We have all returned from yet another vacation. Chris and Jackson spent a week in the mountains with scouts and Julie and Cooper went to Sara's.
We came home to find the pool emptied of water. That was such a let down as we had bought sand to level the spot and we were careful to put the cover on. So it looks like we will have to call Danny the water guy once again.
The garden is a jungle. I picked 20+ pounds of food and delivered to the food pantry. We had zucchini, peppers, jalapenos, cukes and eggplant. I had 6 artichokes...SO cool! I am just not sure how to cook them. The pumpkins and gourds are have fruit on the vines. The squash bugs are sure giving me a run for my money. I am constantly picking off the eggs. The beds were badly in need of weeding. Unfortunately both the push mower and the weed whipper are broken so mowing between the beds will have to wait another few days.
The barn raising is in full swing. The concrete pad was poured this week and 2.5 of the wall are up. It won't be long and we can get our stuff out of storage and into the new storage.
The bees are looking very active. This week they have been bearding which is what bees do when they are hot. It looks really cool and hopefully I can add in a photo soon. All the bees gather at the entrance and there can bee a lot of bees!
We also had a racoon get int my worms. He knocked over the condo and broke off the spigot. I lost alot of castings and plenty of tea, but I still have a good population of worms and I am confidant that they will recover.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Varmint Hunters
Chris has been under the weather with some dental problems so it has been quiet the past couple of weeks.
We did get the little pool set up, but it has been quite a process. Apparently 3000 gallons was too much for our well and we started to get mud in the lines and the well went dry. It has since recovered, but it left the pool very appealing to pigs and not appealing to children. That problem was quickly solved one evening when we about to leave for dinner. The four of us stood speechless as the pool side collapsed and all the water rushed off into the woods. It was quite a site to see. With the muddy waters gone, we moved the pool to higher ground and called in Danny the water guy(That is a separate story. He was quite a character.). We now have a pool that is level(mostly) and full of clean water. Cooper played in it the whole time we were filling it, then declared it too small and got out. Uugh!!
Yesterday Jackson went into the old house to fetch his model airplane and thought there was a fake snake on the ground so he stepped on it. Much to his surprise it was real. We all got a good laugh out of that.
I am also happy to report we have trapped and killed 2 ground hogs and 1 raccoon. I am a bit disturbed at how satisfying it is to come out in the morning and find my trap full. I guess I am really embracing the country life.
We did get the little pool set up, but it has been quite a process. Apparently 3000 gallons was too much for our well and we started to get mud in the lines and the well went dry. It has since recovered, but it left the pool very appealing to pigs and not appealing to children. That problem was quickly solved one evening when we about to leave for dinner. The four of us stood speechless as the pool side collapsed and all the water rushed off into the woods. It was quite a site to see. With the muddy waters gone, we moved the pool to higher ground and called in Danny the water guy(That is a separate story. He was quite a character.). We now have a pool that is level(mostly) and full of clean water. Cooper played in it the whole time we were filling it, then declared it too small and got out. Uugh!!
Yesterday Jackson went into the old house to fetch his model airplane and thought there was a fake snake on the ground so he stepped on it. Much to his surprise it was real. We all got a good laugh out of that.
I am also happy to report we have trapped and killed 2 ground hogs and 1 raccoon. I am a bit disturbed at how satisfying it is to come out in the morning and find my trap full. I guess I am really embracing the country life.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Grow, Build, Swim.
We just arrived home after a 2 week vacation. We had a great time visiting family, zip lining, swimming and riding the Dell's ducks. It was so nice to come back to our RV home, we were surprised how much we missed the little place.
The garden produced an enormous amount while I was gone. I picked everything and donated 79 pounds of food to interfaith relief. They were SO happy to get the fresh veggies.
Everything is growing so fast and I was pleased that it was not completely taken over with weeds. I did find a huge success ..... 3 artichoke blooms!!! Last year they grew all season and I was hesitant to try again, but I think the new watering system has really paid off.
We came home to find the footers, walls and plumbing roughed in for the barn. The trusses also showed up while we were gone. The slab should be poured early next week and the framing will begin shortly after that.
After spending so much time in other people's lovely spacious homes, parent guilt kicked in and we bought one of those above ground pools. I just can't wait to get in ... heeeheee
The garden produced an enormous amount while I was gone. I picked everything and donated 79 pounds of food to interfaith relief. They were SO happy to get the fresh veggies.
Everything is growing so fast and I was pleased that it was not completely taken over with weeds. I did find a huge success ..... 3 artichoke blooms!!! Last year they grew all season and I was hesitant to try again, but I think the new watering system has really paid off.
We came home to find the footers, walls and plumbing roughed in for the barn. The trusses also showed up while we were gone. The slab should be poured early next week and the framing will begin shortly after that.
After spending so much time in other people's lovely spacious homes, parent guilt kicked in and we bought one of those above ground pools. I just can't wait to get in ... heeeheee
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Caterpillar
Friday, June 17, 2011
Our first month is a success
We are loving life here in the woods. The garden is flourishing and we even expanded this year with a size able pumpkin and gourd patch. Construction on the barn should start next week.
With such a small house to clean I have had loads of time to catch up on my reading. Now that the kids are out of school, we will see how that goes.
Our biggest treat has been seeing all the wildlife. While playing Uno, Cooper says 'turkey' and sure enough there is a big ol' tom the turkey taking a dust bath. We see or hear the turkeys every day. Another evening after the boys were in bed Chris and I watched a pair of white barn owls swoop down at our lights. Very cool! We have so may cardinals living right outside our window along with bluebirds, humming birds and a Baltimore oriel.
We also have some not so cool wildlife. I am personally on a mission to rid the place of ground hogs and raccoons. Yesterday I caught my first groundhog in the live trap and Chris 'disposed' of it. I am still waiting for my first raccoon, now I am using tuna as bait any other suggestions??
For those of you who have been so concerned about Chris' Internet access, I am online via his new Verizon MiFi.
With such a small house to clean I have had loads of time to catch up on my reading. Now that the kids are out of school, we will see how that goes.
Our biggest treat has been seeing all the wildlife. While playing Uno, Cooper says 'turkey' and sure enough there is a big ol' tom the turkey taking a dust bath. We see or hear the turkeys every day. Another evening after the boys were in bed Chris and I watched a pair of white barn owls swoop down at our lights. Very cool! We have so may cardinals living right outside our window along with bluebirds, humming birds and a Baltimore oriel.
We also have some not so cool wildlife. I am personally on a mission to rid the place of ground hogs and raccoons. Yesterday I caught my first groundhog in the live trap and Chris 'disposed' of it. I am still waiting for my first raccoon, now I am using tuna as bait any other suggestions??
For those of you who have been so concerned about Chris' Internet access, I am online via his new Verizon MiFi.
Friday, May 27, 2011
New tennants at Watermark Woods
WooHoo! We officially reside at Watermanrk Woods. We closed on our house today and are so proud to call the Woods home.
Things are still a bit rough around the edges. We are working at getting the septic and water hooked to our new temporary dwelling(RV) and there is no Internet or phone yet, but it is such a treat to hear the owls as we drift off to sleep each night.
As I type this at a local coffee shop with free WiFi Jackson is anxiously awaiting me to return the use of his lap top. So a short and sweet posting for now but know that we are so happy to be in our new surroundings and as the next chapter in our adventure begins we have great dreams for the future of our family. Stay tuned......
Things are still a bit rough around the edges. We are working at getting the septic and water hooked to our new temporary dwelling(RV) and there is no Internet or phone yet, but it is such a treat to hear the owls as we drift off to sleep each night.
As I type this at a local coffee shop with free WiFi Jackson is anxiously awaiting me to return the use of his lap top. So a short and sweet posting for now but know that we are so happy to be in our new surroundings and as the next chapter in our adventure begins we have great dreams for the future of our family. Stay tuned......
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Bees Have Arrived
Link to a video of Chris and Jackson putting the bees in their new hive:
On another topic, remember when Chris' stihl chainsaw got stolen. Well he got a new one about 6 weeks age. Today it got ran over with the end loader. What a mess! He took it into Tommy the chainsaw man (who looks eerily like Robert DeNiro) and it would cost more to fix it than to buy a new one, so we have purchased our 3rd new chainsaw.
The garden is doing great, we are up to our ears in lettuce and some is actually going to seed. I need to get on the ball and prune it back some. Things are looking green and healthy, except the strawberries which are looking red and healthy!
We think we will be living at Watermark Woods in less than a week. WooHoo!!!
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