Feeling More and More like Home

Why do I do this to myself?  I wait and wait to write a new post and then, I have way too much to tell you about!  We have been so busy it’s been difficult to slow down enough to sit and write.  But, here I am at 5 am in the kitchen writing while Al and all dogs are sleeping.  It’s so quiet.  Helps me think better.

Unless you live under a rock, most of you know that we are now living at the cabin.  The move here took about three days total.  Poor Al was helping load, then driving here to unload and then turning around and going back to Georgia to do it all over again.  We rented a large moving truck and got just about everything in two loads.  Then, Al had to return back to Georgia for me and the dogs.  All boxes and smaller items were unloaded in the outbuilding.   .The larger furniture was brought inside the cabin. Did I mentioned it rained a lot during the move? Oh the mud!!    Honey and Bun were inspecting.

I have spent the last month pulling boxes from the outbuilding and unpacking/decorating as shelves were stained and added to closets and the pantry. Check out my staining process!   So glad to have the outbuilding where you have the space to spread stuff out!

For about the first three weeks our countertops consisted of plywood, we only had one sink up and running and it was located in the laundry room  and our shower door was a painters plastic tarp.  Thankfully all our kitchen appliances showed up the day after our arrival so we had a refrigerator on the main level.  But, the oven and microwave had to be installed and the stove top could not be installed until the granite arrived.  For meals, we grilled out a lot or we walked over to the RV and used the oven and stove top there.  It wasn’t always easy but, we were just thrilled to be here and the hot tub sure helped!

A lot of deliveries and installations were stalled due to the pandemic.  We have stayed busy every day since arriving here!  We now have all sinks up and running!  Yay, for granite installation.  That was a game changer!  All appliances are up and running now!  Shelves have been added to all closets but the master bedroom. Knobs and pulls on all the cabinets are being added today.  It’s not easy opening drawers without pulls!  We are still waiting on our new bed.  Manufacturing was shut down for over a month but, they are open now.  We hope to have it by June. Thank goodness for the guest bed.

The dogs are tolerating one another.  The labs really don’t care about Herc and Teenie.  They are more curious than anything.  Herc is ok until Teenie gets upset, then of course he has to join in.  They will see Honey or Bun occasionally through the main floor windows and bark but, even that is started to get old.  In time I think it will get easier for all of them.  We installed a gate on the porch so Honey and Bun cannot prance across the front of the prow.  We also brought Honey’s house up from the barn.  She uses it when temps drop.  It’s well insulated.  Don’t let Honey fool you.  She may be small but, she is fierce.  So far this dog has brought me two little gifts. i.e. Squirrels!  I hate it!  Like, thanks but, no thanks!

We cooked out one night and Bun found her way onto the back porch where there is no gate because it’s about three feet off the ground, and well, that was a fiasco when she walked past the front windows!

We hope to get the fenced in yard up in June if the weather permits.  We have lots of grading to do before the actual fence can be built. Herc and Teenie will then have more freedom to hang outside.  That will be a game changer as well.

The interior and exterior staining of the cabin is now complete.  All that remains is to add the chinking. 

The first month we were here I only left once.  Al usually goes to town for supplies and food.  I have returned to Georgia twice since the move.  Once to move my daughter and then, Mother’s Day weekend.   I’m coming down next weekend to bring Evie up for a short visit.  She’ll be our first guest!

To date our county has no case of Covid-19.  We do not take that lightly.  We still mask up and glove up when we leave the farm.  I do not want to be the one that brings it here.  So, we are being uber safe.

I’ve been doing lots of cooking and baking.  I am so enjoying my new kitchen!  It’s truly my dream kitchen.  Planned from the start.  From the floating shelves, to my cafe oven, to my walk in pantry. I have also spent a little down time working on a puzzle.  I find them relaxing.   I also made some curtains for the kitchen window.  I’m waiting on some hooks to arrive and once I hang them I will post a pic!

Decorating is going slow as I tend to put things out and a few days later I realize it looks better over there or in that room or maybe I think I don’t need to put it out at all.  My motto has been, “It looks great but, it’s subject to change!” I’m enjoying it though.  I’ve been using so many heirlooms and antiques and just things that spark a memory of someone or some place or thing.  It’s just the best feeling. 

We walk to the mailbox daily. (I am sure the deliveries guys are hating on us right about now.) It gives us time with the labs we stop at the barn on the way to see the cats. We initially thought one cat might be pregnant so Al installed a camera to keep a better eye on her but, to our surprise she had already had them.  There are 5, we think, and they are about 6 weeks old.  I couldn’t believe it.  They stay very well hidden. We are hoping it’s the same cat we thought might be pregnant.  We really aren’t sure.  Right now there are only three female cats that we see on a regular basis.  One calico made her way up to the cabin!  She tends to come up when their bowl is empty.  I guess she’s trying to tell us to go feed her.  She also made her way around the front prow one early morning.  I thought Herc and Teenie were going to break a window!  And, I can’t forget to mention all the beautiful flowers we pick along the way. 

We planted our garden last weekend!  It’s huge. Oh, and this is Bubba. Ain’t he scary?    Praying we have a good harvest.  I may be hauling veggies to Georgia and spreading some love.  I do plan on canning a bunch. I bought a vacuum sealer which has been wonderful.  And, we also purchased a deep freezer for storage as well.  If you saw our food storage you’d probably call us hoarders but, when you live out in the middle of nowhere it makes sense to have a good back up of necessities.  Going to town takes half a day!

I have missed the luxuries of manicures, pedicures and hair salons.  But, fortunately I have always done my own nails.  I would just go to the salon to get them painted.  My hair, well, I’ve colored it myself once so far.  Probably do that once more then, hopefully head back to the salon.  I need a cut and I am not doing that on my own!

Crazy, crazy times we are living in.  I do try and take time each day to just enjoy the stillness and peacefulness of this place.  I sit on the porch and love on the labs and just listen to the birds.  Nothing like it.    Honey looks like she sees another squirrel in this picture.

Although moving here was no where near how we imagined it would be, with every day that passes we are creating our beautiful home.  

P. S. Here’s just a snippet of the Cow and Patriotic bedrooms.  Will reveal more once they are completed!!