Thanksgiving - Washington to Iowa~

It was 2015 & our last Thanksgiving on the Homestead.  We still had no idea that we'd be making changes - anytime soon - or that it would be our last there...  We all know though - how quickly things can change.  When the holiday's roll around - I have those times when I miss so much - being closer to the kids & grandkids.   I even miss the soggy wet days occasionally. 

11-15-2025 The Cottage~

Now, I won't miss the Cottage as much, since we have the Cabin!  Most of our friends think we're a little strange now.  Why would we want to be out there - when we have a nice warm house?  I have no explanation - except to say it's what we've always done.  I'm happy we made the decision to place it closer to the house on cold nights!

11-15-15 From the Cottage porch - south

  The view above, from the Cottage porch, was after 25-years of clearing, cleaning & planting.  The Cabin view will be different too; we're adding a sliding door.

From the Cabin - south

I worked to clean up the west edge of the timber last year, taking out dead limbs, trash, grape & Greenbriar vines.  My plan is to improve this view too.

Main trail Inland Isle Ave.

I'm working on trails again.  We were so lucky to find a place in town, tucked away in a corner where I can still work in the woods. There we had woods - here a treed lot is usually - timber.

Main trail 11-21-18

 It took a while to figure out where I wanted the trail to start, but it was a logical place.  It works fine, just behind where we put the Cabin.  As the photo shows, there's plenty of trash to be hauled away.

Merlin's Grove

The green glass gazing ball has found a new home.  Surrounded by marigolds in the summer, rather than Western Red Cedars.  I do miss the ferns though!  Finding a ground cover that works in the Timber will be a challenge, let alone getting it started.

The following  three photos were taken 2015 - Thanksgiving in WA~

Three Fingers Peak

 The view from behind the barn of Three Fingers was always changeable.  Friends used to say we should have built a house up here rather than the barn.  I always wanted to climb at least part way up this peak.

11-26-2015 Farah in her pasture~

Farah...  I hope Renee gives her extra carrots!  I'm so pleased she's comfortable & well cared for.  February can't come fast enough!

11-26-2015 Cassidy, Ben & Mason!

The best part of our Thanksgiving Day, any day for that matter, was when the girls' & their families drove in the gate!  Ben was up from Oregon visiting his dad, stepmother & sister Madi.  He came for dinner & to spend time with his cousins Cassidy & Mason.  These first three were so close in age with Ben born in 2000, Mason 2001 & Cassidy 2003.

11-18-18 - Skyla & Josie on their new trail!

 I was thrilled when Jentry sent photos of our two youngest Granddaughters working on a trail through their own woods!  Skyla was born in 2011 & Josie 2012!   All the kids are growing so fast! Faster, since it's now longer between visits.
Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with family, friends & fellowship!

The Cabin Arrives!

We'd been waiting quite a while.  First, we were going to build a small cabin down by the creek, in the timber.  But one of the things that comes with age, is wisdom.  If we wanted to enjoy it - the walk down in the winter months wouldn't make sense.  Butch had built our Garden Cottage on the Homestead, our shed, barn etc. all himself. Only occasionally, could we talk a son-in-law, or later Grandson Ben, to help with projects.

We'd discussed pre-built buildings for years, but most have the look of small barns & we didn't want that.  Going through Council Bluffs one day - we stopped at a Portable Buildings dealer & found a model we really liked!  It had been sitting for over a year.  With just a couple minor issues, the dealer was ready to see it gone.

We had to apply to the City for a variance.  That was approved as long as the building was on skids & could be moved.  The buildings come on skids, are built to housing code specifications & have a five-year warranty.

The spot!

Next, we had to decide on placement.  Close enough to the house for a short walk in the winter & near the timber with access to my trail.  I've always liked having some small space to hang out morning weekends, or evenings.  Here, we've used the camper when it gets too cold to sit out.

Delivery Day!

Butch had to work, so I was home when the truck pulled up.  I was excited to see what was involved in unloading & placing a building of that size.  The delivery driver made the entire process look easy!

Dollies moved it into place

The dollies worked so slick.  There was a lot of shimming to do, I don't care how flat a piece of property may look, it never is :-)  We didn't want to dig things up & make a mess going into winter.  It takes so long for the ground to recover here.

As soon as the driver left, I got busy & moved a set of chairs out of the craft room where they'd been taking up space & to the cabin!  Nika had an extra bed I'd washed up & put away.  It found a spot between the chairs.  I've already ordered small blue chairs for on the front porch.  

First sign, flag &  insulators from the Cottage!

Butch laughed when he first walked in & realized I'd been busy.  Nika was thrilled to find her little bed!  Quite a memory for us, remembering our winter nights sitting out in the Cottage in WA.   We have lots of ideas for the Cabin.  (Of course it will help with storage too.)  The first will be a sliding door on the south side, facing toward the yard & timber.

North side~

I had the purple insulators, flag & first of our of Trademark Collectibles signs ready for Butch to hang.  The Cabin even has its own street address.  As I was leaving this morning, a gentleman on his bike stopped to compliment the Cabin & ask questions.  It fits in so well; it already looks like it's been here forever.