I took up knitting a few years ago because of a severe case of envy by my good friend and mentor Zibeline Knits. She's just amazing and has taught me well. There is a great program called Care Wear that makes crocheted, sewed, and knitted clothes for premature babies. One of the women in my knitting club mentioned getting some hats together and I got started. Although I am a slow knitter, I think my results are sufficient and I just love the zen quality of the needles moving and the artistry that emerges. Fun, quick, easy, and uses up the softest scraps for a good cause. Google Care Wear and get started! Warms the heart, too.
Found an interesting plant up on the land we want to develop. Looks like a blueberry plant -- and the deer have definitely been chomping away at it -- but not knowing our native wild edibles as well as we should we didn't take a chance. We took it to our County Extension Office. However, almost 2 weeks later and no answer from the office/plant person. I'm a bit disappointed because I'd really like to know whether to cultivate or eradicate this baby! I've been told that the UGA Extension Services is better about responding to emails and that may be my next tactic.
It did of course make me pause and think that I really need to do some wild edibles research. I do know we have wild jonquils on the east side of the property. There are the remains of an old homestead there and I believe these beauties lined the walkway to the door. The area is choked by wisteria right now (beautiful, but invasive) or I'd add photos. As we get the area cleared I'll update.
All that said and done, Hubby and I are going to start staking and flagging where and what we want to develop. Again, more on that soon. Here's the photo of the plant. If anyone knows what this is let me know.
I was sent this lovely project photo (below) by my good friend Wanda. Looks like I'm going to have to create a space just for this. It should ease my hubby's hammock phobia (LOL). I know: putting the cart before the horse. Should probably have the house first, ya think?! Hahahaha
Finally a return to the blog. The Homesteading Blog that I started a few years back and then ... life got in the way big time.
Suffice to say this last (school) year was my annus horriblus, at least professionally and by extension what it did to me psychologically, emotionally, and socially. We've all had these events however and this is all the dwelling I'm going to allow about that former life. Now I have to be concerned about an ACTUAL dwelling of my own (or our own as my darling husband and I are in this together.)
We have left the comforts of our 1200+ square foot home to the ultra spacious 200 (more or less) square foot of my husband's former bedroom at his parents home. I know: 50 years old and moving back in with the parents, but its a start. There's 25 acres here to access, clear, mold into our vision of a working homestead. Of course we would make this move during what has become known as the "Georgia Monsoon Season 2013".
I'm not kidding -- we've NEVER seen this much rain in our entire lives during a Georgia summer. The ground is saturated and one of the first things we have to do before we even BEGIN to get a home established on this land is get a perk test done. How do you get a reliable perk test when the ground is already saturated? I'm hoping that as the season changes we'll see some dryer weather and then get the test done.
Now, some things I didn't know about establishing a new residence from the ground up (literally). Permits will cost you a fortune! And I'm not a stupid woman! I've read my Countryside and Backwoods Home magazines cover to cover and I have gleaned from others home-building experiences that you have to obtain permits if you want certian necessities -- like hot water.
Hot water is something that hubby and I just are not compromising on -- it is a requirement.
And indoor plumbing would be nice and we likely couldn't get away with an outhouse in this county anyway (although I have seen some nice ones I wouldn't mind in lieu of an indoor loo).
Can't get any of that until we have tests and permits which will cost us in the 550$ range just for the perk test and septic tank permit. I have to have a permit to install a septic tank. The mind still boggles. I get the perk test (300$) but not the "county's permission slip" to put in a septic tank (250$). Seems like the perk test alone should be the stamp of approval, but as everyone tells me, "they" all get their cut.
"They" again. "They" are who I'm trying to get out of my life for the most part. But, I'll get to that over the course of this blog experiment.
There are so many great ideas I want to get started with but at the moment weather and tying up loose ends with the outside world have consumed most of the month here. My son -- a high school senior this year -- is staying in our former community with family friends; a decision that both encourages and depresses me depending on the day and how long its been since I've heard from him. Darling Hubby needed to get on with Medicare for health insurance, I need to get the son on with Medicaid through DFACS (a program I NEVER thought I'd have to touch again!), and I will be without insurance until I can find either a job or something Obamaaffordable.
Bank accounts had to be moved, driver's licenses and insurance and tags moved to our new county, school and guardianship issues had to be straightened out with counselors, registars, and bookkeepers. Phone services had to be modified. And then there was the internet.
Or rather: lack of internet. We are so far out in the woods and away from the town 'proper' that internet service isn't available unless you get it by satelite. Pricing the only service provider in this area was pure sticker shock: 100$ for the basic service (local channels) and then nearly another 100$ if we wanted internet access AND internet surfing capabilities. I didn't know they were separate -- did you? LOL! So, that led to a purchase of a handy dandy laptop after spending a few weeks working in thelibrary computer lab. I'm a slow Blogger, kind of like my knitting -- want to get it right and constantly double check my stitches/word choices. I just felt like I was taking up too much computer time for others who really couldn't afford a computer. Although there isn't always an open corner for me to hide away and work, I find spots and the librarians seem to approve. I love this little library -- everyone knows everyone and picks out special books for frequent readers.
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So much to do and an internet blog is probably the last thing I need to worry about but I really want to do a blog about two older ... make that 'seasoned' ... people FINALLY beginning to break ground on just a dream and turn it into a dream realized. And we really know how to do so little when it comes to building a house. My darling man wants to get a modest trailer and put up a brick and mortar foundation skirt. I see his point: the plumbing and electrical wiring will all be in place, the appliances and counters, flooring and roofing all warranted and guaranteed. It makes sense, honestly. But ... I want to build.
I want to move the dirt around and get rid of the scrub; build a guide fence for the wild muscadine vines and cage in and protect the wild blueberry bushes. I want to terrace the slope the loggers cleared (and left such a mess) with the abundant wisteria vine and turn it into our fruit tree orchard.
I want to set my concrete piers and pier anchor blocks and build a raised foundation with a trap door to get to the plumbing shut off valve. I want a wrap around porch for cooking during the summer, storing food over the winter, and having my morning coffee or afternoon nap whenever the mood strikes.
As I went through my horrible last year of teaching (politics of personalities, not the kids) the only thought that took the edge off my anxiety of leaving was "work the soil, heal the mind." This mantra just popped in my head one day ... one of my lowest days ... and then *work the soil, heal the mind* was there, like a seed; like divine inspiration. Like a message too strong to ignore.
So, even though I fell in love with a cute little trailer and we had the money to purchase it outright and the lady who owned it wanted us to have it, the deal weirdly fell through and it was no longer an option (although it really would have fit us well). And as much as I really liked the place and REALLY wanted it NOW ... when we didn't get it I couldn't help wondering if I was cheating myself of my next great adventure: building my own home from scratch.
Darling Hubby still looks for trailer bargins in the penny pincher type magazines, but I'm convinced that we'll be happy with something we make ourselves. He may disagree however. Maybe, just maybe I can convince him that this IS our next great adventure -- the one we get to do together. To turn this overgrown, neglected beautiful slope into a homestead oasis that sustains us body and soul.
If we stay within budget -- I might get my satelite internet connection after all (and won't the library miss me then ;)
Found an interesting plant up on the land we want to develop. Looks like a blueberry plant -- and the deer have definitely been chomping away at it -- but not knowing our native wild edibles as well as we should we didn't take a chance. We took it to our County Extension Office. However, almost 2 weeks later and no answer from the office/plant person. I'm a bit disappointed because I'd really like to know whether to cultivate or eradicate this baby! I've been told that the UGA Extension Services is better about responding to emails and that may be my next tactic. 
It did of course make me pause and think that I really need to do some wild edibles research. I do know we have wild jonquils on the east side of the property. There are the remains of an old homestead there and I believe these beauties lined the walkway to the door. The area is choked by wisteria right now (beautiful, but invasive) or I'd add photos. As we get the area cleared I'll update.
