Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Ready to Flip that Switch!

     It is funny what happens when you start living your dream!  You get excited about the little things...things you probably would have taken advantage of before.  Your priorities shift just a little bit, but all for the good.

     But I digress...

    When we first moved down to our property, we just pulled our camper to a good level spot, hooked up the generator and started unpacking.  A month later, we have a mailbox (with mail, too! LOL), almost have electricity (so, so close!), have some trees cleared and a cabin pretty well planned out.

     Getting electric doesn't just involve telling them to start service!  I got spoiled all of those years with easy connects like that in the past.  Starting with no electricity at all, you have to meet the REMC person at the property and have them survey to where you want your meter box.  Next, you build and install the wooden structure that said meter box resides.

     Then, it is back to the utility person to come back and inspect it, send the trenching guys to bury your lines to the road.  After all that is said and done, then it is back to the utility people putting the electric pole and transformer up out by the road.  Last, but not least, hooking up to "Home, Sweet Home" and flipping the switch.

     I am so glad that we are having chosen this dream.  We are excited to be living here and living the life that we want.  But, I will definitely not take the little baby steps for granted!! 


    

Monday, October 20, 2014

Decisions, decisions...what to do?

     Has anyone ever built a house from scratch?  Where you have to decide what it is that you want in a house?  In all of my years, I have never had to do this.  I have always lived in rentals or bought existing houses.

     I am extremely excited about building the cabin...don't get me wrong!  But, I have never had to decide what exactly I want, where I want it, or how big that I want it.  Now, I am making all kinds of decisions with my hubby and my head is starting to hurt!  LOL

     What are your priorities in your life that would factor into building your house.  I definitely want room to spread out my genealogy and scrapbooking materials, bookshelves galore, and room for guests.  But, on the other hand, we are wanting to keep this a fairly small cabin. It will only be the two of us, unless we happen to have guests (Prescreened, deposit required...Ha, ha!)

     Honestly, family and friends are welcome any time!  Seriously! But, I do like the deposit idea...maybe I will have to keep that in mind...Hmmm?!

      So, talk to me, give my your opinion.  Please, I would like to know about your experiences with this unknown world of "Building Your Dream House".

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Ode to Sunshine


 






 


 
 
The sun is shining again!

      I can't believe how excited I was to see the sun shine again!  I hope that I never take it for granted ever again... We finally emerged from the camper after two weeks of rain and got some things accomplished. Well, we actually got outside sometimes, because we life made us go out in the yucky weather.
 

  Things like dirty laundry, food and paying bills will eventually win over rain, but I do not like wet, cold days at all! 

     But the sun did come out again and eventually our front yard won't look like a mud bog for 4-wheeling and we can commence building.  

     Well, gotta go..."Ode to Sunshine" is over. But believe me, you will be excited over small things like sunshine when you haven't hardly seen it since September! 

 



Monday, October 13, 2014

Planning for our Future

     Yesterday, there was finally a break in the weather and we were able to get out outside to get more done.  We took a measuring wheel and some spray paint and started marking off where we will be putting the cabin.  It was really a nice feeling talking about where we wanted things to go and picturing it.

     So far, all of our other talks in the past have been just hypothetical and just part of our dreams.  We just could think about what we wanted, but we weren't able to put it into action.  That was one of the reasons that we moved down here to the property.  It was time to start working on those dreams, one step at a time.  It will take some time, but we are excited to be able to step forward with this and make it happen.

     We also took a good, long walk around a good portion of the property.  Another excellent neighbor was able to do some bush hogging and fencing for us. We definitely have some great neighbors!!

Great Neighbors are the Best!!!

October 10th, 2014

     Thankful for everyday blessings today!  Even though it is still raining...{imagine that!  LOL}, our neighbor stopped by with his tractor/bush hog and offered to help us!  With his help, my hubby now has more of the brush from the roadside cleaned up and looking nice.  Even have an area cleaned up a little more for our future cabin.

     What a godsend good neighbors can be!  From what I have discovered in the short time that we have been down here, we will have an overabundance of great neighbors!

Be Careful What You Ask For!!!

October 9th, 2014

     Be careful what you ask for!!!  In last week's post, I mentioned that I need to get out of my comfort zone more often and learn new things.  In the last few days, I have learned how to start/ stop a generator, run the sewage line off of a camper and refill the water tank.

     But I wouldn't trade this for anything.  I am learning new skills, spending quality time with the hubby and planning our future.

     the writing has been pouring out of me like rain from the heavens...which the past week has been practically nonstop.  Rain, in all different forms, every day...thunderstorms, steady, drizzle, you name it!  The writing has been no different.  Journal entries, blog posts, orphan pages.  Even research notes for a possible book in the distant future.

P.S.  I have no computer/ internet at home at the moment.  So you will see no posts for a couple of days until I make it to the library, and then maybe several posted at once.

I"m back...and better than ever!

October 1st, 2014

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams...live the life you have imagined."

                                                                          ~Thoreau


      I know that I have spent the last few years encouraging you to take those baby steps toward your dreams.  I also know that baby steps is all that I have been able to accomplish so far myself...until now.
     This month, the hubby and I have taken a giant leap into our future.  We moved down to property he owns to start building us a home.
     We have spent the last month downsizing and getting ready for the move.  Selling, Goodwill, or taking with us...check.  Getting house ready for renters...check.

     Have we lost our minds?...check, check, check!  ~LOL

     But does this move feel right to us?  Yes, absolutely yes.  It may seem crazy to everyone else, and that's okay.  Will we be okay?... or fall on our faces?  Who knows...
     But I am like that little fledgling bird attempting to fly for the first time.  It has to take that chance and spread its wings to find out!
     We'll see what happens.  Each day will be a new adventure.  Come along for the ride!


    

Getting out of my Comfort Zone

October 2nd, 2014

     Today's adventure is fairly mild, but it is new to me, and therefore, I think is important.  I have never towed anything before in my life.  Not in all of my moves over the years, or anytime ever.  I am sure you get the picture...

     This afternoon, we loaded up the hubby's truck, the camper in the back of the truck and also a trailer that he made.  Since he needed to drive another vehicle and trailer, I needed to drive this truck.
     The camper was weighted-down fairly well and a little top-heavy.  I could definitely feel the wind gusts pulling on it.  But, other than that, no problems at all!

     This may seem like a small thing to most people, but I was nervous about it.  Anytime you go out of your comfort zone and learn a new skill, it's going to make you nervous.  But, I've gotta get out of my comfort zone more often.  It's the only way I will keep learning new things!

     ...I guess not the only way.  Books, books and more books will teach me, too! (Can't help it...I will always be a bookworm and librarian at heart! LOL) But getting out of my comfort zone will teach me more about myself in the long run, I think.

     What do you think?