Today we walked our land, Rejoicing

 After a cold breakfast and quickly packing up the wagon we hurried as fast as oxen feet can plod to our new home.

I never saw land so beautiful before. We set up our wagons where our three claims meet - Edward's, mine and James, and father's,  Our homes will be nearby, for ease of visiting, and help if needed. The men will make a path to the river we can all use, and cut back the heavy brush and timber on the bank so we can get water. Later they'll make a landing at the river - a paddle wheel boat has already passed by.

The Thompsons are a mile south, the Martins are a mile north, but they and the Bonds and others are all coming to meet at our camp here for Sunday service this evening. Right now the men are staking their claims, and first thing tomorrow morning they will ride south to enter the claims at the Government Land Office at Roseburg. We are a little closer to Oregon City - where the other Land Office is, but James says the Oregon City Land Office is too busy with claims, and Roseburg will be better.

                                           Bald Eagles in a Tree - Public Domain

So today it has been just me and Mary Ann Kyniston and our baby, Mary Jane. I point towards the river, "See the big birds! What great big birds are flying above the bend in the river." Mary Jane didn't notice, but Mary Ann asks me what they are. I tell her the birds with white and blue wings are blue herons, and they like to eat fish. They are diving at the river for their dinner. Mary Ann laughs at the idea of getting wet every day for a meal.There are flocks of ducks swarming now for the end of the day. The white swans have gone to their rest, and there are so many birds I cannot identify half of them. Only the large ones are easy to know at a distance. A pair of eagles are perched in large trees nearby.

I put the girls down for the night, wishing James were here.