Relief

 Thank the Weather Gods that the temps have lowered and the humidity along with it! We were barely getting anything done at the land because it was just too hot, and I don't need Woodchuck keeling over. Everything is bursting with color (mostly yellow) at the land, and the insects are going wild over the flowers. Each time we go, we hope that more has been done on the pond, but they haven't been back in almost two weeks and Woodchuck will be calling them soon.

We walk around to take inventory of what we got done (it doesn't feel like much), and what is left to be done, and what is new that has popped up. Along the way, we see the signs of Autumn gently stepping in. Come walk with me, and leave the chaotic rat race behind for awhile. 

As Woodchuck went to go mow on the tractor, I made my way to the watershed and saw a Great Blue Heron on the watershed pond. We get them quite often, and they are very skittish! Usually they leave as we approach, but I was quiet enough to watch this one for a bit before it noticed me.

I am working on removing Fallopia from the watershed. One area, not too far from the pond there, is absolutely covered by it and it is non-native. Large mats of the vine climb and wrap around other native plants, pulling some down, and stealing sunlight from all. If left unchecked on the lower plants in the underbrush, it does rise up and start wrapping around trees, as it has done there. It sends out stems that flower and seed, and there are lots of them! Before.

This one shows the little tendril stems that it sends out (they can get big though!) that flower and seed.

This picture didn't come out well, but the vine that was removed, let the good plants get some sunlight! I will need to make at least two more trips out to pull the rest.

But I don't have a lot of time on this particular trip out, and still need to get to the trail cams. The small patch of Echinacea has some that are vibrant and some that are looking more spent. Aren't we all at this point?

There are SO MANY butterflies fluttering about right now!!! 

                            And things that sting! I'm not afraid of them though, I give them their space to live their lives.

We are still at a standstill as to how to incorporate these into the new home, or somewhere on the land. Again, I get the feeling that Woodchuck doesn't want them used anywhere, lol. These were given to me by my mother after they couldn't use them at their house. Geese in flight! No hurry, they aren't going anywhere and there is no hurry to figure it out.

Along with trying to get out to the land more now, we are still juggling taking care of our current place and making decisions on things for the new house. Decisions are still changing, lol. (I'll include more house things at the end of this posting). Here at home, the Blue Vervain and Grapes are happy! 

But I also noticed that our 4 square of pines are splitting. Woodchuck is a little freaked out that these will fall on the cars, but on the other side of the driveway the railroad trees split and narrowly missed the rear-end of our sons car. There really is no great place to park that won't be affected by something. So now I'm looking at them every day, but there's nothing much I can do. We don't have the monetary freedom to get our pines cut down.

 I've also had a lot of cicada's around my car recently. I move them to safety.

With the stress and pressure of everything, and my body feeling the effects of the low pressure system, I am looking for smiles every day. This doggie happily obliged!

Back again to pull some more Fallopia vine on the watershed, you can barely tell that we have a back ditch! Oh and! Remember that pipe coming from the North that we tried numerous ways to stop from draining into our ditch? It stopped! (so far). We were never contacted back from the county surveyor that we had out to look things over. I guess no news was good news!

Back out into the jungle I go!

Have you smelled Joe-Pye weed? It is absolutely intoxicating! Have you seen Ironweed? The purple flowers are such a deep, rich color that stand out in all of the green around it! I would definitely say that there are smiles all around! Get outside if that is your jam! Make time for it! Find your joy! 

Goldenrod has become my new favorite since buying the land! So many different insects can be found on them, all at the same time, and their color is yet another vibrant one! 

The sun is hot when the cloud cover moves away.

But it has helped me see something that I think I have found before but forgot about! I double-checked the identification of it with an invasives group and will now mark it in my field notebook. I am anxiously awaiting for it to flower to seal the identification! That group has been such a big help, and kept me from pulling good stuff or leaving bad. Lespedeza Capitata, Rounded-headed Bush Clover, native.

After taking care of trail cams and checking out things on the watershed, it was time to head back and a surprise was waiting for me on the corner! 

My mental and emotional health has been all over the place lately, so being outside and on this wonderous piece of land has been good for me when I can get out there. The warmth of Father Sun on my skin blows any synthetic Vitamin D out of the water for me.

The elderberry are ripe and juicy, and being eaten by the birds. I have left them for all of the wildlife because I have more than enough left to use for my family. 

Butterflies clumsily flutter along, some times running into me, some times barely pivoting in time. They are all about the colored things right now and the bright colors I typically wear to the land have them coming at me from all directions. Great Spangled Fritillary.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The more uncomfortable and difficult parts of the land are just as alive, and I fight against overwhelming myself by thinking of it all. Pretty typical for me, lol. Autumn Olive berries, non-native and invasive.

Round-leaf bittersweet. Non-native and invasive.

Time to get to work again on the area on the watershed where the Fallopia is spreading even into the trees.

I have to remember to slow down and look before I grab! It has covered this patch of berries.

Woodchuck helped me this time and kept commenting how great this was! Being together, working to improve the health of an area, and it smelled so amazing! We weren't mad when the sun poked out, but it sure was nice when the clouds took back over.

Once we pulled a bag or two full of the vine, we walked on the watershed to take care of the trail cams. The smell out here under the sun, at this time of year, after a gentle shower, is absolutely intoxicating! Green, fresh, tropical in some spots, floral in others. 😍 A grasshopper greets us!

Indian grass, native, which reminds me of my favorite Autumn decor of tri-color ears of corn! 

                

                                                                               Boneset, native

Looks to be a larger rain event on the way, so maybe we should think about heading back? I don't want to though, this is where I feel my best. One day I will be able to stay.

A funny story to share with you: as I was driving along the driveway and making the turn to go to the garage, Woodchuck says, "Aw, there's a bunny!" I'm looking around and don't see it and say so. He points, and I look, and I said, "That is not a bunny, that's a Woodchuck" and right as I am saying that, the Woodchuck takes off running. Have you seen a Woodchuck run? Adorable, funny, endearing. My Woodchuck even had his glasses on! I have a feeling he's going to pet what he thinks is a cat (there is a black one that hangs around out there) and it is going to be a skunk or raccoon. 😕😂 You can just see his back as he hunkered down in the grass.

As for the trail cam footage? What a lovely little boy that was caught on there a couple of times! 😍

Updates about the home design and picking things out. Well, it continues to change, lol. We approved the home design, with the one change of adding a coat closet in the living room, by the front door but under the stairs. I thought we had things like kitchen cabinets decided on, then that went right out the window. Woodchuck wants a quartz countertop, but in white that looks like marble. And he wants an off-white marble looking cement floor throughout the house. I hate white. White appliances, cars, furniture....I don't like any of them. And he knows that. But he feels white is luxurious and elegant. Peeps, it's a cottage style home in the woods, not a museum. I tried finding something in between what we both liked, but he wouldn't budge from the white counter so, I opted to change the cabinets to match better the countertop he wanted, but then he felt bad and said to go back to the very first cabinets that we fell in love with. Very frustrating because I don't like how they look with a white countertop. Come to find out, they also were the most expensive cabinets this business had to offer.  With discounts, but not including delivery, installation, etc. almost $9,000. Then she told him the round about price of the countertops. Nope. I am not paying that much just for cabinets and countertops. So the search continues. We will also not be using the drawers pulls I have on hand.

These are the cabinets we were going to go with, and the handles, but these cabinets were on the lower end of builder quality. The ones Woodchuck got a quote on are nearly identical to these. I'll hold on to the drawer pulls until I know for sure that we won't need them. So for now, cabinets like these, no drawer pull, still undecided on countertop and now might have to change color of appliances too.

He didn't like my front door so picked out another. Which was more expensive. And we need two of them. No window, needs a peep hole.

He picked the windows as far as the brand, double-hung, etc. I just asked for black. I won't be able to reach the window above the kitchen sink if it's placed too high, so that will need to be discussed with the builder. Woodchuck went for the most expensive brand (I would have gone with Pella), because it's what the contractor used in his home. I have a feeling that Woodchuck will design us right out of being able to build this house and adjustments are going to have to be made to be able to move forward. I REALLY loved the windows at the top, but was talked out of it due to space constraints.

I love the entertainment cabinet we have now, and being able to close off the t.v. when not in use. But. Yep. Woodchuck said he doesn't want to use a cabinet in the new house, just have the t.v. anchored to the wall. I dislike that, and offered a compromise of a nice t.v. console. T.v. is out in the open, but not hanging on the wall. He had no idea what I was talking about, so I pulled up a picture to show him. I think he likes it. That means we will be playing musical furniture at the new house, to put pieces used in a certain room here, in a different room there. But I'm not setting anything in stone with how much he's changing his mind right now.

In other news, I am continuing to do the every-other-Sunday market. Only 4 left in this season, how is that even possible?! Unfortunately, I caught the attention of a native beader that I followed on FB, and started getting put down, judged, labeled, name called, for my low prices. Not just me, but anyone who prices like me. So I stopped following them. They don't need me anyway and are attracting more people with those posts that think like they do and ranting about those of us who call out made in China stuff, but price out stuff lower than Natives. It's not kind, it's not right. Be kind or be quiet. She's not hurting for followers, sales, etc. and there is just no good reason to be putting down how others are pricing their stuff. I can't afford the hundreds of dollars she's asking for her work, but that doesn't mean she/they aren't worth it. Just because I price my stuff lower doesn't mean my stuff is crap.

I finished these earrings the day before the most recent market. They took me almost two weeks to make, and are made with four colors of glass beads, metal butterfly charms, gold-tone wire, and 18kt. plated ear wires. Hence my higher price of $45. Two people have looked at them now, but didn't want to pay the price. 

Don't forget that September 1st, 2025, the Harry Potter items will release in the Big Cartel shop! Because I have so many items, and only 5 spaces to fill in that shoppe, I will need to release in multiple weeks. Follow us on FB, and take a look at the shoppe. Both are under Of Forest and Heather. Thanks for being on this journey with us! 

 

Changes, changes again, changes again and again....

 Woodchuck and I stopped at the land when we were sent a picture of the excavator out at the pond and were greeted by a young deer at the edge of the front forest.

As we walked down to the pond, we could hear and see a few more that the first one joined in the forest.

 It was exciting seeing the tracks down to the pond, and the excavator sitting there. I am not much for machinery, but it was impressive. 

 Surprisingly, it didn't look like much more had been done though and we aren't sure why. Some larger stuff was taken down in the area where they had already cleared the smaller stuff. I know what the look on his face and his body language meant. I reminded him that this is how it is going to go building the house too. Deadlines will get pushed back because of delays in product coming in, scheduling conflicts, weather, etc. Thank goodness this is a project that is being completely funded by us and not a bank, where a timeline and end point would have to be adhered to more, but we also don't want to see it drag out longer than necessary.

It is hard for me to see usable material laying there. If it it were up to me, I would gather it all!

We walked to the other side of the pond to look around, and I noted the plants along the way. Clearweed, a member of the Nettle family. Native and wonderful.

The jewelweed is growing up and getting taller! Only some blooms have been noted thus far. Native, medicinal (usually just used topically) The hummingbirds love them too! 

The little fluffy tops on this one are what caught my eye! They were almost 3-D looking

 😎 Horseweed, native. Interesting fact: it was the first reported weed to develop glyphosate resistance, back in 2001. (per Wikipedia)

The elderberry are starting to turn now, though because the trees have never been pruned, the best berries are on the newest growth, and over our heads, out of reach. We will likely lose these with the pond work, but have the several others that we planted earlier this year along the back ditch. We will probably have to build larger/taller cages around them, because the deer keep stripping them. I can't take elderberry because of my autoimmune issues, but I like having it on hand for my family.

We looked across the pond and we can see the difference with the willow gone, but it will be interesting to hear what they think of the soil and if it will hold up to the work they are doing. If you remember, their concern was that the soil wasn't stable and would continue to erode any bank they create and we would be right back to having this work done every couple of years. We have not heard any updates from them yet.

I wanted to get my eyes on a vine that we found wrapped around milkweed on the watershed. After taking pictures and researching a bit, it is the fallopia that I found in other spots before. We will be working together in a couple of days to remove it (or I will do it alone if something else comes up for him). 

The heat has continued to be horrible. I drove with my car windows down yesterday to ration gas, and my cheeks were nearly purple. It was 90 degrees, disgustingly humid, and over 100 degrees with the heat index. Even being inside with the air running, Pierogi the cat has been exhausted and face planting on my lap in the evenings.

Woodchuck and I stopped at Menards while in town last night, to decide on more things for the new house, and get more information on the previous items we liked. Eventually I might put all things in one post, but for now I am doing what I can to keep up with the organization of everything and will just post things as we decide. These are the interior doors he liked. Solid pine. We will just seal them, most likely, to keep this natural wood and color. This would be x 5 to cover all interior doors.

While I had found an entry door at Lowes that I loved, because you could get in colors other than white, black, wood, etc. that Menards offers, the price at Menards won, lol. I hate to give up what we/I love, but it's more important to have a door compared to the *exact* one that we might want. This would be x 2 to cover the front and side entry doors.

This is the STYLE of window that we want. Black frame, the frame work in the middle, double-hung, etc. But Menards doesn't carry the brand that the builder recommended, so we will look elsewhere. 

Woodchuck changed his mind on the outside stone, and I think a conversation needs to happen with the GC to know which kinds he recommends. There are several brands and types to choose from. For now, this is what has been chosen. Cement board siding in "Arbor Mist" (a green color) for the upper half of the house, and stone facade in "Wheat Country Stock" for the lower half. The stone is not what I like, but I don't really care. I also took a picture of another one, so there may be the chance that he liked both and couldn't decide 😂

the other option he liked.

He also decided that he doesn't want wood or composite railings/decking. So the front and back porch will be cement, with metal railings. I have two large metal scenic panels that my mom gave us years ago that I wanted to incorporate on the land. Originally they were going to be used on the foot bridge, but he couldn't get it straight enough to use them, so I was hoping they would be used at the house. Honestly, I think he just doesn't want them used at all 😂 Can we see a pattern here?! This is the railing picked. Black, which will work with the black windows.

We also picked a potential storm door (no picture), but I want to look at one more place for that when we look for the windows. I'll probably take a look at their entry doors too. I really, really liked the one I saw elsewhere, in the color of Foxtail! Perfect name for the setting, perfect color against a copper metal roof? Perfection. I am willing to compromise though, especially to keep the costs down. My efforts to find work outside of the home haven't yielded anything yet, so I make my decisions accordingly. Hopefully I will have more pond updates in a couple of days. Thank you for being on this journey with us!