Healing Places

Quick update

We had planned on leaving this past Monday, the 7^th but like all things proposed life gets in the way.  So now we plan on leaving on the 21^st … tentatively.

I have been working every day since the day after we had our party and the jobs are still either outstanding or coming in.

What’s one more postponement?

21 days and counting

Getting there is most of the battle

Computer's back and I'm up and running

Warre Beehive

Over the weekend I built a Warre Beehive for some friends so I can get into the practice of building our own once we settle in on our homestead.  As you can see I still have to put the handles on the rest of the boxes. Not bad for the first round of hives.

In case you’re wondering, my computer’s still down, we’re still packing and planning and there’s 33 days left.  If I could put time in a bottle …

The Great Computer Crash of last Monday

I woke up last Monday to a black screen telling me that my computer is corrupt and my “Computer Guy” has been working on fixing the problem ever since and hopefully it will be ready this coming Monday.

Sorry for the lack of posts without a computer of my own it hard to post being that most of the photos are stored in my now corrupt computer and Mr. Black Screen won’t allow me access to any of my files.

I writing this from Judith’s computer and I know that she has some photos worth posting so maybe I can do a blast from the past kinda post.

As of tomorrow we are looking at 37 days to the big move, talk about pressure.

73 days and counting

We're scared

I completely forgot about Stagecoaches

And now a few words from Judith

Well our adventure starts in less than 82 days and our present days are filled with downsizing, packing and stress.  We’ll be moving from 1100 square feet down to 650 and many things have to go including half the children … only kidding. 

The idea of relocating to 41 acres – most of which is wooded – without running water, a septic system, electricity, a kitchen, bed rooms, or even steps to get up into the mobile home sounds a bit extreme and crazy to some.  But to us it sounds like a chance of a lifetime and an adventure of that the children will always remember.  They are thrilled and ready to go and continually start sentences with “When we get to Arkansas …“.

Some of the added stress Joseph is experiencing comes from running a business while at the same time trying to close it down. It can be so difficult to know where to draw the line and when to say no to more work.  He is also preparing his long-time customers for the prospect of finding a new contractor to replace him.  Many are heartbroken to see us go.

Speaking of being broken hearted, moving far away is bitter sweet.  On one hand, you can’t wait for the adventure to start and, on the other hand, you leave a life that you have been building for 25 years with so many great friends and a close-knit family.  We love a lot of things about being in the same place for decades. 

Daily life is filled with friends and playmates and millions of happy memories.  All of our children were born, raised and schooled in this little house and we have a fond attachment that runs deep.  We often talk about how it will be when we leave Hollywood for the last time.  We’ll have to remember to pack the Kleenex!

There are so many aspects of South Florida that we’re going to miss, the many wonderful friendships, terrific relationships, and many good people.  But just like a book each chapter brings a new adventure and for us the remaining, adventurous chapters will be spent in the country - living out our dreams.

That Dickens boy always had a way with words

Natural band aid

Always have eggs in your fridge
You just never know when someone will split their head open
Or cut their finger while cooking
And so on
See that membrane there?
While the blood is gushing - hold pressure and crack open an egg
Peel that there membrane off and put it on the wound (continue holding pressure)
The membrane will harden and keep the wound closed until you can get to the ER for stitches
If you ever need them that is.

Nature: 1, Band aids: 0.

Natural band aid with a coagulant or sealing agent, egg membranes.

We’re going up the country

After 15 years of dreaming we’re finally leaving Murderwood.  In 90 or so days we’ll all be packed and get into position for a 3 vehicle convoy to the foothills of the Ozarks.

Soon I will be starting a new blog dedicated to the trials and tribulations of city folk moving to the country.  We’ll still have this blog for the family stuff and all but the new blog will be more of the nuts and bolts of country life.

Keep us in your prayers as we take on this incredible journey and begin the next chapter of our life living as homesteaders.

The driveway

The Eat Seasonably Calendar

From cotton to consumer

How to Freeze Bubbles

Frozen bubbles would make amazing photo props!

We’d love to get these under a macro lens, too.

How to Freeze Bubbles!

lavender-ice:

Did you know that you can freeze bubbles?

Go outside on any day when it’s below 32 degrees F and try this: blow a bubble and then catch it on the bubble wand.  Wait a few moments while it freezes- it will turn into a cool crystal ball before it shatters!

Too cold to go outside? You can learn how to make your own crystal ball bubbles in the freezer with soap by checking out the site below…

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Frozen-Bubble

FYI - Kill Bugs with Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a substance made up of the fossilized remains of plankton; it looks like an off-white talc powder. It can kill any bug with an exoskeleton easily, but is safe for any mammal to eat. It is a popular way to kill bugs without using insecticide.

Permaculture web site Rich Soil explains how DE works:

Diatomaceous Earth is almost pure silica (with some beneficial trace minerals); under a microscope, it looks like shards of glass (glass is made from silica). On any beetle-type insect that has a carapace, like fleas and cockroaches, the DE works under the shell and punctures the body, which then dehydrates and the insect dies. DE is totally nontoxic. There is no buildup of tolerance like there is to poisons because the method of killing is PHYSICAL, not chemical.

Since DE is nontoxic to humans, you'll often find it in grain-based foods, as DE is mixed in with commodity grain to keep it safe from bugs. I used it last year to kill a few mounds of fire ants in my backyard. It took a few days to fully kill all the ants, but it worked well. Keep in mind that you need to keep DE dry before using as water will make it ineffective. Also make sure you buy food grade DE instead of pool grade DE as the latter contains up to 70% crystalline silica, a substance known to be carcinogenic with sustained use.

Food grade DE can be found at most organic gardening suppliers. You can also buy it online; here's a source to purchase a 2.5 gallon jug for $11.50 plus shipping.

Diatomaceous Earth is an inexpensive, nontoxic, and effective way to kill bugs. Give it a try next time you have an infestation.
Diatomaceous Earth (food grade): bug killer you can eat! | RichSoil - Permaculture Articles by Paul Wheaton

Link: http://lifehacker.com/5835163/kill-bugs-with-diatomaceous-earth