Blessings Abound. They are always around!

We had eight glorious days to enjoy on the farm this trip and we did!  It was our first wedding anniversary, too!  Hand picked flowers from Al. So sweet!

We had our share of rainy days.  The weather was much cooler and very pleasant and the trees were on the brink of changing.  Our first night we were able to enjoy a fire where we could actually sit up close to it without overheating!

Rainy days gave way to crafting in Dog Tired and constructing a dog house in the barn.  So, time was not wasted!  We did, however, promise that this trip would include a little more relaxation and an adventure or two. And, we did just that.

On our anniversary we thought it would be fun to venture out, visit the County Seat and do a little antiquing and maybe even have dinner out.  Unfortunately the truck broke a belt, and a huge belt might I add, right in the middle of the city of Tazewell.  I was just glad it happened in a city and not on a back road.  In this part of Tennessee you can drive for miles with nothing in sight!  So, we were ‘fortunate’ for it to have happened where it did.  We were .09 miles from an auto parts store.  Al trekked there and back, twice,(first belt broke) to get a new belt. Long story short, we made it to the parking lot next to the auto parts store and Al ended up not only replacing the belt but, also the tensioner and water pump.  This ordeal started around 1pm and we got back to the RV around 10:30pm.  Long, cold day.  Once back we had homemade pizza, wine and our cake topper.  All in all it ended up a wonderful day.  You always have to count your blessings.  And, on that day, my blessings were the city of Tazewell, my wonderful, mechanical husband and a very friendly and helpful couple that stopped to assist us.  Country people are the best.

It rained for the next two days.  So, I made a fall wreath  for the RV and a flag wreath (picture forthcoming) for the shed.  Al worked in the barn doing various things. We ended the day snuggling puppies  and watching TV!

We actually mowed the plateau once the rain subsided.  I was thinking there would be little to mow but, Fall has taken longer than expected so, the grass is still growing.  Al headed to town for a few supplies as well.

Half way through our trip we managed to finish cleaning out the shed.  This shed y’all.  It was so full of trash.  I think we filled about 16 huge black trash bags of garbage.  This building sits right on the corner of our property and the road by the front gate.  We’ re not sure what it’s purpose was for the previous owners.  It has two doors and they both open from the street. I initially thought it might have been for kids waiting on the bus when it was raining or a place for someone to sit and hunt deer.  Who knows.  I plan on fixing it up and hanging a tobacco stick flag under its windows.  And, then change the flag out for holiday decorations throughout the year.  I plan on storing any of those decorations, as well as, the front gate decorations in this little shed. It will have a purpose!  Oh, while cleaning the shed we had a visitor.  This little guy tried unsuccessfully, thank goodness, to butt Al.  We ended up barricading him in the neighbors yard.  It’s their goat after all.  Speaking of neighbors, they were gone the entire week we were at the farm.  Not sure who was suppose to be feeding the goats, the cats and the dogs! Thank goodness we were there to take care of the dogs!

On Thursday we were finally able to paint the little storage unit that Al built a few visits back.  This sits behind the RV.  We built it to store the things we need for the RV, like the generator, extra chairs, birdseed, etc.  This saves many trips to the barn.  It will eventually become the storage unit for outside furniture, and such, once the cabin goes up and the fence is built.

I took some time out as well to make some Christmas ornaments out of tobacco sticks no less!

Friday we ventured out again.  Mainly targeting antique shops.    We visited Cumberland Gap, KY  and a few other towns.  We even had lunch out!  We really enjoyed exploring the surroundings and getting to know what will one day be our new home. <3

Saturday, our last full day, Al went to the barn to begin building Honey’s new insulated and heated dog house  while I did this…..

I also began packing up things and did a full inventory of food and supplies.  We have to do the inventory or we would never know what we have and don’t have to bring back.

Honey’s little house turned out great! There is this one outside of the stall.  Honey or Bun sleep there as well.     We also let both puppies stay in the RV the whole night.  It was rainy and cold.  Bun’s first night as a guest.  They both slept on the floor next to the heater vents.  And, of course, they got plenty of treats!

On Sunday before we headed out we walked some of the plateau.  This pond is off to the side of the plateau.    Once we are living at the farm we plan on enlarging it and installing an aerator/fountain to circulate the water.  This is where honey turned green sometimes.  She loves to jump in it on really hot days.  

Honey apparently spotted something up that tree.      Thought this was such a cute picture of her.

We are working so hard to take care of these puppies when we are not there.  We love them to bits!   We are still trying to get an update on our neighbors. (We know Bun belongs to them but, have yet to confirm if they own Honey.) They are rarely there anymore. Something has changed we are just not sure what.  Keep those babies in your prayers please.  They are such a blessing to us!

Al returned this past weekend to set up a self feeder.  Check out my next blog to find out how that went!!!