In The Woods

I'm sleeping in my own bed again!!! It feels so good. And I already know the schedule of the local NPR station. It's funny how things like that can really throw you off. I'm taking a break from unpacking and arranging my room.

So far everything is fine. I've spent quality time with my neighbor, C, who loves to cook and has already given me a great recipe that I'm going to try tomorrow on my own. Volvo is running perfectly and the driver's seat is now completely comfortable thanks to my last tune up before I left Tallahassee. The last mechanic I went to was really great. I wish I'd called him the first time I needed work. He said the car looks to be in good mechanical condition. He reminded me that Volvos last a long time so end up looking really a mess but running great. This coming week I want to do a big car clean and wax.

C and I did a little drive around yesterday. First we went to the house/land that she and B, her husband, are about to close on then we trekked to see my trees. It is exactly 26 miles from our current houses to my land. She and Bob's place is much closer to where we all now live. Anyway, the new owner of the other 2 acre lot next to me has begun putting up her house. Land has been cleared and part of the modular house are already on site though not yet assembled. Gosh, It looks sooo different with the trees gone that I couldn't find my well at first. But once I got sort of oriented again to my to lots I was happy again. And it seems that the spot I temporarily had marked out before I moved to London, for my first tiny house might be pretty close to the right place.

One housemate is still moving in so hasn't been around much, another is on vaca with family in Maine, so I won't meet her until next week, and another is moving out at the end of the month so isn't around but I did get to meet him yesterday. The one away left me a nice welcome note though. I've got my big basket of fruit, chocolate, cheese and crackers from the Florida family I just left. All yummy stuff.

The County is such an interesting community, a mix of old time residents, die-hard Republicans, land developers, retirees in the Village, 70s/80s back-to-land types & newer back-to-landers progressives all (mostly) determined and being successful at creating a local economy and local jobs, maintaining control of the local politics, not wiling to let things just run the way they always have. Of course, this leads to serious tussles regularly, but I think that's what happens in a good democracy. I just bought into the local food-coop grocery store which has everything Whole Foods does but just less of it. What they don't have they can either get or I can get from the Trader Joe's (about 30 miles away).

I think I've got a good lead on a local general contractor who's willing to have folks work with him when he builds for them. He's building a small office building/shed where I had lunch yesterday, it was exactly what I want as my first little place on my land so I'll have to give him a call next week to see how feasible it really might be.

Now, for gardening...You knew this was coming right?

I'm in good time to put in an autumn garden of collards, broccoli, salad lettuces and at the end of the month garlic (which has to be planted in the autumn to grow & be harvested next spring/summer). I have some great garlic I bought in London on Columbia Road (legendary flower market), which is probably too old to grow, but I'll plant it along with some newer stuff I get here. In any case, there's very sunny patch of my land along our gravel road that I let my former neighbors uses to pasture their chickens and do some small garden. This means the soil should be in great condition. Chicken poo is great fertilizer, especially since they were being raised organically and moved around the area. My plan is to borrow a tiller, turn it all over and start sticking stuff in the ground. I'm keeping the big pots I used at my cousin's to plant something into outside the house I'm living in. The house has a garden space outside the front door that has been sorely neglected under the guise of being 'natural', but I talked to L who was gardening it and he's fine with my clearing it out and starting some new things.

It's fenced. . .we have deer. All the babies are running around with their moms so I'm terrified of killing Bambi anyday now. Deer season is starting later this month, then I'll begin worrying about hitting someone's favorite hunting dog or getting accidentally shot. Such is life in the woods. My favorite color might become 'Traffic Pylon Orange'!

Goodness! That was a lot for just 3 days. Gotta get back to unpacking and organizing stuff. Maybe I'll get finished in time to take photos before sunset.