The First Spoils

Our latest dinner had a spicy addition from the garden. Erica and I thinned the radishes in the garden and had plenty that were ready for consumption. Below you'll see a few pictures after we had removed the greens. Since we have so many left, we're going to try one of Erica's concoctions: feta cheese, sliced radishes, a little oil, all on French bread, toasted.

We need to update everyone on the progress in the garden. Things are definitely growing. The pumpkin is taking off too well and we're going to try to split them up because there's so many. Things are coming along nicely on the house construction also. Updates on both coming soon.

Meower-Cow Standoff!! (Brought to you by: The Electric Fence)

The epoch begins:

 

 

 

Country roads take me home!

June 27th
After a few weeks, we have rejoined Linda back at the farm and this place has definitely seen some changes while we have been away. The house is under roof and the builders are framing up the rooms! The homestead is quite noticeable even from Friar's Hill Rd. Don't worry, there are plenty of pictures and (hopefully) we will be updating at a rapid pace so try to keep up!

Erica and I had a great time back in Birmingham, taking the opportunity to see so many of our friends and family and we can't thank everyone enough for the hospitality. It seems that it won't be long until we're hosting many of you here at the farm in the new abode. In fact, we expect to have several visitors next week and I'm sure there will be stories (and pictures when appropriate) that will make their way to the blog.

Below you'll see the current progress. Keep your eyes peeled for more!

Building Up

Josh and I are still absent from the farm for several more days but the work continues and the progress is amazing. Linda sent me pictures of what they have accomplished since my leaving three days ago and it is astounding. By the time we return there will be a shell of a house standing on what once was a cinder block lined dirt hole when I departed. It was hard to envision what the house would really look like, if it was large enough, or even how it would all come together but the pictures bring that all into perspective. I am filled with excitement just looking at what is unfolding before my eyes!

Badlands Bluegrass Festival June 14th & 15th

Linda, Heather, Guthrie, and I decided to put on our cowboy boots and let down our hair Saturday night and go the Badlands Bluegrass Festival. The music festival benefited the preservation of Fort McCoy, here in Greenbrier County, WV.  The headlining band was Taylor Made, which is a popular country group that was born and raised in WV. The crowd was small, the views amazing, and the music "rocking". We had such a good time kicking up our heels!

Those are the windmills (a.k.a. "The Birds) that could be seen in the mountains just left of the stage.

Taylor Made

Garden Progress

I have been tirelessly working in the garden the past two days. We have had several rain showers over the past week that have fed my plants, and unfortunately the weeds. I needed to put grass clippings around some plants to stop the overwhelming growth of weeds and the others I just used good old fashioned muscle to pull up. Everything is growing better than I could have expected. Here are a few pictures of what will be on the dinner table this summer.

Pumpkins

Cucumber



(From right to left)
 Bush beans, Swiss chard with Beets, Eggplant with Onions between, Peppers, and faintly some Tomatoes. 

Peppers and Tomatoes

Geraniums and Dill

Radishes with some Peas to the left.

Pole beans and Corn

Corn and Sunflowers

Flush Away

The septic is in! It is the first completed construction project on our house. Lynch construction crew worked hard digging, moving dirt, and laying septic lines. They brought in a large concrete vault to place in the monster hole they had dug several days before (I referred to it earlier as a grave, which made it more coincidental that the tank is called a vault). Next, they laid 220 feet of tile (black plastic domes that allow the sewage and water to leech out slowly) and lastly, they covered it back up with dirt and crossed their fingers that the Health Department would approve. We still have to use the port-o-potty but I look forward to the day I can flush again!

A Little here and a little there!

To our excitement, Heather and Guthrie arrived late Wednesday night. We were glad they made it safely! Thursday morning we woke and were ready to start a fun day together but the rains came and washed out all of our plans. It rained so hard that Heather and G went to meet Granny and Judy in town. They feared that they would be flooded in and miss their opportunity to visit. Linda and I stayed behind to man-the-fort and take care of Heather's dog, Artie. They returned Friday morning and have been busy checking out all the exciting progress we have made here. Below, I am posting several pictures of what I have found to be fascinating in the last few days.

G wanted to say, "Hello!"



Millie's first kill. I am a proud mama!

I finished painting, planting bulbs, and making a rock border at the gate.

Nana, G, and me at the Hanna Farm admiring the peacocks.

Building a Strong Foundation

Over the past two days the construction crew diligently worked on the foundation of the house. It is amazing to look at what was once just a pile of dirt and envision a "home", but everyday they come closer to making Linda's dreams come to life. It is truly amazing to watch the birth of our house.  They dug down 32", below the frost line, framed out where the footers will go, and filled them in with concrete. Below are pictures of the foundations birth process.

Weekend of June 8th & 9th

We woke Saturday morning to a beautiful sunny day. Linda and I went down to the gate to spread gravel that had been delivered and I finished mulching around the few bulbs that have started to poke through. Afterwards, we decided that we needed to shower, preferably with warm water in an indoor facility, so we packed up the truck and headed to Paradise Ridge. We washed several loads of laundry as we cleaned ourselves up. Doing laundry was like watching a pot boil, it seemed to take forever! By the time the last load was folded it was already 8:30 in the evening and we were starving. As the sun was setting we drove into Lewisburg hoping to try out one of the local eateries but to our disappointment everything in the small town closes by 9 p.m. Instead we had to settle for a chain restaurant.

For the second Sunday in a row we attended church at McMillion Methodist Church. It is a very small congregation but we really enjoy the people.  Rev. Denver Till was there this Sunday (he is only there every other Sunday) and he delivered a wonderful sermon. After church we went to brunch in Lewisburg hoping to have better luck this go round, and we did. We ate at a fantastic place called "Stella's Tea House". It is fine dining inside a wonderfully restored 1800's Victorian house. The napkins were linen, the coffee was gourmet, and the food was to die for! Mom had the strawberry and rhubarb French toast and I had the crab and avocado eggs benedict. Words can't describe how delicious it truly was. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the lovely weather.

 

Red sunset at night, sailors delight. Red sunrise in the morning, sailor take warning!

Built in 1889, but was founded much earlier.

Looking at the picture just makes my mouth water.

Crackin' Me Up

The construction crew arrived early again on Friday to tackle the job of cracking up the big rocks that remained within the borders of the houses foundation. Many of these rocks were where the footers of the house need to be laid, which left only one option. . . to break them up. The machinery they brought in was unusual looking, big, and loud. It was so loud that the cats never left the camper that day, they must have thought we were under attack. At the end of the day, all that was left was a pile of chipped rock.



The noise this machine generates makes a rock concert sound quiet.

I can imagine what my Aunt Sharon would say about the man who operates this machine!

Dig Deep!

Today, bright and early (or should I say rainy and early) , the construction crew arrived to begin on the septic tank and foundation work. Linda was so flustered by their unexpected arrival that she ran through the electrical fence gate while moving her vehicle. Not to worry, she didn't hurt her vehicle but it was a "shock" to her that she had done it! The construction crew started by marking the four corners of the house with boards and the big machinery began to scoop away the dirt. They hit a few large rocks that were impenetrable but for the most part they were able to dig out what will be the crawl space. We will have to wait and see how they remove the remaining large rocks (they look big and deep). After lunch they worked on excavating the hole where the septic tank will be buried. Standing next to it makes you think of a mass grave, that's how wide and deep down they had to go. Good thing mom and I get along so well, most days! All in all I think this is a wonderful start to Linda's beautiful dream home.

This is just one of the few large rocks that will need to be removed.

The mass grave site. . . I mean septic tank hole.