Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A LONG ABSENCE

I'm not even sure how long it has been since my last post. A fair amount of progress has been made inside the house. The books have been unpacked, sorted and those I want to keep have been shelved. The others have either found their way to the rubbish or to our little library for their fundraiser book sale in November. Some of the pictures and mirrors have been hung but many more are languishing in the cellar. Problem is .....a serious lack of wall space. All issues to be addressed on a cold and blustery day, soon to be the norm here in south western Vermont.

Back at the end of August Hurricane Irene unleashed her wrath upon a good portion of Vermont and western Massachusetts. We prepared for high winds by taking in all the ourdoor furniture and putting the plants in the garage. It turned out that the winds were minimal but the bucketiing rains on top of an already saturated soil caused massive flooding. Brooks turned into rivers and rivers into torrents. Bridges and roadswere washed away, houses were washed away, cars, propane tanks and any and everything else including massive trees and boulders were washed downstream and into farm fieds and meadows. Some downtowns were destroyed and the cleanup continues.

We went off to Bailey Island , Maine for a week just after Labor Day. We rented a small cottage right on Mackerel Cove and spent the week reading, knitting (me) and eating lobster right out of the water. The lobster boats left pretty early each morning and returned in dribs and drabs throughout the day. Fun to watch the activities. The weather was fair for the most part although a tad on the chilly side some days. Worth a repeat!

We drove home via 101 through NH and picked up Rte 9 in Bratt. The road had just opened to through traffic to Bennington and we had the chance to witness some of the devastation first hand.

Here at home life goes on. We are anxious to get the rest of the grading and seeding done before the window of opportunity closes.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

WEATHER

Woke this morning to more clouds rising up from the valley and in front of Cedar Hill. Yesterday was much the same but laced with the occasional downpour. I did manage to get most of the weeks mowing completed and in the process I ran across a mama oriole feeding a 'just fledged' youngster on the ground just as I was heading up to mow the ledge meadow. The oriole nest is in a Red Maple just above the raised beds.

Today I hope to get the tomato garden mulched and the cages in place. 'himself' boought a new phone system yesterday and has been less than successful in installing the main phone. In fact he has been downright unpleasant about it.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

HOME AT LAST

Long time since my last post. I've been having a miserable time logging in but seem to have been successful today.


We started the 'move in' process in early April and by the middle of the month we had cleared everything out of the trailer, cleaned it, had the utilities disconnected and were waiting for Pope Housing to come here to collect it. It was a happy day when they finally showed up and drove it off down Tubs Rd.


After being in the house for a few weeks I had Connors deliver our 'stuff' from storage. Everything came back except the queen mattress and the nuts and bolts to assemble the queen bed. Apparently they were misplaced. Hard to lose a mattress. We are still waiting for it! The boxes have all been emptied and most everything has been put away. Still haven't hung any mirrors or pictures; maybe next week?


It really is hard to work inside when the weather is beautiful. I'd so much rather be outside. The tomato plants are in the garden but not looking all that great as we had a week of solid wind that beat the snot out of them. Ordered some Texas Tomato Cages on the recommendation of Margaret Roach from A Way to Garden. And, I've mulched the garden a la Ruth Stout....used the hay and straw that was around the base of the trailer. So far so good!


Today I mowed the interior of the horse pasture. So much poison ivy!! It does look nice !

Friday, April 1, 2011

APRIL IN THE SNOW

A wet snow is falling but really not amounting to a hill of beans. The forecast was for 6 to 12+ and how delightful to have a change of plan.

How about that fireplace surround!!! That paint really does 'shine' , eh? And to think that the risers and railing will be the same finish is delightful.








The pics of the kitchen cabinets are from last week because I wasn't able to upload until today. I'll take some more current ones a bit later.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

AND DOWN CAME THE RAINS


This was the state of affairs on Monday morning following Sunday's torrential rains all day and through the night. Everything was covered with a thick coating of ice ; the power went out during the night and the generator kicked on to keep us from freezing to death.

The photo is of the Hoosac River and railroad bridge just over the line in N Petersburg. The river was nearly over it's banks.

The crew at the house was pretty sparse, just Ray Broadwell and Jeremy.

The power came back on around 4:30.

THRONE ROOM

This little beauty was installed late last week and gives us real hope that we'll be living here sooner rather than later.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

IT'S A KITCHEN ........NEARLY

This is the start of something big! I looked out the trailer window this morning to notice that a Broadwell truck was parked in front of the garage doors. Because I had stopped at the shop yesterday to 'talk' kitchen cabinet doors and drawers and had seen the base cabinets , it seemed likely that the cabinets were in the truck.


PANTRY

How much do I love knowing that this counter top will be in use every single day for the duration!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Side Yard


Thank fortune that I still have internet access as the satellite remains a cropper.

Me thinks that I'll be spending the afternoon with my knitting needles as there is very little point in venturing out.

Yesterday the pantry counter top was installed and it looks gorgeous. It was made from our old dining table top. We bought the table from our dear friend Bob Daley when he was disposing of furniture following the sale of Winds or Gales in Windsor. The table top was made from an old oak ships' bulkhead. We have carried those two pieces of oak to Reading, VT, to Pownal, VT and then here to Tubs Rd in North Pownal and are delighted that they are back in use. Jeremy took them over to his shop in North Adams where they underwent a metamorphosis.... from table top to counter top! I'll try to get a picture up tomorrow.

WINTER WONDERLAND

This is the scene just across the driveway on this snowy February morning. The snowbanks are so high that it's impossible to see the pasture fence!

Ken from Brook Valley called yesterday to say that all the appliances except the fridge would be delivered today between noon and 2:00. I don't hold out a great deal of hope that their 'box' truck will make it up this road but perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised.

No TV today. The satellite seems to be gonzo due to the weather. Just one more minor irritation I guess.

The floor sanders have arrived and are on the second floor plying their trade as I type. Yippee!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Taken from the kitchen area to make note of the lovely morning light. If you look carefully you'll see just a bit of paint on the wall below the cross braces and ceiling above. How delightful to anticipate living in a light filled space.

And here we have a glimpse down the entry hall
from the kitchen looking toward the back porch door. I really do love the wall color and the ceiling color is just perfection. I do admit feeling a bit 'trepidare' about the ceiling paint but I shouldn't have given it a second thought.




















Cicero and Syd are having a game of 'how high'. A
very athletic hound, that Cicero!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

THE DAY AFTER



Well over two feet of snow fell here over the last thirty six hours. This morning I dug my way to the bird feeder, cleared an area and scattered some millet. My next stop was the barn. Dale had been to plow this morning leaving me to clear the snow away from the barn doors and clear out around the generator. Good thing that the snow is dry else my back would be shot!

The view from the loft door was spectacular; nothing like blue sky, brilliant sunshine and fresh snow. The horses were gathered around the feeder as I threw down their morning ration of hay. It takes so little to make them happy!



This afternoon I tackled the stalls and now all is ready for tonight. Am still on the fence as to whether or not to keep them in overnight. Guess that remains to be seen.

The debate continues regarding the fireplace surround but I do think that the one below comes closest to what I envision. One thing for certain, it won't be blue! The alternatives are oiled cherry or poplar, painted the same color as the living room trim. The other conundrum that I am facing is the depth of the mantle. My instincts tell me that it should be 6.5 inches.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

BLIZZARD II

No pictures of the storm as it was impossible to take any due to the blowing snow. Tomorrow!
The painters have been busy painting the bedrooms and in these pictures there is but one coat on the walls and ceilings and therefor a bit difficult to see the contrast between the wall and ceiling paint colors.
I really like the colors in our bedroom and the smaller front bedroom, not shown. The small back bedroom is a 'room of different color'. I adore the apricot walls but the ceiling just doesn't work so I have asked that the color be changed to Putty.
The snow started well before 4:00 this morning, in fact I looked out the window at around 4:00 and there was already significant accumulation. By the time we rolled out of bed there was at least a foot on the ground and no indication that it was letting up.

The painters arrived around 7:30 and applied a final coat to the upstairs bedroom walls and ceiling except of course the back bedroom which is waiting for the putty color to be delivered. This afternoon they primed the ceilings on the main floor and have told me that they will be applying 'color' to the ceilings tomorrow. Be still my heart !!!
Gary is sanding dry wall mud in the basement tonight. He wears a respirator but it still can't be good for him.
The second pair of mittens that I started for the two 'red head brothers' in the village has been frogged.....it would have been way too small. I know that I could have found someone for that pair but these kiddos need mittens NOW. I cast on for a much larger size and have spent most of the afternoon finishing up the ribbing and starting the thumb gusset. Pictures tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

OUT WITH THE OLD

Here we are, well into 2011 and a very good thing it is. Sad to say, 2010 wasn't my favorite year. We had much angst over Jack's lack of attention to creating the plans for our house. Couple that with the packing up and dispersal of our worldly goods and we have a recipe for turmoil. The frosting on the cake was 'himself' being scheduled for hip replacement surgery on the 29th of June, the very same day that we had to be out of the old farm, leaving it broom clean. Somehow I managed to pull it all off. Phew! I spent the several days that 'himself' was at New England Baptist sick-a-bed with bronchitis finally ending up with a prescription for some mega antibiotics. Cured!


This trailer being a mere 12 X 60 meant that we'd be forgoing Christmas this year and instead elected to take the kids out for Chinese/Japanese at 5:00 on the 25th. GENIUS!!! All nine of us had heaps of fun and nobody had to cook or wash up!!


Yesterday I spent a couple of hours going over the paint colors that I had chosen for the interior. I made a few minor changes and then wrote up specification sheet organized by room.


The house is chugging right along. Gary is finished with sheetrock on the main and second floor and is now working in the basement. Eric the painter was here today and primed the back bedroom. I gave him the paint specifications for the first & second floor and I understand that he has ordered the paint and it will be delivered subito.

The photo commemorates the trip to Charlemont ( Hall Tavern Farm)taken by our contractor and our son in law to collect the wide board pine for the second floor and rustic cherry
for the main floor. Our driveway was just a bit slick when they drove in. Hence the rig in the ditch! All was put to rights thanks to chain and a second pickup. The boards are lovely. Can't wait for them to be laid in place!
Brady Rose was here this morning to burn the brush pile in the lower pasture. When I arrived home this afternoon I could see a bit of smoke rising over the trees.