Muddy Work

We've been doing a bit of work here on the new homestead. My computer seems to be acting up a bit , so this may be a short post! We have relocated and put into the ground, the play structure! It was a swampy muddy mess, but we did it!

Next week we are meeting with a landscaper to get some ideas. The yard is just so wet ans swampy, we are a bit bogged down!

Iam also working on opening up a NEW etsy shop for my all natural handmade wool goodies! I'll update once I've got it on the go!

Wrong Season

I just don't know what to do with our land! It just collects water like mad! I have spent the morning standing in puddles up to mid-calf!! What is one to do! I have no vision for the garden and feel very overwhelmed and lost. I feel that if we moved in the spring, I'd feel better about the yard, mind you i wouldn't know about the drainage problems though! So what to do? I'll have to do sme research I suppose! I think a pond is in order for sure!

Drizzle Drops

It's dismle here on the west coast, but at least it's not snowing! I have been rather absent from my blog writing duties. We are all moved into the new house and well on our way to christmas. One day I'd like to get a bit more into the whole decor of xmas, but not this year. We are hopefully getting our tree this weekend though!

In gardening news, the outlook is not good. I might just be dong a little container gardening this year as the yard is a disaster. Morning glory is taking over everything! And there are a ton of huge potholes ...... we might just start from scratch! Okay baby awake, gotta run!

Planning Planning Planning

I have been sketching up lots of different ideas for our new yard and finally decided that I needed some help. I am not a fan of buying books, well that's not true. I love books, there are so many I wish I could own. I just feel that if i can borrow a book, there is no point in purchasing it. I visit my neighborhood library every week, sometimes twice a week, in search of how-to books on gardening, sewing, bathroom renos etc. The more you know the better! I have decided to buy a book though. Well three to be exact. The first is How to Grow More Vegetables ..... and it's amazing! I have the 5th edition from the library, but have the 7th edition on order. It lays out when to plant things and how much to plant depending on your needs. It also has great maps of where to plant things.

The other two books are got don't relate to gardening, one is a parenting book and the other is a book on the Case Study Houses for the 50's and 60's. I decided not to purchase the HUGE one that I really wanted. The later is my current obsession! Beautiful mod homes! I am looking forward to building some raised beds and preparing them for the planting season ahead!

More Dreams

The Mod Garden? (okay maybe not the outdoor tub!)

The Farm Garden?

The only shot of our backyard.....note the large gravel patch.

The time is soon approaching! We are moving in just a few short weeks! Is it three or two! Yikes I better get packing! For weeks my husband and I have talked about our indoor plans for our fixer upper. There is a lot to be done, but we have to stage it, so we can still live comfortably in the house. We are going to start by removing all the color it the house. Some rooms are painted three different colors! So for now we are going to get some low VOC primer and paint everything white. It will be a bit stark, but at least it will be bright for winter! Another must do is the tub and surround in the bathroom. My husband re did the one in our current house, so the weekend after we move in, he'll be working on that giant project. There are numerous other "must do" projects, but I am quietly dreaming of the HUGE yard. I can't really do too much planning, but I can dream!

I am starting with the giant gravel patch in the middle of the yard. Husband wants to put the play structure and sand box there, but really it would make a perfect garden. Split the circle p into six triangular raised beds with nice pathways in between. Maybe a birdbath in the middle? Or maybe I don't want birds so close to my garden? Have to think about that one!

I am also planning a very small orchard. We have beautiful Italian plum tree that was a present for my youngest son's birth. I plan on getting an apple tree and maybe one other fruit tree. Then there is the berry area. The raspberries, strawberries and blueberries! We already have brambles invading from the next door property, so blueberries are taken care of!

Oh and since we'll be staying home and working on the house, maybe just maybe i can get chickens soon! I had planned on a big family vacation before my youngest turns two, and then get chickens, but a vacation doesn't seem likely at least for a while.

I also want to establish a pond area, dining area, and a relaxing hammock/sitting area. We will also have a small eating area on the deck, but our big dining area will hopefully be under a nice grape arbor! can dream can't i?

My biggest problem in the dream world seems to be what style of yard I want. Do i want a mishmash, fun crazy whimsical garden? or a super organized modern garden? I'm very torn! I know that full chaos in the garden doesn't work for me. I learned that while experimenting with my hodge podge salad garden.

So what am i going to grow?

apples
plums
blueberries
strawberries
carrots
tomatoes
herbs galore
garlic
onions
squash
zucchini
pumpkins
potatoes
lettuces
and many more! i know I know ..... it's too much to take on really! But I can dream!

Hibernating

It's been a month! As you can tell there hasn't been much going on here at the homestead. That's not entirely true, lots of things are transpiring, just not project related. We have decided to relocate the homestead! We're moving about 5 minutes away to a massive house (fixer upper of course!) and a HUGE yard!! I can't wait to start landscaping!!! For now I'll just be blgging at my Shoot From the Hips Blog, until we are settled in the new house!

Take Care All!

Leaning

I have been leaning towards sewing lately. Really the sewing of 60's fashion. I just ordered two vintage patterns from my snack pack sales. I previously ordered three vintage patterns and haven't even had the time to look at them, let alone make anything! However here I am ordering more!

The thing with vintage items is usually if you wait to buy something you really like, it'll be gone in the time you've been hemming and hawing. I've missed out on a number of fantastic vintage patterns and other such lovely things this way. So for now I'll just collect vintage patterns, in hopes of one day making a new wardrobe for myself!

In gardening news, the lettuce barrels are doing great! They've been loving the rain and cool weather. Also I've had another small crop of strawberries pop up, after we relocated the plants to planters in the front. The blackberries are almost done, most that we were waiting on never ripened, as the heat never came.

In the kitchen I've been making cheese scones, whole wheat french bread (i've given up on sourdough for now) and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Due to a shortage, I've found a fantastic addition to my cookie recipe! I was a cup short of oatmeal , and instead of running next door, decided to put in some ground flax seed. WOW!! what a difference! The cookies were much more airy, and melted in your mouth wonderfully! The men of the house prefer raisins to chocolate chips, so I just made a small batch for myself. I then ate them all in one day!

So now it's night time and we are all tired! Goodnight!