2018 Wrap Up

After the big summer camp-a-thon,  I spent my "free" time here mainly on preparing a space for a tractor shed. For the Tractor Shed, I excavated the sloping ground next to the shop where previously I had several large trees removed along with their stumps. I wanted a fairly level space to park the tractors and implements under cover. To accomplish this, I had to cut the high side down about three feet so I felt it necessary to build a retaining wall. And for that, I needed a footer.

In between numerous other weekend trips (mentioned below), I did manage to get a few more little things done: the 100-hour service for my new tractor, a mini-greenhouse for our fig tree, a main entry door for the shop, and a decent stack of firewood.

The remainder of the year was primarily occupied with various trips out of town. One to NC to help my friend Andy Z. finish a metal storage shed on his property. There was a trip to Chickamauga with Carolyn for her birthday. There was a weekend with Habitat for Humanity. Our usual long weekend in VA with Carolyn's family for Thanksgiving. And lastly a weeklong excursion to FL to see my children and grands.

2018 is done.

August Glamping Trip

Carolyn's family arrived August 6. We spent the night in Atlanta, then Russ, Sara and Allison loaded a rental truck with furniture and books and we headed to Richmond Woods. After the unpacking "party", things got less hectic. Because of recent storms and an unsettled forecast, we suggested all 6 girls stay in the master suite and we took the sleeping porch. That way, anyone who wanted to sleep in could do so. Here are some selected shots from the visit. Sara took most of them: we were busy with prepping food, cooking with the granddaughters, etc. Next year need to take some of our own!

Because of the weather, there were no campfires this year : (

Meals in the new party pavilion and another view of the house.

On the tire swing

Breakfast on the deck with a hummingbird

Cooking with the granddaughters (and making pancakes upper left: the Italians add cornmeal for an extra treat)

Playing chess and making string bracelets

Finishing a Lot of Projects Before the Arrival of Family Guests

The post before this shows the beginning of lots of projects. We worked hard in the spring and summer to get things cleaned up before the arrival of Sara, Allison and the four girls. Sorry to say that Scott and Sean couldn't make it this year.

Here's where we were right before the visit.

Outside the house...

Top row, left to right: our new carport. So nice when it's raining and you get home with groceries; front of the house. Second row: back of the house with a long, wonderful deck and pergola where we are growing muscadine grapes. Some day there will be rocking chairs here! View of the house from the woods.

Our new "cook shack" (party pavilion and summer kitchen)...

Top row, left to right: The covered entrance and inside with table for 8 looking toward countertop (used to be in the cabin) with refrigerator and camp stove, utensils, etc. Still need to hook up water and electricity. Second row: looking toward the house and an area with a metal mesh floor where we have our large flattop grill and weber. The grill is a great way to make breakfast for 20 quickly! We used it last summer. It was awesome. Third row: Russ in his new tractor bringing gravel to fill tent pad #2, now completed.

Russ's shop and the powerhouse ...

All structures have now been stained (honey gold) which darkens over time. 

Top row, left to right: The panels still puttin' out the juice in the backyard and nearby, the powerhouse where all the electronics are housed. Second row: The shop, 32 x 24, big doors on the roadside for backing in the trailer to offload stuff; all windows now in. Third row: Main entrance, away from the road with a deck. A good place for Russ to hide when I am looking for him. Or to have a shady lunch, when I will be joining him. 

Landscaping developing...

Top row, left to right: Snow last winter : ) then spring came. Beautiful chaste trees. I planted them in the middle of wild azalea patches. As the trees grow, they will give the azaleas some shade in the sunny backyard. Bottom two pictures: back deck where muscadines are growing like crazy on our pergola. They are kind of a mess right now: we will prune nicely this January. No fruit this year: too many side branches. 

Backyard cleanup of trash wood and tree cutting...

We have had a giant wood pile(s) in back since all the trees were cut for the solar. In July, Russ rented a chipper. I was dreading the hot weather but we lucked out with a pleasant weekend (under 90!)

Top row, left to right: Using the new tractor to pick up large amounts of wood to be fed in the chipper. Second row: Tree cutters came to take down some dead ones but left some great big chunks for firewood. Third: This is my chipping or mowing look. For the chipping I had ear protection too. Russ the same!

On this amount of acreage, there is lots of wood coming down. We are going to try some hugelkulture in the back yard this fall. It will: make good use of rotting wood, provide steady nutrients and moisture for plants, sequester carbon!!! Win Win Win!!!

http://www.southernexposure.com/blog/2017/06/how-to-build-a-hugelkultur-garden-bed/

Inside the house...

Finished lots of projects. 

Our fabulous master suite. It came in handy: the weather was rainy so instead of tents, girls young and young at heart slept here. Russ and I went to the sleeping porch.

Top row, left to right: king-sized bed and a couch at the foot of it for reading, napping, putting on shoes. Russ's grandmother's large french doors, curtained, leading into the bathroom. Second row: new glass tile vanity (over 7' long!) with a large copper sink. Also (not shown) a composting toilet and a shower. Third row: laundry room to the right with washer and dryer and these nice shelves for linens.

Living room, books galore. We brought books and furniture from ATL and my daughters assisted with the moving. Thank goodness! 

Top row, left to right: Before all the stuff arrived, we did some patching and painting. Russ put together a lot of Ikea shelves for books, for our new laundry room, and for the master closet. Left side: Lots of books surrounding the TV. Lower right: a big pile of boxes and the office corner with a desk, barrister bookcase (Russ's great grandfather's), computer, paper, etc etc. The checked cloth is on a dining table. Our plan in future once electricity and water are hooked up in the pavilion is to eat there. Easier than carrying things back and forth!