So an update of sorts. We had some friends and their 2 kids stay with us October through June. There just wasn't enough room in the house for all of us so we made due with our campers as a makeshift "guesthouse". It was rewarding and stressful and it didn't quite turn out the way we had hoped. I'm thankful we were in the position we were to be able to help and I glad we both felt like it was something we should do and we tried.
Ryan and I learned some life lessons that only that kind of situation can teach you. We grew closer together in the process so I'll call it a win in that regard.
This is what my yard looked like through winter and spring - 100% redneck.
Ryan and I had a successful hunting season! Opening morning we sat from before light until 9:30am. It's very rare for us to not see or even hear a deer that long the first day. Just as we were thinking of heading in to warm up a doe came crashing over the river bank with a BIG buck hot on her tail. Before I even had my gun up Ryan had two shots in the buck and he was down. I was already getting my cross hairs on the doe below us and Ryan swung his muzzle to shoot her too. That conversation went a little like - Me: "Hello! I'm in the stand too can I shoot a deer today?" Ryan: "I suppose". I did shoot and hit her. We heard her fall not too far in. We sat for a few minutes and Ryan climbed down to go get help and then cross the river to find the deer with the 4-wheeler. I opted to stay in the stand in case they chased any deer across the river in the process. 15 minutes after Ryan climbed down I caught movement near his buck but couldn't see enough of the deer to safely shoot. A few seconds later it walked out below me. I had one chance to take a shot before it walked out of my field of vision. I shot. It didn't jump, didn't run, just kept on walking. I was astounded. I had a perfect shot and I knew my cross hairs were on. A few minutes later Ryan and his friend Todd appeared across the river. I yelled that I had shot a little buck but I didn't know if I had hit it. Ryan took one look behind him and the deer was laying down but not dead so he finished it. After that I climbed out too to help them drag and load deer.
Landon had a really good heart checkup in the spring. Very little change compared to other years. His cardiologist even said we can skip his echo cardiogram next year.
We spent some time up at the cabin with my sisters and brothers, their significant others, and all of my nieces. A week of being together seems to be just what we all need. I'm thankful we all value that time together and make it a priority. We made an impromptu road trip to Minnesota to spend a weekend with Jake and Becky (who are now engaged). We always have a good time there. If we have to be spread out I am glad that it provides opportunities for us to experience things we don't have around here.
We had a bunch of fun around home too. Landon races R/C trucks with his dad so we made a trip down to watch his last race. We made a bubble fan fort with a couple sheets, some clothes pins, and a big fan on one the really hot humid days. So much fun!
(this picture is a 2 man cruiser race. Landon is has the gas and the other kid is steering)
As far as the homestead goes we're still on a reprieve from the majority of our animals. We have decided not to raise pigs anymore. Between the work, the difficulty finding piglets, and the cost of feed it's just not worth it. We can buy a whole hog from a friend or reputable butcher for slightly less than we were putting out and without the work. Last year between old age and the dogs we lost most of our chickens. This spring we ordered about 30 new chicks. .We should start getting eggs again soon. I'm looking forward to having flavorful, rich orange-yolked, free range eggs again! We have not raised any new calves. Our baler broke the last time we used it and the rest of the equipment that we had been able to borrow in the past was sold. It just made more sense to continue our break until we build the new house (more on that ahead) and then we'll budget in "new" equipment when we know what the new mortgage will be. Ryan also promised me and Danica horses if he gets new equipment (since they're hay burners he says, hehe)
We've had a fairly successful garden this year. My helpers and I canned 26 pints and 5 quarts of regular green beans, 14 pints of spicy dilly beans, and 21 pints of dill pickles. My tomatoes were stunted and didn't produce between all the rain we got in the spring and the abnormally cool summer. I really hate canning tomatoes so I'm not super disappointed. I've also canned 12 quarts applesauce but we still have two big apple trees to pick and make into applesauce. My kids go through a quart ever 2-3 days so we need a lot of it. We got 21 pumpkins too. The garden finally froze about a week ago despite me covering it. I guess God decided I had enough.
I'll update you on our big news cautiously. I say that because as many of my friends know we've had a lot of disappointment and heartbreak trying to build a new house in the past. Between the housing market collapse during the recession and some poor planning we were let down twice about 4-5 years ago after we thought it was pretty much a done deal. Ryan and I (but mostly Ryan) worked hard since then and paid off a pretty big credit card debt as well as our pickup truck. The truck alone had a payment bigger than our mortgage payment. Between the two we have now significantly lowered our debt to income ratio as well as raised our already good credit score. That means this spring, after tax time, we shouldn't have too much trouble finally getting that construction loan. This is our last winter in this house (PRAISE THE LORD!!). We've decided on a (slightly unconventional) post frame house. We're in contact with a builder who will be coming out in December to start putting together plans and doing some measuring. We're going to tear down the house and the barn and use the barn wood and house timbers for ceiling beams, trim work, cabinets, and some furniture in the new house. I'm hoping to decorate with a country shabby chic flare. The house nor the barn can be saved but being hewed log makes them great for those projects and our builder has a carpenter who does it all.
The view from my future living room window (minus the boat and the baler)
(click on the picture to see it bigger)
This is our floor plan - I adjusted it from a few I liked to accommodate us better. I'm sure it will be tweaked.
This is an idea of what the outside will look like. Steel roofing and siding included. Ours is ranch style so it likely won't be this tall. I like the look of the dormers but they might not be cost effective. I'd rather spend that money on the inside.
So that's what we've been up to. Ryan and I are happy and super content. The kids give us a run for our money pretty regularly (what kids don't?). Brakebush bought a new plant in Texas and Ryan got a raise and a thank you for hanging tough through the recession and pay freeze. He's been running his butt off. Frustrating as that is for me we're thankful for the good paychecks and the job stability and security.
