Finally, we closed on the property, on Friday morning, and here we are, just 2 days later and it's just getting busier and busier. Yesterday the real work began. We have to have a well dug, so I had called Lee's Well Drilling Service on Friday afternoon and he came out there to meet us yesterday, and we began the process. We chose where to put the well (he found the perfect spot and it was exactly where I'd told my hubby I wanted to put it) and signed the contract for him to start the permitting process to get it done.
Our next thing is to get the electricity turned on and all I have to do for that is get the number off of the meter we want to use off of the 2 that are there from when previous owners had mobile homes there, and they will switch it on! That'll be my first Monday morning call tomorrow. I's spoken to a lovely lady at the power company on Friday afternoon and she also put in a work request for an engineer to come out to see abut removing unused wires at the front of the property since I need to use a sod cutter down there to clear grass from where I'll be planting roses, gardenia bushes and privacy trees. I don't want to have to deal with the grass keeping on coming back, so am thinking a sod cutter will remove a lot of roots to help with that. When we do start planting, then I'll have a weed barrier down and mulch on top, so hopefully that will help it stay nice.
Thinking ahead, we are also wanting a power pole installed and need a concrete pad laid for a metal storage building and then, said building erected. Having had a trailer stolen from here before, in a more inhabited area, we want to make sure that anything we take over there before we are actually living there, is locked up safely and well-lit.
Hubby's back was giving him gyp, so our planned canna lily transplant didn't happen. They've been growing in a big pot but we plan on popping them down near the creek as they help naturally draw out impurities from water. There is already one down there so when we saw that, we figured it could have a friend.
One of my goals, over time, is to put various cleansing plants in the marshy area and creek so as to naturally purify it. The canna lilies are the beginning of that project.
My granddaughter-in-law and great-granddaughter came over to hang out with us and went on a wander. Our Miss Lily was enthralled at finding a turtle slide in one area of the creek so I have promised that we will pop a bench down there as we get doing things, so that she can sit and watch the turtles with her mum or dad anytime she is over. Ah, the magic of childhood and simple things.
I'd like to get a water barrel system going over there, and soaker hoses, so that we'll have water to water them with since we won't have running water until after we have the well. We've used them here, and I'm definitely wanting some by the orchard we'll be planting in January when the fruit trees arrive, and for the vegetable garden that will (hopefully) get started in Spring. I'd considered a Fall one but I honestly think we have so much else to do and prep first, that we aren't really likely to get that done.
We're also planning on using a solar pump to use some of the water from the creek, but that's also going to be a "later on" project.
I just have such a lovely vision for this property. I have the privacy trees for the front being delivered in February, and fruit trees for the "orchard" coming mid-January (these are during their recommended planting seasons for my zone).
During our warmer Autumn days I'm hoping we can also get some of our gardenia plants transplanted out so that they can begin to flourish. Those that are now bushes by our gate here began as potted plants 23 years ago. So I'm hoping my planted cuttings, once transplanted over there, will flourish and begin to grow into bushes. I'll be starting more cuttings over the next few days. There's an awful lot of fencing the plant my bushes along!
I did find out yesterday that my older ridearound, although much stabler/steadier than my lighter weight one on the uneven ground, was ok going down to the creek on a strip that my hubby mowed down for meto ride down, but did not want to come back up!. He had to push me numerous times with the tractor and unfortunately, the last time broke one of my rear lights. It's great on the flatter areas but def not on ruts. My grandson was surprised at how heavy the seat of it was, when we had taken it apart to take it home. We actually left our trailer with the tractor and mower in his driveway overnight since we are going back over there today. Save on gas and wear and tear.
Hubby mowed for about 3 hours. The grass was about 4 feet high last week, but then the rains had came, and beaten some of it down but it was so thick. The piles left that were blown out of the mower show how dense it was. He managed to do maybe 1/8 of the overall grassland. We think that by the time he gets it all done it'll be time to start redoing this bit again. Obviously, once it's all trimmed and under control, keeping it that way won't be as difficult as this first cutting.
This is the overall picture of the property. It used to be a part of the home at the front, the barn of which is actually stables,
but now is separate. Our property used to be the pastures for the horses. Where Mark mowed yesterday is on the far right side, from one of the fences and down towards the marshy area near the creek. He got it done about 1/2 of the way, and level with the little "dirt road" by the tree up top.
It was not an easy mow, that's for sure. The cut grass looks very untidy for now, but will decompose and replenish the ground. This pic is from close by the tree looking down towards the creek.
Methinks though, that for it only now being our third day (and we are heading over there about noon for him to mow some more) we've made a pretty good start. It's beautiful out there, and we have such plans.
God is good! I can only hope we live up to His plans for us.
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