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I don’t talk a lot about my life outside of my marriage or things which I can use to make a point about marriage. I figure it’s not why you’re here. But today will be all about me. If you want to know me better, hang around. If not, come back on Monday.
As Lori and I were sitting outside eating our lunch smoothies (mango), I was looking at where we live and feeling extremely blessed. First, there was the fact we could sit outside without jackets. We’re still getting daytime highs in the upper 70s. We are four weeks past our average first frost date, and our low so far has been 41°. Given the cool spring we had, this has been a real blessing for gardening. The pumpkins just down the hill will make it after all. Past that is the asparagus that I will be able to cut for the first time next spring. The rest of the garden is slowing down, but still giving us some produce. Past the garden is the pond, mostly dry right now. Then up the hill on the other side is the house where my son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons live. His mother-in-law lives above them.
I could hear my son splitting wood on the far side of his house. He’s the only one on the property who still heats with wood. He, his brother-in-law, and I spent a few recent Saturdays taking down dead trees on our ten acres, and he’s working through it during his spare time. Past the wood pile is his new house. Cost increases in raw materials the last couple of years have delayed that project, but they’re back on track and should be moved in next year.
Past my son’s unfinished home is his mother-in-law’s garden. She’s a couple of years ahead of us and it looks great. Next to that is the area we have clear for the cottage we will build for her using materials from the old home when we take it down. The home furthest back is inhabited by my son’s brother-in-law, his wife, and their two children. The brother-in-law and my son are two of a three-man construction company. They have built one home from the ground up, and do a lot of pole-barn construction for shops, a garage for antique cars, add-ons, and temporary homes until a real house is built. At the moment they are finishing their second flip.
Moving back up towards my place on the other side of the drive is the auto shop. The apartment above that was originally used by a couple of extended family kids who needed a good way to make the jump from teen to adult. It is currently being used by the third man of the construction company along with his wife and two children. A couple of years ago situations beyond his control killed his business and left them on the verge of being homeless. They have paid off bills and are saving money to get their own place.
Next is the field where we are growing millet for various animals and corn for various people. Lori and I blanched and froze corn today so we can eat corn on the cob all winter. We planted far more than we could use so the other folks on the property can have their fill too. There are a few sunflowers left up the hill from the corn. Lori has processed most of them to use as winter food for animals. The sunflowers back up to the chicken yard. Last week my son and I got the coop ready for winter and restrung the strings that keep hawks from getting to the chickens. Lori successfully hatched some eggs this year and next year we will hatch a couple of dozen to use as meat. We have a breed that is good for both eggs and meat.
On Thursday I got quail cages put in the coop and Lori moved our three hens and six roos. We also got our first egg on Thursday. Today we got quail eggs in the mail. The goal is three genetically different clans, as that allows you to keep going without adding new birds. The quail are mostly for meat, but they will give us eggs as well.
The final building, just across the drive from us, and visible in the picture for this post, is the bunny barn. Lori and our daughter-in-law have been raising rabbits for meat for several years. My son and I have butchered a lot of rabbits the last month as we cut the numbers down for winter. For half the year we can feed them from the land. During the winter we grow barley fodder and supplement with hay and pellets, so we reduce to just the breeders to save money.
This afternoon my son and his brother-in-law came up and helped me put up siding on the upper end of the house. We decided to enclose it and turn it into a loft. I should have the other end done next week. Then I can open up the stairway and open our house into the new space so we can start using it. We should be moved into the new bedroom and bathroom before the end of the year.
Tonight we gather with all the family on the property, something we do each Saturday for food and fellowship. Tomorrow we will be doing church online. Lori and I host the online service on the second and fifth Sundays. (Feel free to join us at 10:30 PDT.) Last Sunday we attended in person, then met with an engaged couple looking for pre-marital counselling.
On Tuesday we drive the oldest grandson to Home Link – a great program that gives homeschooled kids some classes they can’t do at home. Then we hang with friends at the local coffee shop. I go swimming at the Y, while Lori hits the treadmill. Lunch and shopping, then pick up the grandchild and head home.
I am deeply blessed to live in a loving community of friends and family.
Image Credit: © Paul H Byerly
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Sounds like we have a similar style of life! While we don’t have rabbits or quail, we’ve had horses, and some cattle both of which we baled our own hay to feed. My wife has 2 large gardens and fruit trees, both of which she cans or freezes produce from. Just last weekend I sat up on my barn roof (stripping the shingles to put on new steel) and looked out over the rolling hay field and took in the beauty of the trees starting to turn brilliant colors. I WILL NEVER understand how TV people can look at a city and call it “beautiful” or “fabulous”? They don’t know what true beauty is-the quiet splendor of God’s creation and the peacefulness of sitting and soaking it all in.
Sounds idyllic. I don’t have all the skills needed to do that but I’d love to.