Christmas at Richmond Woods

Below, Christmas morning at Richmond Woods. A first for us. The weather was a little iffy (we found that it would only get worse) but we got a good blaze going in the woodburning stove, had coffee, coffeecake, delicious orange sections then opened our presents.

We brought some good things to eat: a small pork loin, vegetables, chili fixins'
Have you ever tasted golden cauliflower? It had a mild taste. We made mashed sweet potatoes with orange juice and spices. I cut thick little slices from the pork loin and pounded it flat with a Coke^® bottle, sprinkled with seasoned salt (thank you, Lance), dredged in flour, sauteed in olive oil....

It was good, I garrronteee!

Then out for a walk to help us digest; I guess Russ was worried about running into a hungry coyote. And they are numerous these days the neighbors tell us.

We walked up on top of the hill; everything was mossy. Right, looking back at our little cabin.



Left below: The often burned mountain laurel is staging a comeback. It used to be 10 ft tall or more.

Sundown, Christmas evening. A rare day of no work at Richmond Woods!

Next day, we had a workplan: put in elec boxes and switches (Russ already wired last spring) and put up trim.
Below left: Oh no! The peanuts Scott brought us last summer are gone!
Below right: no trim



Russ had purchased wavy board (same thing we did the outside with) and last summer, Carolyn bleached it and stained it so it would be ready when we got around to putting up trim (which we planned to do in the winter). Below left: It was in a big stack on the porch. We sorted through it to determine baseboard, crown molding, trim around doors and windows. The weather was deteriorating: windy, rainy. Russ knew he would have to notch out some of the boards so we decided to put in elec boxes and switches first. Below middle: holes in the wall for switches and outlets. Right: Voila!



Below, left: here's what it looked like when Russ notched out the board for the switch, then as we continued around the room: windows, crown molding, baseboard.

Lunch break: homemade chili. Is there anything better on a cold, blustery day? It's nice to make something on the gas stove then keep it warm on the woodburning stove.



Below, left: adding more boxes then right, continuing with the trim: measuring, running outside when the rain let up to cut a few more pieces, trimming down with a circular saw for the "too wide" pieces, notching out with a saber saw.



Below, left: panoramic shot from up on the ladder. Couch is pulled way out from the wall where we were working so there's a little more room than it appears. Below, right: hanging a bamboo shade that we can keep up away from the stove but put down for privacy at night.

Continuing Work on the Pole Barn

Leaves are turning red and gold. Early November. Fall seems late this year and it has been very dry. We still have tomatoes in Atlanta as I post this November 12. No frost yet. The usual frost date is said to be around October 15 in Atlanta. It has been cool and nice for working up at Richmond Woods. After Carolyn left with Lance and company to catch a plane for Virginia following the family campout, Russ stayed on to fill with concrete the holes with poles. It has taken several weekends. Here's the progress.

Lance and Amber put plastic up over the screens on the porch during the campout. It will be like a greenhouse once the leaves are gone.



Working on the holes. Russ made forms so the cement is in the hole, completely surrounding the poles (Russ wants the polebarn to be around after he's gone so Haydyn and Hollie can use it).

Then, repeat. Over and over. Let's see... 40 x 80lb bags of quikrite? I know I bought 15 then he bought 15 more and this weekend (tonight), he bought more. It would have been more than that but Chuck suggested adding crushed limestone and even brought it over. To the right: view from the cottage window: beautiful leaves.

Here's a beautiful leaves selection. This is a gorgeous place in the spring and fall. Summer is a bit hot! And winter a bit cold! Fortunately, we have the woodburning stove.



To the right, the new little gardenias are growing! I have them in a new sunny bed and with lots of manure so I hope they are happy!



Up on the hill last weekend. WOW! And to the right, a bearded hedgehog mushroom, we believe! It is said to taste like an Italian white truffle and those sell for $50/oz! New career at RW: mushroom farming? We're intrigued.

A Family Camping Trip and Giant Progress on the Workshop

October 21-22. After a beautiful previous weekend, the forecast was for freezing temperatures for the annual family campout. Therefore, we invited everyone in the cabin. Lance and Amber covered the screen with plastic to stop the breeze (below, left) and we put the glass in the porch door. Then we fired up the woodstove. Although we were nervous because of everyone eating chili and varying opinions on nightlights, it was quite pleasant. The leaves had not begun to turn in great numbers.



Below, left: the Hollie and Heather corner; right: Lance and Amber, in the rack, smartphones glowing.



We had a campfire and prepared the traditional s'mores

It was more of a work weekend than anyone planned. Chuck came over and led the charge. Russ certainly was not expecting it but by end of the day Saturday, all the poles were up for the polebarn workshop! WOW! It's something we could not have done by ourselves. Below, pole #1... getting the technique down.





Then things progressed from there








Primate grooming



Amber's new career if that biologist-thing doesn't work out




After all the work with the poles, there was just time for some target practice. All we can say is, "Don't mess with Hollie."

And that was the weekend. Back to Florida early Sunday morning. It's a long drive for just a couple days.