valley is saturated with other rainy-day entertainment as well. There’s art everywhere, from the heavy-hitting collection of the Smith College Museum of Art (413-585-2760, smith.edu/artmuseum) in Northampton to more whimsical works at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (413-559-6300, carlemuseum.org) in Amherst. Get your fossil fix at the free Beneski Museum of Natural History (413-542-2165, amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory) or visit the homestead of a cherished American poet at the Emily Dickinson Museum (413-542-8161, emilydickinsonmuseum.org), both in Amherst. And drizzly days make a fine excuse to visit some of the area’s excellent craft beer taprooms, like Berkshire Brewing (413-665-6600, berkshire-brewing.com) in South Deerfield and Lefty’s Brewing Company (413-475-3449, leftysbrew.com) in Greenfield.

But if it’s the outdoors you’re after, you can always find it in the Pioneer Valley — rain or shine.

Jon Gorey is a writer in Quincy. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.Follow us on Twitter @BostonGlobeMag.

BEST BETS FOR SUNNY OR SOGGY WEATHER

Get your fill of nature no matter what the fickle spring skies throw at you. Here are your best bets no matter the weather in Pioneer Valley.

OUTDOOR PARK

Northampton’s Look Park (413-584-5457, lookpark.org) is a treasure in good weather, with acres of grassy fields and a petting zoo, plus a seasonal steam train ride, mini-golf, and pedal-boat rentals.

INDOOR PARK

Mill 180 Park (413-203-1687, mill180park.com) in Easthampton is an indoor public green space designed to make the best parts of a great city park — such as greenery, community, and programming — available in all weather.

OUTDOOR FLOWERS

The Bridge of Flowers is an old trolley bridge spanning the Deerfield River in Shelburne Falls that’s lined with hundreds of flowering plants. It makes for a colorful and sweet-smelling stroll between April and October. See what’s in bloom at bridgeofflowersmass.org.

INDOOR FLOWERS

Get your bloom on at the Lyman Plant House at the Botanic Garden of Smith College (413-585-2740, smith.edu/garden), which holds thousands of plants from around the world encased in glass greenhouses.

OUTDOOR CLIMB

The Pioneer Valley has plenty of scenic day hikes, such as Mount Holyoke, Mount Sugarloaf, Mount Tom, and Chesterfield Gorge.

INDOOR CLIMB

At Central Rock Gym (413-584-7625, centralrockgym.com) in Hadley — the second of more than a dozen locations in this fast-growing Massachusetts-based chain — we and some friends hired a staff member to belay for us as we took turns scaling the 40-foot walls. It was surprisingly cheap when split four ways.

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