The Plan

Almost three years in the making to get the Tiny Farmhouse separated from the main house. First I had to get a survey after deciding where I wanted the property lines, then we needed two separate septic systems which just got put in, but there were so many meetings with the county, they had to come out to the property numerous times, I had to find a septic guy willing to do what I wanted,  and I had to hire an attorney to put an easement on the deed. You would think that would go pretty fast, but I wanted to share a septic field because there was no place for a field at the tiny house having only a bamboo forest, so that was a nightmare in itself, but it is finally accomplished!!
 

I initially had a septic company from an hour away, they came out, gave me an estimate which was very expensive and were not willing to do two tanks with one septic field. I went through dozens of companies and finally found a local guy who was from Philly!! I really liked him, we hit it off and he did a wonderful job. 

Only thing is, they should really tell you or show you in photos what they are about to do. I had a heart attack when they dug two four-foot ditches across the entire pasture! I had no clue even after researching everything online. 

At the tiny house I worried about all my plants, but Claude said he knew they were my babies and would be very careful, and he was! Hugo was the machine operator and he was so professional. I was told he was the best in the county, lucky to have him.

Claude in the ditch looking for the pipes and Hugo on the right.

Should be set with septic for the rest of our lives! What an unreal project.

So for the plan. At first we wanted to do an Airbnb, but decided not to, didn't want the headache, didn't need the money, but I wanted this to be a separate place for the future, something that could be added onto, something free and clear where I would no longer have 8 acres to care for which is getting harder as I get older. The main house could be sold, I could live down here and maybe get that tiny house on the beach one day!!  Not ready to do that at this point, Bob was not a big fan of the idea, but we know how life goes and that day may come, and it's good to have a plan!  With all we have had done to the place and the popularity these days with tiny houses, especially in this area, it wouldn't make sense to have this attached to the main house, and two houses are better than one! We actually almost missed the chance to get this zoned, it was only two days before the rules changed and we would have had to go before the zoning board, but my surveyor, the good looking guy that he is, the girls at the office will do anything he asks and he got my plan pushed through!! Too close for comfort!

With all this bare dirt, having lost lots of queen anne's lace and butterfly weed, I quickly ordered a big variety of wildflowers to get in the ground before our rains came. Got them in just in time!

They also bulldozed my compost pile bringing up the compost from below making it easy to plant my pumpkins.

So I also got my pumpkin patch in just before the rain.

Thank goodness they did not touch my area with the Mexican Hats, which are my favorites and bloom all summer and the grasses and daisies below.

Having mud is great for animal tracks. I see the bear has been here, but I could tell by my fence. All I can say is glad this huge job is over!

EASTER BRUNCH

 

Table set for Easter Brunch for four.

Lynn's farm, her beautiful sheep. Where I get my eggs.

Newest bowl for my collection.

Spring Fever = Fresh Decorating

Finally got the etched amber glass light fixture hung over a primitive black painted small cupboard I brought down from the main house. I placed a mirror found at a local yard sale. The corner is looking pretty and spring-like with the floral tray found at a local antiques mall.
 

                 Rose floral etching.  I had flicker candles inside, but it looked better with plain white bulbs.

          Ordered a tile sample that came in the mail this week. Thinking this would look nice in the bathroom. Much bigger than expected, hexagon shape. Wouldn't take much to cover this tiny floor.

 Hung my collection of black board paintings. Made more sense to have boards that wouldn't be damaged by a steam shower.

                        One of my favorites.

Ice Storm Then Snow Storm

Ice on bamboo is usually a disaster, but for some reason the bamboo just bent over. It could have been because we didn't get the high winds expected. Sadly for TN and MS, they got the storm we were supposed to get, catastrophic is what they were saying. We really lucked out. I was sure we would have trees come down.

From the side, looks like a giant frozen green wave.
 

First storm was a few inches of sleet and frozen rain, not good for the snowstorm that was yet to come. I hate this stuff from my Atlanta days where I would be working on a deposition, storm hits, then trying to get home. Ice is the worst! Big surprise, we never lost power. I had plenty of firewood and supplies ready just in case. 

The next week we have the snow storm, about 8 inches of fluffy, dry beautiful snow. That would have been fine if the ice wasn't underneath. A few days were brutally cold. I hope this is the last of it, I'm ready to start my seedlings for spring. My perfect temperature is 55-65 degrees with a light breeze and sun lol. Lately I've been looking at tiny houses on Amelia Island. Wouldn't hurt to be a snow bird!

The chows loved it, they would not come in. 

                        It sure makes for pretty photos!

The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

A Christmas gift from my aunt that last six months with a variety of bulbs arriving each month. The amaryllis bulbs were the hardest to sustain and I managed to save one that should bloom this Christmas.
 

I tried to photograph each month, but am sure I missed a few as there were some muscari that I do not see in the photos, but I at least have an idea of what is to bloom at the farmhouse next spring.

As much as I love receiving bulbs as a gift, it sure was a lot of work. This space had to be cleared of mondo grass, then I added manure and humus to the soil and bone meal for the bulbs.

Planting took a good day to complete, they are all in but I think I may have planted hyacinths too shallow as I already see leaves and dumped some more dirt on top of them.

Not much left in the garden, the last of the zinnias.

A forsythia was in bloom much to my surprise!

Last of the roses.  We were supposed to have a freeze/frost last week, but it never happened. The temps next week are low, so this may be the last of everything, even my beloved basil.

Drying hydrangeas are always as pretty as the first blooms.