Category: yard and garden

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Our pool

Well last year we put in a new pool. The kids and I really wanted one and to be honest it wasn’t that expensive or difficult to do. i had to learn how to clean the pool and find a place to buy my pool supplies without killing my pocketbook. That part was actually easiest but the cleaning the pool after the kids constantly jumping in with dirty feet and such, was a pain. I need to come up with a new plan for keeping the grass and such out of the pool. The kids love to run around the yard chasing each other and jump back in without cleaning their feet.

I looked around at pool filters before I bought one because I knew this would be a problem with the kids. I have jokingly told the kids that I would build a moat around the pool for their dirty feet and they thought it was a good idea. I had to smile at that, because they actually thought I was serious.

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Nice chat

Well my neighbor just came over for a little visit. We sat and talked for about an hour over coffee and some homemade pie she brought with her. We discussed our plans for our gardens this year and how big we had decided to go with it. Her husband is kind enough to bring his tractor over and plow my garden area for me since I don’t have one myself. I have thought about investing in one but just haven’t got to that point yet.

She said her husband suggested that we plow a whole field this year and set up a vegetable stand to sell the excess. We could take turns running it and split the county fees if we both contributed crops to sell from it. I think it would be a fine idea, but I also know that it would be a lot of work too. I will have to give it some thought before I commit to it.

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Watching for the Bus

When we moved out here, the idea of having a lot of land for the boys to run and play was one of the top reasons I wanted to get this house. The house itself is really old and needs a lot of work, but my backyard is 40 acres of woods, with creeks and hills, and a large cleared area down by the road where I can put a garden in the spring.

The only drawback to this property so far is that the school bus comes really early to pick up my kids, as they have to be down by the mailbox in the dark during the winter to catch the bus to school. It is only dark for about a month in the middle of winter, and every day that we get closer to spring means there is more light and the days get longer.

I don’t feel comfortable with the idea that my kids are standing by the road in the dark by themselves, so I usually get dressed when they get up and after breakfast I walk down to the mailbox with them and watch for the bus.

This morning it wasn’t so dark anymore and I thought that I might stop walking down to the road with the kids. But they surprised me and flipped out when I suggested it. I think that is kind of cool that they like spending those few minutes together first thing in the mornings. And I could use the exercise, anyway.

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Time to decorate the house

Well it is that time again. Time to decorate inside and outside the house.

This year we are building a nativity scene for the front lawn. We sat down last night and drew out our plans for the entire thing and made a list of materials we will need.

I am also going to purchase new out door lights for the yard and house. This will be a big adventure for us and we are all looking forward to it.

I am pretty sure this project will take longer then the kids think it will, but we will have fun with it.

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Working on the house

Well, there were a few spots of cold air coming in the house from outside that we did not detect until the weather turned colder. I thought we had done a pretty good job of weatherproofing the house, but I guess we missed a few spots.

These are easily fixed with a bit of caulking. I just have to run down to the hardware store and get some to take care of it.

We are just about ready for winter. I am rather tired of raking leaves though. :/

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Time to winterize

The time has come to winterize the house and garden. The end of October always means the leaves have turned color and fallen and the temperatures are dropping every night.

We went an procured several loads of manure for the garden and mixed it in well for the winter season. The gutters have been cleaned from most of the fall leaves, and we only have to put new insulated foam around the pipes to keep them from freezing.

I do believe we still have to check the windows and doors for airflow as seals will dry rot from age over time. Other then that I believe we will be set. The rest of October and November will be chopping wood for the fire place and bon fire outside. Busy as always. =)

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Yard Waste

Sometimes a word or phrase sounds so practical, so perfectly descriptive, that you wonder why you never heard it before.

I have been trying to find out where to take a load of fallen tree limbs and bags of leaves to dispose of them. I know this is not considered trash and its not even considered recycling.

Turns out the proper term for it is yard waste and there are only two places in the county that will accept it. And neither one is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Sigh.