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!

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!

 

Another Summer Gone Sept 12, 2014

This has been a great summer, but to quickly gone.  Herself retired as of  May this year, and it has allowed us to spend just about as much time at the cabin as at home.  We had no real major projects this year, other than finally giving in to putting in a kitchen door in the old cabin. We had to cut out the kitchen window and enlarge the opening to fit the door. Of course, nothing ever goes smoothly when we attempt a project. Nothing major, just had to eliminate an outlet and move wires, but we did it.
We also spent time planting more flowers on the big bank, and now I have started planting honeysuckle shrubs on the bank by the road, looking forward to,  and planning on the time I won't have to(or be able to) mow it anymore.
As we had more time at the lake, we both did extra work for the lake assn. Herself walked the gravel road leaking from the K road into the lake area and picked up trash that people throw out.  There are no 5 cent can and bottle laws in Missouri, so people just throw stuff out. 
I, on the other hand, did extra mowing for the lake, pulling the trailcutter mower with the 4-wheeler, and using the big lake mower to try and keep things mowed up. A never ending job this year with all the moisture.
We also cut down a lot of dead trees on the kid's lake lots and keep busy mowing them.
We still have not installed a permanent heating system yet, but still looking.
We did install a new inside, on demand, water heater. And it keeps up with baths, showers, and laundry, so we are very pleased with it so far.
What will this winter bring. Hopefully we will spend at least some time at the lake.

2014 Thursday May 15: a Work Day

It didn't start off as a Work Day.  I slept until 7:30 this morning.  That is later than I like but maybe it was meant to be because I worked my buns off today, later on.

We didn't bother with breakfast this morning; it was catch as you can.  I ate tuna salad and I think Himself had a bowl of cereal.  Then we loaded up and drove out to find the Amish Store.  The New Amish Store.  Yes!  I don't have to drive all the way to Jamesport anymore! 

The Amish Store is over by Modena.  (Modena didn't even come up on the GPS.)  But take the road to Modena after the "S" curves, go to the top of the Hill.  A phone call to my hair dresser mid drive when we hit Mt. Moriah because I hadn't found the landmarks.  "Go back, take the Modena Road, the Variety Store is closed on Thursdays but go on past there and the Greenhouse is open".  So we did and we found it.  And wrote a nice check and brought home fine flowers from the Modena Amish family that used to live at Redding, Iowa. 

Oh those flowers are beautiful!  and different than what Wal-Mart has to offer. 

Well, so much for our nice morning drive to the Echo Valley Greenhouse.  The title of this post is "Work" so we'll get on with that!

I have signed on to mow Vi's yard this summer.  She made big noise about paying me well.  I have mowed three times, as of today.

The first time I just plain mowed.  There were no extras.  No weed eating, weed pulling, leaf blowing.  she paid me $20.  The next time we mowed, trimmed and primped.  I expected $25 and got $20.  Okay.  I know exactly what happened.  Vi's Great Depression upbringing made her wig out, cheap out.  She meant to pay the $25 but couldn't do it.  Shoved a twenty dollar bill at me. 

Last time Lanny mowed with the rider and I push mowed and used the weed eater.  This time I pushed the whole thing with Vi's self-propelled mower and then cleaned up with the weed eater.  Vi paid me $20 again.  Now, you know, Vi is 80 years old and I would mow her lawn for free but she was vocal and vain about paying someone to mow for her so I am taking her $20.  I am taking it because I go above and beyond.  I pull her weeds.  I 'leaf blow' her sidewalk to get rid of Maple Tree helicopters and grass clippings.  I pick up 350 sticks and put her dog out on the leash when it is appropriate. 

And besides, mowing Vi's Missouri Lake Lot is the best work out ever!  I am building stamina and muscle and getting paid to do it!

Meanwhile, Himself mowed all the lots and lawns today that he possibly could.  He did not mow Craig and Traci's because 'Pegleg' did yesterday.  Pegleg is like a Benji wannabe. 

We are both tuckered and stiff and sore today.  We figure this is just the way it will be, here on out.  Our muscles don't stay toned liked younger folks so we are always in the process of building muscle. 

We will have plenty of Work Days.  We will have plenty of sore and tender muscles. 

a Wednesday, May 14

We are at Too.  The weather is unseasonably cool.  It only got up to 59.8 degrees today -- but who is counting?  Even this cool, we worked outside today.  Himself cut trees and firewood and I helped him carry and stack wood and then we hauled the tree tops to the burn pile below the dam.  We also helped Craig's neighbor George clean up his old wood pile.  It had been there so long it was just purely rotted.

It has been cool, cloudy and damp all day.  That is good for working outside once you get the number of clothing layers figured out.  You go out feeling cool so you usually have on one more layer than what you need.  The way I work it, I go out and work in my layers until I'm sweating, then I strip the top layer off.  It would be better for me if I would go out and work a little cool and not work up a sweat. 

We are sitting inside now, at 8:00 pm.  Himself is watching "The Hummingbird Wars" outside our living room windows.  I have been sewing (cross stitch panel for Virginia -- I will be so relieved to have it done.  I have 1-1/2 flowers to do and then that is it!). 

While taking the tree branches to the burn pile, we saw a flock of Bluebirds.  We have never seen that many before.  There must have been 100!  We doubt that they will all stay but I hope a few do! 

 

Here is a pair of Eastern bluebirds, photo out of the internet. 

 

Guess which is female? which is male?  Tisn't fair, is it?

Week Day at the Cabin

It wasn't a work day.  It was just an ordinary weekend day.  We got up early; I had things to do in  Princeton and I just plain want to get up early so I can sleep at night.

Himself did some mowing today.  I did get to town to get my bangs trimmed and to pick up groceries and mower gas.

Later I increased the size of my garden by 100%.  I increased it by using my right foot and a spade. 

If I doubled the space dug up, that is an increase of 100%, isn't it?

There is a method of gardening called 'The Ugly Garden'.  Mind you, I said 'The Ugly Garden' not 'Gardener'.  This is a good example of Ugly.  I hope to make this 3 times bigger and it won't be ready for gardening until next spring.  We will just have to ignore it or learn to appreciate ugly until then.

Himself did a little mowing for the Lake, I visited Vi and then a 4-wheeler ride around The Lake and Marie.  Now time to sit on the porch and read about Shantyboat life.  A River Way of Life by Harlan Hubbard. 

2014 May 6

We came to The Lake today; we hadn't been for a couple of weeks.  We knew we would need to mow.  So we did.  I rode, he pushed and trimmed.  With two of us working, it takes a couple of hours.  Before we got this big fancy rider it would take two of us three hours or more. 

We have a nice John Deere zero turn mower with a 48" cut.  It is nice.  and fast. and modern.  and I can start it all by myself (while reading the directions printed on the fender : )

The push mower is a different story.  It has lost its 'pull' handle and Himself has attached a stick.  The pull rope no longer rolls back up by itself so after he pulls the rope to start the mower, Himself has to manually turn a pulley to rewind the rope.  If it doesn't start the first pull (or the second or the third) he has to rewind that rope manually before pulling again.  Also, there is another manual adjustment he has to make before it will start but he told he I needn't pay attention to that maneuver.  Evidently it something he doesn't want me to attempt.  Evidently I will never have to start this mower on my own.

The push mower is a 1966 Lawn boy.  It was Dale Gibson Hofmeister's, bought new in Prescott.  Lanny bought this icon at his folks' Prescott sale. 

It is a relic.

He will not give it up.

It is light weight.  It is two-cycle which means it keeps running while mowing banks and ditches.  The oil and gas is mixed so the mower doesn't die if it isn't level.

It is not an attractive thing but it is useful.  It is more than useful; it is a necessity!

I have taken on a mowing job this summer.  I will mow Vi's steep, lumpy lot.  Himself will have to start the push mower each time for me.  He tested me out today to make sure I could use it properly without maligning or abusing it.  I think I passed the test.  I believe he will start it up again another day and let me push it up the hill to mow for Vi. 

I am one lucky girl.