Our week began with running errands. As we drove through Linden, we stumbled upon the Blooming Arts Festival. We were thrilled and decided to stop by. It was unfortunate that we had already eaten, as the array of food trucks and their tantalizing aromas were simply irresistible. We wandered around for quite a while, trying to resist the urge to splurge. Ultimately, we couldn’t leave empty-handed and picked up a few treasures. One booth featured an impressive selection of jams and jellies, offering tastings of their delightful creations. We walked away with Jumbleberry jelly and an incredible apple pie bourbon jam—both were so delicious that, had they been more affordable, we might have bought even more! We were particularly on the lookout for yard ornaments. I had my eye on a charming flower snail, but then I turned around and discovered three fluffy cows adorned with sunflowers. That was a clear winner!
Another booth showcased beautiful pottery, with the standout piece being a garlic grater. This versatile tool can grate various ingredients and is designed to protect your knuckles. A bonus feature is the multiple holes on the side that easily strip leaves from herb stems. Our final purchase was a lovely sun catcher for Rick. It’s not only beautiful but also drives the cats crazy!
In gardening news, we’ve made progress by planting more seeds and transplanting from my winter sowing containers. Keeping everything watered has been a challenge, especially with the ongoing calls for rain that have yet to materialize. If our rain catchment system were operational, it would make a world of difference! We’re doing our best, and although we lost a few transplants, Cat had overplanted as a precaution. Fortunately, we received a decent rainfall yesterday, allowing us to collect as much as we could. However, the forecast predicts sunny and dry weather for the upcoming week. Our next major planting will occur in about three to four weeks, and soon the gardens will be fully planted.
One of our big projects this week was setting up the front gate. We started by burning and oiling the posts, then augured holes to plant the poles. The gate installation went smoothly, and we added connecting rails on both sides. On one side, we opted not to screw the boards into the live tree, as its swaying could damage the fence. We also oiled the rails for preservation. The finishing touch was a sign Cat had made for Rick a few Christmases ago. While the front gate looks great, it still needs a few final touches. We’ve ordered solar lights for the main posts and two rose bushes to flank the gate. Additionally, we added shelves to the swing for our drinks. The best part? All the lumber and screws were recycled materials we already had, which we also oiled for preservation.
Our next significant project involved creating a circular driveway and a parking pad for the jeep next to the conex. The chert was finally delivered, and we quickly got to work spreading it in anticipation of the impending rain. It took two stubborn individuals, two shovels, two rakes, one wheelbarrow, and one jeep two days to complete the task. It was hard work, but definitely worth it! Cat ended up with a sunburn on the back of her neck. You might be wondering what the jeep was for—it was used to tamp down the driveway. We compressed it as well as we could and now just have to wait for the rain. Once the rain came, we needed to let it dry before compressing it again. Within the circle, we created a teardrop-shaped garden lined with logs, and in the center, we cemented a flag pole holder.
We successfully removed all the vines from the trees, going about 20 to 30 feet deep. The remainder will have to wait for another day. As for the trees that need to be taken down in our safety zone, is on indefinite hold due to the unpredictable winds. Just when we think the gusts have calmed down, they pick up again. We’d rather err on the side of caution.
The garden in the center of our circular driveway is now affectionately dubbed our island garden. We weren’t entirely sure where it would go, so unfortunately, the old chert lines run through most of it. We plan to chip it out, and Rick has found an efficient method, though it will take some time to finish. We’re adding the chert to the area where we’ll park the trailer and to the uneven spots that became noticeable after the rain. In this bed, we’ll be planting bushes and culinary herbs, while the other herb gardens will be dedicated to medicinal plants.
Today was a day for tackling odds and ends. Cat took some time to clean up the cabin, which had accumulated a fair amount of clutter from our long workdays. The floors were quite dirty, and while the cats seemed to be expressing their displeasure with the mess. LOL Until we have our grass and porch installed, the cabin is bound to get a bit dirty. We’ve stopped worrying about dusting for now; once everything is finished inside, it will be much easier to maintain cleanliness.
Rick handled some errands outside, including managing the water we collected and cleaning our dirty buckets. He also took care of the flagpole and added the flag, which looks fantastic, especially with the solar light on top. With hummingbird season just around the corner, we’ve put out one of our feeders, and I can’t wait to see some visitors soon!
We’ll continue to chip away at the chert in the garden, but we need to wait for it to dry first. Next on our agenda is oiling the rafters and fascia, so stay tuned for updates on that. I also want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Easter! We didn’t do anything special this year, and we truly miss sharing a meal with family and watching the kids decorate eggs and hunt for them.
Remember Small Steps Get You Miles
Rick & Cat
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