2015 YEARS END REPORT

We have had a good year at the cabin. We would spend 3 or 4 days at the cabin, then go home for 3 or 4 days.   No major projects, just lots of small ones, like a huge deck for the picnic table, redoing the kitchen in the little cabin, tripling the size of the garden and digging in fence posts for the fencing next year. Nothing major, at least compared to what we have done in the past.
We have been trying for at least a year, what to do about heating the new cabin. Since it was built, we have heated with a little 4000 btu propane heater, and small electric heaters. Anyway, after much debate and research, we decided on a "mini-split heat pump".  An outside unit, and a small inside unit hanging on the wall, no duct work, took about 4 hrs to install, and we now have heat.  We stayed overnite when it got down to 33 degrees, and it heated the whole cabin easily. So now, maybe we can spend some more time in the winter, not having to worry about hauling propane tanks back and forth.

I hear we have a couple more major projects starting next year, one of which will be to dig in the water lines to the cabins so we can have water during freezing temperatures. The other will either be a deck between the cabins, or possibly a roof(breezeway) over the area between the cabins. Sounds like fun!! LJ

One thing leads to another.

My little kitchen is taking shape. Again. We had discovered a leak under the little cabin.  A while back. We knew it was going to be a quite a project as Himself had poked and pried and figured out that the drain exited the cabin between the wall studs and to get to the drain we had to pull the kitchen sink base.  So we letherleak. It was, after all, a really wet year. Having to pull the sink was good news to me as i had finangled our old enamel laundry room sink top from Creston to the cabin and wanted to swap out the aluminum sink for this vintage one. the old brown cupboards    One early fall day with all pressing tasks out of the way, we got hammer and pry bar. Himself had extra plumbing parts and there were 2×4s and other scrap boards under the BIg cabin porch. We crossed our fingers, said a prayer and got to work. And midafternoon, the leak was fixed, the sink top fitted to the old base, the drawer resized and the sink replumbed.   But one thing leads to another.  It is a homeowners creed. You can't do just one project without it leading to another. We went away for a week and it filtered into my head that the sink base should be painted. Then when the base was washed, sanded and painted i knew the uppers were next.  I took off the doors above and liked the open shelves. I painted the inside and out all the same as the base. I culled dishes and sorted anew. I put them all back and declared I liked it!   The cupboards are alll done this evening except for some new or vintage drawer pulls. And i do. I like it!     Then I put this 'look like tin' plastic up for the backsplash.  I think it is a little bright and too shiny.  I will have to apply some stain or paint to make it look old and rusty.  I will study on it for a bit though.

2015 - Spring and Summer

It has been a wet year.  We have had lots and lots of rain.  I mentioned in an earlier post, Himself and I built a deck to set the picnic table on to help keep us up out of the mud.  That deck was a very good thing. 

A couple of weeks ago, The Lake had 6" of rain in one night.  The ditches ran high and the gullies washed.  Then last weekend, The Lake had another 6" over a few days time and twice, high winds tore through ripping down branches both times.

We took Jack, Maddie and Audri down on July 19 and Traci was coming the next day with her children.  When we arrived Sunday evening we found two big branches blown out of the tree house tree.  Good thing we had some young strong children to help.  Maddie and Audri picked up sticks and  Jack helped PaPa with the limbs and hauling.  Traci had her children pick up sticks and limbs earlier in the week after the first wind storm.

 

 Himself tried to get a photo of the downpour but mainly got wet.

With water running this high, the ditch is now called a 'run'. 

Water backing up at the culvert in my ditch!

This was after the second wind storm.

 

We couldn't quite talk Jack into climbing this ladder. 

Oh, did I mention PaPa suggested he climb it with the chain saw?

 

This tree is down by the driveway.  There was no way Himself could reach it from a ladder to cut it so he tied a rope to it and pulled it down with the 4-wheeler.  Then he and Jack dragged branches down the hill below the dam to the big burn pile.

 

There were branches enough in our burn pile which gave the children an opportunity to play with matches.  I handed out matches and gave them paper and cardboard.  We squirted on lighter fluid all to no avail.  All the rain we have gotten has the branches too wet to burn.  One evening, we got enough of a fire going to roast marshmallows but that burn pile is still setting there, waiting to dry out.

 

Our little pyromaniacs trying to strike matches and light fires!
 

Gabby and Maddie stretching their wings. 

  

A pretty view of the beach.

There was plenty of 4-wheeling and buggy rides. 

Because the ground was so wet, we started a Sorry Tournament.
These children are ruthless, competitive and just plain mean! 
I think I only played one game with them, then found other things to do
so as not to get swept back in!  : )

Yes, even Audri and Bella get to practice with matches. 

 

 It was a good time at the cabin.  By Monday afternoon we were using the beach and all the kids jumped in and paddled and swam.  The boys played rough and tough, throwing and wrestling each other and we let them as long as they were not being mean or careless.

 It is harder and harder to get the children to The Lake at the same time but we have got to keep trying -- even if only for short stays.  This is what memories are made of. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Summer

Summer through the screen

 

It is a Monday morning. I am sitting in my pajamas on the front porch listening to 6" of old rain run down the hill and under my bridge. The wrens are singing, the cardinals chirping. Already the feel of a mid-summer day is hanging humid and heavy.  Sitting here, I realize that in the past week I have sensed a change in myself. I think I have accepted retirement. I think i am settling into a more leisurely way. Not leisurely in that I don't want physical activity or to get things done but, hmm, how do I explain it?  Perhaps I am just relaxing and putting all those habits from years of work behind me. Anyway, it is mighty fine sitting on the front porch with my coffee contemplating the high summer day ahead of me.

Summer girls

We have enjoyed three days with four grandaughters.  We have had good summer weather.  We have had 90 degree humid days, cooler days with great thunderstorms and a breezy, unsettled evening.  We have managed plenty of beach time.  The girls had some swinging time after replacing a broken swing so we, again, have four swings (in one tree).  We had fire flies, smores and lessons in lighting fires.  (Dont try this at home!)  We all slept good, had some melt downs, had plenty to eat and plenty of fun. I wish these days were forever.

Wild black raspberries

Wild black raspberries are available here at the cabin but not without a fight. 80 degrees outside but I dress in blue jeans and long sleeves. I spray myself, including my face and clothes, with mosquito repellent. I tell myself to put on my boots but I just can't take that last step. So wearing flip flops and full battle gear, I arm myself with a berry bowl and the nippers and flip flop out to the ditch. It is true that there are big, ripe black raspberries here but there is also Sheep's Coat, wild grape vine, hops vines and other rampant, vicious thorny vines. There is also a high probability of poison ivy. I cut my way into the berry vines. I throw weeds and thorny sticks behind me as I go. Halfway in I decide I need my leather gloves as my hands are already scratched and sore. The day (and I) get hotter by the minute. Sweat runs down my temples.  I capture ripe berries as I go. The sorry part of this whole venture is that the berries on a vine don't all ripen at the same time. I will have to re pick the vines each of the next few days. The moral of this story is that the berries are tempting enough to me that I will cut my way into them and by cutting and trimming today it makes tomorrow's venture easier.  The ditch hasn't been cleaned really good for a few years so between the prickly native plants, the water in the ditch from all the rain and the creature holes in the bank I cannot reach all the ripe berries.  I just have to close my mind to wondering if snake or wild critter lives in that mud hole. Guess I will be glad to share what I can't reach with the birds.  Below is a photo of all things removed.  Can you see the thorns on the light green stem?  They are razor sharp!

so. It has been a wet spring and start to summer. The last wet spring, about 5 years ago, I broke down and built the board walk along side the old cabin.  This wet spring I said 'enough' and called my favorite lumberyard and said please deliver me some treated 2×4s. Girdners, Mercer, Mo had them to me three hours later. 

Today we had just enough rain to keep us from mowing and just enough to keep my flip flops muddy. 

I went to work.

Himself joined me.

It is hard on Himself to help me build what is just a picture in my head.  If I could draw him a plan. If he could look in my brain. If I could adequately describe it. oh yes. If only . . .

As none of that can happen it was a tough afternoon.  However, we persevered. We stuck it out.  We gotterdone . . . at least until we ran out of 2×4s but at least we now know it will get done.

This deck bridges our natural water way. It also houses our 300 pound picnic table which sits level today, the first time E V E R. How do I know it is level? Because Himself leveled it.  Precisely. Within an inch of his life.

PS. I woke up this morning with a building tip in my mind. I firmly belive Gramps helped me figure it out in my sleep. Thanks dad!!

 

My garden project

 

A year ago I determined to dig a garden. A vegetable garden. I wanted to be able to pick tomatoes and cucumbers both at home and at the cabin. 

Mid-summer someone gave me a start of rhubarb. Forced to fish or cut bait, I  chose a spot up at the top of our yard where the soil is better and where the garden would get the most sun. I dug a small patch which involves removing 6" of thick sod and roots. I planted the rhubarb and grubbed me out a 6' X 6' plot. 

Later in the summer and fall, I spent 2 or more days digging out the sod, turning the soil and then covering the area with newspapers in an effort to kill the grass and weeds. By winter I had about a 12 X 12' garden.

This spring I took advantage of early warm days and enlarged the garden by another 6 or 8 feet. I hope to double the garden's size again this summer and fall.

Now my labor looks to be paying off. The tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes are twice the size as our vegetables here at home where our problem is too much shade.  If this garden turns out as well as it seems it will, we will grow our vegetables in Mo and leave the Creston beds for the flowers.  Shade loving flowers, that is!
 

 

Asparagus!  We have started a small patch here beside the rhubarb.

And the potatoes never look this good, up home. 

Rainy May

We are at The Lake. it is raining and cool. Usually we are outside mowing or gardening. Today Himself is in the big cabin and I am in the little one. He is cleaning and I am saying I am. Ha!

I have done the dishes and I am poking into the corners and under the bed.  I will dust and sweep but there is certainly no urgency or need to hurry and I am enjoying the leisure.

The forecast is rain and more rain.  It is cool, only 50 degrees today and it reminds me of the Memorial Day when we built the dock and the guys were in the frigid lake setting the posts.

We will be thankful that we don't have that to do this weekend!

 

Bird watching

Who ever would have guessed when I was a child that I would grow up into a lover of flowers and birds and all things nature?

This is an Orchard Oriole. Some live at The Lake. They seem to like neighbor V's oriole food better than mine. Rats!! But we still see them flitting around . . . And the hummingbirds like our food just fine!