Long Hot Summer Part 2

 

This is our well.  Conspicuously placed in the middle of the front lawn (mowed meadow).  The stones are temporarily piled as I harvest them from points in the lawn to save the John Deere.  Eventually they will form a surround to hide the rather unattractive lawn art otherwise known as "the well." 

And I'd like to say that this is where our story begins...but it doesn't.  It actually starts about 500' fee away in this direction. There beyond the garden shed to the right (which you can see more clearly by clicking on the photo to expand it).  

500' up there in the woods is a spring house.  It looks like this

 If you look carefully you can see seepage around the outside...wasted water.  As I mentioned in Part 1 the line had ceased dripping due, likely to a blockage of some sort, whether a kink in the line or some obstruction.  So our spring house is overflowing rather than draining.  The plans are to replace this spring house with a 3 foot wide plastic tube four feet high which will be sunk into the ground.  The pipe will have holes for the spring water to seep into the housing and of course a stone bottom for settlement of any matter and a new heavy three inch line running toward the well. The picture to the right shows the path (roughly) to the well.  But while my new friend Bruce (who has also offered to teach me the fine art of excavation work) and I are in there excavating we've got another spring that we're going to put a spring house on for future use, in case it is needed for the house (or the one room log cabin to be built at Eliza's Rest).

There are actually four springs that we will be tapping in all.  The queen mother is this one to the left.  These will eventually flow, or overflow as the case may be, into a pond that Bruce is kindly offering to help with as well.

We've identified a wonderful, already low area into which the springs, when properly channeled will easily fill.  It's located behind the garden shed.  Topograhpically it is the ideal setting.  It sits just below the springs, is fairly level, has sufficient shade to reduce some of the challenge of algae formation and has sufficient sun to be enjoyable.  

We'll manage to stock it with fish for fun times, place a dock for "the wonderful one" to spread a towel on and lie out, and ensure it's deep enough (12 feet or so) for a nice cool swim.  This is probably the most exciting work that we'll do this summer...

Stay tuned for updates...

Long Hot Summer Part 1

So the long hot summer seems to be here to stay. We're experiencing significantly warmer temps than normal and drought conditions.  But that has not stopped work on this "homestead" project.

I've been busy with little things like putting screen doors on the house to increase the circulation.  I had to replace a rotten window in the master bedroom.  While lumber prices continue to be almost unimaginable ($10+ for one 8' 2x4) I bit the bullet and started work on the closet which is near the back door and the living room end of the house, including a wood box and craft storage area for "the wonderful one." We're trying to maintain some of the "hunting cabin" elements so (inside the closet - click on pics to increase size) I left the 2x6 flooring and the "wainscoting" walls with the pegs used for hanging up the damp hunting clothing.

Keeping up with the lawn hasn't been much of a problem since it's not growing much. 

I've also been tackling some of the fields around some of which we had brush hogged last fall but needed to be addressed with the John Deere this summer.   The X580 Garden tractor has pretty much been pushed to the limits but I've managed to open up another 1/2 acre or so...

We put in a "test" garden which seems to be doing reasonably well.  It's got just the essentials, sweet peppers, zuchinni, cukes, brussel sprouts, lettuce, tomato, and kale. I opened us the area behind this which will eventually be home to the future garden planned to be about 30'x70'. 

We're grateful to our son and daughter in law for the gift of the drum composting bin, which has already begun to be used to make that yummy compost for next year's garden goodies.

To save on space I'll not include pictures of the brush piles from the roughly 30-40 bushes and trees that I cleared to open up more space in what I recently posted would become "Eliza's Rest."

And now to the issue of the drought.  Being on a spring fed water system, water is always precious and we limit our use as best we can. Over the past month or so we've watch the level of the well into which the spring feeds go down about 10 feet.  (It's a 25' storage well).  The other day I noticed that the supply line had ceased dripping.  After numerous checks, a trip down into the well, and the help of my new friend Bruce we have uncovered the reality that the original line is simply inadequate.  It is an old 1" flexible plastic line which is subject to punctures, sagging, and other issues.  And so a new line will be put in, along with another more exciting project...(but that's for the next post).

 

 

 

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