Florida Homesteading @ Liberty Retreat

A new settee...

2011-11-12T18:52:00.001-06:00

We picked this up for fifty dollars last week, of course it will get a new cover and new finish...it's pretty or will be.

We picked this up for a couple hundred today... very pretty and goes well with the our other pieces. Nice creamy color in great shape. Looks lovely with the sofa. But will be putting it at the end of the guest bed. (away from kitties) :)

I so need my own little shop.... lol ;)

Our gorgeous old~new sofa

2011-09-29T21:48:00.002-05:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

Pretty Sofa...

2011-09-24T09:01:00.003-05:00

Just Stunning!!

Center section of the sofa

2011-09-18T22:32:00.001-05:00

Sectional piece #1 finished but for buttons

2011-09-13T16:41:00.000-05:00

It's SO Pretty!!

Recovering the sofa sectional

2011-09-08T14:05:00.000-05:00

Call me blessed, I have a wonderful Aunt who is recovering my sofa which I just love. It will be gorgeous when she is done.. I am so excited!

Hoping to add a pic of the original ~~ now what file is that in?

I had it covered so the dogs wouldnt be messing it up... Futile on my part.

In honor of my Momma's birthday tomorrow-- last picture I have of her on this sofa - Four generations. Miss you Ma! Happy Birthday up there!

Ms Bekka...wow she is so little.. you should see her now!

Ms Emily, way too grown up now. How fast time goes!

As you can see, or not see so well, the color and pattern of the sofa in original form.

I am sure I have more pictures... when I find them I will add them.

More East Wing

2011-08-15T19:41:00.000-05:00

I sure wouldnt win any drywall awards... but.. I will fix or not... wainscotting is goin in the landry anyway, so that bump will be hidden. We started here with the ceiling stamping so we could get a handle on it, easy, but oh so messy! but then again Sonny handle the mud part, I stamped. It looks pretty cool and I don't feel bad that it isn't perfect. Hey it is DONE! I am happy with that.

Update on the east wing...

2011-07-28T16:13:00.002-05:00

Slow it goes, but I see the end of the tunnel :)

Found this frog on the porch... I wasn't gonna touch it... poor frog...

Sad to say, but nothing was left but very fine, thin bones... those ants scarfed it down! I even put out DE powder, but the ants kept coming...gross!!

Coming along on the East Wing

2011-07-11T15:49:00.003-05:00

Ready for inspection...still far from done.

Out the East Wing window, facing south

LAMPS PLUS.COM SAVINGS Offer: $60 off $600 !

Completing the East Wing

2011-07-06T22:12:00.000-05:00

Working on completing the East Wing, we can no longer get the blue insulation which is blue jeans, all cotton, so we had to go with the formaldehyde-free other stuff. I was very disappointed. But oh well, they want to push all this green stuff, but we cannot find 'green materials' at your local Shed.

I started mudding, filling gaps and cracks, holes and screw ups.

My laundry/ pantry. We plan to get a new set of stacking machines to go in this spot with a sink and cabinets and storage for food and supplies.

On goes coat two and some tape :)~ Does this tool belt make my butt look big? lol

May Day Pictures

2011-05-01T17:41:00.000-05:00

Springtime in the panhandle

2011-04-23T20:56:00.000-05:00

Some house pics

2010-10-30T16:04:00.000-05:00

About the farm...

2010-10-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

Our eggs so far - about 4dozen in the last 2 weeks

Chickens!

Mr. Lacey... cause she turned out to be a rooster, which is cool, he is so pretty!

Peachy... pretty rooster!

Pecking at my camera. She wasn't amused.

These little piggies

2010-07-25T19:32:00.000-05:00

PIGLETS!

Meet Boris and Dessert

Boris is the one on the left. Dessert is on the right.

Chickens!

2010-07-25T19:09:00.000-05:00

Named this beautiful bird Ms. Lacy

Our chickens arrived last month. They grow FAST! They are beautiful, just now getting the fancy feathers. I can't wait to get fresh eggs. I plan to sell some, especially around Easter, most I will share between family and friends. I love eggs, but we can't eat 3 dozen or more a week. Most of these chicks will lay blue and green eggs. NO DYE! I will try and get better pics after we get them moved to a new location.

We started out with them in a stainless steel oval water trough. After 3 weeks or so we moved them to the hutch we made for the guineas. Not long after, we moved them into the 10x10 with the hutch.

Now they are ready to be yard birds, but contained. Sonny has been working on building a new pen. Our chicken house will sit in the middle, and we will have four 10x whatever pens to rotate them. The house may be built on wheels so we can move it around to new area every year. It takes them no time at all to clean an area of anything green.

We have Americannas, Buff Opringtons, Road Island Reds & Golden Lace Windots.

Moving the bunkhouse-

2010-07-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago our friends were coming down for a weekend visit... we thought it might be a good time to move the bunkhouse from in front of the house. After a few calls however, I learned it was only going to be $500.00 to get someone to move it... I thought... that is a bargain compared to the house of digging, sweating, cussing and all the residual aches and pains the guys would endure. Not to mention it would have taken them all weekend or more to do it. So I opted to pay to have it moved the 75 feet where I cleared out spot for it. I took advantage of the area where the power company had plowed their way in, even though we had cleared a large path for them.

Worth every single dollar. I watched them... oh my ... it was so close to the house... it wasn't a simple task at all.

Check out the pics below.

This is the guy who moved the shed. How he works the way he does with his neck wrapped like that is beyond me. Two guys, busting butt. Great job. Thanks Eric @ OC's Towing & Recovery. If you are in need of a shed moved, give these guys a call @ 850.682.5130 in Crestview, Florida.

The other fella.. in the white shirt is my older brother Chuck, Supervisor.

Roses 2010

2010-05-31T23:38:00.001-05:00

Its a CAT house!

2010-05-31T23:28:00.002-05:00

One of the strays made herself at home here had a couple kittens in November. They are adorable! I named the Black one Cocoa, he is a tiger.. goes on walks with us and the boys. Sissy is a precious loveable girl who is the first girl cat that has been lovey dovey. The momma kitty of these two, Fluffy just had 3 more kittens this last week. I took pics of them too. Enjoy.

This was her 5th set of kittens that I know of, most of the litters didn't mack it or were naturally aborted. After this set, I took her in to get fixed so she could get healthy again and not be bothered by every stray tom around.

Update: Sadly, two of these kittens didn't make it- the orange and black on lived a few weeks, the black and white lived about 7 weeks. They were small, didn't eat well. The calico however found a home with a very nice fella that works with my sisterinlaw. Her name is Precious and she was at that. She is fine and doing well. Spoiled things she is already.

Cocoa

Hopper & Frank and Sissy

Best Buds! Hopper just love his Franklin.

Sissy seems camera shy... I will get her one of these days :)

Pearl is... always hiding.

Precious

Pictures of life on the Farm

2010-05-31T23:10:00.000-05:00

New BlueBird Family moved in

The house with the front porch finished

Guineas in the pine tree

Wildflowers

A new oven!

2009-08-25T23:43:00.003-05:00

We found this oven on craigslist for $650, it just like new! It matches the frig.
What a deal. It is going to look great in the kitchen. Two Ovens!!! Whoohoo!

A Woodpecker pair

2009-07-23T12:25:00.002-05:00

I caught these two at the feeder...

I was suprised I could get so close to them... baby steps

Tomatoes!

2009-07-23T12:18:00.003-05:00

Summer is..birds, geckos & guineas

2009-07-21T12:06:00.007-05:00

Making the Guinea Hutch

Our flock of Guinea Hens

Either the same pair of Bluebirds have decided to nest again, or we have another pair moving in.

A gecko's happy little home.

Sleeping baby Blue Birds

2009-06-14T17:16:00.003-05:00

I finally got that picture of those Blue birds, caught them sleeping away even though Sonny was cleaning off the porch and moving stuff all around. Lucky I didn't get dive-bombed by the parents, though I kept an eye out. Sonny said he wouldn't help me if I got brained by a bird.

Found this strange little bug with wings on the siding. Lacy wings.

Sungevity.com offers free quotes on residential solar power on clarkhoward.com

2009-06-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

Sungevity.com offers free quotes on residential solar power on clarkhoward.com

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Sungevity.com allows you to enter your street address and get a guaranteed quote on installation of a home solar system. The assessment is done by satellite mapping, so no visit to your home is required.

In addition, there's federal and state money available as part of the stimulus law to install alternative energy at your home or business. Clark predicts this will be a real growth area for entrepreneurs who can do energy-efficient retro-fitting on homes.

Yukka Plants blooming, a new garden plot and rose

2009-06-11T13:19:00.005-05:00

Wild Yukka's are everywhere.

This one go so heavy with blossoms it fell over

Another Garden Spot

A New Rose

Sorry for the rogue posts yesterday, I forgot to make a setting change when posting info to Internet-Women.net :)

Birds Take Flight

2009-06-09T15:57:00.004-05:00

I was cleaning up the deck the other day, feeding the stray girls their kitty food and happen to catch the little bird nested on the shelf on the back porch, learning to fly! They were taking their first flights. Flying to the railing, then to the ground and back up again. Back and forth they flew from nest to tree limb nearby. It was a real joy to watch!

I was able to catch a few when they came back to the nest and as they were about to take off again.

I can't get close enough to the blue birds to get them... but babies aren't born yet...

In other news... it is a very nice thing to have hot water in the house. It is even nicer to have a little cold air too. Sure makes the inside work much easier to do when you aren't sweaty and dusty... drywall cakes in strange places :)

The garden is growing wild! Tomato plants are as tall as I am. Tons of tomatoes will be ripe next week. Salsa anyone?

More Roses

2009-06-04T14:17:00.002-05:00

New birds and Blue birds

2009-06-04T13:57:00.004-05:00

New birds, Blue birds, my house is a bird santuary.

Momma Bird all nested behind the tool pouch which sits on a shelf we have on the back porch. Needless to say we have stayed away from the shelf as much as possible. Today I went out to check and she has at least 5 little birds in the nest with her.

I had to zoom in so I didn't get too close.

We bought some suet for them yesterday, and hung it in a tree near by.

We also have a family of Blue birds that tried to build a nest on the post tops in the front of the house, though there was only a few inches at most for them to sit. Sonny bought some birdhouses from a guy locally and mounted them on the posts so the birds could use them. I gathered up the pine needles they were using and had dropped from the posts and stuffed them in the mouth of the house. Same day, that Blue bird couple moved right in and now are nesting. I haven't yet been able to catch them with my camera, but I will before they are done.

I have to keep the stray little cats away, so far they have not bothered the birds on the shelf, but Fluffy has noticed the Blue birds a few times and I've chased her away. Darkling sits on one of the bar chairs and sleeps, so I guess she doesn't mind them being there. I keeps watch.

Roses

2009-05-13T21:33:00.003-05:00

Garden then and now

2009-05-13T21:22:00.002-05:00

Garden delights

2009-05-13T11:17:00.001-05:00

I harvested our first crop of green beans today. Off to the crockpot they go...oh yummy dinner!

Welcome to Liberty Retreat!

2008-12-16T01:29:00.000-06:00

Isn't he adorable feeding the birds?

2008-12-09T08:50:00.002-06:00

Our first Peach blossom, and the tree is loaded with buds! I tied some tensil around it so no one drives up through and runs it over, especially in the dark. It gets really dark in the country, but the stars are bountiful.

The sky was truly blue today

2008-12-06T02:45:00.001-06:00

Florida Fall

2008-12-05T16:50:00.001-06:00

A Lovely Fall Day

2008-11-18T10:46:00.006-06:00

Say so long to our Redneck Riveera Cottage

2008-11-18T02:22:00.006-06:00

We cleaned out the little trailer this weekend since the guy who came to cut the last tree down is taking it off our hands. It's still viable with a little more TLC than we care to put into it since we are putting everything into the house. It served us well the last 4 years. I'm ready to see it go so I can plant some trees which will be coming in the next couple of weeks from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Bye little home...I hope you make your new occupant comfy and get him out of the tool shed. Giving - 'Tis the season right? I thought so too!

After the trees were down, I walked out to see the carnage and when I turned back to the house I was faced with this scene. Wash on the line, crap in the yard...we thought it ironic. It looks a little better now that I've been out raking and picking up the stuff. Sonny will have to move the wood piled there before the termites decide it belongs to them.

Pests and new pets

2008-11-18T02:09:00.003-06:00

Bad dog! Newman hasn't been very good this week
Mom is mad at him for scratching her and pulling
her into the dirt twice! Strong little fella.

This little fella is Darkling.

He showed up all beat up.

Skinny and scratched from head to toe.

We fed him and talked him into hanging around.

He brought friends... hmmmm.

Time to move the shower

2008-11-10T13:05:00.001-06:00

Since the permanant power is going in soon, we have to move the outdoor shower and the little crate shed we have that is in the way of the trucks.
We decided to move the shower closer to the house and thinking of attaching it temp to the house lines. But til then, I'm clearing a spot and getting rid of that wicked vine that grows everywhere here... it has thorns! Then we can move the shower over. Thankfully Dad and I made it so it can come apart easily... gotta love screws!
I will take a pic before its down and then again when its been moved.

Oreo taste good!

2008-11-10T12:26:00.005-06:00

Our Oreo girl on her way to market....

We did good growing our Oreo girl. I fried up some pork chops and couldn't get my fill of the stuff! Nice fat lined chops, an inch thick with great flavor!

Remember when she was just this little?

It is truly breathtaking!

2008-10-06T23:39:00.002-05:00

Destin Florida

Movin' In!

2008-09-18T13:45:00.000-05:00

Yes, you read that right, we are moving in the furniture...time to make a home out of this house!

Good News! We passed our Inspection!

2008-09-04T13:36:00.005-05:00

We got our C/O today- the Certifiacte of Occupancy! We passed! We are legal! All the GFI's worked, the smoke detectors worked and he loved the porch. Now the power company can drag out their poles and their cool machines and chew up some plants to bring us power!

It's so exciting!

DOING THE HAPPY DANCE

IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA :)

Woowhoo, we got the porch done!

2008-09-04T12:22:00.002-05:00

The east side porch enclosure finished. The west side is soon to follow.
We really like the enclosure, it adds to the stature of the house and gives us more living space. Once we get it screened in, the cats will be in heaven! I'm thinking of putting my studio on this end since it has wonderful morning light by the time I get my day started, which in case you don't know me very well, isn't until 10am. It takes me a bit to get around in the mornings.

Plants I gathered to make new starts already adorn the porch. We are thinking of of making flower boxes along the exterior of the porch with trailing plants and flowers and probably some herbs and a few veggies here and there. Personally I can already invision Moonflowers glowing brightly in the night.
It will look really nice once we get it screened. Next we will have to work on the underpinning of the house. We have a few ideas in mind, just haven't decided exactly what we will use. We are open to ideas if you want to throw a few our way. I'm considering sheet metal, individual slates to simulate louvers, solid panels, or rock.

2008-09-04T11:32:00.002-05:00

Charla helped me out and painted the last of the posts.
Brian helped Sonny get ready to install the panels.
You can tell from the look he is about to say something sarcastic.
Our Comedy Club hard at work on the last of the porch on the east side.
Our club patrons who stopped in to watch the show.

Flowers

2008-09-04T11:00:00.003-05:00

Purple passion plant I brought up from Orlando.
The 4'oclocks my seed I brought from my Orlando plants.

Two roses on the same bush show how this rose changes every day.

The last one is Lantana I got at 50% off from Lowes last summer which I keep making new plants from.

2008-08-29T21:29:00.002-05:00

Newman being a good boy on the porch. We are working on his social skills and training. He is so like his mom. Fast learner and very protective.

Brutus and Spike watching Sonny make their dinner. We had to add wire to the top of the cage because Spike can jump over the 6' fence. As it is, he is tearing up the additional top fencing.

Porch Project- the end of another day

2008-08-29T20:42:00.006-05:00

I painted today on all the panels that Sonny cut yesterday afternoon. I managed to get halfway around the side and all of the front panels painted. We still have trim boards to cut and then we can get it all put together. We should get it mostly finished tomorrow.

This is the inside porch view. I haven't painted the insides yet. I want to get the exterior done first. BY the time I get them all done on the outside, it may be a bit cooler too.

The east side of the house and porch. After we screen it in, the cats will be moving out to sit around outside which I know they will enjoy. It will probably be the area I use as my studio.

Porch enclosure project

2008-08-28T23:23:00.002-05:00

Our project begins.

Changes in the works

2008-08-28T22:17:00.005-05:00

We had the inspector out to check our progress and he gave us a few items to work on.

One was finishing out the deck. Seems, if its over 30" from the ground, you have to have a rail and 4" posts. Well, we really did not like that idea nor wanted that look and we certainly didn't want to do it more than once, so we bit the bullet and decided to start on building it out with the design we had in mind and get it done so we could get our final inspection the next time he comes out.

You won't be able to fall off or through, unless you're one of those who sit on the rail. Then if you fall off, its your own fault.

This is the porch as it was before we started last week.

The stuff on the porch will be going to the barn soon. Before one of those hurricanes come this way.

Never a dull moment around here.

Live Forever

2008-08-28T22:07:00.002-05:00

It's blooming! It must like florida :)

Brought this one back from St. Mary's in Atchison, Ks.

OREO!!!

2008-08-28T21:39:00.002-05:00

Isn't she cute? When you scratch her back, she lays down. She eats like a pig! Over four feet long! We estimate she is about 200 lbs.. give or take.

A Summer Beauty

2008-08-28T20:27:00.003-05:00

One of the plants I came back from Kansas with this last spring. My sister got it from St. Mary annual plant sale in Atchison, KS. She got two of everything and we split them.

I have no idea what these are since the wind blew away my tag.
Where is that garden journal?

...I will have to look for it and start using it.

Even a kitchen sink

2008-08-14T10:25:00.004-05:00

Sonny installing our sink. I love the faucet, it's great. The sink is deep so it will be easy to fill those large pots.

More drainage added to our field

2008-08-07T10:49:00.003-05:00

Since it seems we are in the age of noone doing their job as they are suppose to do and laymen like us not knowing the difference, we had to have the septic company add more lines to our drain field.

The guy who did it orginally was contracted out and when he did the work, he told us that it was good for a family of 8. Well, that seems to be a lie.

The health department didn't like what we had. We had a receipt of what we paid for and the owner of the company came out and checked. Sure enough, not enough field! ARGH!

So yeasterday, Billy Arnett of Arnett Septic was out to add another line. He didn't charge us either for the extra work and field. The health department on his heals to check it out and gave us a passing grade :) FINALLY!

Thanks Billy!!!

Pictures are fuzzing because of the heat and humidity.

Well look at Ms Oreo Piggy

2008-08-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

She is getting longer at least... a couple more months to fatten her up.

Welcome to Liberty Retreat!

2008-07-10T09:36:00.015-05:00

- LIBERTY RETREAT-

"Project Cloud 69.” is now officially named "Liberty Retreat"

Our cash only homesteading of 10 unimproved acres in the Florida panhandle has turned into a home, now we are ready for you. Primitive camping sites are now available, as green as you get and soon we start the build of smaller green cottages for membership only term rentals.

Liberty Retreat is now accepting reservations for *PRIMITIVE Camping sites.

August 2008

Reservations are being accepted for primitive camping on our homestead in Northwest Florida.

Time to take a break and get back to nature. Come camping with us in Northwest Florida. We are located right off Interstate I-10, close to small town living and fast paced places like Destin, Ft. Walton Beach, Rosemary's Beach with all the amenities one could ask for like shopping, great food & entertainment, great State Parks, hot springs, caves and a bunch of lakes for the fisherman if the white sandy beaches with the emerald waters of the gulf don't suck you in.

Hot spots like Panama City Beach & Pensacola are only an hour away!

There are so many things I could list!

If you want to know more... check out our website!

LIBERTY RETREAT

Email us for more information on our Primitive camping spots and we welcome questions regarding a **Liberty Retreat Membership for our ***Liberty Retreat Cottages.

Available Fall 09

Reserve your spot now!

Liberty Retreat Cottages

Memberships and reservations are being accepted now. Membership fee and rental deposit is required in order to reserve your cottage rental.

fyi-

*Primitive- It's a jungle out there. Ok, really it is a forest. You get trees, bugs, weather, and an occasional wild critter or domestic animal.

**Liberty Retreat Memberships reserves your cottage for your visit to Northwest Florida, guaranteed accomondations for every year you sign up.

*** Liberty Retreat Cottages are for members only, not available to short term campers or those not a Liberty Retreat member.

Sunrise @ Liberty Retreat

2008-07-10T09:27:00.002-05:00

The sun is just creeping over the tree tops @ 6:30 am

Banana, Tomatoes and Lettuce, gone to seed

2008-07-10T09:04:00.003-05:00

The patio plants didn't fair so well while I was gone. I will be harvesting these little jewels for dinner tonight. Sauteed tomatoes, peppers and celery over rice with bratts for dinner?

The Banana is coming right along. Think we will see fruit this January?

Our 1st peach!

2008-07-10T08:41:00.006-05:00

Just one peach on the tree. I just planted it this spring.

I can't wait to taste it. Sure is a pretty peach.

That is one big Cookie!

2008-07-10T07:44:00.005-05:00

Oreo this morning at breakfast. She has taken to wallering now in the muck and the mud.

Big Pig

2008-06-25T13:42:00.002-05:00

Hot Dog!

2008-06-25T13:41:00.002-05:00

SMOOCH!

2008-06-25T13:38:00.001-05:00

A bathroom sink!

2008-06-19T12:59:00.001-05:00

We put in a bathroom sink this weekend.

Next weekend is the Kitchen sink!

More Flowers

2008-06-19T12:46:00.005-05:00

Playing in mud

2008-06-19T12:40:00.001-05:00

Almost there!

Pretty Flowers

2008-06-19T12:32:00.002-05:00

This one is called Peach Schnapps Hibiscus

Wow has she grown!

2008-06-16T12:18:00.003-05:00

Oreo is always flipping her dish.

I left it upside down and added water to it. It works.

We are now feeding her twice what we started with, added some hay.

She is getting more friendly. I water her down a few times a day. She loves a cold shower!

She runs around all happy, like a pig in... well you know. I water down her pen with her showers so the smell doesn't get too out of control. So far, so good.

Trim is still in progress...

2008-06-03T00:09:00.002-05:00

I'm still working on the trim, but these will give you an idea. The corners of the windows will be a bit larger than the trim itself, and it will have a medallion of some sort as well. Those I haven't settled on yet. But I haven't had time to go hunting the countryside for them yet either. There will be a larger trim board across the bottom of the house. I'm invisioning a 1x10 that and I'm ready for more wood to finish up the trim around the house.

Since I got a pig...

2008-06-02T18:45:00.006-05:00

Sonny had to have his own hog.

Oreo grunts at it when he goes by... sure is easier on the gas budget...
HD Nightster
oh so RETRO!

OREO!!!

2008-06-02T12:34:00.004-05:00

I got a pig! Freezer Food! Her name is Oreo, she was $20 and her pen was $200! LOL I will have a nice tilled and weed free garden bed ready for next spring thanks to her efforts. She so cute! The guy we got her from said in six months she will be 400lbs. That's a lot of pork :p yummm!

Drywall ready to be finished!

2008-06-02T12:25:00.001-05:00

Nice blue cotton insulation and partial drywall

2008-06-02T11:04:00.003-05:00

Insulation is in and drywall is up!

2008-05-31T10:44:00.003-05:00

While I was gone to Kansas, Sonny, John and Norma put in the insulation. Most of the drywall was done last weekend. I have already start taping and mudding. I hope to prime everything next week and then get it painted by the 1st of July.

Pictures to come along soon. Soon as I get MY computer back up. :)

Insulation had arrived!

2008-05-01T08:26:00.002-05:00

Amazing to me is in the days when "Global Warming" is a hot topic and going green is on the top of the list that one cannot find the simplest things.

Insulation, cotton, enviromentaly safe and sound is among the hardest to find. Of course we can find all kinds of information on it and we did. However, to find it in your local home store is near impossible.

We found a compay who sells it, but they had no stock so Sonny and John had to drive to Georgia to get it from the the distributor. They could have shipped it but said it would be another 700.00 for shipping. OUCH! Even with gas prices as they are, it was still cheaper to go get it.

So the weekend will be busy with the flurry of getting insulation in the walls. I'm so excited! I can't wait to get home and grab my trowel and start mudding :)

The shower view

2008-04-07T14:39:00.002-05:00

Just for you Daniel...

the view from our shower... awesome, uh?

and the other side................

Peaches, apples, grapes & berries, oh yum!

2008-04-07T14:23:00.004-05:00

We have planted 2 apple, 2 peach, 4 grape, and 4 or 5 assorted berry bushes and the tangerine from my friend Denise.

And no, that IS NOT SNOW, its SAND!!! Nice and white :)

Tulips.

2008-04-07T14:02:00.005-05:00

Tulips first year... late frosts have got the tulips looking a little rough, but can you imagine what next years will look like?

A little bit of green, with chocolate trim.

2008-04-07T13:11:00.006-05:00

I chose these colors, a mossy green and coffee-one because I liked them and two because I thought they would help the house blend into the pines and other trees around it. The chocolate seems to make it pop!

If only they could get themselves put up around the windows and doors and everywhere else they need to go. Although, I'm waiting on a delivery of trim boards so I can continue getting them all painted by summers end. There is a whole bunch of trim, I'm sure I'll be tired of trim by the time I'm done with it.

Spring has spung!

2008-03-17T14:01:00.004-05:00

Spring has sprung up here in the panhandle. Tulips are proudly pushing their way up and sprouting blooms any day.

I've painted all the window trim, and need to put another coat on the main house body. I'd be doing that today, but the wind is howling like crazy again. Spring... March... wind. Beats snow!

I did a little painting on the trim of the house. I like how it adds depth and deminsion.

New Pictures

2008-02-29T17:00:00.003-06:00

Painted!....no, not the trim yet...next week.

Pictures!

2008-02-25T22:52:00.004-06:00

I've painted and planted trees, bulbs and grapes, berries and two dozen roses!

My color test.

I like it!

A Tangerine Tree in remembrance of Mama.
Thank you Denise, my dearest friend.

The new Outdoor Shower
my Dad and I built from scraps
and left over lumber and roofing.
We had to make 4 or 5 cuts in total and
completed it in only 3 partial days.
We have a propane tankless water heater
that works great. It's a treat to shower under
the pines and blue skies.

Moving right along...

2008-02-10T11:45:00.000-06:00

Drywall is up in the ceiling, ready for tape and mud. I've been painting the exterior since its warmed up enough to actually be outside.

My dad and I built a huge outdoor shower this week. It took us a few days and we only made something like four cuts for the whole thing. Most of it is just left over deck planks. The exterior is the roofing we used that was the perfect size as well. Sonny ordered the point of use, instant water heater that runs off propane. It's just awesome!

I've panted all those tulips and they are just now popping out of the ground. I've also planted two peach trees and two apple trees and a camelia. I also planted four grapes and still have to find a good place or pot for the blueberries, rasberries and blackberries. I plan to go on the 16th to Ace, since they have the cheapest trees around and use my handy dandy 20% off coupon. More fruits & nut trees please!

The weather this week is wonderful... Ken is back down to visit a couple weeks. He and Sheila have enjoyed the warmth better than the foot of snow they left behind.

Pictures....to come later this evening...

Some light gardening ahead

2007-12-27T08:37:00.000-06:00

Dea got near 100 tulip bulbs for Christmas; can't wait for them to bloom!

Another Inspection PASSED

2007-12-21T13:40:00.000-06:00

God are we absolutely awful at this blogging thing or what? One would think a bunch of "techies" would do better.

Well, here we are another 5 months down the road and the house doesn't look that different, we have passed the Framing Inspection which involved framing of course, but also, rough in for electrical & plumbing. That leaves two inspections left, the Final and the Certificate of Occupancy... make that three... the Health Dept has to be called to come back out and give us final on the septic system.

The inspector had a few minor suggestions for us. He wanted some additional bracing in the rafters and bolts to pass through the header at the porch posts instead of the nails that are there now. Otherwise he continues to like our design concept, so much in fact he is incorporating our breezeway concept into an addition he is making to his home.

We have purchased the paperless drywall, so nothing is stopping us from putting up the ceilings now... which I will do as soon as I find and purchase a drywall lift and that "special" drywall screw setting adapter for my drill.

Winter is here, we've had a few mornings below the freezing mark and we had hoped to have the place insulated by now. That has to come before putting drywall up on the walls. So that is next on the agenda after the ceiling. Oh and a hot water heater would be nice.

Things seem to go very slow when you are determined not to go into further debt to finish your home.

Just wanted to let those of you who may still look here that we have not abandonded our homestead or this project.

Merry Christmas to all!

Sonny

Long time coming...

2007-07-30T13:45:00.000-05:00

Its been over 3 months since we posted anything new so I've loaded up the camera, the laptop and came by Johns today to borrow some bandwidth to put them up here with.
The siding is on now, still have trim work to do, but since I've had a time with the thousands of color choices and charts and samples, which are never what they seem on paper, I haven't found the right color. So check out our progress, granted it may not look like much... but its amazing the small things done you never see.

We are getting there, next week we are planning on fencing in an area 100' x 40' for the dogs, and I will start staining the house, so it may be a few more weeks til you see anymore pictures.

Grass seems to be growing along the driveway and so Ive been scooping it out with a shovel and creating a lawn... to Sonny's dismay since he now has to cut the yard once again, but hey... free grass! We did manage to get enough rain lately to lessen our fire danger, so we were able to burn the tree scraps and some of the building material refuse. Rain sounds awesome on the roof, but you can't hear a thing when it start pouring. I like it though, its wild.

Pearl seems to enjoy walking around the rafters, she has managed to find her way out and across the roof to the other side... brave little kitty. Today she was contenet to just hang out up there.

2007-04-26T15:15:00.000-05:00

Ken waits for my return with more plumbing parts, seems you always need another adapter somewhere.

George taking a moment and then celebrates getting the mast installed.

A butterfly drops by for a drink.

(Remember, if you click on a picture it will increase in size.)

A sad day...we are alone... oh no!...

2007-04-26T14:24:00.000-05:00

Sonny's brother Ken went home today, as well as my brother George and my Dad. I was sad to see George and Dad go when they left our house last night. I missed saying goodbye to Kenny, but he will be back, in fact, I have no doubt they will all be back... if nothing else but to fix our mistakes that we left alone will surely make.

George and Dad worked for 3 days and got most of the house wired. At least the part we plan to live in is complete with the access easy to get to on the other side where we will be storing most of our things. I am amazed at the neatness and quickness George can wire a house. I'm so proud of him! I'm also so very glad that I convinced him to become an electrician 13 years ago when he got out of the Army. I think he is a natural. I would have love having him in my shop 13 years ago.

We would like to thank everyone, especially Kenny, who helped design and build and without which we would have been in one of the modular things probably. His expertise is amazing and anyone in or around Michigan who needs some remodeling done or other projects, we would be happy to pass along his info.
Thanks to our dear friends, Brian and Charla who put a whole lot of sweat and hammering into the construction as well as daily support by sharing with us their house, food, showers, and internet connection.

Thank you as well, John and Norma! They also shared with us, their home, their showers and fed us when we first arrived. They too toiled with us and their help is much appreciated and we have truly been enjoying being close enough to spend time together with them both.

It has been such a joy building this house with everyone. It is indeed a pleasure to look upon it and know it was built by our families hands, experience and love. We thank you all and return our love, our good wishes and gratitude.

Sonny & Dea
Pictures coming along after this post.

Water will be flowing soon

2007-04-23T20:03:00.000-05:00

Walls are all framed in for the west wing now, Ken suggested and added a closet, the shower is set, need to do some additional plumbing, add some pipes, fixtures etc. and we can have running water too!

Roof almost complete now

2007-04-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

Just a few hundred more screws to go around the outside edges and two corners to complete. Time is getting short for Ken, we will miss him, there is no way we could ever have done this without him.

Electrical Team has arrived!

2007-04-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

George and Roy have completed their non-stop trip from KS and have hit the ground running, but they keep mentioning something about being on vacation....

Check out their progress.

2007-04-20T22:05:00.000-05:00

Another day of progress, we should be able to finish the roofing tomorrow provided the winds don't kick up.

Metal Roofing Delivered

2007-04-19T21:15:00.000-05:00

Doesn't look like much lying in a pile, but looks GREAT up where it belongs!

We have the front and back porches covered so far.

Plumbing, Interior walls & roof supplies delivered

2007-04-16T20:50:00.000-05:00

We picked up a shower, toilet and various pvc pieces and parts over the past two days. Today work began on framing in the interior walls and the metal roofing arrived.

Tomorrow we plan to start the roof!

More fun in the sun as it is supposed to be in the 80's.

2007-04-14T16:15:00.000-05:00

I've been told it has been too long since our last post... I come today bearing more pictures of progress, but first...

Our metal roofing supplies should be delivered on Monday so the "final" work on the roof can finally begin on Tuesday and tomorrow we will start the plumbing work along with building the wall for the bathroom.

The Pella warranty guy is scheduled to come April 25th to look at the door locks and strikers which all seem to be having problems. We can close them, but not lock them.

Now the pictures I promised... these are of our front steps.

We have doors and windows in!

2007-04-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

The house is wrapped against the weather, the roof has paper on it, waiting for the metal roof to come in and Sonny and Ken got the doors and windows in too! It looks awesome.

East Side inside

2007-04-02T20:15:00.000-05:00

West side entry

The Bedroom

The Bathroom

The Bar & Entertainment Area

The office/game room (computer games for those who don't know)