#rivervale_lodge

Gerd is working with someone, Kourtney DeBuke!

"I am SO not ready" Kourtney gulps

"You'll be a great Hearth, Kourtney." Gerd says "Word is out, you ought to try"

Kerri is showing both of them the finer points of making meat pies, the kind that can be carried along as a convenient lunch during a long workday. "Don't overwork the dough...but don't underwork it, either. You'll find the balance, but it takes practice."

"What if I make a bubble by accident , it explodes in the oven, and I bring shame to the DeBuke line for a thousand years?" Kourtney asks

Gerd rolls her eyes. While Gerd went Goth, Kourtney remained somewhat girly in her outfit. Yet Kourtney is a hard worker. Well taught by Agnes and a skilled healer

Bemused. "Kourtney, if I were to relate all the times that I have had cooking disasters, it would be a VERY long story. And some of those disasters were very public. But still...I do okay as Hearth. And Rivervale still stands."

"The farting pennons treats..." Gerd smirks "Priceless"

Kourtney says 'Gerd! She's right here!" A look to the Hearth "Thank you, Hearth Kerri. With Sally Mae helping my math skills I do feel better"

A brow. "Yes. Those."

"Point is, yes, you have people who can help, and you will make mistakes, and you will learn from the mistakes if you decide to learn."

Kourtney sighs "Life's SO weird. A dozen folks knnow how to cook on the farm but we got spoiled. Seemed like Great Aunt Agnes was forever"

"I know," Kerri says gently. "It's the way our world works, but it's hard to accept sometimes. The best we can do it tell her stories, and make sure that we continue with good chapters of our own."

Gerd nods "Aunt Kerri's right. You should learn as much about Hearth Agnes... pass on what you can when you get older and your own stories as well"

"Exactly. And her recipes are part of those stories, you know. Oh, my. She's written them down, hasn't she?"

"She has" A nod "A great big book. And... it has pictures too. Letters and notes. Some of them really old"

"You might want to ask her who the oldest ones came from."

The pies get rolled and filled and shaped and sliced and brushed...and finally put into the oven to bake. "Now...work out the math. How would you increase the measurements to make a hundred of those instead of a dozen?"

"I will" The DeBuke nods then "Times it by 8.35 or so?" She says "The matterials I mean? "

She nods. "Gets tricky when you try to translate the tablespoons into cups, but you'll sort it out. Good work."

A look at Gerd. "What else do you think she needs to know about Hearth-ing?"

Gerd looks up "People skills... not that she's bad at it, it's just important. Hearths keep the homefires burning and thattt's not just cooking"

Kerri nods. "And that means making sure there's room for everyone at the table, even when you're unhappy with one of them."

"Got practice there" Kourtney admits "Sometimes some of my relations are so hide bound I want to hit them with a purse... "A beat "With a brick in the purse. But instead I do my best to get by"

"Good start. And of course, some people you love will make decisions you might think you can't abide easily...but as Hearth, you'll have to do your best to understand the way they're thinking."

"It might be a bit pushy of me to say, but your sister comes to mind."

"Yeah. She's.. Kelby's confusing for some, but she's already distinguished herself in battle defending dark gate"

"She has, indeed."

"It's not fair she gets the hairy eyeball" Kourtney declares

"No, it's not" Gerd nods

"Well, it's tricky, given the philosophies of the Farmhold. Many have bent further than I thought they might."

"Some say too far. Stein's talking all hateful but not around the Chief"

"Hmm. How hateful, exactly?"

"He's so ticked about Mountain Emmit nearly getting shot on noble land that he says we never should have opened up. "

"I told him it was happening, Chief Clem just made it on OUR terms... but he's too mad to listen"

Kerri checks how the pies are looking, then says, "Sounds like Stein might need a field trip."

"Where to?" She asks and smells the pie "Okay, it's smelling good, but it should be a bit less pale at the edges, right?"

Gerd sniffs "I think she's right, but that's me"

"Good eye, yes, they need a bit more time or the meat inside won't be cooked through." She taps the counter. "You know...Sylvi's time as emissary was...transformative."

"Oh, Hearth Kerri, we donn't dislike anyone enough to sic Stein on them, hateful as he's being"

Shuffling sounds nearr the door. Sniffing? Is it one of the dogs? Nope. That is the Husbandus Hungralis .

"They're not done yet!" Kerri calls out to the local fauna.

"And honestly, Kourtney...you might want to talk to Sylvi about her experiences. She went through a bit of extremism herself."

"Oh sure, I remember.. was a time she and Kelby both thought anyonne over 20 were idiots" Kourtney chuckles

A grin...and she doesn't say anything further on it. ]

Gerd smirks "I remember those too. I think Sylvi's a BIT embarrassed about it now"

"Well...I can't speak for her," Kerri evades.

"I can say that I've also held some strong opinions that I've had to modify. Tolerance will take you far as a Hearth."

"Does... does that mean Great Aunt Agnes was a bad hearth?" Kourtney asks

Kerri shakes her head. "Hardly. She has done a great amount of learning as well as providing. And tolerance is not the only way to Hearth." A pause, and a lower tone. "No...there are other ways to Hearth."