Out with the Old . . .

We got up the other morning to a nice summer rain. We knew there wouldn't be any mowing going on so we agreed upon a road trip. We measured the available floor space for a new cookstove stove. We measured the cargo opening in the jeep. We hit the road, South to Chillicothe. Lowe's was our target.

The folks probably bought the coppertone apartment-sized stove used. I don't know. Maybe the hometown hardware store had it in stock for several years and dad made an offer. Anyway, the stove came to be at the cabin in Missouri and it served the family well for 40-something years. 

We'd never used the oven more than a time or two before we retired. Since, we have baked meatloaf and even a cake. 

 

I'd replaced the pans a couple of times but I needed to do it again.

Next week we are having family dinner. I'm going to use this oven to bake cobbler. I'll use the timer and all the bells and whistles that comes on this 'basic' model.

 

 

I glad I will never have to clean this one. 

I'm embarrassed to show the oven but -- there it is.

Thank goodness the new one is 'self clean'!



Summer Projects

Don't let Himself tell you I don't finish projects.  I do!  I do too!  Some just take me longer than others.

This summer we both got a lot accomplished!

This flag stand, for one.  I got it in my head that I wanted to get these swiveling flag stands for my sons-in-laws and one for Lanny for Father's Day.  Actually, I thought you could buy them and that's what I aimed to do.  When I found out it was a craft project with plans on-line, I enlisted some help and we went at it.

Himself, I will admit, sometimes gets caught up in 'my' DIY projects.  Thanks for your help honey!

I made curtains.

 

Lanny made 4 cabin cots. 

 

We need two more, or at least one.  That can be a fall or winter project.  I made that orange quilt top pillow case, the bright pink one and rounded up a few more throw pillows. Some of the girls did some spray painting of shelves and accessories.  They all brought blankets from home.  It's starting to look pretty homey.   

 

 

Joey and I studied Gramps loft ladder and whipped this up.

 

I found these chairs for Traci.  This is her project now!

 

 

This also is Traci's project, and Craig's.  They have accomplished a lot this summer.  The outside is all painted and trimmed. They hope to enlarge the decks sometime and they have living room walls to put back but they are 'getting there'!

 

Now, there are a couple of big projects brewing in my mind.  Real Big Projects!  It will entail hiring a little help but it's time we did them.  It is time to 'getter done'.  I'll tell you more about that down the road.

 

 

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Audri and Bella, exploring.

 

 
Maddie, explaining.























Joey, problem solving. 

 

 

 

 
Gabby and Maddie performing

Jack, waiting.

 

The new diving platform.

 

 

 
Summer of the Spray Paint

 
Owen, swinging.

 

Fireworks!

 

 

It has been a fine summer at The Cabin with The Grandchildren.  Maddie and Jack didn't get here often enough though and Morghan didn't get here at all!  I swear, next summer I am going to invite Jordan down! 

 

The tree house has a new, easier ladder.  I hated to give up the rope ladder but others didn't.  Joey helped me build it.  The loft bunkroom has had lots of attention, decorating, reorganizing and Yes!  even some sleeping up there!  Gabby and Maddie have slept there.  Jack and Joey once.  Audri, Bella and Owen slept 'up' several times.  It is so nice that the children can.  They go up and go to bed and go to sleep. Almost always. 

 

We have a zip line.  Yay!!!

 

We have used the beach, the new diving platform and the paddle boat.  We have had Smores and campfires and over the 4th of July, a trillion fireworks. 

 

Best of all, we have one more holiday weekend to look forward to.  Labor Day will pretty much make it official though.  Summer is winding down. 



Summer of twenty sixteen

It has been a good, busy summer.  We have spent about half of our time at the cabin.  We try to be here during the week but have been here some on the weekends too, when Craig and Traci are here. 

The weather has been hot and humid but with air conditioners in both cabins the heat doesn't keep us away.  Lanny has been mowing the dam and lagoons for The Lake.  I have been 'doing' for Vi.  I have gardened.  I have gardened successfully in some areas and not so much in others.

The tomatoes took a hit when the green hornworm got in.  I started finding green tomatoes with bites out of them or half the tomato eaten away.  The tops of my tomato plants were being eaten down to nubbins and I thought perhaps a raccoon or possum was getting under the fence or over the gate so I built a screen for the gate.  Just in case, I put landscape timbers down around the fence perimeter to keep squinties out.  And still my plants were being gnawed on.
 

 

Vi, the neighbor lady came by in her golf cart to have a look.  She said, "I think it is the cut worm but I've never seen them eat the tomatoes.  Only the vines."  I waded in and started looking and sure enough I found hornworm poop.  I had looked in Google for information on the tomato cut worm and saw nice, clear photos of the hornworm poop. Isn't it just 'fun' what you can find in the internet?   

 

Now that I knew for sure what I was dealing with, I started looking for the green, greedy, voracious little worm.  I found two of the little culprits. I'm sure there were probably more but I threw caution to the wind, dug out the bottle of Sevin tomato dust and powdered them down good. I would go back after dark with a flash light to snatch naughty green hornworms.   

 

 

I kept this guy.  I put him in a gallon jar with some dirt in the bottom.  He ate up the first piece of tomato vine in just a short time.  I gave him two or three others and he gobbled his way right through them too, then turned his back on me, burrowed into the dirt and started his metamorphosis. He was on his way to becoming a Sphinx moth. 

 

Meanwhile, we have had many good cucumbers from our Amish-bought plants.  We have eaten our fill and shared them with Sally and Vi and our children.  I planted three Parks Whopper muskmelons and the vines have thrived.  We have harvested 4 super sweet, luscious, best ever melons.  There will be more! 

 

The asparagus put in last year has thrived; we'll be able to eat it next spring.  The onions didn't do so well and I have yet to dig potatoes because the melons and cukes have sprawled all over the place.  4 cabbage heads are sticking in there and we might get to harvest them. 

 

All in all, the garden has been a success and the tomatoes are coming back from the worm attack.  We might still get some decent tomatoes yet.

 

 

 

from the internet: Sphinx Moth

 

 



Too Grows

 

 

Well, the flowers grow at Too.  Too isn't growing yet -- like a little porch addition between the two cabins.  But it will!  Back to growing . . .

Himself has transplanted a thousand shrubs and plants and bulbs from home to Mo. I have helped, of course, but have done twenty percent of the planting, if that. The intent of all this planting is to eliminate the banks from the ‘to mow’ list. They are too steep and Himself wore out the Snapper push mower. He doesn’t want to buy another.

When we left today, there were irises galore blooming.

Several clumps of columbine are in bloom. We are finally getting those pretty native plants established.  Honeysuckle is in bloom, both yellow and pink.  Lovely!

There will soon be lilies. Then coneflowers and all the native Missouri ditch bloomers. 

I planted three new little Creeping Phlox (thank you, my daughters!) My driveway is going to be so pretty next spring.

(not my photo, had to borrow from the web)

 

And all those flowers bring these -- the butterflies.  And the hummingbirds and all manner of God's little creatures. 

 

 

Do you see Himself, out there in the yard in the top photo?  He's probably figuring out where to plant the next batch!

 

 

 

Amish

Echo Valley Greenhouse opened a couple of years ago. It is part of an Amish community near the old town of Modena.  There are two greenhouses full of bedding plants and beautiful hanging baskets. I never turn down a trip to the greenhouse.  Just don't go on Thursday as the general store down the road a piece is closed on Thursday. 

I am always sure to comply with the request on the door at Echo Valley.

 

Garden gate

Earlier this spring we strung chicken wire around the fence posts we put in last fall. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be because of the lay of the land. We got in a tangle or two, figuring it out but finally got it done to our mutual approval. Or should I say acceptance.  I had imagined running 1X4s, painted white, horizontally around the garden. Like an old chicken yard. I may rethink that because the garden isn't level. And that is an understatement.

We brought our old garden gate from home. It had just leaned around for 8 or 9 years with the center board broken out. Himself replaced the bad one with a scrap piece. I was going to paint the gate but after we got it up, I liked the old vintage look. I will leave it, as is.

This week we put in some tomatoes,  cucumbers and peppers. In spite of the cool weather we are having, the potatoes, radishes and greens are up. The onions are growing. 

Garden season is off to a good start!

Girls' bunkhouse

Gabby likes house design and fashion. She is an artist. Since we told her 'the girls' could help design the loft, Gabby has been reading Cabin Life Magazine and marking the ideas she thinks we can adapt. Maddie, Audri and Bella are on board! So is Owen. They bring ideas and suggestions. They are ready to get this done!

PaPa joined in and whipped out three low pine bunks in a short time to go with the little old day bed.

Lanny (really he did!) Helped me unload a small metal desk I picked up on the side of the road and wrestle it up the loft ladder. I was at the top of the ladder and I broke out in a sweat knowing if I dropped that little desk on him, that I would never get a second chance to get that desk in the loft!  I held on by the skin of my teeth and we made it. Whew . .

I made curtains using Maddie's request for Chevrons and bright colors. We are making throw pillows and bed spreads. Gabby and Audri have been arranging shelves and pictures and knick knacks. They each have a decorated box to keep their secrets in. 

Now we just need some girl time to finish up our projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Smartphone

2016 A New Year, again

We were able to start to the cabin early this year because of the mild weather and new heating system. We started our project list by placing a fence approx. 8 ft high around the garden. We had installed the posts late last year, just didn't have time to install the fence.
Then we helped Craig and Tracia with their place, rebuilding wall studs, installing new windows and door. Its not done, and we will help again when they get back to the lake.
Then, we went down to Kristy and Johanna's lot and started to finish clearing trees and brush, hauling load after load to the burn pile. We also worked on clearing the rest of the trees from Dana and Erica's lot.
Then, we planted more plants on the banks of our lots.
Then, we mowed.
Then, we watered plants.
Then we ordered lumber to rebuild the bridge, so that is awaiting us.
Then, then, then, then.
Looks like this will be a very busy year, for sure!