Time is flying.... that's a fact. As sure as time seemed to be dragging by in the Spring, it is now officially screaming past as we try to get everything finished before the cold and wet of winter visit us once again. And, I suppose it comes as no surprise to others who have been down this "remodeling and renovating" road, things change, projects grow... and time just keeps marching by, oblivious to the fact that we need more time to accomplish our latest and greatest "vision."
The deck was to be a simple fire escape solution...nothing fancy, though, because of the height of the deck, it would be able to serve a dual purpose as a carport. So, we secured bids and built the deck. The bid included the replacing of windows in the garage and in the apartment above the garage with doors.
Once the job was completed, we had a lovely deck, two new doors, a new carport underdeck and .... a couple of windows now available for another project.... Upstairs, the apartment was quite nice, but I immediately realized I should have considered that replacing the window with a door, while providing better exit options in times of emergency, also cut down on the "cross breezes" of open windows....
Deck Complete...the first time
After considering a few options and discussing the possibilities with our "construction guy," we settled on adding one of the windows back into the garage, next to the door, and using two of the windows we had in storage to add the additional cross ventilation upstairs in the apartment....and THEN we decided we would add another window into the stairwell that leads from the garage to the apartment...(it tends to get dark in that stairwell).
More Windows
So...... here it is, Thursday, more than a week since the deck was "finished" and we are still making modifications. The last window (the stairwell window) will be in place today and the "temporary" railing on the deck by the door will be replaced with the permanent railing...and THEN.... we will have the fun of finishing the INSIDE of our creation! As I sit here, enjoying the new view from the apartment, it is through a wall of plastic, that keeps the construction "dust" to a minimum in our living space.
Through a Plastic Wall
Meanwhile, we are planting trees like crazy, getting bids for more old farmhouse work, getting bids for semi trailer modifications, preparing the parking pads and the driveways for the two new carports to be installed on..........SATURDAY... And, of course, I have to leave on Sunday for essentially a month or more of travel for work. There just really isn't enough time!
Fig Tree Planted
Last Sunday we took a break from the construction, digging, planting, etc. and had a nice time with our friends. We ate, talked, laughed, played music, sang. We need to do that more often.
Milling in the Kitchen....Judy, sans overalls!
Milling on the Porch
Yesterday, while I was talking with my neighbor, who'd walked down the long driveway to "see what we were doing," and while she was annoying me with her, "I would've put the deck on the other side of the garage," and "I would've made a bedroom in that apartment," and, "why do you want to plant fruit trees????" I looked at the fruit trees awaiting planting and my eye caught the buckets of "sticks" we'd been keeping in water. The sticks were actually Joe's prunings from mature trees owned by the man who sold us the tractor three weeks ago. We'd placed the sticks in buckets of nutrient water in an experiment to see whether we could grow fruit trees from prunings. They looked dead when we put them in the buckets, and deader still a week later. But we continued to add water and nutrients, and yesterday I noticed we'd been rewarded for our efforts....LOTS of new leaves and the beginnings of new roots on the sticks!
New Leaves on "sticks"
The neighbor, after informing me that she'd leased the 25 acres across the road to a hunt club (oh joy), finally left and I was able to get back to completing as much before I leave as I can. While I am NOT looking forward to missing time here with all of the changes underway, I AM looking forward to the visiting I will include in my work travels. While in Florida, I will be meeting up with a few of my very best friends from days long ago, and while in California I will be enjoying time with family.
Today will be another full one, that is a given. I get to visit the oral surgeon today....he will extract the tooth that the dentist declared too broken to re-crown.... I am NOT anticipating a fun time with this one. As I write this, while enjoying my cup of tea, and enjoying the early morning view through the plastic, I am hopeful that tomorrow's tea will be enjoyed without the blurring of the plastic and without the stepladder obstructing the view. Still, I am amazed at the transformation of this place in very little time.
I awoke this morning from a strange dream. It was neither a good dream nor a nightmare, but just a strange dream. I was at my Uncle Robin's house. Though the details of the house were nothing like his house, still, my dream says I was at his house. There was a feeling that I was supposed to be on my way to South Carolina to visit my estranged husband, John. My son and daughter were also at my uncle's house and they both told me they were not going to make the trip to South Carolina. I really didn't want to make the trip either. It would be an 8 hour drive and I was tired. But I felt guilty about promising to go, and then not going, so I resigned myself to making the journey.
Just as I was preparing to leave, Uncle Robin asked me how long it would be before Stephen (my son) moved his car he'd left behind on a previous visit. I had no idea, but clearly he wanted the car out of his driveway, so I told Steve I'd drive his car to a nearby convenience store, and he and his wife could then bring me back in their other car so I could get in MY car to drive to South Carolina....(confusing and particularly nonsensical).
So I got into Stephen's car, one I had never before driven, and I started to drive. I inadvertently touched some control and this video projector opened on the dashboard. A cartoon-type show was then projected onto the windshield, and the effect was to make the entire windshield opaque...a movie screen. I complained to Stephen, when I parked the car at the convenience store, that the movie on the windshield made it kind of hard to drive. He explained to me that this was a wonderful invention, that the cartoon was always different and was actually a computer generated film made by the car's "eye" translating what was actually on the road into an entertaining cartoon. I didn't want to seem ungrateful for the opportunity to drive this car with such a fabulous invention, but, as I told Steve, it made me nervous to drive down a street and not be able to see anything in front of me.....
Once back at my uncle's house, I got into my own, clearly outdated car and drove to South Carolina. The dream then made a leap and I was in my in-laws' living room, sitting next to my estranged husband, John, whose appearance told me he was about 90 years old. His hair was LONG and snow white and I was braiding it in thin little braids. To our left I saw his parents sitting on the couch, and they were the age I last saw them, in their late 70's....but their son was easily 20 years older. I heard John's mother tell his father, in a tone hushed, intended as a whisper, but clearly audible, "I think there's a chance Judy will take him back...see, she's doing his hair...."
And that was it... no conclusion.... no cliffhanger... just visions of this ancient old man with long white hair with a few skinny braids, and the cartoon life windshield... strange dream and the images have stuck with me all day.
In REAL life, we had another busy day. It was a glorious day with blue sky, low humidity and comfortable temperatures. We drove to Windsor, VA, about an hour and a half drive from here.
James River Bridge
We picked up some old stairs and deck from a lady who was replacing them with something larger. Joe talked her out of two rain barrels, extra lids, two BIG tents, two 5 gallon water jugs, a hand truck and a six foot folding table, all of which were loaded into the van (of course).
Judy assessing deck and stairs....
Joe Modifying Deck...
Railings Removed
Rain Barrels..OK, so they USED to be filled with OLIVES!
The ladies selling the goods were very nice, as was their neighbor, who helped Joe load the deck and stairs into the van. We spent nearly two hours there, enjoying the conversation with these folks. We certainly have a lot of fun with our Craigslist escapades!
Helping Hands
Another Load in the Trusty Van
Back at the old farmhouse, Joe quickly put the deck and stairs to use. We can now easily get in and out of the 48 foot long semi trailer that is soon to be our storage trailer. At the end of the day, we shared some leftover pizza and declared it to be yet another wonderful adventure.
Success!
Tomorrow, after church, we will attend a get-together at my choir director's house -- a cookout and jam session... I'm very much looking forward to that. We haven't taken enough time to play music this summer, so this will be fun. And then it will be back to work for the week....man, the weekends go by TOO fast!
Just a few days ago I was enjoying the relaxation of the Labor Day weekend. And then it was Tuesday and we were, once again on the fast track. To be honest, it started on Labor Day. We went to Lowes to purchase a VERY short list of items we needed for the next phase of our project.... We left with a van so filled with items I was amazed we were able to roll!
Doesn't EVERYONE take photos of themselves shopping?
We started out innocently enough, first heading in to inquire about an inexpensive gas grill... you know, to use on the not-so-inexpensive new deck. And then we just "drifted" by the garden center and discovered more fruit trees to add to our "orchard." And of course, we simply CANNOT go to Lowes without checking out the piles of "seconds" they have outside waiting for suckers who think they are scoring a "DEAL" on twisted, broken building supplies.
More SECONDS!!!
And so it was that, three hours after we arrived with our short list, we pulled away with a LOT of "stuff" and only a couple of items from the list. Nevertheless, our DEALS on the THREE piles of "seconds" were carefully loaded by the king of loading, Joe himself, and the SIX trees were strategically loaded, and then the gas grill, and THEN the three rolls of insulation, the ten 2X4's and the propane tank topped off the load.
Sure, throw it in, we have PLENTY of room!!
Long Lowes Receipts!
Back home, after watering the new fruit trees, it was time to cut the third melon from her vine and share the experience of our first watermelon crop with our neighbors. This melon weighed in at 19 lbs and was the best, sweetest melon so far. Yes, we sat there at the table and ate every bit of that melon! It was really a delightful ending to a very nice Labor Day weekend.
Future orchard
Watermelon time!
Neighbor, showing off!
Everyone enjoying the melon.
Now, that was Monday and today was Thursday....
In that time we have had the deck "finished" but have decided to have windows added back into both the upstairs and downstairs, so the deck guy is starting that job tomorrow.
Working on the light
Deck "complete--ish"
We have been taking delivery of LOADS of road dirt, and Joe has been busy creating roads, driveways and parking pads over which will be erected more carports in the very near future.
More roads
And more
We have also been working with contractors, getting bids on the next phase of the old farmhouse project, and are still in that "getting bids" phase. I am growing weary of the "joke" these contractors all LOVE to tell... "an old farmhouse is like a boat....the two best days of your life are when you buy it and when you sell it!" .... as they submit their exorbitant bid for the work we are interested in having done.
Of course, through this all, I am working my paying job and preparing for the next busy travel months. While all of the hammering, dumping, sawing, drilling etc. is going on outside, I am inside at my desk trying to catch up (I never, ever do!) and wishing I was out there in the sunshine, participating in the action. So, this afternoon, after I returned home from another entertaining escapade at the DMV (not!) I was thrilled that Joe suggested we dig some dirt -- to see what was in a pile at the edge of the woods.... to determine whether it was good dirt or yet another "dump site" left behind by the previous owners. I finally got to try out the new tractor myself! It will take a bit of practice, but I can easily see myself digging my pond....
Learning the controls
Really digging it!
After I'd dug awhile, I turned the controls back over to the "pro" and grabbed the camera.
A Pro
The sunflowers are indeed fading, and they will not be with us much longer, but we have harvested seeds for next year's crop and the bees and other insects are taking full advantage of what's left of sunflower summers.
Get it while you can!
I, too, must enjoy this while I can. By the time I am finished with the traveling, it will be well into fall weather and the hickory nut season.... I doubt I will collect the 1000 lbs I sold on eBay last year, but I imagine I will still walk the woods of the Pond House and collect a few hundred pounds.... I mean, I have so MUCH free time on my hands!
We always knew we were going to do it. From the moment we looked at this old farmhouse, sitting unloved, in the soggy winter ground which was slowly reclaiming her, we knew we were going to tear up all the floors so we could see the bones on which this fading structure rested. Of course, there were a million other things to complete first, and the floor project was pushed back... From February to August, every person contracted to help with another project at the old farmhouse, was given the tour, and asked if they would like to bid on tearing out the floor. And several of them did give us bids. They ranged from the odd to the outrageous.
There was the odd, but true, "Nomad," whose bid was low, but included a requirement for us to provide all tools AND to pick him up from his home (40 miles away) and drive him back home when the job was done...he would work as he wished, sleeping in his sleeping bag in the old farmhouse for the several days it would take him to complete the tear out. And there was the outrageous....the guy who wanted three times what anyone else quoted, but who had his own crew and tools, would work normal hours and everyone would sleep at their own houses. The others who bid fell in between, with varying degrees of assurance they could actually accomplish the job.
To be honest, we were seriously considering using "Nomad." He came recommended and purportedly travels with his guitar, which immediately appealed to us... we are always ready for an impromptu jam session. However, in the end, Joe made a deal with "Mr. Outrageous," the guy from whom we purchased the 48 foot semi trailer we will use as storage. He successfully bartered with Mr. O to sell us the semi trailer AND have his experienced crew tear out the floor for LESS than Mr. O had bid for the floor tear out alone.
By the time I arrived home from MD on Wednesday, the floor was being torn out and we could now clearly see what we had suspected. Several beams and all joists will need to be replaced. Not a small undertaking, to be sure, and we will start that bidding process soon.
Broken Joists and Failed Beams
Meanwhile, though, the other projects continue. The deck project is nearing completion. The windows, upstairs and down, have been replaced with doors. Tuesday, the deck will be finished.
Installing Upstairs Door
Almost Done
Joe, in between supervising floor tear-out, semi trailer delivery, deck construction and delivery of road dirt (more roads and driveways), was modifying the shed and the attached lean-to to accommodate the new tractor. (By this time we were under pressure to "protect" things since Hurricane Earl was heading our way....)
Lean-to on Shed
Ready for Tractor
Tractor Tucked In
To say this has been a busy week would be a complete understatement. So today we took it very easy. I did my usual Sunday church choir and all, and then Joe and I spent the afternoon just slowing down already! We spent time looking at the now fading sunflowers, discovering melons that are quite large, but which had escaped our detection until today, picked some ripe cherry tomatoes from their vines, ate leftover pizza and talked about everything under the sun.
End of Sunflower Season
Just a Handful
I gave Joe a much needed haircut. I suppose it is a little ironic that when it was hot as blazes and the overgrown hair was making things even hotter, we didn't have time to stop and cut it, and today, when we finally took that time, the weather turned much cooler... oh well!
Finally, with evening approaching, we cut a melon from the garden, and sat in the garden enjoying her sweetness.
Judy Picking Melon
Judy, Testing Arm Strength!
Delicious!
Benson, ever jealous, sat and gave us the "stare," but knew better than to try to enter the "forbidden garden."
Where's MINE????
The goats, oblivious to the melon-fest in full swing, were busy practicing their "synchronized eating.."
Notice the form..."kneeling" to eat!!!
And as we savored the sweetness of the melon, and the loveliness of the day, we spied a dove perched atop the roof. He cooed and listened, and cooed some more. Before long another dove joined him, and we caught their silhouettes against the dusk sky.
Doves in Love!
Showy Sky
We ate the whole melon, Joe and I did... all 14 lbs 11.6 oz of her! It was dark when we finished, and the air hinted the first tastes of fall. We put the goats back in their pen, fed the cats and dog, and retired for more relaxation indoors. There are so many projects yet to be done, but today I was happy we decided to just slow down already.
