Kitchen, After

I now have a counter top! I know this looks cluttered but everything we have serves a purpose and it is all right there, at my fingertips. Okay, okay, the dozen metal cans that were in the cabin when we bought it are just gathering dust and there might be a few things I carried down from home that are extras -- but mainly, everything in here has a purpose. And at least I don't have to keep rearranging everything just to get a meal now!

The purpose of metal cans and containers is to keep out the mice and bugs! We swept up a quart of Japanese beetles this visit!

A Day at III

LJ is up early, about 5:30. I sleep in until 7 or so, until the coffee is made, anyway. Then I crawl out. LJ has the wood fire going again but the little propane unit kept the cabin warm all night and he stayed in bed; he didn’t have to sleep in a chair feeding the fire. We have a donut and coffee, then get around and go to town. We need a sheet of plywood for my kitchen cupboard and since we need the trailer to haul it, Himself gets 4 treated 4X4 posts while we are there. Next spring he will replace the old tree trunks that are currently holding up the front porch but are starting to rot and we don't want to lose that porch!

Took the plywood to Too, to use the electric saw as I needed a couple of pieces 5+ feet by 20 inches and that would be a lot of hand sawing! Unfortunately, after we throw the wood out and plug in the 35-year old circular saw, it doesn’t work. The switch is bad. We discuss, while Himself bangs the saw on the ground and knocks it up along side the switch, that we bought the saw when we lived in our first home in Sioux City. We needed the saw when we shingled the house. So, it has been a good ol’ saw but today, it is not going to work. We take it down to the cabin to warm up. It is about 18 degrees and I’m freezing so I think maybe the saw is cold too. Himself finally takes it apart and there is 35-years' worth of sawdust packed in around the switch and it won't toggle. He clears that out and uses some WD40 and works and reworks the switch and when he puts it back together, the switch works and Himself saves the day! He is good! Working in the snow and cold, I mark out the pieces I need and even mark out notches for the corners so I won’t have to hand saw them back at III. I’m feeling mighty smug – Himself has saved me a lot of hand sawing and that cupboard should go right together!

So, we batten down the hatches again at Too and skip back to III. We get right on breakfast as that donut didn’t stick to my ribs. After eating, Himself takes the chainsaw to clear more saplings up the drive and I start in on my cupboard. I have to attach some braces to my frame, to hold the shelf so I saw several 2X4s and I have gotten pretty capable, hand sawing, and soon have the braces cut and screwed on to the frame. I no sooner think about the next step and I realize that the notches I had Himself cut out with the power saw are not big enough and I am going to have to enlarge all four notches. With the hand saw. ¾” plywood . . . oh no.

So, back to the saw but they go quicker than I had imagined and recutting my notches hasn’t been too much of a set back. I carry the shelf in and have to drop it in from the top, all the time hoping that there is enough room in there to work with it. After I drop it, I see that I still need another half inch out of two corners and not only that, I can’t get the shelf back out. Now, I am disgusted!

I wrestle that shelf and cuss and spit. But that doesn’t help so I go sit down and think it through. There might be just enough room for me to get the saw in to take out that inch. Sure enough, I wrestle it some more and wield the saw and one place I have to use the chisel. I am just about done when Himself walks in. I tell him that I will never ever attempt to build anything and he can see I’ve been in a fix but just then I knock that last bit of wood out with the chisel and the shelf falls down into place. Aha! A tight fit but it works! Himself helps me carry in the counter top, the last step, and at least it fits. Then it is just a simple matter to throw a screw in each corner of the top and I am done.

Sitting by the fire, several hours later, I say, “the next time I build . . .” oops. Already I have forgotten my promise never, ever to build another thing!

GETTIN READY-11/20/2007

Ok, this will be interesting. We are heading to III over Xgiving week-end. 4 days.
And there is a very good chance of snow, the high temperatures for the 4 days are not predictated to climb out of the mid-30's. WOW! You can bet the ol wood burning stove will be cranked up. We are taking lots of warm clothing, and lots of food, soups, stews, etc. I can hardly wait. I am looking forward to this more than a vacation in a condo. Our battery for the electricity is fully charged, so we will have lights, and we do still have the ol coleman lantern on standby.
I guess our main projects for the long week-end are: cutting and clearing the rest of the drive and up at the upper entrance. Herself wants to work on her kitchen counter, so we will have to get some plywood. The porch roof sags as the supports was built with trees, which are rotting, so I want to get some 4.4's to shore them up, but that probably won't get done until warmer weather.
We also have to stop at II and finish winterizing as I just did a partial when we were last there.
So if you don't here from us after a couple of weeks after Xgiving, you might drive to III and see if we are frozen in our tracks.
Himself

NOVEMBER 2007 UPDATE FOR OCTOBER

The last time we went to III, it was to spend the night and test out the new propane wall furnace. As the temp was to drop to the upper twenties, it would be a good test. I had worked most of the day cutting trees, etc with the new chainsaw, and was pretty well beat, so went to bed about 9:30 or so. Herself was to let the fire in the stove die down, and ignite the wall furnace, which she did. So, instead of having to get up every 2-4 hours, I would be able to sleep all night. So, what did I do? I stayed up most of the night waiting for the furnace to no longer be able to keep up with the dropping temperatures. I finally got to sleep around 3:00, and when I got up at 6:30, the cabin was still at 64 degrees and the outside temp had dropped to 27 degrees. So, the test was mainly a success, and I will be satisfied knowing the little furnace will keep up, and it was just set on low.
Now, the chainsaw. My old reliable Poulon has ran for 15 years and is still running, but seeing all the trees remaining to be downed, it was time for a biggie. I didn't get the biggest, but a mid-range Husqvarna 455 Rancher. It is a beast. When I first started it and let it idle, it reminded me of my high school years, and the guys with the souped up cars with the high performance cams, and then when I gave it the gas, it roared. It cuts thru wood like butter. Heaver, but boy does it cut. I now realize, I should have had it when we first acquired III.
We hope to spend Thanksgiving weekend, from Thurs thru Sunday, at III. I have to test out our new propane fired cooler, and hopefully maybe we will get a little snow to make the weekend complete. We will cook our turkey as the pilgrims did, over a fire. Just kidding, but it will be different than our usual Thanksgiving dinners, as there will only be the two of us.
Boi

Himself's Bright Idea

Himself, a couple of weeks ago, happened to think of the 12-Volt lights that were in the houseboat. Since we only use the boat for a playhouse now (the Grandbabes, that is), he removed the lights and the wiring and took them to III. Saturday morning we got up in good time and headed to III to get a little work done. We thought to try out the new propane wall furnace too, as the low temperatures were to be in the 30s.

You can see the result of Himself's industry in the photo above. (You can also see the skelton of my new kitchen counter to the right of the stove. I will have a 5' long counter when I decide what to use for my counter top -- then there won't be a mess sitting around like you see in this picture!)

The kitchen corner of the cabin was dark, even in the day time so when he asked me where to put the first light, I knew just where -- over the stove/sink. It was done -- and it is good. The second light was put above the kitchen table and again, it is good. We can have one on or both.

Saturday evening, after the cold and dark drove us inside, I was able to sit and read at the table. Himself, having gotten up about two hours earlier than me and after lots of fresh air and exercise, hit the sack and sawed logs. When I gave up for the day, I turned on the wall furnace and snuggled in. The furnace, on low, was plenty and Himself didn't have to get up and feed the fire.

We, at III, are living the good life!

Here is the wall furnace. It is powered by propane. In our snug little cabin, the pilot light alone furnishes heat! This may be one of my favorite conveniences only because Himself can't rest just using the woodstove as he worries and stays awake to feed the fire. He didn't have to get up once to stoke the fire this Saturday night!

Now, a little white beadboard paneling and an insulated floor and we could live here here around! Well, and some good gravel in the driveway . . .

"After" Kitchen

well, darn! You are just going to have to wait for the "after" kitchen photo.

"Before" Kitchen

A Place for Everything

and everything in its place. Yep, that is my motto. I want that at III. Himself is funny and says things like "we'll be sleeping outside in a tent". Ha, Ha. No need for a tent. Don't we have a wonderful 4-poster bed? And we don't even have to move things off of it, fold it out or make it up. There it is. Ready. Organized.

All I ask for my kitchen is organization! When I cook now, I move the picnic basket from the top of the woodstove, to the floor, to a chair. I move the dishpan from the stove top to the sink to the woodstove. I sit the hot frying pan on the hearth and move the coffee pot from the stove to the sink top to the mouse proof metal box. I go out to the front porch to get the refrigerated things out of the cooler. I just want to be able to put things in one place and not keep moving them! My new kitchen cupboard will help me get to where I am going. It will have two shelves, about 5-foot long and a counter top! Right now, I have a 9-1/2" counter top -- between the propane cook stove and the kitchen sink. Now, that 9-1/2" is more than I did have and I am not complaining -- but add another 5 foot to that and I will think I am in hillbilly heaven! (The cupboard is built of 2X4s, after all.)

Himself's new propane refrigerator will be inside the cabin, connected to the propane tank, and soon the kitchen will be laid out and organized!

Last time down, we finished insulating, we cleaned, baited wee little creatures and re-arranged the furniture. The cabin at III beckons! And if the weather holds, we will answer the call!

PS: himself just received his new "farm tough" chainsaw . . . and it WILL need field tested -- soon!

ANOTHER YEAR GOING BY(E)

We have made it to III on Oct 13, 2007, but only to work this time. We are doing the final push on insulation, and I am installing a propane wall furnace, that will hopefully take the chill off when we don't really need the woodburning stove, and also, will keep us warm enough that I don't have to get up every 3-4 hours during the nite to keep the stove fired up when it is really cold.
One great thing about III is that from early September on thru the fall, no mowing is required, which allows me plenty of time to get winterizing chores done, mowers and 4-wheeler readied for winter, and generally just a break from mowing.
The timber is changing everytime we get to III. It is amazing how it changes from week to week.
The new bridge trail will require a jog, as the section that goes up over a protruding tree root is causing some concern. We will find a new route that will bypass that section this fall.
Girl is revamping the kitchen and building a new storage cabinet. Before long, we will be staying outside in a tent as the little cabin is fast filling with storage cabinets and the like. Things keep coming, but nothing leaves.
This winter we will see if we can get into III after there is snow on the ground. We will be going onto our fourth season, and have yet to see what it looks like with snow. We have plenty of firewood, and with the new furnace we should be in good shape.
And for my birthday, #60, I might add, I will have rec'd a propane powered refrigerator/cooler, which will aleviate the necessity for hauling what seems to be tons of ice. It can also run from a 12 volt battery or electricity, which we don't have.
I do need to get a new chain saw, as my old Poulon is finally starting to wear out. Its about 15 yrs old and has cut down far more trees than it was intended for. Anyway it has been retired to II where it will live out the remainder of its life. The new saw will be an extra heavy duty one.
I have trees to cut.
Boi

First Day of Fall

and we won't be in Mo checking out signs that summer will soon be behind us and winter just ahead. Instead, Himself and I will be in other states -- Himself, keeping his promise that we will have other destinations at least once a year.

So, we will be off to Estes Park and points beyond! The extended forecast is for 70 deg days and lows in the 40s with only a chance of rain or two. We go seeking back roads, old towns and buildings and mountain roads. We are off to seek adventure! (pretty tame adventure, but adventure non the less!)

And don't forget WORK

Himself, with the help of our two grandsons (Jack, left, Joe, right), mixed cement this weekend and poured another support for the ol' cabin. The boys were interested and helpful. Himself glad to be busy and doing. On Tuesday, with the quiet descending after all had headed home, Himself and I poured two more supports, for the porch this time. Come time to pull that porch off and rebuild, we will have all the prep work done, less one. Can't get to the front middle support of the cabin until the porch comes off. The last week of September, we vacation for a week in Estes Park. Looks as though it is going to be October -- or Spring 08 !! -- before we get to that porch. Time flies . . . For helping, "the boys" got their names in the concrete.

Water Balloons. Sitting in the Shade. Appetites.

Family Reunion

It turned into a wonderful family weekend with all but Johanna and Audrianna in attendance. The weather was perfect! Warm enough for the little ones to swim during the day but cool enough at night for some good sleeping! Kristy and Tony brought a hammock and yard games and camped on the Lake Lots. Himself smoked two kinds of meat. We had watermelon, home grown tomatoes, cukes and ice cream cones. We played at the beach, rode the 4-wheeler at III, played volleyball. The little ones had the houseboat for playhouse, 3 swings, animals, fish and insects to discover (and disect in some cases). There were falls, bumps and bruises and contusions but fortunately no stitches! There were hugs and kisses and good times.

I loved every minute of it! Thanks for coming, thanks for loaning me the bairns and let's do it again next year! Love, Ma

Look out Missouri!

Some of the Hofs and families will be descending upon Too and III this coming weekend. Himself and I can hardly wait to get there -- in fact, Himself will go down a day ahead to mow both places, as needed. I will have to work Friday but will take an extra day on Tuesday as The Fontanas are vacationing here from Illinois and 5 of our 6 beautiful grandbabes will be there too. Mrs. Frey, Son Hof and who knows who all will be in and out this weekend. We are looking forward to good times and good weather!

Labor Day is meant to be a day of celebration for the working man (and woman) but it seems to have become a symbol of the end of summer. I suppose because all the schools are starting, it is the end of summer for the children -- but it won't be me!

I will not be sad nor nostalgic as I will look forward to many good days in Mo this year. Happy Labor Day!

A summer storm

The camera caught some of the rain drops, to my surprise!

Dog Days, II

We were up and at it fairly early today. Okay, I'll retract as I'm sure Himself will set the world straight, if I don't. I think I slept until 8:00 or so while Himself got up at 6 a.m. But, it didn't take me long to get started. So I worked on my garden and Himself held the porch down. I pulled garden fence posts and measured and straightened and rechecked for "square" and then Himself helped me reset two or three fence posts (pound in with a sledge hammer) as he told me I was a wimp. And I let him!

While I pulled and dug weeds out of the garden, Himself took breakfast duty even tho it was my turn so that by the time I was starving, there was bacon, eggs and toast and even fresh tomato! Bless his heart. Then, the day got so oppresive that we sat on the porch and watched while the sky closed in with thunderheads and the rumblings of thunder started off to the south. The clouds rolled through, the wind picked up and finally, while we waited, it just opened up and poured. Some lightening but more noise then anything -- and about 1/3 inch of rain but we enjoyed every drop of it.

If you are reading this backwards -- or from the middle out -- click Here to see video and hear the thunder!

III's Bounty

if you are reading this in 2008, click here to go back . . .

Dog Days

We arrived at III shortly after noon as we had to mow at Too this morning (it had rained Friday and the grass is wet). Saturday is on it's way to being a hot, humid dog day in MO. Himself has to mow both the clearing and the "top" so he is immediately on the mower and going at it. I jump in the Jeep and run to Bethany where I visit my favorite consignment shop and my unfavorite Wal-Mart. Upon my return, I find Himself at the cabin, waiting for me. Fortunately, for both of us, he has not waited long. He needs the Jeep and the jumper cables to get the mower started again. Darn mower, anyway. The mower starts and Himself goes off in the heat of the day to finish mowing the top. It is 90+ and humid with a heat index of 100, at least, and mowing is a hot, dirty job. I am not very ambitious but manage to set up my new sink resevoir, my new wash stand (a present from the children) and a few other odd jobs until the walkie talkie crackles and Himself is calling 911 for the Jeep and the battery cables again so off I go, at his beck and call! (I am not complaining! Here I come to save the day! Nancy is on her way!!)

Before going to town, I asked Himself if he needed a new battery for the mower. No. Okay.

Himself starts the mower again and off he goes, down the lane, headed back to the cabin. I am loaded with water containers so I take it easy and slow so as not to slosh but I soon catch up to him and the cantankerous mower. This time the belt has come off. Himself is busy, pushing, pulling, straining. At one point, I think he is about to push the mower over the edge of the ravine and let her roll! But the "otherside" sits in the Jeep with the air conditioner running, just pretty well entertained -- although I don't smile and I don't offer any comments or suggestions! Finally, the belt is on, the mower starts, and all is right with the world.

The rest of the day goes well, as long as one doesn't labor in the sun and drinks plenty of liquids. I pick tomatoes -- finally and eat them with barely a washing! We have supper and sit on the porch and wait for it to cool down. We have a long wait, this evening.

A tired, hot mower

BOI'S DEFENSE

OK, in defense of my actions pertaining to the outhouse dig, first of all it was hot and muggy. I wouldn't have minded helping except most of the time we discuss herself's projects before we (she) jumps in with both feet. As we hadn't gotten to III on a regular schedule this year, my first priority is to keep mowed what we have cleared. It usually takes 4-5 hours of steady mowing just to accomplish this and that's if there are no problems with the equipment, such as having to jump start equipment, fill flat tires, etc. And this does not include mowing the trails, which takes another up to 2 hours if all goes well, such as the belt coming off or getting stuck and having to be towed back by a maniac driving a 4-wheeler. Herself is not aware of the times the belt comes off the mower, and all the sticks, limbs, branches, etc that I have to stop and pick up. And unless it has just rained, I and the equipment are covered with dust and dirt and insects. So, yes, I , when I get done spending hours on the mowers, oh and I forgot, after I do all that mowing, I hook up the trail cutter, fill it with gas, check the oil, etc and go mow with that for an hour or two. So, when done, yeh, i'm ready for a shower and to get cooled off, and drink an ice cold beer. So while yes, my beautiful stubborn wife labored at the outhouse, and I do admire her for that, it wasn't that big a deal. She did her thing, I did mine. That's the way its supposed to be. Both jobs got done, we both survived, and most important of all, we're still talking.
Himself

Too's New Cornerstone

Etched in Stone, almost

Himself worked hard this weekend at Too. The old cabin had settled at the corners. She’s been droopy and needing a face lift for a few years. The porch has settled too, enough that the door won’t always open all the way and the porch has pulled away from the cabin.

This weekend was a preliminary “prep” weekend leading up to a bigger, better weekend this fall when it is cooler. We will pull the porch floor off, replace the porch columns, and pour concrete porch supports – and then put her all back together. If we are lucky. Or determined.

It was a bear of a weekend -- 90 degrees and humid. Just walking in the sun caused the sweat to pour from his brow so Himself worked in the shade, took advantage of the breeze and rested frequently. He got three of the supports done Saturday. Each support involved digging dry, packed Missouri dirt out from under the cabin (not to be mistaken nor compared with the impacted granite dust at III). There also would have been at least one cement block at each post, sometimes two -- which the cabin, plumbed and leveled, originally set on. They had settled and been sucked into the clay and had to be hacked out too.

My job this Saturday was to go to town for groceries, cement mix and, of course, the garage sales. After I returned, I was designated Tote and Fetcher (my Dad’s term) –the “go get this” “go do that” person but I am used to this role so I Toted and Fetched and helped however I could.

And at the cabin’s “corner stone”, Himself left a sweet surprise . . . the other side

Lap of Luxury or is that "Seat of Luxury"?

A while back, Himself received a battery-operated light bulb as a gift from Kristy and knew immediately where he would hang it. It looks realistic and almost fools the eye . . . and comes in right handy for those middle of the night runs.

Sunday Challenge

Yesterday while I plugged away at the outhouse pit, Himself took off on the big mower to mow the “top”, the entryway, to our little hideaway. He finished that up then decided to mow some of the trails so after a late breakfast, off he rode. I was preoccupied with the “pit” and busy. When he left, he had taken the walkie-talkie and given me the mate and told me if he had any trouble, he’d let me know via the little two-way radio.

After an hour or so, here he was on the walkie-talkie. Will you come on the 4-wheeler and bring the battery and battery cables. Okay. But easier said then done. I dragged and carried the heavy marine battery to the front porch and backed the 4-wheeler up to the porch. I managed, out of shrill will, to get the battery up and loaded and I was off to the rescue!

The mower deck had become wedged between two dirt banks. It had died and now the mower wouldn’t start. Himself hooked the battery charger up but still the mower wouldn’t start so he got the tow line and hooked the mower to the 4-wheeler. I could tell he was torn. Should I (i.e. the woman) ride the mower (linked BACKWARDS to the 4-wheeler) or should I drive the 4-wheeler and tow him riding backwards? Finally, Himself told me to get on the 4-wheeler, instructed me what gear, etc, and told me he would steer the mower backwards as I pulled him back up the trail. I was a bit nervous, as I’ve not had much experience towing and was much more nervous after he didn’t like the way I was turning the 4-wheeler around on the narrow path. I almost got off and told him to do it himself. I did tell him, come turn this around but he instructed and I persisted and soon the mower was attached by towline to the 4-wheeler.

He was riding backwards and couldn’t see that because of the torque on the mower, caught between two dirt ledges, the 4-wheeler, even in low gear and 4-wheel drive, was being pulled sideways towards a tree. I was fighting it and doing my best. He yelled. I stopped. I tried again. He yelled. I stopped. I tried to explain what was happening. He didn’t care. He didn’t verbalize that but I could tell by “the look”. So I tried again and got the “mule” back on the trail and we got to moving. I was a little unsteady at first and must have gone faster than he wanted and he yelled, “go slow!” On the down hills, the mower would roll and catch up to me. On the up hills, the rope would tighten and I would tow him up the hill. After a bit, I decided I was going to enjoy this no matter what. I was learning and doing something I hadn’t before. I laughed out loud and soon I was pulling him more steadily, at the low speed Himself demanded. So up the trail – and down – and soon we had the mower and Himself back in the shade at the cabin.
Back at the cabin, we both laughed and congratulated each other on the successful mission and will await the next challenge.

Saturday Evening

After a delicious evening meal Saturday evening, we were sitting on the porch relaxing. Himself had had his shower back in the timber and I was looking forward to mine but one of the projects I had outlined for myself today was pulling the run-away dock out of the pond. I told Himself that I was going to put on the mud boots and see if I could get the dock to shore before I went and showered.

So I donned the boots. Himself said he’d better come along in case I needed help and I waded out into the pond. I pried the dock up with a pole but could hardly budge it as there was still one pole attached to the dock and embedded in the muddy bottom of the pond. After working at it several minutes, Himself offered to go get the 4-wheeler and maybe we could get a hook on it with the tow line. I was in deep enough now that water was running in the top of the boot and the boots were getting stuck in the suction of the soft mud bottom. I was floundering, my broken toe pulling against the quicksand. I had to reach down and literally pull the boot out of the mud with my hands. Then Himself came and threw me the line and I hooked the dock. After trial and error and ungainly action in the pond, we wrestled the dock to shore. We gotter done.

Afterwards, sitting on the porch, relaxing and talking about how to fasten the recovered dock to shore, we had a brainstorm. We’ll build a new dock 8' or 10’ square so fishermen can take their chair and tackle box down to fish or I can take 5 or 6 grandchildren down to look and sail leaf boats. Or Himself and I can just go down and kick back! We will build a new dock. After all, Himself is a professional dock builder. Practically.

Now, if we are going to build a new dock, why did we go to all that trouble to wrangle the old dock?

Weekend Adventures

We have had fun at III this weekend. We also had some tense moments and frustration but over all it was a great stay. I decided Saturday to get at that new pit for the outhouse. It was almost imperative that this chore get done! I had marked it out last visit, it was in the shade and although the temperature was going to get up to 90 degrees, there was a nice breeze and not much humidity. So I got at it. The ground was dry and the digging hard but as I chipped away at what felt like impacted granite dust, I kept thinking I would get down to something resembling soil – soil with some moisture in it. In Iowa if I dig down two feet (8” even) I will find moist soil. After working on and off all day and into the next, I was down about two feet and it was still dry as a bone. Each time the spade hit the ground, it hurt my wrists and my elbows protested. I’d work awhile, go rest, work awhile, go do something else. I couldn’t seem to get Himself interested in the project (now what made me think I could?). I tried telling him a few times how hard the ground was but he had other projects, other things to do and didn’t seem interested so I kept chipping away.

Finally, Saturday evening, we were sitting on the porch talking about our day and the subject of the pit came up. Guess I had reached my limit with it and I let Himself know that I wanted him to look the situation over and I wanted him to do it right now! So we walked down and reviewed the situation. Himself took the spade and nudged the bottom of the pit a bit and said, well, he was cleaned up now (he had showered) so he’d put some time in on it “tomorrow”. It would be cooler in the morning.

True to his word, Himself strolled down to the pit about 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning and tapped the spade four times on the hard bottom of the pit, exclaimed “Jesus Christ!” threw down the spade, and walked away. Oh Great! Now what? I thought. We need that pit finished and if Himself can’t dig it, how can I? But then Himself came back and offered some free advice: dynamite (I didn’t have any and believe me I had already considered that idea!) and water. Soak the bottom with water. I had already considered that too but I had thrown the idea out as water and Missouri soil means big, sticky gooey clumps of mud-like cement but, up against the wall, I took the pail to the pond and carried up a bucket of pond water and threw it into the pit.

Then I went away and weeded some in the garden, made some little wire mouse bait cages as we think something bigger than mice has been feasting on the D-Conn, did this and that and then went back to work on the pit. The water worked but, as I knew it would, it played havoc trying to get that mud/cement off the spade. Sometimes, I would just get down and throw the mud out w/my leather gloved hands. Himself came along and helped a few times and about mid day, we decided we were ready to make the move. We nailed together a 4X4 treated wood frame, leveled it and “walked” the outhouse over. Himself sunk some screws through outhouse and 4X4s and I stapled chicken wire around the bottom to keep out the creatures that have been chewing through the outhouse walls. We are good to "go" for a a bit!

At Last!

Tomatoes at III! But, will they still be there -- and eatable -- this weekend?

We will head to Missouri on Friday. We hope to get an early start and are anxious to be there. We think that MO has had rain so there will probably be mowing on the to do list.

Priority List

Himself and I lolled about on Sunday. I trimmed up a few trees and found a new spot to which to move the outhouse. We have decided a new outhouse has to be moved up the priority list. At least a new outhouse hole, must be a priority.

So, I will dig the hole, lay down 4X4’s for a base and we'll scootch the outhouse over a few feet, atop the 4X4s. We'll staple wire to the bottom of the outhouse and 4X4s to keep creatures from chewing their way in and fill the old hole with dirt. In a few years, we'll have lovely flowers or a shrub growing and blooming there!

This "move" will be a temporary measure to give me time to build a new outhouse behind the cabin where I have had a hole started for a year or better. One thing about it, there's always next year -- the Lord willing and the creek don't rise . . . the other side

Summer Day

90+ degrees and humid. It is Saturday and we are at III. Thank goodness for the shade of the porch and trees and the nice breeze. We will just spend part of a day but it has been several weeks since I have been here and it feels good.

Because of the heat, we don’t have any big projects planned and Himself took an extra day of vacation and was here yesterday to mow. We just loaf about. I tackle a small project of a wooden rack to hold my new bits and feel as though I cheat because I use the battery-powered drill to do it. I should have used my hand brace! But it is done and behind me and I will have other opportunities to use “hand” power.

Himself’s brother and wife stopped in, late morning. It was their first visit to III. Himself took them each around the trails on the 4-wheeler and I think they both enjoyed it. We had a pleasant visit, caught up on families and partook of a late lunch featuring Himself’s smoked pork loin and fresh, homegrown green beans.

It was a good summer day . . . the other side

Larry and Pat, come back soon! I forgot to take your picture to put in here; it is a rule! You have to have your photo in the Blog!

Isn't he handsome?

Dana was sure glad to see this guy. He had started to think there were was nothing but Blue Gill left in the pond. But after a fun, short struggle, this ol' channel cat came to Daddy -- and got put back for another day.

First bridge trail

This is one of my most favorite spots on III. We have talked about putting a picnic area some where around here. Himself's first (and not last) bridge is at the bottom of the photo which is part of the reason I like it so. The terrain is rugged, the trees close. There are delicate wild flowers hidden away and huge rough boulders. It is beautiful!

Me Too

I miss III. Last weekend we went to Too and did the mowing and some maintenance and sat on the porch in the wonderful summer evening and enjoyed. I did hope we would get to III, tho, to check on the game cam, the tomatoes, the flowers, the timber, the trails . . . but we didn't. Maybe, barring the birth of a babe, we will get there this weekend. It would be good even just for a day, just to make some discovery! Here Maddie Mae and Nana discover wild strawberries. .

Shag Too

Comfort at Too. This is a first, putting in a photo from Too -- but Himself commented on it in his last entry so it is called for . . .

Neighbor

Our game cam finally came through. We got this photo of a young doe. I said I was embarrassed though, that any deer of ours was so scrawny. I will feed her corn and give her a salt block! But, no hunting allowed!

JUNE 8, 2007

This has been a difficult summer for me. As we are climbing the ladder to old age, it seems to be more difficult than ever to get to the "Shaggs" on any type of schedule. It is hit and miss, one thing after another pops up.
And things that should be done on a regular schedule are set aside, and then have to be done the next time we make it down. This is no one's fault in particular, I just feel that this period of our lives should be doing the things we want to do, when we want to do them, but as I am reminded, we have responsibilities.
After 2 years of mowing prairie grass at III, I have now sown grass seed, hoping that it will soon take over. I don't mind mowing weeds, but grass will be much better and easier to control.
We have the new shower set up, and combined it with the pressurized, and heated shower head we previously used, to make one heck of a nice shower.
We have found that no matter which place we are, the tool we need is at the other place, so one after another, tools and equipment are added to each place. When we are gone, someone is going to hit the jackpot, if they like tools.
We had carpet left over from the Creston house, so we took it to II and installed it, along with a new couch. The little old cabin looks pretty cozy.
One of my projects this year is to screen in the porch at II. I have hauled every tool I can think that I would need for the project, but I know something will not be there when I need it.
All fo now
BOI

The new shower

Himself pounds in the last stake for the new shower enclosure. Thank you, Ronnie!

ahhhh . . .

Thanks to Himself's brother, Ronnie, we have a new shower enclosure. I think Ronnie might have been embarrassed by the skimpiness of our old shower (open air) so he had this luxurious version sent to us. It has a shower caddy, a rain hood, a towel bar. Himself and I put it up this weekend (Himself, mostly) and after almost 90 degree temps and working out in the hot sun and amongst visiting mosquitoes and maybe ticks, we both partook of the shower Saturday evening. Ahhh. so nice. Thank you, Ronnie.

We had a bit of a short weekend at III. Himself headed over fairly early. I had to go back to Lineville and buy the washstand I have been wanting. I cannot remember who had one or where I saw it but somewhere in my childhood someone had a washstand with a linoleum-covered top. This one has one small shelf for the washbowl and a larger area for the chamber pot. I saw it Friday afternoon but the owner wasn't around so all I could do was think about it overnight. I made up my mind, on the way there, that I wouldn't pay over $20.00 for it as the door stuck and the paint was peeling. When I caught up to the owner and asked him innocently if it were for sale, imagine my surprise when he named his price. $2.00! I was so delighted that I bought a chair from him too. $3.00. And I will be able to cane the seat sometime when I have more time on my hands. So, between the shower tent and the washstand, I had a fine weekend. We had to leave early Sunday tho to get back home, as family matters called. We were both totally wiped out from all the fresh air and exercise. Oh and work.

Himself, thanks for the good weekend and for the outhouse! and Ronnie, thanks for the shower.

It works!

We had 3-1/4" of rain in the past week. The ground was too soft and I tore up the newly sown grass but Himself had asked me to clean up some piles of timber so I hooked the drogue up to the "mule" and hauled a load away to be cut into fire wood. It worked! My sled will be useful. It didn't fall apart and it hauled a load that would have taken me 5 or 6 trips (or more) to hand carry. The drogue is a success.

Blue Bells

The Bluebells look pretty pale in the photo but in "real life" are more vivid and lovely.

Spring visits

We have had a couple of nice visits to III in April. The wildflowers are blooming, the daytime temperatures are warmer, the trees are leafing out and it is nice! Last weekend, Himself presented me with great huge bunches of wild Bluebells. The patches are as big as double garages, vivid purple, and this past weekend, the aroma wafted through the trees on the "bottom" and sweetened the air. Miss Gabrielle, visiting, was asked each time she went on a 4-wheeler ride, did you see the blue bells? "yes", she would nod. Did you hear them ring? And she learned to answer, yes; yes, she did.

This is our third Spring at III and the first that we found the Bluebells. That seems to say that each season, each year, will bring new, lovely surprises.

Both weekends were relaxing with no major projects. There is always some pruning and tree cutting to do, sweeping out and dusting in the cabin. The evenings are still cool enough we need a little fire in the woodstove but this time, we didn't need it until about 3:30 a.m. Himself claimed I had taken all the covers so he crawled out of bed in the wee hours, started a small fire and had the cabin warm and cozy in just a short time.

Gabrielle and Joey washed rocks for their Nana and begged for 4-wheeler rides. One more ride, mid afternoon, and Joe would have been napping on the front of the 4-wheeler! He loves those rides.

Both weekends, I walked and walked, looking for the elusive morel. South hillsides, damp areas, dead elms, I checked them all but not one mushroom did I find. Well, that just gives me something to look forward to. I crawled through timber, under brush, waded ditches, met brambles and thorns and grass and trees and did not see a tick. Craig arrived from Kansas City, hit the ground and walked to the pond where he threw in a fishing line and had the first tick of the season. He is good at finding ticks, now if he could learn to find the mushrooms. Or fish!

Next weekend visit, we will erect the new shower, gift of Ron. It will be "shower season" as the days are warmer and since the first tick has been found. Thank you, brother Ron!

I did see a couple of grasshoppers this weekend. It is way too early for grasshoppers; they usually show up in late summer. Himself was amazed at the number of wasps there are this year. I said, you have done away with the carpenter bees and perhaps this has let the wasps into this territory. You, Himself, have changed the ecological balance and now will be fighting hoards of wasps! and you probably caused global warming too! the other side

If you have been reading this in May 2009, CLICK to go back

Son's signs

As we ride the trails, we come upon these signs now, thanks to our son who made them for us for Christmas. I like the look of them and as they are still "new", I am always pleasantly surprised to find them on our trails.

I like them! Thank you, Traci and Craig!

The Wood Stove

Bbrrrrrrrrr

We have given up on warmer weather so we loaded up Saturday and headed to III. We had most of the walls of the old hunting cabin insulated so we stopped at our favorite old-time lumberyard and got two more bundles of fiberglass insulation and went to work. Himself took to the ladder while I cut to length and in a couple of hours we had those two bundles of insulation snugged up in the ceiling. It wasn't enough insulation to do the whole roof but that is all our ol' Jeep would carry and we were satisfied with our day's labor.

Then Himself lay in a supply of firewood while I re-situated all the furniture, necessities and knick knacks. A light supper, some local country western radio and plenty of peace and quiet. Night fell, as did the temperatures, but we were cozied up in the cabin with Cousin Clint's electric light, extra clothes and the wood stove primed and heated.

The low fell to 18 degrees or so -- frosty! but I had a good night's sleep in the 4-post cedar bed. Himself, the hardy pioneer, took to the davenport so as to be closer to the stove. He had to pile on more wood 2 or 3 times in the night but slept between. I only woke a couple of times to see if Himself was on duty and knowing that he was, slept the sleep of Queens.

A good time . . . the other side

The deer are laughing

This should have been a likely spot to get photos of deer or other wildlife. We have seen many tracks up this trail. Didn't get a one, tho! So we have moved it again.

Game Cam

Himself and I, for Christmas, purchased a "Game Cam" so that we could capture photos of the wildlife on our poor acreage, III. We waited through January, through cold February and finally in March ventured down to our timber and posted the camera on a likely tree near where we had seen deer tracks and evidence of other wild life. We left it there and went back two weeks later. Amazingly, the only animals captured on "film" were Himself and I after we situated the camera. So we relocated it and left for another two weeks. This time "zilch, zero, none". What is going on?

So, when all else fails, read the directions. We did, and once again re-situated the camera to another likely spot. We tested it, made sure it was working and have left it again, primed and ready -- multi battery operated, a flash for night photos and motion-sensored.

Meanwhile, we find deer tracks between the cabin and the pond which leads us to the only logical conclusion -- our wildlife is camera shy!

Big, Bully Chainsaw

Himself has cleared many trees and you all thought he had a big, bully chainsaw, I bet. Remember, we are roughing it at III and using a lot of hand tools. Here is Himself's (Hillbilly) chainsaw. Now, think about all those trees and limbs he has disposed of!

It is official

It is "cabin" season. We got to Too on Friday evening then hit the road halfway early Saturday morning to get to III. The frost is coming out of the ground so the slick Missouri clay drive was a bit adventuresome going in and coming out. In fact, Himself said, he thought this was the first time ever he had the Jeep sideways going down a road. I was laughing aloud through it all. Probably deliriously happy that he was driving and I was not!

We tramped the woods, rode the trails on the 4-wheeler, Himself cut trees and branches and burned and I walked and cleared about half the north fence line. There are small signs of spring -- green grass where the drogue sat all winter, swelling buds on the cottonwood trees, the Red Wing blackbirds. A few more weeks of warmer weather and the green miracle will happen.

Himself mounted the game camera close to the cabin Saturday night as there has been some creature nosing round but Sunday morning, there were no pictures. Then he mounted it down by the pond and immediately got one photo of Himself on the 4-wheeler but as we left it there, we hope to have about 50 game photos next visit. Can't wait to see!

We are starting the 2007 list of goals but have not finalized it. Can't wait to see what adventures this season brings!

Winter's Day

New Bridge road

III Fever

Himself and I have been wanting to get to Mo. Now that the cold spell has broken and we have spring-like temperatures, the cabin fever has really set in and III calls. There was hope for the weekend but the forecast now is for thunderstorms Saturday and 5 to 10" of snow on Sunday! Now that will spoil weekend plans!

Soon tho . . . the other side

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