Fired Up!

Yahoo! The wood stove is installed and we've got fire! I'm so excited! Took a few days since the major install to tweak a few things and finish grouting the hearth, and still need to finish off the trim around the hearth, but tonight we decided to finally fired it up. We started the fire with some fat wood and smallish logs we'd collected earlier, then held our breath..and..no problems! Didn't take long before it was feeling toasty in here. It slowly raised the heat a comfortable four degrees in 40 minutes, enough to feel the difference in the LR, kitchen and dining room (bedrooms are closed off). Nice! I did insist we purchase and install a carbon dioxide detector, at least one for now, before starting the stove, which we did.

I've so missed our fireplace from our old house, always so nice to view and sit by. And tho I will miss having a mantle for our Xmas stockings and to set items on for display, I love that we'll still be viewing a fire but also supplementing our heat..can't beat that! Besides, I already have on Pete's honey-do list (lucky him) to build two shallow book cases on either side of the stove, floor to ceiling, to look like built-ins to solve the lack of shelf space dilemma.

Still amazes me how a boy from the Bronx can know how to do this kind of stuff (outside of city life) and have things function. I love that he loves the challenges, and saving some bucks by do-it-yourself  projects...I might not be here in our newly renovated house had he not! What fun it all is, seeing these projects start to finish!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

(My father's hands)

I didn't get to my computer yesterday, like I wanted, to wish Dad a happy birthday..83 years young!! I did get a card with a hand-written message in it off to him along with a little money gift and a long-distance phone call. One of my brothers, Chris, and his wife, Sharon, had just arrived to go out to dinner with him and Mom. They were just about to pour a little sippage to toast with when I called, so he called me back when ready to do so so I could be included. Poured myself a little shot of vodka, what I had on hand, and toasted him, with all my love; then on his count of three, we all yelled out our happy birthday's and tossed our shots back. A long distance birthday connection :) They were getting ready to leave for dinner shortly, so I didn't keep him long. About to give a call home in a minute here, and will find out how his dinner went, and get a little chat in with Mom, too. I so love this man, and what a wonderful man he is..I could write a book (and Mom equally as special!). I'm just so fortunate, and so blessed, all the way around. Happy Birthday, Dad, and many, many more..they don't come any better than you!!! I love you dearly!

For the Birds

Made a trip to the local hardware store this morning for 40 pounds of bird seed..they have a good price on their 20 pound bags. Topped off the three half empty feeders out front, put some in the bird feeder that used to be a bird bath, and sprinkled some on the ground in the usual spot. Then I put the deer corn on the ground in strategic spots that are good for viewing (they know right where to find it every evening), then go check the mail. My morning routine after my first cup of coffee. These birds and deer sure are spoiled. Out front, for viewing from my kitchen and my office windows are three feeders, three suet feeders, a thistle sock feeder and several hanging peanut butter and seed filled pine cones.
Out back, I have one of each, plus an extra pine cone feeder, hanging from a shepards hook as their feeding station. I get so much enjoyment from watching them. So far I've identified 18 species that are regulars, including the turkeys and quail in season, a red-bellied woodpecker who comes daily for the suet, and "the crow crew"..a family of five who are daily visitors for the corn and seed also. I add each new species to the list I have taped to the inside of my kitchen cabinet door..fun to keep track. Having been here just seven months now, seems like the word got around fast in the bird community that there's food for the grubbing at our place!

I'd recently purchased the thistle seed sock, and it's not surprising to see several birds (I saw five at one time) clinging to it feeding. The warblers and finches, chick-a-dees and tit mice seem to enjoy them the most. The sock was cheap, $1.50, and the thistle (nyger, niger) a bit expensive, but it's so tiny and dense in the package that it seems to last forever, and the birds love it. I placed it right next to one of their suet feeders and it took no time (half hour) before one discovered it!

Stick coated with peanut butter

Today I also re-made some pine cone feeders as the ones out there were all but picked clean of the peanut butter and seed. When finished, I had the idea to coat a stick that had several small twigs coming off it with peanut butter, then coating mostly with thistle and a little regular seed, secured at the top with some floral wire for hanging. I no sooner went in after hanging it to get my camera, came out onto the porch, and there was a warbler sitting on it eating..just that quickly! The birds seem to be less fearful of trying something new when I keep the feeders grouped together, rather than singly.

Seed sprinkled onto peanut butter-coated stick and lightly patted down

Didn't take long..see bird at top of stick, eating

Love my birds!

Buck, Buck..Ain't No Chicken!

How exciting..spotted not one, but TWO bucks this day. The first was probably a yearling, in the morning  across the road, with some small antlers, six inches (?) or so..a thrill, the first buck seen since living here! We always have does, yearling's or fawns here. And THEN..last night..a nicely racked mature buck found my feeding area out front and was chowing down on the corn with four skiddish does feeding around him! It's rut season, but he was interested in filling up on food. It was a thrill to see him..felt as if a celebrity was visiting us! Called Pete to the window..we stood in the darkened room watching him out front, feeding on corn and acorns and tossing some testosterone around, or so it seemed, with the does reactions to him at their feeding ground. I love it.

I wasn't able to get a shot of him, just the does before his arrival. Everyone was flighty when he came on the scene. Hopefully I'll figure a better way to capture some night shots with my camera.

(five feeding out front)

Coming Soon!

Hole in ceiling for the stove pipe

Began work today on installing our wood stove. Yahoo! Purchased it last Feb. 2010 when we found it on sale when we first started renovating the house, to get it move-in ready. It's sat patiently through each coming season to be installed until now; it's come full circle! We've had some frigid temps at night in the teens; daytime's in the low 40's.. cold enuff to want to supplement our propane heat with a wood burning stove to offset the heating cost, more than we used to pay for heat. Just the idea that there is so much free fuel in the woods out there on our land for the burning and heating only makes sense.

Took some pics, but will wait and post various construction phases all at one time as it gets closer to being finished. Pete thinks by next wkend. Can't wait till it's done!

A Frugal Bunch

Came home from the farmer's market with a bargain Friday..over seven lbs.of apples, five tangerines, and two green tomatoes, for $3.00! Granted, they were a bit past their prime, and I didn't have a plan for any of it, but I felt rich with my haul.

Today was my let's do it all up day. I made two apple pies; one for Josh, who was here to help his Dad with installing the wood stove preliminaries, and one for Pete, for the freezer (he'd just finished a pie off). I was excited to use one of my little pie birds my sis got me for Christmas that I've wanted (seen with the ribbons still on them)..worked well! I'm not one to do a lot of baking, but I do like doing pies since my honey especially loves apple pies (with lots of cinnamon!), or any pie for that matter! The left over apples I sliced into rings and have drying on four racks in the dehydrator.

Also made some fried green tomatoes with some fried chicken tonight for dinner..thought I'd go to hell with myself and have a rare "fried" night and be done with it! The tangerines I'll send to work for a snack for Pete. And the apple peelings were shared between the birds/critters and the compost pile. I love being frugal and that none of it is wasted!

Ice Storm Goeth

Tried to capture pic of ice droplets forming on tree branches

Well. we got some ice in the form of sleet which coated the trees and surface areas for a brief while (we even had a few icicles hanging from the roof!) and the roads were bad for a while, but it only lasted as long as the night..once the sun broke and temps rose it was just wet out there again. Such is the South, or for us in the south central area, it seems.

I love weather changes, I get charged with excitement by ominous cloud formations, or when the wind changes hinting at something brewing in the air, or by an electrifying light show in a thunderstorm. I'm a weather junkie..so I was naturally disappointed we didn't have the "event" they predicted. Just as well, as I always feel selfish if that expected high is fulfilled while knowing our children and others might need to drive on bad roads, or deal with problems related to the bad stuff. So I do these tiny little voices in my head of "I hope we do get (fill in the blanks)", but not too loud, as if a little wish is ok so if it comes to fruition it won't have much impact on others.

Oh well. Excuse me while I go check the weather channel for the next event...

Just had to post something on this date of 1/11/11..cool :)

Waiting for the Storm

 The ice storm cometh!..Started sleeting about 10 minutes ago. Everyone's been waiting with anticipation on the arrival of this much televised and forewarned iced storm. A big deal here in the south that doesn't get much wintry weather of concern.
We woke at 6 a.m. to our weather alarm blaring. We bolted upright in bed as we usually do when it goes off, to get an announcement of the impending winter weather warning beginning at 6 p.m.  Gee thanks for the wake-up call 12 hours early on a Sunday morning! Really, tho, it's a blessing to have the weather alarm and to be alerted that far ahead of bad weather..always good to know. Winter weather here is always such a big thing!

Everyone in AL has been preparing, especially with predictions of downed power lines and loss of power. Our concern with that is if power goes out, so does our well pump, thus no water to the house. I've filled the bathtub and washing machine with water. Can use for misc. or pouring water into toilets for flushing. Have several jugs and coolers for drinking if needed. Temps will drop into mid 20's tonight, so if necessary, we can put a few immediate necessary food items from the fridge/freezer outside for easy access, at least till temps rise to mid 30's tomorrow. Have our little portable fire pit with a stack of wood I collected today should we need a flash of heat, even if outside just off the porch. Have been in touch with the kids and cell phones are charged should we need to connect.

The birds I feed chowed down on their regular feeder food plus I made/put out five peanut butter seed feeders..looked like Grand Central Station out there today, so much activity! Put out the last in the bag of deer corn and four deer wandered thru and had their fill tonight.

Made some nice Mediterranean roasted veg soup today and had for dinner. Yum! Love cooking when the weather/temps are wintry. Usually make bread, too, but, oh..how I love to eat it. No, no..don't dare. Have a wedding to attend and a still unpurchased dress to force myself into in five weeks!

Still sleeting out there...frozen precip expected overnight. TV warning of treacherous traveling in the morning. Hope Pete's job calls him tomorrow morn to say he doesn't have to go in ( a 20 mi drive into Montgomery)! Most roads here are supposed to be "closed" to driving, and no school for the children. We'll see what it's all about in the a.m.! Nite!

Winter Precip?

This should be interesting to see what comes of this "weather event" that's suppose to occur tomorrow, Sunday, afternoon into Monday. Big winter weather warning out for the south as a system moves east from Texas and across the southern region, passing thru Alabama, with predicted 100% precip of ice pellets, sleet, snow or freezing rain, saying any or all may occur at any time. Because this type of weather isn't usual, it becomes the talk of the town! They've been scrolling the weather warning on TV all evening.

We stopped at Walmart to pick up a few items on the way home from Abby's B'day party tonight, and were blow away by the canned goods isle..OMG, looked like a bomb hit the shelves..they were ravaged and trashed after folks picked thru and grabbed to stock their shelves with this storm warning scaring them. At the entrance of the store they even had a stack of "Pool salt for stairs, sidewalks and driveways". Pool salt? A first to me. Anyway, I love weather changes and looking forward to this "event". I'd love some winter precip, but not to where it is dangerous for driving or power outages. We'll see what happens!

Sweet Birthday Girl

Abby had her 8th B'day party this evening at the mall skating rink..she seemed to have a great time with family and a few friends there to share in the celebration. She had two little friends go home with her to sleep over. She looked like she was having a lot of fun skating and was just speeding around, great on the skates. I even got out there, first time in, oh, 25 yr's or so. Didn't stay out there long as my feet were like being in vices from too narrow skates and being rather shaky after so many years (I used to skate well), but it felt good just doing it again.

So the big question is, how is it these kids are growing so dang FAST! Brody turned 7 a few days ago, as will Jaycie the end of the month and the other three speeding along, too. Jeez. my sweet grand babies aren't babies anymore and it kills me to see them grow so fast. I want to shout at them to just slow down!! I know that won't and can't happen, sadly.Hope you had a wonderful Birthday, Abs, and a great year ahead..we love you so much!

What a Good Guy..

Pete's down under the house as I write, installing insulation that was non-existent when we bought the house. It's only crawl space and he has 30 rolls to staple up on the floor joists. I'm so glad I'm not a man having to do that kind of thankless stuff. I give him credit for getting under there. I'd have to hire someone, as I'd be too claustrophobic! But he's always been a do-it-your-selfer, which has saved us tons of bucko's over the years not having to hire someone for our home projects. And I love that he's like that and can do about anything he sets his mind to.

Uh oh.. my poor guy just came in. Said he had to quit. He came in earlier for a break and said he found a snake skin under there which totally creeped him out as he's deathly afraid of snakes. But he went back down anyway to get more put up. But just now said he was having a panic attack, being in that tight space, trying to work while thinking about a snake having been down there, and that one could be around. Said he broke out in a sweat (he's also bundled up with the cold), started breathing hard and just had to get out. Hell..I don't blame him one bit! Said he'll have to wait till one of our boys can give him a hand, someone to talk with while they work and keep his mind off it. Poor guy.

Lichen It..

Just in from a 40 min. nature walk around the front of property and down the dirt road a bit..slow and purposeful, exploring and enjoying the nature all around me. It's a beautiful winter day, somewhat warm-ish, tho a bit blustery; sunny, but a few clouds dot the sky. Seems like a long time since I've been for a nice walk like that, tho not really. I came home with a few treasures that I'll dry (since the rain) and display as part of the decor somehow. I've always enjoyed a rustic, natural look to things.
My little collection consists of a large handful of sweet gum (tree) seeds, a cluster of pine cones still attached to the branch, and a few different branches with various fungi or lichen attached..always so interesting to look at!

Deery Me..

My buddies are outside again, in their usual feeding spots out front. They've been coming in the early evenings every night since putting out corn for them the past month or so. I sit here looking out my window and think how beautiful they are, and the fawns they bring with them. I know what pests they can be to some, but so far we've not had a problem with them; I assume because we're surrounded by woods, and our winter temps, for the most part, are pretty mild and without snow coverage on vegetation for food.

I know some good ol' boys down here would offer to help us out with them if they're a problem, but if I wanted them killed, why would I feed them? I don't set out any food plots to lure them, only to take their life like hunters do, all in the name of that trophy buck head or antlers to hang on a wall or for the taste of venison. Not hardly. My two stepson's hunt, to my dismay, and not by anything Pete and I instilled in them by any means. They learned and did by hanging out with their friends who grew up in hunting families. It bothers me that they do, but they will do as they feel. I have a hard time believing in the mantra that killing them helps keep the herds in balance..whatever. I have an easier time believing God placed them on this earth for a purpose, not for our desire to find them fair game as an excuse to prove our prowess as hunters with an excuse to kill. I say, go back to your cave, man, and stay there!

Celebration..

Looking back on New Year’s Eve, we enjoyed our first one here at our new home with two of our close friends. We invited them to spend the night rather than make the 20 mile drive home from our place, or any place, after an eve of imbibing. It was nice having them with us to usher in the old and see in the new. Pat put in many hours helping us get this place into move-in shape, so it was especially fitting that he and his wife be here with us to celebrate.

Fatwood, whole, before splitting

It was a gorgeous, balmy evening, in the low 60’s. We made our drinks, taking them to the back porch, and munched and sipped and chatted. We got the roll-around fire pit lit, using some fatwood and wood we’d collected during the year around the homestead and enjoyed the fire. We had a lot of laughs, good food and sippage that night, with our party hats and horn blowers and toasts of champagne when the ball dropped. A phone call from my folks in N.Y. wishing us a happy new year made my night complete:)

Fatwood after splitting into fire starters

Everyone was up early the next morning, tho I could have slept a tad later having woken with a slight hangover and hearing the steady rain outside my window. But, with coffee mugs in hand, we all found our way back out to the back porch and enjoyed the rain, the mild January morning temps and some chit chat. After fixing breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, juice and more coffee, we eventually wound down our time together, they gathered their things and headed down the muddy dirt road towards home. After tidying up here, I stretched my tired self on the couch and watched the New Year’s Parade on TV and dozed shamelessly on and off for the rest of the afternoon, while Pete napped and chilled out himself. It was a nice start to the new year:)

On the Wrong Foot..

Guess I could’ve done better by posting on the first day of the new year, and on a daily basis thereafter. But, I never was good at keeping new year resolutions, even those made halfheartedly. With that, I could beat myself up for starting the year on the wrong foot when it comes to more consistent blogging, but, I’m just not gonna do that! If that means I have to compose and save my blogs for a future up-load date, or only get around to posting once a month, I say they’re my rules and that’s just the way it is!

I feel better already :)