The remodeling efforts out at the farmhouse is going quite well. This new phase of living part time at our Georgia home and working part time at the Alabama home has us stretched. Trips out to the farm are exciting as it puts us one step closer to moving out there. Trips home at the end of work days sees weary bodies and all that has been left undone here. A few days here and there tucked into our schedules would do wonders in getting things caught up. Making room for the desirable amongst the necessary.
Our days begin with early risings to milk Amber, feeding her and Sugar, letting the chickens out to feed, checking nesting boxes, filling water buckets, and seeing to the needs of the chicks living in the brooder box. Then we can have our breakfast, pack a lunch, gather tools needed and load up the truck for the hour long trip to Alabama. It has really become a part of our lives and working with the animals is a pleasurable part of the mornings. I look forward to the time when it will be done in a more leisurely fashion for there will no longer be the need to travel to the farm. But to just walk out the door to greet it each morning.
When we arrived yesterday the company servicing our well was already there. We were able to get the well fixed easily enough, giving us access to water for the house. Washing hands and cleaning up will be considerably easier now. We still want to have the water tested before we start drinking from it. So carrying jugs of drinking water will still be on my to-do list for awhile. The heating/AC was serviced yesterday also. With a few minor adjustments and a new thermostat we had both heat and cold air flowing through the house. Two major components of living; water and comfort from the weather extremes was put into working order.
But the highlight of my day day was digging in the dirt. I had brought out some transplants that were dug up from home to start the outside renovations. A few Irises, Day Lillies and hosta pots were snugly tuck in the load of supplies for today. Finding new homes for them was a job that I was looking forward to. I have only seen a few plants here and there on the farm. Previous owners did not establish any type of flowerbeds or plantings. Leaving the grounds an open canvas to create on. I have started from scratch before, but I seem at a lost at how to begin this time. So I simply started at the end of the house with some weed pulling and grass removal. Digging holes for a few of the transplants along the way. The remainder was tucked along side a row of plants found out in the front yard. A space destined to be the dividing wall between the yard and the goat pen. Pulling back the leaves and cleaning the area revealed exactly what I had found at the end of the house. . . . rich, loose dirt. A gardener's dream. Sitting on the ground in the shade of the old oak was a sensory pleasure of extremes. It felt like I had come home and could envision hours upon hours of doing the same in the future. Having your hands in the dirt is uplifting for those who love to garden. A time for daydreaming and reflection about life is an unconscious pursuit while digging, pulling and planting.
On the opposite end of the house is an area dotted with healthy garlic plants that will have to be moved. Scattered in part I think from whom ever bushhoged the area in the past. For this is the area we have decided to put our vegetable garden. Lifting them temporarily so it can be plowed with be a challenge. But then they too can be tucked into their new beds for years of productivity. Someone had tried to pull some up at one time and left them laying by the dogwood tree at the backdoor. Where they lay all winter before sprouting up again from the individual garlic cloves that had fallen on the barren ground there. It appears that they multiply quite easily and so I feel sure that even it I loose a few in the transplanting. There will be plenty to start a new bed with. I pulled a few to bring home for Amber to munch on and the aroma was mouth watering. I have never had garlic growing in my vegetable garden before and look forward to using these in recipes. We have grown to love the taste and ease of using it in our cooking over the years. I had tried last fall to order some to start a bed but the company was sold out before I was able to place my order. Disappointed then, but thrilled now as I have been given some for free. Another blessing just waiting to be discovered at our future farm.
Hands in the dirt, heart lifted to the Creator,
Deborah
No comments:
Post a Comment