PREQUEL to BLURRY MOUNTAIN: “THE UNSETTLING”© 2026 Donald Whelpley CHAPTER SIX. THE BEAR WENT OVER THE MOUNTAIN. The family had never seen such glorious sunrises on the island, but in western North Carolina they were treated to them often. Nearly cloudless mornings with a light breeze and the eastern sky full of pinks, blues, and purples …
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GUEST POST from Don – THE UNSETTLING, chapter 5
PREQUEL to BLURRY MOUNTAIN: “THE UNSETTLING”© 2026 Donald Whelpley CHAPTER FIVE. SLOW AND PURPOSEFUL. On the coastal plains there were more slave than free, more black than white. The Negroes were not talkative. They always seemed to move with purpose, and looked neither left nor right. Once Grigor stopped negro man to ask directions. The man was furtive and only answered …
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GUEST POST from Don – THE UNSETTLING, chapter 4
PREQUEL to BLURRY MOUNTAIN: “THE UNSETTLING”©️ 2026 Donald Whelpley CHAPTER FOUR. EVERYTHING NEW. Glad to be on land, they couldn’t wait for the trip which would carry them closer to their destination. Grigor had heard the the mountains of North Carolina/Tennessee were cooler than the coastal plains and was good for cattle and sheep. That was his goal. On …
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GUEST POST from Don – The Unsettling, chapter 3
PREQUEL to BLURRY MOUNTAIN: “THE UNSETTLING” ©️2026 Donald Whelpley CHAPTER THREE. ANCHORS AWAY. Not long into May the family loaded the wagon and hitched a draft horse. They had a canvas tarp over their luggage, crates, and gifts because, of course, it was drizzling. Branwyn baked a few loaves of bread and packed some cheese for the trip to …
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GUEST POST from Don – The Unsettling, chapter 2
PREQUEL to BLURRY MOUNTAIN: “THE UNSETTLING” ©️2026 Donald Whelpley [Hope you enjoyed chapter 1 last month. If you missed it, go back and read that first. ~ Don] CHAPTER TWO. UPROOTING. March 1 was St David’s Day. St David was a devout Christian brother from the nine hundreds who on his deathbed said, “Brothers, be constant. The yoke which …
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GUEST POST from Don – The Unsettling, chapter 1
PREQUEL to BLURRY MOUNTAIN: “THE UNSETTLING” ©️2026 Donald Whelpley Several mentioned they wanted to read “more” about Blurry Mountain*, a short story from Christmas 2024. I thought I would, then I thought maybe I should write how we got here. Who founded the farm? Looking back at the early 1800s I had fun and learned much. Not only who, …
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GUEST POST from Don – GUEST POST from Don – Christmas on Blurry Mountain (part 4 of 4)
CHRISTMAS ON BLURRY MOUNTAIN (4 of 4 – final) After the festivities, Mr Hughes banked the fire and everyone got ready for sleep. Mike took a moment to speak to Sarah. “You have such a giving family. I am privileged to be part of this. At my house is a plastic tree with little electric lights and lots of …
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GUEST POST from Don – GUEST POST from Don – Christmas on Blurry Mountain (part 3 of 4)
CHRISTMAS ON BLURRY MOUNTAIN (3 of 4) Ma invited Pa to the table after he removed his boots and set them where the snow could melt. After breakfast he and John Michael loaded firewood into the wagon along with some shovels and some other materials, then hitched a horse to it and drove to where …
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GUEST POST from Don – GUEST POST from Don – Christmas on Blurry Mountain (part 2 of 4)
CHRISTMAS ON BLURRY MOUNTAIN (2 of 4) Sarah Hughes, being 15 and attractive, was the belle of the valley with a suddenness that made other teen girls anxious. Susan had been her best friend last year, but when Susan’s boyfriend took an interest in Sarah, she acted rude and put-offish. Sarah was not expecting that, but she appreciated …
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