wild turkey and classical music
Well here's a way to unwind on a Friday after a busy week:  wild turkey--not the adult beverage but the real thing and classical music.  I've managed to get the public radio station out here with the help of an antenna.  The audio messed up on the video otherwise you could hear it loud and clear.  The wild turkey are quite ugly.  Easy to understand why no one but that wild child Ben Franklin thought it would be a great national bird.  Around here they are quite plentiful.  My husband says he's going to kill one for Thanksgiving.  I say over my dead body!  I have "no hunting" signs posted all over this land.  However, should the turkey begin to take over I might have to introduce a natural predator--like my killer 11 pound dog, Spike ;-)

moving in!

We have been moving furniture into the house since the last week of September.  Still have more to move, but it's a process, just like finding the property and building the house.  Since the rooms are cozy, the right piece of furniture needs to be selected.  Still searching for a small coffee table and a side chair.  Hope to bring the desk, a small love seat and a second bed this weekend.


I've spent several nights sleeping at the house and it is very peaceful.  Last night it rained and the rain on the metal room was better than any sleeping pill.

what a long strange trip it's been

We are sliding into the home stretch.  Bill the Builder was at the property today cleaning up and overseeing installation of the appliances.  Seeding and cleaning up the last of the downed trees should happen this week and I received the word that the painter will come on Monday to do re-touches.  We have the go ahead to move furniture in the end of next week.   Hard to believe, isn't it.  It will be a year in October that I purchased the property.  The year seemed to fly by, but it isn't over.  It's just beginning.  Now I have to figure out how to garden in the woods and co-exist with all the wild critters that share the space with me.

water!

Finally, a potty and running water, also appliances and a stair case with a handrail.  Kitchen counter and cabinet hardware was also added.  Won't be long now, I think.  Yippee!

gingerbread and water

Drove out to the house today and was delighted to see that work had been done on the front porch and all the gingerbread accents had been put on.  The house is really looking cute.  The best part is that the materials are all low-maintenance but don't look it.


Also, talked to the finish guy about closets and measured for all the appliances which I ordered today.   Railing for the loft is up and the stairs are ready for the balusters and railing as soon as the painting is completed.   Appliances will be delivered on the 9th and oh yeah, the water has been hooked up.  There is a small leak near where its hooked up so the guy has to come back, but hopefully we will have a working potty out there soon.  We are finally getting to the end I think!  The builders have done an excellent job interpreting my vision for an old farm house with modern conveniences--don't you agree?

kitchen cabinets and other stuff

What a difference a few days can make when it comes to building a house.  Lots of new changes including electric power in the house along with airconditioning.  Cabinets have been delivered and work on the back porch is in progress.  Interior doors had been delivered as well as the window trim for the interior of the windows.  The giant wall of stone has been moved and it looked like the septic system and its lateral lines are in process.  Maybe by next week I'll have water.  Can't wait to see what my kitchen cabinets look like when they are installed.

the dance of the subcontractors

Each time I drive over to Indiana to check on the progress of the house it's like Christmas!  There are always new surprises awaiting me and today was no exception.  First surprise was that the walls had a first coat of paint and even better, the paint matched the paint chips I had selected.   The place was crawling with subcontractors and so noisy that the locust were almost drowned out--electricians worked on the switches, outlets and lighting; flooring guy was installing the laminate floors; HVC people were putting in the air conditioner and the builders worked on the steps for the back porch.  Meanwhile, the excavator was providing beautiful background music for this dance of the subcontractors.  He's moving the massive pile of rock that was unearthed to make the basement.  It will be dumped down a long ravine at the back of the property to create a dry creek bed in an area where there is already run off during a rain storm.   All of it was a delight to my ears and eyes because it means in a few short weeks I will actually be able to stay there.  Can't wait!

getting there


Checked in at Wildbranch this afternoon.   Someone is logging on the road and it was noisy!!  Never heard much noise before so hope this isn't gonna be a regular thing.  It was a joy to see that most of the siding was up on the house and it looks like all the dry wall mudding is done.  Also, the vinyl flooring was laid in the downstairs area.  Next week the AC gets installed and concrete will be poured for the patio and for the area where there is a hot tub going in.  Week after that the trim/finish guy will be in to install the molding, cabinets, stair case pieces.  Now if we could get the water lines run to the house!!  A toilet and a working sink would be nice too!   

a door key

Today I met with the builder and a couple of his subcontractors.  Selected a newel post, ballisters and  the texture pattern for the ceilings.  Also made my final selection on the flooring and counter tops.  Before I left the builder presented me with my very own key!  This is really happening.  Hard to believe after all these months that soon I'll be able to sleep over at Wildbranch.

garage door and siding

Ohh boy.  It's starting to come together quickly now.  The garage door was installed late last week and the siding has been delivered and installation of that has begun.  Also was surprised to find that the exterior doors now have door knobs.  I meet with the builder on Monday and the finish guy to select some stuff (but I forget what exactly lol).  I will be glad when I can spend the night in my sweet little house.  I made 4 trips over to Indiana last week for a funeral and it sure would have been nice to just plant myself in the house for the week until my work was done.   Hoping that by September I'm moved in.

roof, drywall and soffit

How exciting.  Already this week the roof has been raised and all the drywall has been installed.  Today when I visited the guys were working on the soffit and Bob the Builder said the "finish guy" was coming tomorrow.  I forgot to ask what the "finish guy" did.  I'm assuming he will get the task of cleaning up all that left over drywall and then taping, mudding and sanding the walls in preparation for painting.  Or maybe the "finish guy" is the guy who nails on the molding?  I'll have to get back to you on this once I find out ;-)   At any rate, things are moving along.

shhhhh

Went out to Wildbranch today to check out the progress.  No workers where there, but the rough-in of the electric, plumbing and heating/ac is completed.  Next week, Tuesday I think, the insulators will be there.  While I was there it started to rain.  Very peaceful and quiet and once the metal roof is on, it's gonna sound like heaven.

As I was leaving the inspector was on his way up.  Let's hope he gave everything a thumbs up.

anarchists at wildbranch!

Got a call from the builder yesterday to tie up some lose ends on a couple of things and he informed me that some of the plumbing boxes had been ripped open and the parts strewn about on the floor.  Bandits?  Anarchists?  Kids already bored with Summer?  No.  Not vandals--at least not of the human variety.  Probably a raccoon who also gnawed on the blue board in the bathroom.  Is this a threat, a not-so-subtle message to get out of the neighborhood?  Gee, I haven't even moved in yet.  I hadn't considered raccoon which can be very pesky!  I was more worried about coyote, deer and rabbits eating any plants I might want to set out.


 I asked Bill the builder if there was anything we could do and he said once the garage door was on, that would help.   Sure hope the critters that live there will learn to live in peace with me.  Otherwise, I'm investing in a live trap!  See the evidence below.

doors and windows

I met with the electrician and the cabinet finishing guys today and was surprised to see that the windows and doors had been installed.  Yippee.  I could even camp out in my own house now if I wanted.  Things are really moving now.  I'm being asked to make all kinds of decisions that I am too mystified to make.  I need to know what stackable washer/dryer I'm getting so the electrician can wire at the correct height--add a trip to Sears to look at appliances to the growing list along with selecting paint colors, flooring, and bathroom and lightening fixtures.

 I feel design-challenged.    I think most people find this stage the fun stage, but I'm daunted and it doesn't feel fun!  And sure wish my designer pal Jean hadn't moved away or that my interior designer sister-in-law, Carolyn, would make a speedy trip to Kentucky to help me.  The kitchen cabinets will be white--who knew there were so many shades of white.   In the next day or two I have to go select flooring.  I know I'm going to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices.  I've narrowed it by going with laminate, but still need to choose a color and also tile.   Any advice from you who have done this before?

It's a good thing the builder constructed the porch for a swing.  I'm going to need it!  The photo below shows the rafters studded out with additional support!  Should I be insulted or go on a diet instead?  Don't answer that haha.

progress!


Met with the "finish" guy yesterday and selected my kitchen cabinet design.  While I was there the heating and air conditioning guy was scoping out where to put the duct work.  Things are happening!  The bathtub and shower were in the house, as well as the exterior doors--yes I think I can call it a house now.  The decking was laid on the front porch and had a conversation with Bill the builder about constructing an extra support beam on the porch for a swing!  On Friday I'll do a walk-through with the electrician to talk about where to put light fixtures.  I of course want a firm completed date, but of course can't really get that with all the variables that the builders face.  I did get from Bob (the builder, not the husband) that we are about 1/3 completed.  This is good news!

confessions of a box turtle killer

Sadly, it might be true.  I think I accidentally murdered my first Box Turtle today--this from a woman who stops rush hour traffic to save the life of turtles in the middle of busy intersections.  I went out to Wildbranch today to scope out the work and the trajectory of the hill makes it impossible to see over the nose of my car.  When I got to the top of the hill and backed the car around to point down I noticed a pile of broken turtle shell and other disgusting things.  There is the slimmest of chances it wasn't me, because flies were already gathering to feast.  My hope is that more critters will come tonight to clean up the rest, since I didn't have a shovel to get rid of the "evidence."  Don't want my builders to have to face THAT the first thing Monday morning.


On a lighter note, things are really moving along.  The screened porch off the bedroom has been framed out and board has been laid over most of the framing.   See the photo's below!

looking down into the great room

Inside looking out

West front entrance

East

North

view from the loft

South

progress

Met with the contractor today to select decking material, look at siding options and select doors.  It's really starting to look like a house.  Roof has been framed, the loft is up and there are even steps to the loft.  It was so hot today I felt sorry for the builders--appreciate their effort on my humble little retreat.

Framed:  Part II

Drove out to The Branch today to take another look at the framing and took Bob, my husband along.   It was fun to run around in the future rooms and still see the great outdoors.  It won't feel real to me until the first weekend I sleep in it and/or make the first loan payment, lol.  

framed!

YIPPPEE!  The framing on the house got underway today and will continue all this week if the weather permits it.  Bob The Builder and his crew put up two walls in less than a half hour.  It looked effortless, but I'm sure it wasn't.  Bob's  been building stuff for more than 40 years and says he's built more than 100 houses.

After they finish the framing then we will have to wait on the roof guys, but next week Bob is on vacation.  Yep.  Even builders get time off.  Great job Guys!  Can't wait to see what it looks like in a month.

sunday at wildbranch

Busy Sunday as usual, but I had time to run by the property after worship at church #2.  It was drizzling so I didn't hang out long.  The basement has been poured and the plumbing roughed in.  Late this week or early the following week, framing will begin.  I discovered that the water company had put their meter in which means I'm now paying utilities on a non-existent house, sigh.  Eventually, I know there will be one, but I sure am sick of the bad weather messing up the process.

water in my basement

We went to Wildbranch yesterday to see if anything had been done last week and since it rained every day except Friday, I was pretty sure nothing would be different.  However, I discovered that the electric company had installed a meter and I also found water in my basement--ya, ya, yuck, yuck, yuck.  I don't have a roof, or a floor or anything so of course I have water in my basement.  It's only a pseudo-basement.   

I remain hopeful that after the predicted three more additional inches of rain expected during the next three days, I will begin to see some big changes happening out at the Branch.  Contingency Hope Plan is that I will see all this before I turn 60 (which isn't that far off)!  Back-up  Hope Plan b is that I will see a completed house before I leave this planet.   With that said, given all the heartache caused by tornadoes this past week, I am very grateful I have a non-leaking roof over my head.  Patience is a hard thing to learn.  I need lots more practice learning it I guess.

in between the rain drops

It won't stop raining, bah!  So little work has been done in the past week.  Need to hire a crew of ducks with umbrellas in order to get any freaking work done out there.  At this very soggy snail's pace, I might have a completed house by fall.  The weather people are predicting more rain for the next three days.  Central Indiana could get as much as 8 more inches.  Sure glad I'm in Southern Indiana! 

Speaking of water (as if we needed any more),  got the water set up and marked where the water meter will be placed.  One day last week while my husband was on vacation "we"  did some chainsaw work.  I say "we"  but I was only a witness.  I'm not allowed to use the chainsaw.  This could be based in part from past experiences with bad outcomes with power tools and sharp objects ;-)

mudcity usa


Haven't been to Wildbranch all week until today, mainly because we got a bunch of rain and I figured there wouldn't be much progress.  Boy, was I wrong.  Port-a-pottie, electric line had been run and the foundation poured.  That giant gapping hole of red clay and rock is starting to look like it could become a house!  I am astounded at how quickly things change at the building site.  I admire the workers and the builders and appreciate how they can pull all the pieces together to build a house.  I need to remember to ask them how many houses they have built in their careers.  I'm sure that they think what they are doing is not a big deal, but I sure do.

The mud at Wildbranch is red and intensely sticky, leaving red stain on anything that is a lighter shade such as the white flowers on my rubber boots.  After we got home I tried to spray off my boots but couldn't get all of the muddy stain off and its cold today so I've given up and will wait for the mud to harden and chisel it off lol.  


Hard to believe we could possibly get more rain next week, but that is what is forecast--every bloody day next week.  So I don't know if it will dry out enough up at the site for the trucks to bring in the lumber.  But my job next week is to work on getting all the paperwork done for the water meter to be installed and the line to be hooked up.  Oh yeah, here's what's cool about the water--I have to read my own meter.  Isn't that too funny!

concrete!

Every day is like Christmas.  After driving around for an hour looking for the water company which does not have a physical address, by shear luck found it and missed the pouring of the concrete for the footers.  That was a nice surprise because I thought they were only going to build the forms.  Bob The Builder (yes his name really is Bob) and his crew cranked out the work today. 

the road to wildbranch:  part 2

Visited the site today and the basement was indeed dug out.  A massive amount of red clay stained rock seemed to have exploded out of that hole--more than I can ever possibly landscape with.   It all looked  quite ugly and I had to really stretch my imagination  to see a house there BUT it has occurred to me that I will have one more basement to stuff full of stuff!  Secret hoarders, eat your hearts out!


On a brighter note (yuck, yuck), the electric main source has been marked near where the house will be.  Also, the woods are bursting with soft green and dotted with purple blasts from the eastern red bud.

the road to wildbranch: water

In addition to the basement being dug, today holds the promise of an additional adventure.  I'm going to attempt to get the water hooked up.  South Harrison Water Company does not have a physical street address so here are the directions from their website:  

Directions to South Harrison Water Office from Corydon, Indiana 

From Louisville, take I-64 west and get off at the Corydon, IN exit (Exit 105).  At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto State Road 135 south.  At the third traffic light (Federal Drive) turn left.  This street will take you through the town of Corydon.  At the second traffic light, turn left onto State Road 62.  Follow State Road 62 east out of the town of Corydon.  Proceed approximately 2 miles and turn right onto Corydon-New Middletown Road.  Follow Corydon-New Middletown Road approximately 3.5 miles to the town of New Middletown.  At the 4 way stop sign, turn left onto New Middletown Road.  Water company office is located on the left approximately ¾ mile east of town.  Look for the tall water tank.  Call  the office at (812) 968-3425 if additional instructions are needed. 

For a normal, non-directionally challenged person, these directions are sufficient.  However, when its ME it's quite possible someone will need to assemble a search party to come find me.  So do that, will ya, if you see no further posts from me within the next 48 hours?  ;-)

 the road to wildbranch: part 1

Well things are finally starting to move.  Today the bulldozer cleared trees, did some road work, and grading.  Gravel was laid in the lower part of the road. I had a crazed day and couldn't get out there until 7:00 p.m. and was relieved to find that the trees had been removed within the flagged areas that I'd marked months ago.  Even though I am pleased, I have a bittersweet feeling as well.  It was hard to think about coming onto this land where no one has ever lived and changing it to fit my needs.  I am respectfully grateful for the space and quiet and thankful for God's handiwork.  I'm trying to make the smallest footprint possible.  One of my parishioners advised me to look for arrow heads because this area had lots of native people activity long before the bulldozer and I got here.

Tomorrow the basement will be dug and Friday the footings get poured.

guess what this is?

Yeah, I know the photo is out of focus and grainy, but look at the arrow.  Give up?  It's a flag placed by the electric company to mark off where the electric line will be run.  Tiny bit of progress, but I'll take it.  I had hoped to tromp around in the woods today to search for trillium and other early spring blooming plants.  Too cold.  Too snowy.  Too muddy.  Too tired after preaching two sermons and one attempted visitation—my parishioner wasn't home, so maybe next Sunday for all these things.  Surely before summer, we will have a stretch of dry days so the electric can be run and this house can be built!

bread and milk

Can't teach an old dog new tricks?  HA.  Rosalyn Yalow, the second woman to win the Nobel Prize in medicine  in 1977 is credited with saying "The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you’re learning, you’re not old.”  I say amen to that because I sure am being forced into learning a bunch of new stuff at an old age as I build this house.  Like how to get electric and water to a place that has no electric or water.  Now these are two things that are as fundamental as bread and milk, unless I want to live totally off the grid, which I do not at this old age!

Apparently, when you build a house in some rural areas, it is necessary to become a member of a cooperative.  Weeks ago I received a thick packet from the Harrison REMC—the rural electric coop.  Yesterday, finally got it all duly signed before a notary public.  Returned it by mail today along with a copy of the deed and my driver's license and a big fat check.  So as of today, I am now a member of the REMC which means the money I pay each month gets paid back to me—sort of.  I paid them a couple of grand up-front to have them run the electric lines to the build site and agree to use $100 worth of electric a month for the next 30 months.  Since I'm building an energy efficient place (on their advice) with a geo heat system it seems unlikely I will use that much energy.  Also I have a wood burning stove as a back-up that is designed to heat 1200 sq feet and the house is less than 1000 sq feet. So essentially, I'm paying for other people's energy use???  You all come on over and flip on all the light switches and leave the doors open so I won't be wasting my money—oh wait, that's my husband and grand kid's job!

Next on the list is water.  I'm glad I don't have to have a well dug and the water line is run to the road.  I just have to "wade" through more paper and lay out some more cash.  Progress is being made!

Anicca

Waiting for the rains to stop and for the land to dry out so the excavation for the basement and the road build can begin.  Rained all day yesterday—flooding still.  Killing time thinking about orchards, logo designs and studying the teachings of the Buddha 

Anicca, impermanence, is one of the three essential characteristics of things in the Teaching of the Buddha, but I don't like it one bit!  Why would anyone have any drive to do anything if it's not lasting?  I get the suffering piece.  I even get the egolessness piece, but I have struggled to understand the impermanence piece—maybe, if the truth be told, I don't want to get it.  Because if I "get it" it means a whole lot of my life has been wasted and without purpose.

Last night in my meditation practices class, the teacher offered this:  Anicca is like that phrase "This too shall pass."  When we are happy it will not last because it is impermanent.  The implication is to be fully present to the happiness.  Conversely, when we are sad, it also won't last and will be replaced.  Which is why one of the central teachings of the Buddha (and Jesus too for that matter) is mindfulness— to stay focused or mindful on what is present.

So here is the present reality:  I have a beautiful pristine piece of land that I can enjoy right now!  I don't even have any bills yet associated with it and I don't have any "stuff on it" to bother with.  Wow.  Maybe I "get" anicca more than I realize.  This feels better than agitating over the bad weather ;-)  Have an anicca-filled day you all!

Three logo designs by my friend  Melody.  Let me know which one you like best.  

Melody K. Smith  www.my-trap-door.com

rain and rain and more rain—again

Also, sleet and snow and cold.  But when I took the six foot cross over to the church in Indiana I discovered that their jonquils were in bloom.  That's something.  Of course I had to go to Wildbranch since I was in the hood and it is muddy, muddy and wet.  But some things were beginning to bud out and there are lots of cool ferns.

Meanwhile all the rain has caused flooding.  They closed the hotel to the Horseshoe casino on the Ohio River but left the casino open??? I guess people will have to get there by fishing boats.  Also saw moving trucks at the houses along the river.  Folks moving their stuff to higher ground.  People are used to it I guess, but the flood waters aren't expected to crest until this weekend.  It's starting to feel like Seattle here, and I'm not the only one suffering from the endless drippy, grey days.  It's depressing!  

So I will leave you, gentle reader with words of hope from that gentle and wise sage, Charlie Brown to his worried friend Snoopy—"The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you."

slowly I turned…step by step…inch by inch

Yeehaw.  I now have an address AND a permit number.  Ready to get started.  Over here—READY.  Unfortunately, we got almost three more inches of rain yesterday.  Major flooding all around as the Ohio River spills over its banks and all the little tributaries do the same.  Some folks are facing real hardship, so I'm not going to complain too much about the inability to dig a basement because the ground is too wet.  Hope the rain stops long enough, though, so I can get my six foot cross (don't ask—it's Lent) over to Indiana to sanctuary number two before Sunday.  And no, it's not on wheels and I'm not walking it over.  It's riding over in the pick-up truck.

patience-a virtue?

I think not!  Waiting is killing me.  Still too wet to dig and more rain coming tomorrow and/or Thursday.  Still haven't heard from the builder about an actual address which means I can't get the insurance guy to write the policy for coverage of theft of materials (of which there are none) and the future house (of which there is none).  Sigh.  So instead of twiddling my thumbs (truly inane activity) I'm getting myself familiar with Yabba Gabba (another truly inane activity).  Yabba Gabba is apparently Baby Crack—or at least the pre-toddler set are mesmerized by it whenever it comes on TV.  Booker, my grandson, apparently digs Brobee.  So while I'm waiting I'm planning his first birthday party which I am fortunate enough to host.  But it's in JUNE!  That's how bored I am with this waiting thing.  Sad that things have deteriorated to this point, I agree.

And gentle reader, you may be asking yourself, "Why isn't she getting soil tests, studying orchard maintenance, or planning her gardens?  Too wet, too muddy, and can't do orchard or garden planning until the house footprint is made known.  May sit tight for a year anyway on both the garden and orchard to get a feel for the lay of the land.  There are so many trees in there now, it's difficult to see.  I want to make sure we don't take out too many trees—want to keep the area around the house private and cozy.

So that's the update and where we are right now.  Since I'm spewing triteness, another saying is "This too shall pass."  It better.

dirt with street cred

Wildbranch is located less than two miles from Squire Boone Caverns, named after Daniel Boone's less famous brother, Squire.  In 1779 he moved his family to the Falls of the Ohio in an area that would be near what is now Louisville.  And then in 1780 founded the first settlement in Shelby County Kentucky.  But he didn't limit himself to Kentucky.  I suspect he either had ants in his pants or was ADHD, but the guy apparently needed to be on the move.  Or maybe he just needed adventure.  In any case after a failed attempt to establish a settlement near what is now Vicksburg Mississippi and after hanging with his bro Daniel in Missouri for a few years he headed north.  

In 1806 he landed in Harrison County Indiana where both my congregations and my personal dirt are located.  Squire established a settlement here in what is now called Boone Township.  And his settlement took.   Squire personally acquired a huge tract of land on the western edge of the township near a cave he and his brother Daniel used as a hideout years earlier.  According to some sources Boone considered the cave to be sacred.  Here on this land Boone carved stone out of a nearby hill to build his home and religious and political statements can still be found carved into the quarry wall today.  Boone is also credited with building one of the first churches in the state, Old Goshen Church. And he was involved in local politics, was a justice of the peace and apparently was one of the big shots of his day.

All of this blows my mind. Boone and his people surely walked on my land.   In a way I hold this sacred history now in my hands and it makes my knees shake a little bit.  I have dirt with history!  If you come to visit, you will feel it--you will feel the holiness of this place, I promise.

progress!

Got an email from Bill the Builder today and he said Good news, they finally have the driveway permit & health permit ready for me to pick up. I will be going to zoning today to drop off the prints and other permits. I should have a permit # and address tomorrow.  

So this is indeed progress.  When I see the Porta Potty and the bull dozer on the property I'll be convinced.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the rain we are supposed to get this weekend is minimal!  In the meantime, I am finishing up paperwork for the bank, setting up insurance for the new house on the property and trying not to get too excited.

a typical bi-polar Ohio River Valley weather day
7:30 a.m.  grey skies, looked like rain.  8:00 a.m., sunny.  Had to pull out my sun glasses while driving.  8:15 a.m., no sun.  9:30 a.m., sun streamed through the windows of Congregation #1 as I preached the sermon.   10:00 a.m., no sun.  Looked like rain.  

Went by Wildbranch following worship at Congregation #2 and it was mud city.  2.5 inches of rain last week will keep the builder away until the end of the week and that's assuming no more rain.  Forecast says more rain tonight.  We need it, but still!  Monday was supposed to be the day work began on the road and excavation for the basement.  Getting antsy and ready to go.  

Snapped a few photos, looking for evidence of spring.  Slim pickings.  Too wet to sit and meditate, so blessed the land and made a quick retreat back to Louisville and a nap!