Septic System, etc.

Today we were able to see the construction of the septic system in action.  We are totally unfamiliar with these kinds of things and we were curious and asked a lot of questions.  One thing we realized is, if we take care of "it" it will take care of us.





Checked out the house and it appears all the windows and most of the outside doors are installed.  Plumber had installed the tubs, framers had replaced most of the soffit, etc.  Unfortunately when we really started looking at the fireplace, we realized it was not woodburning.  It is a gas ceramic log type of system.  So when Ryan arrived and we told him, tho he was gracious, we could see it was going to be a problem.  Some how we didn't communicate what we wanted to him....

Most of the day up until lunch, we worked with the neighbors on removing the brush along the fence line.  Peg was totally into working the brush cutter.  I think we have pretty much finished removing the brush so they can begin pulling wire, which they were doing by the end of the day.  They have worked very hard.  Today, for example, they were there working before we arrived at 9:00, and were still working when we left at 3:00.  We were pooped after our short little stint of 21/2-3 hours!

Ryan, Larry, and kids arrived around lunch time so we ate.  After lunch, Emily and her crew arrived.  The children ran around and played as the adults talked and Ryan inspected.

Finally we headed down to the deer feeder where we have seen from the game cam that the raccoons have totally taken over.  I had planned to make a repair or two to the solar panel because it had partially broken off.  Well, it was really messed up so I will need to spend some time figuring out how to repair it.  We had thought it was the deer with their racks of antlers that had mangled the panel up.  But it wasn't.  It is the raccoons that climb up to the top of the feeder poles and drop down onto the feeder bucket and panel breaking it off. 

What Happened To Spring?

We were happy to have fall and winter arrive so we could enjoy those crisp cool days.  Today the temperatures are in the high 70s.  What happened to spring?  Geez...  In any event, the day was gorgeous!

We first  headed to Taylor to pay for another 3 months on the storage unit that is housing the bulk of our furniture.  We debated a long time about how long to extend the lease as there were some freebies included if we went longer.  We finally decided we would be optimistic and go for the three months because we would rather have the house complete than have an extra month or two of free rent.

As we drove into the farm, our neighbors were working on the fence.  We felt very sleazy about ourselves because we haven't helped at all.  So we told them we would be back to help after we checked out the house. 

The framers were back to finish odds and ends and repair/replace the soffit.

Planted a few little bluestem seeds we had acquired.  Maybe we'll have some luck.

Then we headed back to help with the clearing of the fence line.

If you look closely, you can see the near perfect brush piles in the neighbor's pasture in the top couple of pictures.  I've taken pictures of our hodge-podge piles in other postings.  They are so organized and methodical in their approach.  They have three kinds of piles.  One is of larger logs which will be transported to a place in town that turns the logs into wood chips for public use.  Another pile is only for fast burning vines, and the third is smaller branches which they will push into their pasture for a slower burn.  At this point, we just keep making more and more new hodge-podge piles. 

We have learned from the neighbors in the past and were reminded again that the vines will kill the trees if we don't keep them in check and out of the tree's canopy.  In my research, I've learned that once we chop them down, the cows will eat the new emerging shoots which will stunt/limit their growth.  So it looks like brush cutting the vines is on the agenda for a while.

I Stand Corrected

It is a brush cutter not a weed wacker!

We're going, we're not going, we're going...

We spent this week watching the weather and very cold predicted temperatures for the weekend.  We made the decision not to go the farm.  At the last minute we decided to go because temps were to warm into the low 60s!  (It was pretty cold until we hit that magic 60 degrees)
I had picked up our very powerful weed wacker from the repair shop and we really wanted to see if it would wack the tough vines under the trees.  What was amazing to me is we managed to start the rascal!  I helped Peg hook it up and off she went to wack weeds (she tells me she loves working with the machines!).

 

We spent some time changing out the game cams.  Down at the deer feeder, the cardinals were flocking to pick up the goodies overlooked by the deer (at least we hope the deer have been by to eat and the corn isn't just feeding the birds).



Ryan and "his crew" arrived to meet with the electrician.  We visited for a short time then headed our separate ways.  Looking ahead, next Saturday looks to be in the 70s!  Yipee!

A Balmy Winter Day

We arrived at the farm this morning and were greeted by temperatures in the low sixties.  There was a wind but it wasn't too bad.

We walked through the house and observed continued work by the electricians and plumbers.  The guys who put up the porch soffit were premature causing the electrician to knock a bunch of it out so he could rough in for lights and fans.  It was discouraging as I view it as a step backwards.

Then we headed to the Live Oak Grove to finish cutting out the old barbwire.  We still have a few little pieces of fencing we need to get, but we got most of it.

Dogs eating heaven knows what!!!!!

This ball of wire was made so we could drag it across the pasture up to the construction dumpster.  It was pretty much in a "wad" when we cut it out so we were unable to roll it up which, in theory, would have made it "easier" to move.  What a pain!

Emily arrived with some good suggestions for blinds, etc.  She is so excited and full of great ideas.  We are lucky she is helping us with the decorating, an area we don't enjoy.  

I have to comment on the dogs again...  They run through the house with pure enjoyment.  Up and down the stairs, in and out the open doorways, and seem thrilled to be with us in what will soon be our new home.  Since day one, they have totally embraced the changes to come.

Beulah was taking a nap when Peg and Rooster headed to the deer feeder to change the game cam.  When she realized they were gone and had left her, she was disappointed (notice the tail position).

 

Our neighbors were working on our shared fence line again today.  This is some of  what they are trying to remove so they can replace the fence.

Today's house pictures:





Fireplace

 

 

Looking into the kitchen.

This and That

As I have said before, we arrive every weekend with a list of routine chores we need to do and some we've decided we want to do.  This week we did the routine and ran out of time for most of what we wanted to do.

First we headed to fill the deer feeder.  Although we haven't had any good pictures lately because of hunting season and the building noises, we still have the feeder running and there are lots of hoof prints around.  I think the last weekend of hunting season was at the end of December but some of the landowners who are working with the Texas Wildlife folks have extended hunting thru January.  As hunting season ends and more of the building noises are inside, I am hopeful of seeing more deer activity soon.

As we drove out through the Oak Grove, we saw some of yesterday's lingering snow fall.  I am well aware of the small amount of snow pictured.  All the Northerners who are reading are probably laughing their heads off.  But even the smallest amount of snow and ice can send Texans into both cries of "Yeah!" and those who drive, into turtles or crazed fiends.

We met with Emily who has agreed to help us with some decorating dilemmas.  Maybe with a third person involved, it will be easier for Peg and I to make decisions.

Progress continues on the house.

We are beginning to think about the logistics of moving in the next few months.  As I am the one who drives the U-Haul truck, my tummy is in a tailspin...

Scattered

Well it became very clear to me today that our approach to dealing with our farm chores is a "scattered" approach.  We never finish any task before we get involved with another.  Today's chore was clearing out some of the vines which are growing underneath our trees that manage to find a way into the tree's canopy eventually killing it by choking out all the light needed for the tree's leaves.  This is very problematic and widespread. 

We are happy to announce that we have managed to finally get a couple hands to help us on the farm.  These two souls first came to our attention as nail picker uppers.  We gave them their official worker gloves at a low key ceremony and set them to work.  One worker had considerable trouble figuring out where her thumbs and fingers went in her gloves, but after 30 minutes or so she was ready to get to work.

Progress is continuing on the house.  The plumber finally showed up this week and did most of his topping out chores.  While we were working, the HT/AC crew continued their work installing vents, lines, etc.  Most of the windows are in, although some need to be reordered because of some architectural challenges. 

 

 

Finally, you know it's home when you can see some of your special requests being installed.  The dogs were thrilled to see the doggie door hung!  Now they can come and go as they want.  We may be rethinking this special feature...