On a whiff of spring air the labor fairy rides.
Earlier this week, my husband and I walked through snow drifts to assess the state of our affairs. And let me tell ya, our property is in sore need of TLC. We have a spring house to repair, a daunting land reclamation from the timbering endeavor to transform into productive land, and mountains of general house maintenance to perform.
We made a list.
Today we tackled the new garden plot. It is land that has not been used in over 100 years. It is the only sunny, flat spot we own. Our vegetable garden will be 100 ft by 40 ft. Not large, but enough to produce for the two of us with plenty to preserve for the winter and leftovers to share with the local food shelter.
But oh how it rocks.
Holy Moses. All over our land are little pyramids of rocks. We used to be amazed at how some poor farmer had to scrub around and move 20 lb. boulders into massive piles just so he could farm this mountain side. "He was some kinda poor not to have bottom land," my husband used to say.
Today, we were some kinda poor and related to the previous owner as we picked through the rocks and sticks. We now have over 4 cords of wood stacked for next winter.
The soil is rich. I will take samples to the local Ag center to get an analysis this week. And, we found evidence of our comrad, the poor farmer. I unearthed two wagon springs, several feet of inch thick wire coils and other metal unknowns as well as a few homemade bricks.
The positives are pretty cool.
Annie loved working with us. I often wished she had thumbs to help me throw rocks, but she offered moments of amusements as she dug through piles of sawdust, chased sticks and would occasionally sneak in a lick at my sweaty face.
And, I worked well with my husband. Hard work with purpose agrees with us.
We burned calories. Our "Lose it" program on the iPhone doesn't list stacking firewoood but god bless it, Google does. At 319 calories an hour x 5 hours= I need not worry about my caloric intake today:)
At 6 p.m., my husband announced it was time to have a beer on the deck.
He did not have to have to twist my arm.
And I have been meaning to link to this:
The Valle Crucis News is online again. I am so happy read Ethel and Callie...They keep me in touch with my Valle peeps.
