Yet, another Update!!!!

This past Saturday in Bangor was definitely fun! Dad’s friends at the Horseman’s Association gave use another load of manure to spread on our “garden-to-be.” This time Dad decided to use a tarp to just pull the manure out of the truck bed and dump on the ground…well it didn’t really work as well as we had hoped. First we fired up the old John Deere tractor and tied the tarp and tried to pull the tarp with the load of manure on top out…the tarp ripped on one corner. Tied it again, got back on the tractor, pulled. Ripped the tarp! It was so entertaining! I was enjoying myself immensely! Eventually, after totally trashing the tarp the manure ended up on the ground, ready to be spread out with the tractor.



Then we saw we needed to re-fill our water barrel…so I get the new 100’ hose (which is not of the highest quality) and Dad and I hook up the hose to the spicket and hook the other end into the water barrel. Then we turn on the water and to our great mistake, walk away. I should add that the water barrel irrigation experiment has worked out to great success! The shrub we set the water barrel next to has perked up and even has a few flowers on it! So after a while we kind of forgot about the filling of the barrel and Dad goes to take down the hill on the edge of the “garden-to-be” and I start talking to Mom and enjoying my blue Powerade. We I look up, I see the water barrel in the middle of falling over and the little spout coming off it shooting a stream of water into the air. I run to the spicket to shut of the water and then over to the fallen barrel which weighs-in at around 500 lbs! Dad tries to put it back upright with the tractor to no avail, so we wait for it to empty a bit before righting it by our own man-power (or Dad’s man-power I should say).

Oh, and I almost forgot! We got another 100’ roll of horse fencing 5’ tall (as tall as me!). Next weekend we plan to fence around the front gate then move on to the far side of the property (where there is absolutely no fencing) that Dad has been clearing out.

Another exciting event was our first time having to stop for a train on Lower Honcut Road! It was a long and FAST train!!! Kinda cool!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and stay tuned for my next post.

The past month or so...

So, once again I haven’t posted anything in a while. Though I haven’t been up to the property very often so I guess it’s not that bad. Since my last post not too much has happened. We have been working on clearing the property line on the far side of the property so that we can string the fence in the fall. Last weekend we acquired a small fridge and freezer that works. We set it up in the house/shed and plan on stocking it with soda, water and some snacks. I’m trying to think of anything else exciting….oh, the cows are putting on some good weight finally, it’s so nice to see them looking healthier.
Now I remember some other stuff we’ve been doing up there! Dad has been able to acquire horse manure from a contact at work so we take a truck load up every few weeks and work it into the area that will eventually be our garden! We do the same with our rabbit manure, on a smaller scale.
In wildlife news, we have finally heard the dreaded rattlesnakes! Ugh I hate the sound they make…it’s kind of creepy! When we finally kill one, Rachel get the rattle, then I get the second one. I think we should collect them and use them as part of the décor in the shop or house…just a thought.
Oh and now for the pictures I’ve been promising.

Finally, another update!

Again it has been a while since I posted anything here, and a lot has happened!!! The biggest events are the construction of 330 feet of fencing on part of one side of the property and the hanging of the new gates!

The fencing is 5’ tall horse fencing, which is probably what we fence the entire property with. It is strong and looks great! The plan is to do a little of the perimeter fencing at a time until it is all done. We hope to get the second long side of the property done next. Dad and I spent today taking out brush to clear the way for the fence line. Next weekend we get to shred all we took out and take out some more! Fun stuff!!!!

The new gates look amazing!!! Thanks Matt!!! You’re so awesome!!! We still are in the process of painting them black; one is still a nice burgundy sort of color. For those who don’t know, my cousin, Matt came to visit and so kindly came up and welded the hinges for the gates and helped us hang them. And I also need to thank my Uncle Mike for helping us out so much as well. That was one of the most tiring and fun days I’ve had at the property; playing with Matt’s two great kids, Ryleigh and Tommy.

Last weekend Dad and I turned the “house” into a shed, so now it’s more secure and we can keep more up there. Now our cats have to eat outside, but they don’t mind.

Everything is coming along well. I will post pictures within the next week. I promise!!!! It’s so beautiful up there, even now that the grass has turned brown, but it’s more like a bronze than brown. The trees are still brilliantly green.
Okay that’s it for now. I’m going to watch a movie or something now. Hope everyone is well!

Trailers & Tractors

Ugh! I did it again! I haven't posted in over a month! Sorry to everyone. Anyways, on to what we have been doing up at the property.

On February 7th Dad, Mike and I went up to the property to set the posts for the gate. We measured it out and were all ready to go. We had the auger in the truck and when we went to start it, it wouldn't start! So after toying with it for a good half hour Dad decided to start digging it by hand while Mike continued trying to fix the auger. Unfortunately, the auger never started. Dad & Mike dug the holes for the posts by hand through all the rock. But at the end of the day we had the posts set and had done a good days work.

Then we finally bought a trailer to keep up at the property! As Rachel & Marissa stated when we first brought it home..."it is like the 70s crawled in there and bred!" We spent a week cleaning it up and towed it up to the property! This past Tuesday Mike and Dad went up to move it to behind the house and level it out.

We also brought a tractor up...it is a nice green John Deere Rachel & I got to actually drive it and it so fun!!!

This weekend I took out more cross fencing, Dad finished taking all the insulation and sheetrock out of the house and Rachel sat in the trailer reading. We might be doing a fencing project next weekend! Yay for fencing! Hopefully soon we'll hook electrical and septic to the trailer. Everything is coming along nicely! Hope everyone is doing great!!!

Update!

Opps! I can’t believe I haven’t posted in almost a month! I guess I’ve had a lot going on trying to get going with the new semester and stuff. Anyway, we have made three treks up to the property since I posted last and a lot has happened.

Trek #1 (1/17/09) – Just Dad and I went up there with Brittany and her dog Tango while Rachel and Mom stayed home. We really didn’t do too much that day; Brittany and I pulled out more t-posts and fencing and Dad moved the bricks away from the house (we’re saving the brick to use to make an outdoor BBQ & kitchen). We met some more neighbors a family who is slowly building their house themselves down the road from us. I should also put that a tragedy occurred on this trip, my Kodak M763 camera was injured, the screen was hit against a rock on accident and it no longer works. I hope to get it replaced soon, but until then I’m using my Kodak Z740. The plus side of the tragedy is that I have re-discovered my old camera and the lenses I have for it; as well as my love of photography.

Trek #2 (1/24/09) – Today everyone came up to the property; everyone being Mom, Dad, Rachel & myself. We survived the forecast of rain and got a bit done. Rachel and Dad worked inside taking out sheetrock and insulation, while Mom and I worked around just picking up trash. Dad found a ton of old wasps nests in ceiling (no wasps fortunately). Mom and I found a woodpecker’s work, a pine tree with holes all the way up and in the limbs with acorns in almost every hole. We met another neighbor, a horse who decided our pasture was better than his. After a while Mom & Dad went to the feed store to get cat food and Rachel and I stayed to graffiti the walls of the living room. I must say for not being vandals we did a pretty good job!

Trek #3 (1/31/09) – This was definitely the best trip up there; I think we have ever had. Marissa spent the night on Friday and rode up with us. Dad tore out more walls and insulation, Mom planted more iris plants and cleaned up more. I was Rachel and Marissa’s official photographer most of the day. Then I trimmed some trees for a while so I wasn’t hitting my head on all the low hanging branches. Rachel, Marissa, and I had a small picnic, if that is what it can be called. We didn’t bring any real food so we had chex-mix, goldfish crackers, and cookies along with water and soda. But I guess what counts is that we had a ton of fun with each other. Our horse-neighbor was there again. Hopefully in the next few months we will have a trailer up there.

I believe that is about it. I hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful day!

Happy New Year!

A little over a week into 2009 and we finally get the chance to get back up to the property. A lot has changed since it became ours. The part of the house that burned has been entirely gutted and torn out. The trash everywhere is starting to disappear and it's looking more gorgeous than ever!

Yesterday we spent a few hours working. Dad and Rachel tore out sheetrock, Mom picked up more of the trash, and I pulled out t-posts and took down some more fencing. We also brought up a bench so we finally have a place to sit other than rocks!