Remember me……
It’s been almost a tad more then one year to date since I last
blogged….to blog or not too blog. In our household I’m not sure who’s
worse Rusty or me. Neither of us have been very good at keeping up in
our writing. I am not going to make any promises other then a
statement. I will try to be better at this then I am.
Well
I can certainly say that much has happen since the last blog but then
you probably know that through facebook but just for toots and
giggles………I will list a couple of the big changes.
Russ and I now work full-time Russ at Paul Davis Systems and me at
Cavendish Farms 48 hours a week and just recently had a crew change.
The company needed to balance out the crews in regards to general
laborers and the crew I was on had the most so being the most recent
newbie at the bottom of the list they changed me over. I have to say
although it was with much foreboding I absolutely love the new crew, the
ladies on the patty deck where I spend most of my time are fabulous.
They don’t yell and scream at you like most of the ladies on the other
crew so that is huge. Treating people with common respect goes a long
way especially when you spend long hours with them. I definitely feel
much happier, but I do miss some of my co-workers from the other crew.
Another big change is that we got rid of cable/satellite in December I
found it a bit hard at first but what the heck I am not wasting my
precious time sitting in front of the tv as there was really only a
small hand full of programs that Rusty and I liked anyways because most
programs were just stupid and meaningless time wasters and brain cell
sucking. Besides if we really evaluated our lives and our faith etc
most would hopefully come to the conclusion that a lot of the stuff on
tv is not enriching our lives and making us better people. We are much
happier we get to spend time talking to each other and being more
creative people. Its quiet in the house and it is awesome…..
We
are slowly but most assuredly working on the house….sometimes its a
bit hard cause my work schedule is so different from Rusty’s but we are
getting projects done. We have been working on project mostly on the
week-ends when I have a day off or just a couple hours
available…..this project is cutting down the big 30+ foot pine trees
in the back yard.
We are making room for the new shed plus chicken coop and a new green
house / hoop house. The trees are in the way and now that they are
coming down its starting to really look better back there. We need the
room to put up the structures as well my chicken runs on either side
need the space too.
For the time being my laying hens are in the chicken coop we built from
recycled materials which has been a great hen house so far.
The
chicken run been awesome this year too as I wrapped it in plastic poly
to keep out the snow and the strong winter winds…..the girls have
absolutely loved being out even on the cold days scratching and dust
bathing and enjoying a bit of sun too. You know they are happy because
out of nine hens I average 6-8 eggs every day mostly 8 since the days
have been getting longer.
Our
house has been so much warmer this winter since we did some of the
upgrades in the fall. The new upper windows and insulation in the attic
have made it so nice:) We had to replace the “goat ramp” so now we have
proper access to the house. As well we have one bedroom almost
completely finished and are moving around some boxes to get into the
master bedroom to finish it up as well as getting the new bathroom
started. My projects up there are to refinish the original doors. I
am taking off all the layers of paint and then we will make sure they
are all touched up for size and then painted a fresh coat of white
paint. I will source out some new hardware and hinges for the final
touches. Can’t wait to see how it will turn out. We are also trying
out some flooring samples of stain to come up with something we both
like which is gonna look awesome I am sure as I think that we both like
the same kind of color…..it will be trying to get the right colour
combination. The bathroom floor will be the first floor to get done and
I decided that instead of tile I want a wood floor. Once the reclaimed
wood vanity is in with the vessel sink and the glass shower the
reclaimed cast iron claw foot tub will look amazing on the wood floors.
Since we are doing virtually all the renos ourselves and our time is
limited it will take a bit longer but will be so rewarding in the end.
The great thing about not rushing is that you really get a chance to
chew on ideas you find and you do eventually settle on some really
beautiful finishes. For example: we took out the originals windows on
the upper floor bedrooms etc. The beautiful bubble glass from those
windows will be used with some of the reclaimed wood from the house when
we did the gutting upstairs to make so cabinets and furniture pieces.
Most people would just toss them in the garbage when they install the
new stuff but we didn’t. I cant wait for Russ to get his workshop setup
so that he cam make some furniture and accept pieces for the house as
well as our two new doors that we will be installing. Those blogs and
wordless Wednesday pictures will be well worth the wait.
Now
since it is 5 days from spring we are of course are already into seed
planting mode. We have close to 500 onion seed started, peppers are up
and the new asparagus plants are started. tomatoes, cabbages, broccoli,
cauliflower will be started this week as well as some perennial and
annual flowers. I am especially excited about the flowers cause for all
of you who know me my flower gardens back in Ontario were all the rage
to talk about…..so I am so excited that I get to start some of those
this year.
We
have some really big changes in the fruit and veggie garden this year
as we get ready to start our dream of veggie farming. We are hoping to
start with at least 10 veggie boxes not exactly a csa box but just a
veggie box. So we are revamping the veggie beds and going with a new
plan that we just discovered this year. So the hope is of course to
work the gardens as a source of income from about March to November and
trust that our first two years of growing food here on the island will
bump us up to a market garden farmer status:) We are very excited of
course it means a lot of hard work but it will hardly be hard work cause
it is something that we both really enjoy. We are also gonna have a
veggie stand at the end of the driveway that locals and tourist can shop
at. All in the crazy life of Rusty and Nessie…..a life that we
absolutely love.
So that is probably enough for you to read and chew on for now. I will save the rest for my next letter.
We love you all and we cherish your prayers and thoughts and chats and
notes. I never imagined this simple life we now live would be so
rewarding but it truly is and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
So tootles for now and I will try to post another letter shortly to
update you on more stuff going on at the old manse / old island farm.
Nessie & Rusty
Just some pics from the past year to see what fun we are up to.
fun at the beach…..
a little rabbit stew….something new ….loved it
and of course the fire pit in the back yard………
Muddy Boots, Old Houses and The Farm 