Rural anomalies

While this experience has been a tremendous learning experience, it has also been one of the most stressful experiences I've had...lol...and I've had some doozies in my life.

As soon as I got here I began making phone calls to get work done: road graded in, electrician, supplies to be delivered, ordering cabin, well driller, backhoe operator, etc. I left uncountable messages with every contact I received for these different people. If I even received a call back, it was often days, and even weeks later. IF I even received a call back...often, I didn't.

My property is in a very rural area; I'm an hour from any town with 'some' amenities...like grocery stores, a WalMart, and basics like that. Home Depot and Lowe's are further away...about a 2 hour drive one way. There is a very small town about 20 minutes away where there is a small, locally owned hardware store (can you say "expensive"?), a convenience store (again, expensive), a small 'country' store (again...VERY expensive), and a locally owned restaurant. That's about it for businesses aside from a couple of real estate offices, the post office, Ranger station, and a couple of locally owned mechanics' shops.

I knew all of this when I bought this property, and I'm ok with the distance away from such things. I also realize that once the initial work is all done, trips to 'town' will lessen drastically. (I'm always having to go pick up this or that plumbing, electrical, lumber, etc.) This land is raw, and I'm developing it from the ground up...literally.

 
The real challenge, though, has been getting...and keeping...people up here to do jobs I can't do myself. But...things are progressing...slowly...but they are progressing. Will I be ready for winter? As of today? I'm not sure. Found out yesterday that my new (second) contractor may be called away for an out of country job that will prevent him from finishing the general work inside the cabin. Yet one more hurdle. The folks up here just aren't very reliable...even when they stand to make a decent amount of money from the job.

More pics later...

Ciao

Lazy Bones...And now I'm found!

July 19, 2015

Lazy Bones

I’ve been quite remiss in doing any entries. I think I started this blog too soon…one can only post about plans so much before it becomes…monotonous?

 

I’m here on my property now. I left Illinois for New Mexico on May 10, 2015, though I was supposed to leave earlier. I was delayed by the tornadic storms stretching across the US…North to South. Horrible flooding and tornadoes hitting so many people during the week prior to my actually leaving. Anyway…I arrived in NM May 12^th.

  

I towed a very small Uhaul…5’x 8’, so I only brought ‘must have’ things…kitchen stuff, camping gear, tools, camp chairs, etc. Even so, it was loaded for bear! As a matter of fact, my son took a day off to help load it. The next day, as I attempted to leave, my vehicle just didn’t feel right. I drove to the local tire place only to be told that the Uhaul was overloaded, and putting too much weight/pressure on my tires…rear tires were actually bulging. Sooooo…I hightailed it back to my son’s home, and proceeded to unload, and repack the trailer. Took me a couple of hours, but I got it done.

Off again the next day…much more lightly packed, and vehicle driving much smoother. Wish I had a picture to share of my SUV and the Uhaul trailer, but didn’t think to get one.

As per usual, it took 2 ½ days to do the drive…same as the drive to Arizona. Unremarkable except for the moment when I looked in my rear view mirror and wondered aloud, “WTF! Get off my ass, asshole!” lol…the “asshole” was the Uhaul I was pulling behind my car. Took me a second to go, “Doy! Seriously?” Gave me a good chuckle each time I glanced in my mirrors and saw the Uhaul behind me.

I’ve been documenting everything with videos and pictures, so I’ll post each step in order until I’m all caught up to date. Right now several things are in a hold…i.e….I’m waiting for the electrician to lay the conduit in the trench I had dug (Done now), and to install the electrical service panel prior to the electric company installing poles (Done now), etc to connect electricity to my little cabin. I’m also still waiting on the well driller to come out and get that project started (Well drilled, but no well pump as of today 9/23)! So, it’s a good time to play catch up, though I’m doing small projects while waiting on the biggies.

These are all photos of parts of my property prior to doing any of the road work, tree cutting, etc. Taken just after I arrived here in May.

Ciao…

Adjusting to a smaller garden space...

My son has a small area near his house that he usually gardens every year. He has graciously turned it over to me this year, and I'm teaching him some new tricks...like how to pack a LOT in a small space. I also use the Farmer's Almanac, and plant by the moon dates. I've noted (yeah...I keep garden notes each year) that my plants do best when I follow those dates for whichever zone I'm planting. I won't be planting enough to can or dehydrate from the garden, but they have a nice Farmer's Market here where I can get some nice veggies and fruits for that later.

 Peas, carrots, lettuces, radishes, and beets all coming up. Just finished thinning them out this morning.

 Though they can't be seen yet, the green, yellow wax, and Dragon Tongue beans are just beginning to come up, too.

 This is the entire area...pretty small, and mostly unplanted. I'll finish the rest...hmmm...moon dates...some this weekend, and some next week. It'll all be done then.

I've also been working on the border around my son's backyard. It wasn't cared for by previous owners, and Tommy didn't know what to do with it. He knew what he wanted it to look like...clean/cleared up...but had no idea how to accomplish that. He was pretty overwhelmed. Now that I've started it...see pics below...he's getting the idea of 'how' to do it, and pitches in. chuckles...I leave piles of brush, and bags of yard waste for him to clean up! The city here has some odd requirements for brush disposal. Anyway...it's been a slow process because it's pretty dense in there, but it's getting done. There are so many dead branches/trees/yard stuff in here that...well...it's a huge mess.

First small area I cleared out.

Cleared out, yet before things started greening up this Spring.

Cleared area with all kinds of lilies and hostas growing.

Teaching the girls how to trim things up!

Cleared area...trees and weeds were totally overgrown prior to the trim I gave it.

Beautiful trees bordering his yard.

Mostly cleared area, and part of the pile of brush the girls and I trimmed out.

This picture and the two above it just show the back of their yard where I've not started working yet. Gives an idea of what the other areas looked like prior to clean up.

There are some beautiful flowering shrubs in that mess...lilacs, some honeysuckle vines, and I don't know what the other one is, but you can hardly see them for all the overgrowth. A LOT of jonquils, daffodils, Lily of the Valley, hostas, lilies, and I don't know what else was also discovered...came up when the ground was cleared, and the lower branches of the trees were taken out. Some of those trees are growing out in the yard...lol...nature trying to take back a more natural setting. Personally? I kinda like the wildness of it, but they want it more manicured. I can do that, and it will help them sell the house when the military decides where their next duty station will be.

So, I'm keeping busy, but this is hard work! Needless to say...day working...day off...and so on.

Thanks for reading...ciao...Lu

New Age...

lol...Nope, not that kind of "new age". I'm a dinosaur, and like most humans, resistant to change (in some things). I've used one of the old fashioned flip phones for years...they have larger keys for clumsy fingers and ailing eyes, and are just plain simpler to use. Now, mine had a camera function as well as the ability to record videos and text. So...not entirely a dinosaur, I suppose.

My kids are thrilled...and having oh so much fun at my expense. I have a new iPhone. The reason I chose to upgrade from my trusty flip phone is largely because I will have no cell reception up on the mountain, and will need to use Skype. I know Skype can be used on the computer...that's how my son and I kept in touch when he was in Iraq, but I want the freedom to move around the cabin a bit...and maybe...just maybe...be out on the front porch during phone conversations.

There's an app for that! Good Grief! There's a freakin' app for everything! Everything!

I'm keeping it simple, but still leave myself open to my kids' torment. For example...I was trying to figure out how to use those cute smiley faces in a text with my son. Well...at one point there was a screen shot of...well...a phone screen. I couldn't figure out how the heck I did that. I'm notorious for pushing buttons I have no business pushing :) and was doing that freely. When I texted that to my son, I thought he was gonna die laughing. Apparently, he took a screen shot of HIS screen in order to show me what I was supposed to be doing...where. Well...and then I texted three pictures that I'd taken of son and GrandBoy. Once again, nooooooo clue how I did that. Unbeknownst to me, my son is forwarding all of these text messages to his sister...who was laughing so hard my other GrandBoy had to get in on the fun. They were all rolling along while I tried to figure out one...simple...thing...on this confounded phone.

I'm learning...slowly...and I have to admit that I actually like the phone...an iPhone 5c. Sure takes really nice pictures, too! Except...I still can't figure out how the heck to download them to this laptop!

Thanks for reading...Ciao...Lu

I feel very fortunate...

I've been talking with a good friend who lives in Oakland, CA, and is a movie set designer. Scott's going to come live on the property for a month or two when I get my cabin in place, and help me do much of the work inside the cabin. He's a very skilled craftsman, and will save me tons of money, frustration, and time by hiring him to work with me up there.

While I'd love to hire locally, because it's such a rural area, I'm told it's difficult to get dependable folks to do work as I'll need done to finish the inside of the cabin. Very difficult. My buds that live up there...the Fifields...say that having Scott up there will be a godsend. They wish they'd had a similar option early on. So...I'm feeling really fortunate...and grateful...to have such a skilled friend who can take the time to drive up and help me out.

We'll have to work around his jobs in CA, but he assures me it won't be difficult, and I'll have him for the duration. I figure we can get all the insulation hung, plumbing (shower, kitchen/bathroom sinks, etc), wiring/boxes run and hung, I'll get a couple young fellas (former students who live about an hour away) to help with hanging the drywall, build the wood stove fire barrier, and I'll be good to go to do the finish work myself. Scott says...maybe 6 weeks...probably not that long. Depends on issues with mud (it gets pretty icky certain times of the year) for supply deliveries, and gettin' in and out to pick up what we can ourselves.

Of course, I'll have a professional install the wood stove...not attempting that myself. I want it done right so as to avoid fire hazards. I'll also have an electrician connect the wiring to the main to avoid electrical problems/hazards, and so the all the areas that need inspecting will pass. Because my property is where it's at, I don't really have to do the inspections, but I don't want my kids to run into problems (someday farrrrrrr from now) if they should decide to sell the land/cabin.

So, though things are kind of quiet at this point, I'm still reading, studying, and researching a variety of things in order to refine skills I already possess, and to acquire others that will be needed. I sorely miss my laying hens...daaaaaang those eggs were scrumptious, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their antics scampering around my yard. I'm itching to move up there, and keep looking at different ways in which I can do so. Realistically? Not in my best interest...so I'll keep plugging along, but it's hard...particularly now...Spring...planning...planting...*groans*...itchin' itchin' itchin' to git 'er done!

Thanks for reading...Ciao...Lu

Growing things...

I grew up in a family of gardeners. When I was young, we had a small yard with a garden out back, and a much larger garden at Grandma's...way bigger yard space to grow one. I remember planting, pulling weeds, harvesting, canning, and freezing...as well as eating all the yummy produce we grew. Also remember my older brother, Mick, throwing nasty bugs at me..slugs...big, fat, green tomato worms. And...sitting under my Grandma's pear tree...next to her...snapping beans, shelling peas, looking at clouds, listening to the different birds. Peaceful...content...loving...warm memories. lol...even Mick and the nasty bugs.

I still love gardening, and cut my gardening teeth (solo gardening as an adult) in the AZ mountains...5200' elevation. Crappy soil that needed massive amounts of amendments to build it up, short growing seasons, unpredictable weather/freezing/monsoons/hail/drought/May snows...did I mention crappy soil? Oh, and feral cats that were always digging up what I planted. My youngest son...then about 3 yrs old...thought it was great that he got to pee on the yard...around my garden borders...to prevent those same cats from crossing a marked territory. It actually worked, too!

I'll be about 2300' higher in NM with a 7200 to 7500' elevation on my property. It slopes...gently in most cases. There are several flat areas where I could do raised beds along the lines of what the Zuni's do up there called "waffle gardening". It's a form of square foot gardening...designed to retain water in a drought inclined area. The soil's crappy...sandy with lots of caliche and rocks and tough weeds. The soil will need amending on a larger scale than I'm accustomed to doing, and using different means by which to do it.

I've been studying permaculture principles for a couple of years now, but only recently got more serious about it. I've purchased several books: Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway; Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren; Sepp Holzer's Permaculture: A practical Guide to Small-Scale, Integrative Farming and Gardening by Sepp Holzer; and Permaculture in a Nutshell by Patrick Whitefield. I've not begun reading those just yet...still finishing the Southwest gardening books I purchased, and am currently taking an online permaculture course that starts with the basics, and will take me through to the actual design elements.

Because of what I'm learning, I'm rethinking just how I'll be 'gardening'...veggies...and how I'll be rehabbing my soil. As I mentioned, I'm learning about soil rehab on a larger scale...so I can plant native species of plants with a better chance of successful growth. I'm learning about nitrogen fixing plants...Hairy Vetch, Winter Rye, etc. I've a small meadow near the lowest slope/border of my land...would make a beautiful spot to do native wildflowers, grasses, and other plants. Start smallish...let it spread naturally...right? Might be a good spot for some fruit trees, too. Will have to think about what I'll do with that particular area.

I'll want to utilize some of the many stones available on the property...mass...to surround my beds. Holds the heat. Days are warmer...lots of wind, too...nights are cool. The extra mass from the stones will hold the heat through the night...helping to keep the soil warmer. I'll also make use of more than one or two cold frames. I've seen some interesting, simple ways to do them...will try different ones to see which I like best...then use that version for the others. I like to start gardening early...earlier the better. With such a short growing season up that high, I'll need all the help I can get extending that time frame.

I'm excited...I get to try new techniques (new to me, anyway), and the idea of working that soil? chuckles...floats my boat! I'll actually get started this Fall, and will plant some winter rye in a couple places to see where it does best. Though I won't be moving up there till 'next' Spring, I'll be closer with our move to So. CA, so I'll be able to drive up in a day...camp out...hang...do my deal...start doin' some of the soil prep. I'm ready!

Thanks for reading. Ciao...Lu

Change is good...right?

I have to laugh...have to...'cause it is kinda funny. As I mentioned before, I'm living with my son, and family...saving money, preparing my property, helping with the GrandBabies...etc. Moving onto property by Spring 2015. Son and daughter in law are both active military...Army. We live in a NorthWest suburb of Chicago...they're both recruiters...both just received promotions...both second in command of their respective stations/offices. Next step...commander of their respective stations/offices.

In the Army's infinite wisdom, after 3 yrs in the same place, there's no stations for them both..."both" being the key word. They're on a special married couple's 'plan' where they can't be stationed more than 50 miles from one another. Can't both be accommodated here...or nearby.

Soooooo...new duty station in Southern California...move date will be end of June...first of July. They report for new duties August 1. Sooooo...we're moving. chuckles...Nice thing is...I'll be about a 10 hr drive from my property rather than the current 22 hr drive. I'll more easily be able to drive on up to property...long, but easy day drive. I know the route well as I lived in the AZ mountains for 30 years, and have family in Southern California that we visited from time to time. Plus...my daughter will be along the route to NM, and I can even stop to visit her half way to property...break up the drive. Soooooo doable, and convenient. I'm choosing to focus on that rather than the tremendous amount of work ahead of us to prepare for this move. chucklin'...yeah...that.

Mhmmm...change is good!

Thanks for reading...ciao!

Lu