We find that the most engaging updates come when a significant milestone has been reached. We had hoped to achieve that milestone sooner, but as you know, plans often take unexpected turns. These past two weeks began with several smaller projects that needed attention. Rick focused on installing screens over all the air vents to keep the little critters out. He also added tape to the tops of the house wrap for extra weather protection. Meanwhile, Cat checked off a major item from my list: the food forest is now fully planted! We just need to create mulch to cover it all and plan to add some logs to line the central path and the boundaries.
Life often feels like a roller coaster, filled with its ups and downs. While the lows can be tough, they make us appreciate the highs even more. We’ve felt this contrast more acutely since embarking on this journey. There are far more variables to manage in this lifestyle compared to city living. The weather has been challenging lately, with some rain and a couple of chilly days. We even experienced our first ice in the mud puddles.
Rick successfully ran all the electrical wiring throughout the cabin, and as of Tuesday, we’ve installed most of the insulation. Not too shabby for repurposed insulation generously donated by my former employer, along with one package from our neighbor, Ty. We even managed to get some of the paper backing up.
You’ll notice in one of the pictures the metal on our trailer; that will serve as the backing for our fireplace and shower walls. I can’t wait to see it installed, though that’s still a bit down the road. On Wednesday, we headed to Linden to get our license plate. First, we had to stop by the library to print out proof of insurance. Then we went to the county clerk’s office. After paying off the Jeep, they sent us a new title, which I stashed safely away. Unfortunately, they had made a significant error and forgot to remove the lien on the title. This meant we had to drive all the way back home to check for a letter in the mail, which we didn’t receive. Cat called the bank, and they kindly emailed the necessary document to us. So, it was back to Linden, back to the library to print the letter, and back to the clerk’s office. Guess what? Cat took the title into the camper and forgot to put it back in the Jeep! So, it was back home again and into town once more. She was beyond frustrated. Thankfully, the process was quick and painless in the end. The best part? The renewal will only cost $29 a year, compared to the just over $100 we paid in Michigan. We are also saving a lot of money on insurance as well.
Next, we headed to Columbia to get our driver’s licenses, which turned into a bit of a nightmare as well. Even though we have real IDs from Michigan, they still required birth certificates. So, we left there and went to Lowe's to pick up insulation to finish the cabin, along with a few other essentials. Cat even snagged some flower bulbs at 50% off for an entrance garden by the road, which she's excited about. By the time we got home, we were exhausted. On a brighter note, we received great news: Glenn from Landstruck and Dale from D & S Solar had acquired several skids full of food, pet food, personal products, and more, which they were offering for free to residents of the local Landstruck communities.
On Friday morning, we had to dig through boxes to find Rick’s birth certificate. He knew which box it was in but had no idea where it was buried in the black hole we affectionately call the conex. We found the box just in time for the food meet, where we scored plenty of treasures. We returned to Columbia and, this time, successfully obtained our licenses. We are now officially Tennessee residents! After that, we went back to Lowe's to find a part or two for our IBC tote, picked up a few more flower bulbs, and even a light-up Christmas gnome. Then it was back to the food meet for round two, where we picked up even more goodies. It felt like Christmas for all the residents who stopped by, and everyone was so generous. It was lovely to meet more neighbors. By the time we returned to the camper, we were ready to unwind. Two days of running around had left us drained. Landstruck even did a video about the food meet, promoting my blog and another resident's business, a chainsaw sculptor. Here’s the video: TikTok
This week, we faced an invasion of Asian lady beetles. The first two days were particularly overwhelming, with the cabin completely covered in them. They were all over us, and the worst part was dealing with the biters and the ones that flew right into our faces. It was also quite the sight while driving, it sounded like we were in a hailstorm with with "mud" all over our windshield.
Remember Small Steps Gets You Miles
Rick & Cat
Add comment
Comments