Weekend of March 27

Haven't had the time to blog so I will catch up a little.

Bill's inspecting some of the work the beavers have done

on a nearby damn. He thinks he may just wait

for them to clear off the parcel he's been eyeing. We'll

just drag the trees out debarked ready to cut and split.

Russell called early on Saturday morning - since he didn't

sugar this year he needed to spend a day playing with Bill.

He drove his tractor over so we could use the winch to

haul some trees up the bank.

Bill uses a cant hook to try and get the logs over some rocks.

Bill using the winch to keep tension on a huge ash while

Russ cuts it down.

I think Russell just came over with his tractor to make

Bill want one even more.

Limbing up the trees, ready for burning.

Both in their safety gear.

Bill's new splitter. A little higher and able to split those

bigger logs standing up.

We burned all of the brush we had on Sunday with the help

of Manda and Yusuf.

Easter weekend we actually did nothing but eat. A weekend of

rest.

What a Difference a Week Makes

Last weekend Bill went out and started cutting

down some trees. Figured we'd get a little jump on

spring.

He had put the Christmas tree in the snow bank so we

could look at it through the winter.

The dogs were having a great time because we haven't

really had any snow in Enfield at all this year.

This weekend we went to a party for Bill's sister then went up

to the house to stay overnight. We'd heard there was

snow but . . .

We were just glad the door open into the shed. There was

about 8 inches on the ground where it had been plowed.

Sunday morning the clean up began. Tom came and plowed one

more time but with really no where to put it.


The snow was extremely heavy and wet. And I thought we

were going to make it through the winter without snow

in front of the windows!


It made me laugh every time I went outside or looked

out a window.



Even with the Bobcat it was difficult to move ( and it was all

ice underneath the snow).





Our tree was half buried but at least now it stands up.


All I kept thinking was this was the perfect snow to


make a fort or dig a little shelter. My sister, brother


and I LIVED for this snow. We'd be outdoors until


frostbite set in.






As we were ready to leave Bill told me to come out to see the


sky. This is facing east at about 5:15 pm. It was a spectacular


ending to a really wonderful day.






Bill's sister refers to her driveway as the luge run because


the banks are so high and the driveway so narrow. She said


most people couldn't understand what she was talking about


when she said she couldn't get out. If you drove 5 miles down


the road they had half as much snow.





Now I've had my winter fix I'm hoping it melts fast so gardening


season begins. It can't get here soon enough!

Images of Christmas Past

I wasn't able to blog for a while so I will catch you up a

little. Here's Bill and Cait decorating our Heath tree.

Lights are on, star on the top. Meanwhile I was in a panic about

how on earth I was going to make the house ready for company.

The fireplace was FINALLY finished. Thanks Russ. The

photographs don't do it justice.

Vintage ornaments on the tree. They are as old as I am (except Santa

who must be pushing 150). Does that make me vintage too?



Bill stoking the fire. It has been VERY cold in Rowe.
On Christmas Eve the room was lit only with candles and
the fireplace. (Our wall sconces weren't up yet so I used
tin candle sconces from OSV - the lanterns are from there
as well). Looked awesome.



All in all we did a pretty good job on this project. Our
goal was Christmas 2009 in this room and we pulled
it off. I have to say that a huge part of it was total theatre
but I don't think anyone noticed.

New Post, No Pics

This is a first - no photos. I took pics of our Christmas tree going up on Sunday but that's it. The room is not completely finished but I just wanted to thank everyone who has had a hand in this. In May of 2008 we gutted a huge room in Rowe and set a deadline of Christmas Eve dinner for the family in 2009. Bill over saw and did most of the work with LOTS of help from Paul, Mike and Russell. Paul did the dirtiest jobs, Mike is always there when you need him with a final push with his painting expertise (not to mention all the wood he cut and split this year). Russell is always there for a consultation but he designed, built and installed our panels over the fireplace. He brought new strap hinges for one of the doors on Saturday. Russ, you made me sweat a little with the time line but last weekends unveiling brought tears to my eyes. It is perfect. There are others - Manda, Yusuf and Cait. It's nice to know that your kids aren't afraid to get dirty. Then there are the revelers who are doing their best to cast out the bad spirits that's been in that house since I moved there in 1967. We are going to drive them away with our laughter and love for one another (and the dancing will be part of it as well). It makes me feel so good to know that there were so many hands in this project and all of them were part of our community in Franklin County - the rest of our country needs to go back to that - have friends and neighbors that do for each other. It's a precious gift. Next week there will be plenty of photos of the festivities. Happy Holidays to all!

Painting and Christmas Trees

This was a weekend for trying to get things finished up in the room.

Manda and Yusuf helped with painting the woodwork.

Bill painted.

So did Mike. Woodwork Saturday, walls on Sunday.

Sunday we reluctantly went to Russell's to get a tree.

There was too much to do but it was a nice escape

and a reason to be outdoors.

Wards were there with us on the powerline looking for the

perfect tree.

There was about a foot of snow and we were all

to scared to ride in Russell's trailer behind the tractor.

It was quite cold as well.

Bill dragging up a tree.

Everyone loaded their trees onto the trailer.

Carmen with her mystery red berries.

Have to find out what they are.

One kid riding in the bucket.

Russ and Bill loading on our tree.

Martha and Dale on the top of the hill.

Carmen's horse's wondering what all of the excitement is

about. They are so nosey.

And the cutest calf. One week old.

Santa Dale bringing his tree to the vehicle. There was hot chocolate,

chowder and chili afterwards - then pie and brownies.

Great time!

And while we were gone Mike came over and painted the

entire room! He should be sainted, he's a great painter

and an amazing guy.

Russ came over later in the afternoon and put the panel together,

Bill primed it. He tells me it will be up and painted

this week. We'll see . . .

First Snow

First snow this past weekend. Not much yet but we had about

4 inches. Sophie's plan was to be in every pic today.

Beavers are truly amazing creatures in the size of the trees

they can cut and carry in a very short period of time.

Sophie has to be here too.


Plow in winter.

A good ripper going to warm up the kitchen. This was one

huge blaze.

Garden in the first snow.

The weekend was spent finishing the sanding and priming

all of the woodwork. The panels had some primer put on

them before they are glued. Should go in this week. Painting

party this weekend. We are finally seeing the end of this.

Moving Along on the "Project"

Photo of a fire in the oven - this is the second in a series

of small fires to temper an oven that hasn't been used

since 1940 or earlier.

Russell brought the panel for the fireplace over on Thanksgiving

weekend. It has to acclimate for a couple of weeks before it

can be installed.

Beautiful - can't wait to see it in.

Stripping the door to the stairway. Interesting paint choices
back in the day.

Stripped - waiting for primer.

Looking like we could make our Christmas deadline.