Wanted: Native Field Stones

As we settle into our Little Farm, we 3 C's are embarking on improvements inside and out. For our House, we plan to put a Wood Stove in the Family Room as a back-up heat source. Winters are far milder here in Northeast Missouri than in the Dakotas. But we still do have Winter and sometimes the Power goes out. Being prepared seems a smart thing to do.

A little more background: My Father passed 2 short months after we moved here. Papa was a Master Bricklayer well known in these parts for large and small projects of which he was a part. He planned to build us a Fireplace out of Native Field Stone for our new Home. He had built a Fireplace for our Home in North Dakota. His building one here was simply not meant to be.

As a Daughter and as Family Members of a Bricklayer of the Old Craft, we still want Stone Work in our House. This Little House wouldn't quite be Home without a touch of Stone. This time, we will install the Wood Stove with a Lovely Wall of Field Stones behind. The Stones will hold and release the Heat for those Cold Winter Days ahead.

After a search, the Mason has been identified. Kevin Burns learned the trade along side his Dad, who worked beside my Father. How cool is that? The Stove is Ordered and should be here any Day. A local firm, Peters Heating and Air Conditioning, will install the Pipe. All the pieces are in place, except for 1.

We brought Field Stones in our Treasures when we moved from North Dakota. Many were from the collection and gift of Ken and Toby. They graced our Garden in North Dakota for a number of years. More recently, People along the way have contributed Stones to our Cache for this very special purpose (like Dorreen, Sarah, Rachel, the Scotts). Just thinking about the Land from which these Stones come and the People who have offered them to us fills our Hearts with Song and our Home with Love.

But our pile is Short. We are looking for Field Stones especially from Adair County. We would like to have Stones from places where we have Family History. That would include the Family Farm in Millard, the Old Stukey Homestead site, perhaps Hart Country up in the Wilmathsville area, our little patch of Timber in the Southwestern part of the County. Who knows where else?

That may or may not be possible as Eastern Adair County has fewer Stones than Western Adair County. Perhaps we are talking about a Stone or 2 from such Cherished Places where our Ancestors once walked.

So we are looking for more Stones, hopefully from Adair County. We do not want the Land to be further Ravaged, so we don't want them pulled out of a Creek Bed, especially if those Rocks have been home there for quite a while. But if Folks have a Stone or 2, or a Pile of Stones that are ready to be passed on, give us a call. We have just the project. A Ton or 2 should do. We need to have the Pile complete by October 18, Richard's Mother's Birthday.

You could call it a Little House Warming.