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

Back in the saddle...

Again...

All the docs seen (for now), and multitudes of testing results are in. What started, in January, as an esophageal spasm that had my son scooping me off the kitchen floor to head to the ER, has turned into all kinds of fun stuff. Nothing life threatening for which I'm very grateful, but it's frustrating...to say the least.

I get those nasty spasms in my esophagus when I take certain medications, which I don't know will do that till I take them. At the time, I was taking an antibiotic for a severe sinus infection, which, apparently, is what caused this one. So...it was added to an ever growing list of meds I can't take. The problem with that last episode was that it was so severe, and that I had three episodes in less than 24 hours, which never happens. So, specialists seen...tests done...and results show that I have issues with esophagus (duh), mild/active gastritis (isn't getting older fun),  very low vitamin D (again), and am pre-diabetic...all of which are manageable with medication and diet/weight loss. Ok...doable...done.

The other thing that was "incidentally" found is that I have an adrenal adenoma (benign tumor) on one of my adrenal glands. Endocrinologist determined (through a crap load of tests) that it's not active, which just means that it's not over/under producing hormones that would make me pretty darned sick. Ok...no problem. Next step is to determine if it's a "fast growing adenoma", but that can't be done till early June with another CT scan. If it's growing, then it has to come out. If not, then it just needs watching once a year, or so. Keep your fingers crossed that it's a no grow adenoma.

I'm a tad tired of not feeling well, but am assured that I'll start feeling better as my sugars level out, and with a higher level of Vitamin D. Health issues aren't new to me. I have Fibromyalgia, an auto-immune disorder that causes my central nervous system to shut down from time to time, and a few other things that I deal with from time to time. Nothing life threatening...slows me down sometimes, but doesn't stop me from living my life as I choose...chuckles...much to my children's chagrin at times. So...moving on.

None of this will stop plans for my cabin/homestead, nor will it delay my moving up there Spring 2015. It will, however, slow the process throughout this year, which is ok...'cause it'll still get done by next Spring as planned. Glad to be feeling a little better, and having some energy for the extras.

Thanks for reading...ciao

Lu

Sick...

I've been sick, and got sicker catching the GrandBaby's cold. Seein' doctors, gettin' tests done, blah blah blah. Back when I'm feeling better. Looking forward to catching up on my reading here, too!

Ciao...

Been thinking...researching...just messin' around

Wood Stoves

Since I'll be heating my cabin with wood, this is a huge deal...big purchase...and I don't mind spending a bit of money to get the 'right' stove. I want the best bang for my buck, too. Scary purchase...lots of pressure to 'get it right' the first time. So...primary (only) heat source is the first priority. Having a flat top...not those split leveled tops...so I can throw one of my cast iron pots on top for a slow cooked meal, and have room for the cast iron water filled tea pot for humidity is a secondary concern. Also...an oven to play with...eh...not necessary as I'll have a small propane stove/oven for cooking, but would be 'fun'. Finally, I'd like to be able to create a small water heating system hooked into the stove/pipe. I'm likin' the set up for water heater below. That can be done on any stove/pipe though, so that's not part of the decision.

Originally, my plan was to purchase and have installed a Vermont Bun Maker wood stove...without the soapstone surround. I like the idea of a small oven that I can play around with during cold weather stove usage, but the fire box is too small...heating for a max of 5 hours. Now, 5 hours would be enough to tend during daytime, but waking up to a freezing cabin after 6 or 7 hours sleep doesn't quite cut it for me.

 So, I started looking at other wood stoves with larger fire boxes...longer burn times. I've been looking at Vermont Castings stoves. The three I'm looking at are all EPA certified according to the EPA website on wood stoves, are also UL/ULC certified, OMNI (on the Aspen and Resolute models), and CSA Design on the Intrepid. One is catalytic, and the other two are non-catalytic. Catalytic seem to be more environmentally friendly, but have more parts to replace after about a 5 yr period from what I understand. That part of my decision is somewhat in limbo...not sure which way to go in regards to catalytic/non-catalytic.

I like the look of the Aspen (below)...size is a real plus, but it only has a 5 hr burn time @ 18,000 max BTU's. It heats up to 600 sq ft...well within the size of my cabin...but from what I'm reading are best used as supplement heat for a single room, or heat an occasional use cabin...not full-time use. I think I've pretty much decided this one's a no go for me. But it sure is pretty to look at!

Then there's the Intrepid II (below)...a beautiful stove. Catalytic, heats up to 1200 sq ft (overkill for a 560 sq ft cabin), 6 hr burn time @ 27,000 max BTU's, 81% efficient with a 2.1 g/hr. Very environmentally friendly...again, a sorta short burn time, but 6 hrs would be my minimum. Nice big fire box to handle a decent sized log. Matches all my criteria really. And...it's pretty to look at...even comes in different colors if I chose to do a color.

The Resolute Acclaim (below)...another beautiful stove...is non-catalytic, has a whopping 9 hr. burn time @ 40,000 BTU's heating up to 1600 sq ft (again, overkill for my 560 sq ft cabin), 72% efficiency with 3.4 g/hr. Again, very nice to look at, and with different colors. I kinda like the warming shelves on the side, but am not sure there'd be room for that once it's all said and done.

 

All three of these stoves are well within the EPA limits for g/hr...non-catalytic max @ 7.5 g/hr, and catalytic max @ 4.1 g/hr. So...I got that goin' for me. Everything I've read suggests that a small stove (like the Aspen) wouldn't work for full-time use, and that I need a medium sized stove...like the Resolute Acclaim or the Intrepid II. I looked at Jotuls, also...nice stoves...just got better reviews for the Vermont Castings. If there are others out there I'm not finding, I'd sure like to know about them. While I'll talk with a 'dealer' once I'm in NM and ready to decide on/order my stove, I'm wary of a dealer who might want to sell me something that's not really what I need. Paranoid wench!

Still thinkin' on my water heating issue, too. I know I won't be using a traditional water heater, and am leaning toward the on-demand propane fired water heaters, but I worry about the draw on my solar once that's being used. Talking with a solar pro will help me make that decision...when the time comes. This one can ride for now.

I make jewelry...still...just don't sell it these days. Eh...I give it away most of the time. However, I started making larger pieces out of wire and beads...not jewelry, but wall hangings, wind (type) chimes, weaving wire baskets, and the like. Have also been putzin' around making pieces for my fairy garden...houses, fences, doors, gates, furniture, etc. So...just messin' around these days.

Thanks for reading...Ciao!

Posting on other blogs...

I'm frustrated, and can't figure out why my replies on other blogs won't post. My son's not here for the next month...so he can't help me figure it out like he did the last issue.

Here's what happens:

I type a response; click post from Google; click post comment (though does it with preview feature, too), and the post disappears. Poof! Just gone.

Anyone have any suggestions as to why, and where this 'fix' might be? I've poked around trying to find it, but can't. HELP!!!!

Thanks...