Cabin
Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Sunday drive on Saturday
LJ and I went for a leisurely drive yesterday. We wanted to find the roads to get us to Shagbark. We wandered some hilly, curvy Missouri backroads that will be lovely in spring, summer and fall.
Previously, I wondered what sort of creatures we might encounter on this land of ours. One that I hadn't even thought about practically met us at the front gate. There was a nice size flock of wild turkeys. They were off in the trees but the sound of the jeep scattered the 15 or 20 turks and they didn't waste any time fading into the scenery. I couldn't get a hold of my camera before they were gone and even if I had, I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten a good picture of them. They dress in camaflouge.
We did spy a blue jay yesterday and saw, again, our cabin mouse -- tho his days are numbered. LJ has been called to battle and I will put my money on LJ. Mouse has a unique way of exiting the cabin. He runs up the screen and squeaks out through a gap at the top of the door. I get a bit excited watching a mouse run up a screen.
LJ and I again walked the timber. There are signs of spring -- some green, small shoots unidentifable by me, yet. And it is too early for Dutchman's britches or other early flowering plants. I imagine one of the first I will be able to identify will be the lowly dandelion but didn't even find him yesterday.
We sat on the front porch and tried to imagine how black it will be at night, without electricity to push back the dark. Being of the baby boomer generation, we don't remember a time without street lights and porch lights, only tales from our folks. We spent time at the lake, complaining that one of the first things lake new comers do, is to install a big, all night, bright security light. Now, will we decide to do the same at Shagbark? Or will we find the darkness comforting and familiar?
Shopping list: 2 milk pails
26-1/2" X 72" outhouse door
wash pan
journal
broom
mouse traps
Previously, I wondered what sort of creatures we might encounter on this land of ours. One that I hadn't even thought about practically met us at the front gate. There was a nice size flock of wild turkeys. They were off in the trees but the sound of the jeep scattered the 15 or 20 turks and they didn't waste any time fading into the scenery. I couldn't get a hold of my camera before they were gone and even if I had, I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten a good picture of them. They dress in camaflouge.
We did spy a blue jay yesterday and saw, again, our cabin mouse -- tho his days are numbered. LJ has been called to battle and I will put my money on LJ. Mouse has a unique way of exiting the cabin. He runs up the screen and squeaks out through a gap at the top of the door. I get a bit excited watching a mouse run up a screen.
LJ and I again walked the timber. There are signs of spring -- some green, small shoots unidentifable by me, yet. And it is too early for Dutchman's britches or other early flowering plants. I imagine one of the first I will be able to identify will be the lowly dandelion but didn't even find him yesterday.
We sat on the front porch and tried to imagine how black it will be at night, without electricity to push back the dark. Being of the baby boomer generation, we don't remember a time without street lights and porch lights, only tales from our folks. We spent time at the lake, complaining that one of the first things lake new comers do, is to install a big, all night, bright security light. Now, will we decide to do the same at Shagbark? Or will we find the darkness comforting and familiar?
Shopping list: 2 milk pails
26-1/2" X 72" outhouse door
wash pan
journal
broom
mouse traps
Friday, February 25, 2005
Promise of spring . . .
50 degrees today, and sunny! There is a hint of spring in the air. Winter had better get back down to business or I'm going to get used to this idea of spring. I fear it is too early for this lovely weather to last . . .
I want to get to Shagbark and have a look see. In late March to early April, I may find the dainty Dutchman's Britches that I've always wanted. I'll mark the spot so each spring I can be waiting there to catch and enjoy the first bloom. I will look for Bloodroot and later, Mayapples. If I am lucky, perhaps there are Dog Tooth violets and Jack in the Pulpit. What other native plants will I find nestled in the timber or entrenched in the meadow -- what native treasures will I be able to share with the grandloveys? What song of the bird will they learn to know, to awaken to each morning? Will they see deer? and fox? -- possum and squirrel?
While the earth is awakening and warming, the birds moving north, the buds swelling on the trees and shrubs, I feel the urge to begin my new nest.
I want to get to Shagbark and have a look see. In late March to early April, I may find the dainty Dutchman's Britches that I've always wanted. I'll mark the spot so each spring I can be waiting there to catch and enjoy the first bloom. I will look for Bloodroot and later, Mayapples. If I am lucky, perhaps there are Dog Tooth violets and Jack in the Pulpit. What other native plants will I find nestled in the timber or entrenched in the meadow -- what native treasures will I be able to share with the grandloveys? What song of the bird will they learn to know, to awaken to each morning? Will they see deer? and fox? -- possum and squirrel?
While the earth is awakening and warming, the birds moving north, the buds swelling on the trees and shrubs, I feel the urge to begin my new nest.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
February hike
LJ and I visited the property on Saturday. The temperature reached 60 degrees. Although it was a little breezy at the cabin, it was warm as we hiked through the timber. We tried to walk the fence lines but because the trees have no respect for a fence, it was a meandering sort of walk.
Now, we anxiously await spring and summer and look forward to seeing the timber and meadow decked out in leaves and grasses. It will be extremely shady in some areas as the moss grows all the way around the trees and not just on the north side. We didn't startle any deer nor other wildlife except in the cabin. I rattled the woodstove and out ran a plump, big mouse. He will need to find new housing, and soon, as I don't plan on sharing a one-room cabin with a mouse.
We hadn't been in the cabin before. It is just one room, uninsulated and not air tight. We will make it warm and homey and it will do just fine for weekends until we build a permanent home on this land.
Now, we anxiously await spring and summer and look forward to seeing the timber and meadow decked out in leaves and grasses. It will be extremely shady in some areas as the moss grows all the way around the trees and not just on the north side. We didn't startle any deer nor other wildlife except in the cabin. I rattled the woodstove and out ran a plump, big mouse. He will need to find new housing, and soon, as I don't plan on sharing a one-room cabin with a mouse.
We hadn't been in the cabin before. It is just one room, uninsulated and not air tight. We will make it warm and homey and it will do just fine for weekends until we build a permanent home on this land.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Building castles
February 3, 2005: A January thaw has brought warm temperatures and sunny days to the Midwest. Saturday, LJ and I will take advantage of the lovely weather and explore our new property. We will walk the land again and we will see inside the cabin for the first time.
This will be a day to set some goals and draw dream castles; to discuss future plans and needs and wants. I'll take pictures and notes and LJ will just take pleasure. This will be the beginning of a great negotiating session. LJ has his thoughts and wants and needs -- and I have mine. The test will be in getting them to mesh, working out compromises and coming up with new ideas that please us both.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his own shadow and we will have six more weeks of winter (but if he hadn't seen his shadow, we would have an early spring and someone said an early spring in this area is mid March) so no matter how I look at it, Spring is six or seven weeks away. Too long! too far off. I want to carry rocks and cut brush, find wildflowers and discover trees and paths and critters and to spend days of hard labor helping LJ, sit in the shade, make a bench out of dead wood and rediscover nature through the eyes of my grandchildren. I am impatient and want to start now!
This will be a day to set some goals and draw dream castles; to discuss future plans and needs and wants. I'll take pictures and notes and LJ will just take pleasure. This will be the beginning of a great negotiating session. LJ has his thoughts and wants and needs -- and I have mine. The test will be in getting them to mesh, working out compromises and coming up with new ideas that please us both.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his own shadow and we will have six more weeks of winter (but if he hadn't seen his shadow, we would have an early spring and someone said an early spring in this area is mid March) so no matter how I look at it, Spring is six or seven weeks away. Too long! too far off. I want to carry rocks and cut brush, find wildflowers and discover trees and paths and critters and to spend days of hard labor helping LJ, sit in the shade, make a bench out of dead wood and rediscover nature through the eyes of my grandchildren. I am impatient and want to start now!
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