A Swale and a Cut

 

There is a fair uphill/incline behind our house that seems to stay wet much of the year.  There is both quite a bit of run off from the mountain and several significant (wet and dry weather) springs just up the hill a bit that contribute to this issue. It renders the land largely unusable. As you can see from the above picture I generally cut up only as far as the swale that was cut just behind the house. (I'm assuming this was done to save mowing. When you're up at hunting camp you don't want to have to spend time mowing lawn.)

I tried cutting it one time last fall and got the tractor stuck.  When I took the Jeep in to get the tractor out I got the Jeep stuck. After getting the Jeep and the tractor out, I managed to get the tractor stuck a second time.  Lesson learned.  Lots of clay and lots of water - don't cut!

Soooo... this year we had a swale cut in at the back of property line to shed the run off and the spring water.  

We anticipate that this will alleviate most all of the problem.  The extra good news is that the solid and extensive clay base we found makes the reality of a future pond a lot more likely.

Things have been pretty dry of late so the newly cut swale along with the dry conditions allowed me to get into this section of field and begin clearing.  The John Deere had quite a workout today cutting a good third to half an acre of 18 inch deep grass and ferns on some pretty rough ground.  Thankfully I had had it brushhogged last year and took out some of the scraggly unwanted pines.

So this...

 

 

Became this...

 

There is still quite a bit of cut field over to the right of the pics but you get the idea.  We're hoping the the old swale (seen mid pic) might no longer be necessary but we'll have to wait until we get some good rains and the wet weather springs run again before we know for sure.

It may not seem a big deal to some but any progress is encouraging.

The lady of the house has identified this area as eventually playing host to a patio and outdoor barbecue pit for entertaining. She's even mentioned a pergola...

This evening we spent sitting out watching the barn swallows work the freshly cut field.  It was quite a peaceful sight!

The next big project is the bathroom...stay tuned for that.

Thank you, Lord, for gifts of grace along the way.

Nine Months In...

So, nine months into the "Great NorthCentral Pennsylvania Adventure" the workshop is fully functional.  There are still a few walls to be covered. (I've been using plywood removed from inside the house for this.) And I still need to run some conduit and pull wires. But with a simple 30 amp extension cord I can run what I need to, when I need to.

 

WELCOME TO POP'S SHOP

 

Excusing the coffee roasting equipment in the doorway, the table saw is finally out and centered for optimal access.  On the back wall is the chop saw which I've mounted on an 8' collapsable table  due to limited space.  I've used old telephone pole climbing struts and steps for shelving to support the weight of the hardwood which came back with us from West Africa.

To the left, as one enters I have the band saw and storage for such necessities as dowel rods, screening, roofing felt, visqueen, etc.  An attentive eye also takes note of the empty jars on the shelves waiting to be filled with canned goodiness that the lady of the house will be putting up yet this summer!

The back left corner has the dreaded "chemical shelf" for refinishing supplies and other not suitable for children things over top of the belt/disc sander.  And next to that is the spindle sander and bench grinder table, under which is the jigsaw and the planer/thicknesser before coming to the chop saw on the back wall.

To the right is the supply section with nails, bolts, lions, tigers, and bears oh my stuff.  You may note the ventless lp heater on the wall. (There is ample venting that can be opened in the winter to stay safe while maintaing heat.) AND the shopsmith vacuum system which has hoses to each of the major pieces of equipment which keeps everything so neat and tidy!!! And of course more cabinets...

On the right end is the work wall with all the hand tools and a work bench along with a drill press. All ov the cabinetry, the wall coverings, and tables, benches, etc. have been salavaged from the house as we remodel.  So with the exception of the building itself and the insulation, the shop cost next to nothing!!! Yippee, skippee!

This really is an important part of my life as virtually every tool in this shop belonged either to one of my grandfathers, my father, or Carol's father.  So it is a testimony those who have taught me, those who have taken such good care of their equipment, and the tradition I hope to someday pass on.  (Or if the kids or Carol wants, they can simply sell the whole shop ready made and ready to go!) 

I also wanted to get this done this summer so that as the fall and winter weather sets in, I am still able to continue work on remodeling the house without having to do the cutting and shaping, sanding, and finishing IN THE HOUSE! That makes Carol quite happy.

Sometimes it's the little things, the blessings along the way that just cause me to stop and say "WOW! Thank you Lord, for you provision in all ways." God has been so gracious. I pray you are likewise able to find that grace and gratitude in all aspects of your life!

 

Harvest Time

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While the Lumber Index is showing great promise for a reduction of lumber prices we're wait for this to actually show up in the lumber stores. In the meantime, my attention has turned to outside work. The past week or two I've been concentrating on land/lawn issues in something of a "pioneer" fashion.  In short I've been collecting rocks.

When I gardened in town, I often collected 7 or so wheelbarrows of stone/rocks out of a 1200-1500 sq foot garden...each spring...and again each fall as I roto-tilled and raked. Small ones.

Here at 12 Monks Hill I'm forced to dig them up. (They create significant disagreeable encounters with the John Deere.)  I was able to walk most of the property to be cut last fall and collect a number of them.  I started piling them up waiting to decide their ultimate fate.

I'm beginning to understand why the farmers of old built stone fence rows. It was easier to leave them close to where they were harvested.

Currently in need of topsoil to fill these holes, the neighbor has offered his massive pile of fill for my use.  

So that, of course, means I will need to buy a wagon for the tractor. 

Oh boy! More toys!!!

Some of these are so big, even though I've dug them out by hand and struggled to get them out of the hole, I find myself unwilling/unable to get them to move any further.  And so, some will likely just stay where they are.

I've managed to clear about 1 1/2 acres for mowing although stones still seem to magically appear at the strangest and most inconvenient of times.  I've started working on areas that haven't been mown in years such as the cute section around the garden shed (former horse run-in) seen below.

And so now, in addition to waiting for lumber prices to come down we're also waiting for another excavator to come in and dig a swale behind the house (to dry out) the land behind the house.  And then we'll brush hog the hillside and the stone/rock removal can begin back there.

The current swale (seen mid pic) was cut too close to the house(for our desires). But then, less dry ground means less grass to cut and when you're dealing with a former hunting camp you get it. Who wants to cut lawn when your at camp?

And so we continue this work on our own "Old House" as the Lord provides the time and resources, making the house a home.  

Soli Deo Gloria! 

 

 

 

Parking Privileges

Unplanned work! Well at least that’s how it started. I had been toying with the idea of cutting a swale in on some higher ground to drain and dry out some constantly wet land running down the hillside. And I was thinking that, at some point, we would need to do something about parking since it is so muddy around the backside of the house. And voilà

, in a completely unrelated conversation, our neighbors Carl and Linda M. gave us an index card with various people who had done work for them. I saw and excavator’s name and called.

Enter Fay Bradley. I can’t say enough good about Fay. He responded to my phone call within 24 hours, was onsite within another 24 hrs, provided a firm quote at the first visit, with a VERY fair price, and was done within a week of my having placed the call. How often does that happen?

Now to be fair, we caught him at a good time, just finishing up one big job and getting ready to move to another big job, so our small one and a half day project was perfect.

While he was here we asked, "could he put in a short walkway, so people could/would perhaps use the front door?"

"And maybe cut a swale in on the hillside?" You may be able to see that the water is already pooling and beginning to run.  This will add to our open field recreational space.

No “one-half down before we start.” His policy is no payment until we are done to your satisfaction. Who does that any more? 

Fay does!

And now we have mud free, spacious parking and (we anticipate) over the next month or so, a much dryer hillside on which to play.

Now I can focus on the next project – covering the walls in the utility laundry room and then...the bathroom! We are making progress.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. Jehovah Jireh!

 

Eliza's Rest

Eliza's Rest

I planted two trees today as tears filled my eyes. The depth of emptiness was almost unbearable. If not for the grace of God...

The first tree is an Eastern Redbud (screen left) donated by Leah Rosser Terrell in memory of our beloved granddaughter Eliza Gail Hallead. The second tree is a White Dogwood (screen right) a favorite of Carol's and mine and also a reminder, to me, of my grandmother and grandfather Hallead's house that bore a dogwood tree in a special spot.

Log Cabin site on flat

The trees were planted at the opening of a space I am developing on the property called “Eliza’s Rest.” It’s a place of quiet, away from the residential house at the edge of the woods. My hope, one day is to build a small one room log cabin (with bathroom) there that will act as a place of refuge or rest; a place apart.

 View out back from cabin site                              View out front from cabin site

I rarely talk about this loss, largely because it is just too painful. I am not a believer in the “talk about it” therapeutic model. That has never worked for me, sharing with some stranger "how that makes me feel" is a waste of breath. But conversing with the Lord brings great relief. He knows my pain. He knows my thoughts. And he alone can deliver me in times of distress. I’m comfortable with that. He’s the only one capable of understanding anyway. He’s the only one who truly knows me. And that is enough.

I've got the wind chimes that will soon be placed.  And a hamock that will be hung...for now...And I'll have my conversations with the only one who is able to do any sort of healing, of any kind. 

"...thanks be to God! He gives us the victory 

through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

1 Corinthians 15:57 

 

In The Interim...

With the weather vacillating between snowy cold conditions, wet rainy conditions and the occasional sunny bright wonderful days of early spring...and no place to store wood for construction, we are at a standstill in the conversion/remodeling work. So we take full advantage of smallish guests who happen by to brighten our day.

The smallish one loves tractors (pronounced car-car).  He has taken the seat of tractors, but never one which is running. Today's discovery is that tractors are much more enjoyable when they aren't running...

And after a face plant into a mud puddle on the way back from the barn, a brief unloading of excess moisture from the eyes, we find that nothing satisfies quite like snacking on blueberries with grammy.

Next step is (hopefully) some naptime before the "big truck" comes with the washer dryer delivery, making grammy, even happier.

And so it continues...

And we have heat...

It took a couple of weeks, what with various emergency calls needing to be attended to and, well, that small 30" crawl space limiting the movement. but here she is in all her 60,000 BTU glory:

This is better than receiving a "special award" marked "Frajeelay."  Just look at that! Isn't she a beauty?

The best part of this are the two additional gas connections for
"wonder woman's" new stove and the soon to be installed washer dryer combo.  "Mr wonderful" just noticed that the stackable unit delivered last week, which has been waiting for installation, has an electric dryer instead of gas...so back on the phone to Lowe's.

In the meantime, I have re-situated the 100 lb propane tank over to the side of the shed.  The lp radiant heater for that is supposed to arrive this week, and then work can really begin.  

Plans are to finish the mechanical room with 7/16's OSB for the walls and 1x6 pine planking for the floor.  And then to plumb and install the washer dryer unit and reinstall the commode, so... stay tuned.