There are days where we have to hit several different projects in different spots, but this Autumn has been full of days like that! Trying to utilize as much of the nice weather as possible for land work, working on the sons bathroom shower, and trying to get the ball rolling on building makes for long and crazy days. So we decided that when we have nice weather days on Woodchuck's day off, we would spend the daylight hours at the land, and our usual evening hours working on the shower. That way we weren't wasting nice weather days indoors and getting even farther behind on our own work.
This plumbing hole felt never ending. The amount of rotten wood that we have had to replace (not all represented in these photos), and the hassle with being able to reach the plumbing that took two or three trips to navigate.
After every step, he wanted to put the pan back in to make sure everything lined up. I can't blame him, but there were times when we checked it, it was lined up, and we would go to leave and he would want to check it again 😑 Even though this pan is the damaged one, I am grateful that we still have it to use in this way instead of crossing our fingers that it was all going to be lined up!
As promised, on his next day off, we went to the land to work on a few different things! I admire my wreath making work first, lol.
And then we got to measuring!
He also drew up a quick map of the layout/placement of the barn and soon-to-be house. Then while he measured, I wrote in the measurements.
This is all for us going to get the septic permit. Did you know that the septic permit is the first thing you need when you are going to build, but it's the last thing that is put in? The permit comes after a soil/perk test and shows that you CAN build and have a septic system. And after you offer up this in-the-field drawing and measurements, lol. The septic goes in last because you don't want a bunch of heavy equipment driving over your septic field and damaging anything underground.
The sun is warm, but if you get in the shade, the wind is chilly!
Grateful for the warm sun in this spot!
Woodchuck is nervous about this. He had to be on the bank of the ditch, but kind of down in the ditch, on a slope of the bank, with a chainsaw. 😳
But he did it! And it seems like something else was already trying to take this tree down for us! We treated the cut stump, as well as put some copper nails in various places. When the professionals come to clear the ditch next Spring, they can deal with this further, if needed.
We always have to be mindful of not stepping in this ankle eater. I want to mark it, but Woodchuck just keeps saying to not step in it 😑
Everything I find in the mornings is covered in dew, even this feather!
From the land, we went South to the little town where all of our permits and papers are dealt through. We thought we had timed it right, but once again we did not, lol. We started at the county building to pay our taxes, but she was out to lunch. So we went upstairs to get the permit for the septic and were asked if we had talked with a guy at the health department yet? Nope, didn't know we had to! He was also at lunch, so we stopped at the donut shop and walked over to a little cafe' for Woodchuck to get something to eat (I was still full from breakfast). These pictures are of the beautiful courthouse details!
Once lunch was done, which took awhile because the little cafe' was very busy (that is how you know the food is affordable and good!), we walked back over to the health department and were able to talk with the guy in charge about the septic permit. Two issues though:
1) the test was expired. By years.
2) the low numbers indicated that a conventional septic field was not going to work
So, we left there and Carl got a new appointment with the soil guy for late November to come and do updated soil samples, and get his take on the septic field. Then we walked back over to the county building to pay our taxes and let the other office know that we were not applying for a septic permit that day. So it looks like I'd better get to listing more of our belongings on eBay to help come up with the money for the updated soil test 😁 Trying to get back to work, even seasonally, is tempting, but my ankle and hip need the breaks that I can give them right now being at home. I can wear supportive hiking boots on the land and sit down any time I want. I can work an hour, or three, depending on how I'm feeling. I can't do that at a department store, lol. There is SO much to get done at home anyway for the move next year, for the holidays this year, AND get prepared for my final shows/markets of the season.
On a another trip back to the land, I grabbed some trail cam footage to go over and am never disappointed! I either get to see wildlife, or no other humans. Both are a welcomed sight!
The more we burn our candles at both ends, the more we need the peace and beauty of the land to help get us through. It is right about this time that we start to not feel well. Halloween night, in fact. We had been to town to run some errands and by the time we got home, showered, fed, and seated, we looked at each other and said we were starting to feel a bit off.
We continued to work on the messy invasives.
While talking with the creatures who call that wonderful place home.
And making plans for the future....like where this wood spirit will go. For now, inside of the barn.
We have been watching the pond water clear and cover, clear and cover, as the weather goes back and forth for a bit.
Another trip back to the bathroom on a beautiful Autumn afternoon to work on the plumbing wall. This is what we finished pulling down.
Looking in from the kitchen side of what was once the pantry cabinet. (our son never used it because there was a history of mice coming up through the plumbing space opening and running on the shelves and into his kitchen.)
Looking from the bathroom side.
By this point, Woodchuck is becoming full-blown sick but is refusing to take a break on all of the projects. I am not sick yet, but still feeling very off. Any fresh air and nature we can get, I am soaking it all in.
That's right, another night of working on the shower. How did you know? I wasn't able to saw the wood without veering to an angle, so he had to take over. 😂
Lots of ferals that people in town are feeding but otherwise not taking care of. This one reminds me of the cat that I had while growing up 😍
We have to build a new frame for the wall that supports the plumbing and shower wall that will have the shower head, etc. This will get filled in and supported even more, but this is where stopped on this night.
I love being here at this time of day. His kitchen window really lets in the sun at this angle.
Every year, I make donations from our business to organizations that we feel strongly about! I got this t-shirt to support Humane Indiana Wildlife! It's perfect for Halloween season.
Even the night sky as we head into the full moon is feeling purple!
While Woodchuck worked on a Saturday, I worked the booth at the indoor rummage sale. I was supposed to have help from at least one of our sons, but the oldest ended up having to work and the youngest went and stocked up on clothing for Winter. Woodchuck has promised me that he will take the day off for the next one to help me out. It will likely be our last time participating in it before we move, and he wants to be able to experience some of the things that I've been doing on my own. I was finally able to sell some stuff, while continually marking down my prices to do so, but still came home with more than I wanted to.
Back to the sons to work on the shower. Woodchuck and I had hung up purple drywall all the way around the shower space.....only to realize a couple of things after the fact.
1) we didn't need to hang the purple board (I guess it is recommended to install the surround right to the studs?)
2) that header has to come out, even though Woodchuck ignored me about it. The measurements of the shower did not take into account for the purple board. So we had to take all of that out as well. Although it was a waste of time and energy during a time when we were not feeling well, we will keep it to use elsewhere in the bathroom. This was just a dry-fitting to see if everything was going to fit right.
We aren't sure what this hides, but it has to come out and we will deal with whatever we find.
The moment he realized that the purple board needs to be cut at the bottom, only to realize a tad later in this trip, after he cut the drywall, that it all has to come out anyway. Ah yes, fun times!
With each day, some times with each hour, we are feeling worse. Woodchuck is full-blown sick, really sick, and denying it. I'm starting to really slow down and feel even more off. That is not a good sign! Even Pierogi is exhausted and face plants most evenings on my lap.
By the time the last market day comes around, I know I'm going to come down with whatever he has. Hoping the fresh air and sunshine would cleanse me, I headed for the market. I could barely concentrate to set up and was slow to understand where they wanted me to park and why and how I did such a crappy job of it, lol. It was an otherwise beautiful day though. I walked outside at home to leave and felt like it was going to be such a good day for the vendors!
It ended up not being so for me in sales.
But I met some great people who provided me with much needed conversation, and I got these incredible pumpkins for free! I grabbed all that I could fit in my car, because I freaking.love.pumpkins. I love them so much, I would be willing to do a professional photo shoot with pumpkins. I love how they smell, look, feel, but I never buy them, or mums, anymore. I was also given some green onions (which I am still using on November 29th and fighting my family against throwing them away.)
I am grateful to have had the chance to the do market fairly consistently this year compared to previous ones, and I am also grateful for the break. Both can be valid and true at the same time 😂
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