2018 - In Review~

I looked at the calendar this morning & realized two-years have gone by, since we arrived, in Glenwood.  An anniversary, to summarize what we accomplished this past season.  The Home Place, has become home.

1-8-18 Survey 

January, our survey was finally done!  After waiting almost a year, we were excited to finally have the property corners marked.  This purchase enlarged our back yard, added a large timbered lot with creek frontage & a buildable lot.

2-12-18 Dining Room~

Butch added bead board wainscoting to a wall in the dining room & was replacing baseboard trim & door jams.

3-22-18 Front of the house~

The night of the 21st. while we were out at the farm, a drunk driver missed the curve & slammed into the NW corner of the house.  The truck didn't penetrate the interior wall, but damage to the foundation & outer wall was extensive.

3-31-18 Farah's new home!

By the end of March, Farah's little barn, stall & corral were done!  We moved her the few miles, from the boarding stable to the farm.

6-2-18 Front porch & walkway

April, Butch had a new front walkway poured.  Another huge improvement to the front of the house & access to the porch!  A French drain & rock were added.

6-24-18 Farah grazing at liberty~  (Photo by Linus)

By the end of June, we'd fenced a pasture.  Farah & I were enjoying the most time we'd had together, since the move.  Riding out from the farm, was such fun.  We had some adventurous rides, getting acquainted with new country.  Challenges too...

8-10-18 Monarch & Marigolds~

My first year of planting marigold's, was a success thanks to our friend Linus, who provided the seeds & the tips.  July, they were in full bloom & the Monarch butterflies visited several times a day.  Butch built a new wood fence at the east side of the front yard.

8-28-18 Cassidy & Mason ~

August, the Peters came to visit!   It was son-in-law David's first trip since helping Butch with the move.  Both grandkids, Mason & his sister Cassidy too, are taller than I am!  We celebrated Mason's 17th birthday, visited the zoo & enjoyed every day they were here!

9-8-18 Farah~

September, I sent Farah back to Washington.  We covered some beautiful miles in the two-years she was here.

Daughter Courtney had planned a trip to Italy   I'd hesitated - knowing how much flying bothers me.  But - I was in need of a distraction & the trip was one-of-a-lifetime!  When we returned, fall was in the air & it was great to be home!

10-22-18 Shed Remodel~

Butch tackled the remodel of the existing shed.  It made a huge improvement in our view of the backyard!  Now it looks like a little barn, which is what Farah thought it was!

10-30-18 Our Cabin to be - arrives!

We went shopping for an outbuilding that would work as our Cabin.  The little get-a-way fits perfectly on the smallest of our two-lots & has an actual street address.  Friends think we're a bit daft!  :-)  (We missed our garden Cottage in WA.)

12-30-18 Cabin~

November, Butch installed a sliding door on the south side of the Cabin.  We planted a row of Serviceberry bushes along the north property line.  The Cabin had new wire rail inserts, chairs & address.
A busy second year~

Past Year - 2017~

Farah's Second Year in Iowa ~

Our second year - seemed to fly by faster than the first!  It was the unexpected & unplanned that demanded a certain amount of fortitude.   

Farah wanted another selfie, the day after we'd returned from our Christmas trip to WA.  I honestly think she recognized us on the phone!  We were so happy to be together again. Ten-degrees felt cold - at least to me! The New Year seemed filled with promise, shiny & bright!

January 4th~  Happiness is!

 I took advantage of the indoor arena at Farah's stable.  February, we managed to get in a ride at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, NE.  With more snow on the ground than we'd expected, it was slippery, but felt so good to be out!

Two-Rivers, February 17th~

 March, friends offered Farah a home on their farm. It took a lot of work to get the little barn ready.  By month's end, Farah had moved from the boarding stable to the farm!  I'd be able to ride the fields & secondary country roads without trailering to far off parks with limited trails.

Sunset at the Farm, March 3rd~

It was great to have Farah totally in our care again, the farm felt like an extension of home.  I unpacked all the boxes of tack & thanks to my husband - had a real tack room again. I took advantage of every opportunity to ride.  We both enjoyed exploring new places.  Leaving in a different direction almost every day & some days visiting friends who lived within riding distance.

April 27th~

The ride above, was to be the last day I'd have full vision in my right eye.  That evening - the blotches appeared & have never left.  The cause was a blood clot in the central artery (CRAO).  Time & physical therapy helped, but the adjustment is ongoing.  I think of that ride - often.

Lush greens, May 15th~

Early spring was spectacular. The countryside came alive with every shade of green. Summer was hot & humid, with more rain than usual.  By June, with the help of a Village of our friends, the fencing was completed for Farah's pasture!  I was so happy to think that after over a year, she would have a place to enjoy her freedom & grazing.  Sadly, it was not to be so - the bugs off the fields attacked her in hordes every time we took her out.

The Pasture, June 24th~

 The bugs were horrible, Farah appreciated her mask, her leggings & fly spray.  No fan, as there was no electricity to the barn.

6-29-18 Bandaged

The end of June, we received a call.  Farah had jumped her enclosure & escaped onto the road.  We're sure she was driven to it by bugs coming in off the fields to attack her.  A big Vet bill, but the damage was superficial.  This was the first time she had Ever had an injury of any kind. Undoubtedly the scariest thing to have ever happened to her & to us...

Farah's summer look :-) Waubonsie, July 26th~

 July, Butch drove us to Waubonsie, where we rode all our favorite trails.  It was a really fun place to ride the hills & great for conditioning, but not as beautiful as Pierce Creek.

8-15-18 Rain Ridin'

The ability to ride out from the farm was such a blessing.  No trailering & enough riding to keep us occupied.  One of my favorite rides, was in the rain.

8-30-18 Almost to Mineola~

I'd had a plan - to try to ride Farah from the farm, to the Wabash Trail & from there to Mineola.  Horses are not allowed on that section, but no one was ever out during the week & we'd be quick :-)   At Tobey Jacks, Farah was served washed, cut, cold carrots!  Wow!  Now, her favorite restaurant too :-)

9-8-18 Pierce Creek~

Pierce Creek was a favorite for us both.  Farah loved it so much, she'd get excited before we were even close to the trail where I could let her open up!  Here too, with water available, she could have a nice bath after a hot sweaty ride.

September, I made the decision to send Farah back to WA.  After two-years of trying to make riding work here for the gold girl & me - it was over.  We'd given it our best shot...  In the end, I have to pray I made the right decision for the welfare of a superior mare.

Farah, September 8th~

For the first time in almost 30-years, I end this year without a ride...  My long-time riding friends in WA will understand - the massive change this has been for me...  I used to ride the old year out & sometimes, the New Year in...  Time has moved on - life has moved on & I'm moving with it - abet on foot.

Comfort & Joy to you in the New Year!

When It's Cold Outside~

When it's bitter cold outside - what oh what is a Buhund to do?  Thankfully, Butch came home after his mail route & made Nika's morning!   I spent Wednesday taking down all the decorations around the house - except for the big tree.  I always like to start the New Year with a fresh slate.  Yesterday the flu hit...

Patiently waiting~

Butch brought out the latte machine, usually reserved for weekends.  Nika, like all the dogs we've had since our first in 1990, gets a taste of the foam off the top.  Our stellar 50 degree weather on Christmas has deteriorated to the low teens with a stiff wind most of the day.  She goes out for her daily barking session at the mailman - but when I call her - comes running!

Butch pouring our drinks~

t took me just over 2-hours to get the ornaments off the tree - then back to bed.  I wasn't going to attend a Christmas Eve service, but did & I think the flu is the result.  At least I have time to kick it before leaving for WA.

I've been admiring some of the beautiful bookmarks that the ladies in our bible study use.  Those of you who know Farah, will recognize the tail feathers on the bookmark below.

Bookmark

When Farah left, I didn't take a piece of her mane, or tail.  It seemed too permanent a thing to do.  We would see each other again!  

Bracelet~

It came as a surprise when a box arrived from Renee, just in time for Christmas.  I knew that she had a Etsy store & made jewelry - how thoughtful of her~ 

Snow, Ice, Sun~

 Did someone say it's December?  It is - the last week of ever shortening days & the first week of the winter season.  It's looked & felt like winter since November.  On the fifth - we received a few inches of snow.  With the cold nights, it's been on the ground since.

18th - Ice over the Marsh~

The mornings this week - have been stellar!  Blue, crisp skies & blazing sunshine.  By the warmest time of day, we're in the upper 40's & even 50 yesterday!  Most afternoons though, the clouds move in & the day turns gray in time for sunset.

Our prints~

   Nika & I have been walking on the ice.  I could almost skate!  But on Tuesday, we found the first crack.

The crack~

With my limited depth perception, it almost looked like a huge snake!

East~

 Everything was frozen right up to the rise that's between the marsh & the creek.

Stacking~

  Last Sat. Butch took the chain saw & cut into the three large dead-falls on the west hillside of the timber. The resulting limbs, branches & logs are mine to sort & stack. I found one stump that was rotten in the center & filled with a very ugly black bug type thing. They almost looked like ants, with wings. I tossed that log into the creek! Other dry logs were really pretty - almost bleached white. I should make something out of them.

Timber~

  I leave some debris on the ground to rot. I'm still collecting interesting trash too. From old style plastic hair rollers to a fireplace poker. As long as I don't run into a dead something - I'm fine.

Morning of the 19th

I was wearing down by Wed., but it's been so nice to be able to spend the days outside!  I miss those hours in the saddle & the mare that carried me...

North~

 The ground is frozen, but the top layer is saturated.  I slipped on the grass & the grass just came up with my boot.  It has No roots at all.  For now, I'm still leaving most of the Honeysuckle.  There's too much to tackle all at once & I'd like to replace it with something native.  I want to do more research before I buy plants.

20th - Signs up~

Butch has replaced the front pickets of the railing with wire & will do the ends too.  We also put up the signs that have been with us forever.

Today, we were only in the 30's with a good wind making it feel colder.  I've enjoyed the month so far, the nice weather has been such a bonus.  Soon Christmas will be upon us!

In the Nick of Time ~

 I've written about the proposed rural cluster developments that were approved on the large landlocked property to the west of our Homestead in WA.  Changes in zoning, allowing for rural cluster development by Snohomish County, ended the true rural character of a large, somewhat forgotten area just to the west of us.  Prior to the change, development was limited to one house per five acres.

The Wetland~

 The centerpiece of this land, was the large, vibrant wetland.  It was years before I found it & it wasn't until November of 2003 that I took up a digital camera for photos.  It was so quiet, remote & so beautiful.  It became a favorite ride destination.  Ben rode Jas here often.  One day we saw a white deer.  Wildlife abounded, beaver, deer, coyote & porcupine.  The creeks were full of salmon. 

Butch with Ben & Jas -2002

We joined our neighbors in going to court to oppose this change to no avail. As the logging started, the salmon disappeared from the creeks... Years went by & Native Growth Protection signs were posted. When linking to that information, I noticed - the name had been changed. The responsibility for managing & maintaining/protecting these areas falls to the homeowner associations. Somehow, I don't see that happening. The costs would be substantial.

Ben on Jas, 2-19-2006

Sadly, it didn't take long until I recognized the signage, was just a formality to appease building codes.  As power went in & the bulldozing increased in scale, I couldn't imagine anything would remain.  Before we left, the line of bulldozers impressed even my husband - familiar with the scale of commercial construction.

1-27-2014

The other evening, I used the Google Earth program to see if the aerial images had been updated. What I found sickened me.

As of July 2018

 As of this last summer, the changes are immense.  I'm sure the sound of the dirt-work carries for miles in all directions.

Looking west~

 You can see how close the work is coming to the Wetland in the above photo.  We'd been told that our road would not be used for access or to tie into Burn Rd.  But from what I can tell - it may now.  Burn is a narrow road with no shoulder, already taking on the burden of other developments further north.

Looking North~

 There's just a small strip of private property now, between our old road & the site.  Our water wells were one of the concerns brought up in court.  Last I knew, the developments would be on septic.

The I-5 corridor~

It's already impossible to drive the I-5 corridor.  Traffic continues to worsen to the point where you have to plan hours of travel time to go places that used to take minutes.  Ever increasing population numbers - contribute to the urban sprawl.  The sprawl - continues to eat away at the beauty of the western side of the state.  

June 28, 2016

 Above is one of the last trails Farah & I traveled, our last summer.  It's how the entire area had looked for many, many years.  I fondly say goodbye to what was a beautiful, stunning natural & native environment.   Now lost to the ravages of development & the dollar...

Storm #5 ~

Friday, Nika & I took our little walk-a-bout.  Yesterday, was a horrid colored day!  Mild, the snow still melting, but the sky was a leaden gray.  Literally the darkest color I'd ever seen.  The staff at Bomgaars commented on it when we were in.

Late evening, the snow started.  Tiny pieces, but very wet.  It was freezing to the branches of the trees, with the temperature hovering right at freezing.

Cabin in Holiday Mode~

 Our total accumulation probably isn't over two inches, but it is heavy!  As slushy as any western, WA snow!  Not the powdery light snows we've had so far.  The wind is staying in the teens, it's enough to make it feel colder.

Wildlife Habitat ~

As you can tell from the photos, it stuck to everything!  That made for an incredible beautiful landscape!  I was thankful that it wasn't heavy enough to break branches.

Front porch~

The Cabin has an east/west exposure.  I've decided that it makes no difference which way your home might face!  With the wind gusts coming from every direction, everything gets wet.

View from the Cabin~

Such a totally different looking world from just two-days ago!  Now the forecast is for more snow this afternoon & a big drop in temperatures going into next week.

At the bottom of the hill~

Everyone was out shoveling, or snow blowing, or plowing.  Hoping to stay ahead of the next accumulation. 

Butch shoveling the driveway~

The views are all white & so stunning.  The Walnut is holding up well, with the additional weight of the layer of ice.  Tonight we're supposed to drop to 21, with daytime highs this coming week in the mid-20's.

The Cabin Tree~

Butch is so happy that I'm putting decorations right in the way of his insulating & wiring work :-)  It's fun for me to see my favorite little tree up again!