First Snow.... that stuck for a couple of days ~

Photos where taken the morning after the snow storm.
 Can see how it is melting off already. At this point, we had around 3" left. 

 Nice wet sticky snow, good for making snow balls and throwing them at your loved ones, but the new Magnolia tree wasn't overly happy.
Had to go help it out.

You can see the fruit tree's DS helped me plant, a little more clearly. 
 Tree sizes are Dwarf, Semi Dwarf and 80% Standard and are spaced any where from 12' to 25' away from each other.. 

Have 5 more on order and hope to have them by the end of March.


Is a lot of work and money to set up, yet another new place from scratch but the sooner we have the fruit and other tree's planted, the quicker the family can benefit from them.

Fruit Trees, Maggie's help and a happy Maine coon cat ~

Found four fruit trees to start our small Orchard with last weekend. Asian pear( a favorite of ours), a Ayer pear, Akane apple and a Bing Cherry.
Was hoping to buy larger sized local trees, but finding what we want in VA has proven to be a challenge.
So I have ordered the other's via, Rain Tree Nursery.

The more distance view is a little hard to see. We are planting the fruit trees on the other side of the gravel road, we put in to the hay shed. That way they are not to far from the house.

 Little behind on getting the Hen House yard finished but you can see DH has the posts up. Still have the wooden gate to build and the wire to put up. We need to finish painting the inside soon, too.
Have planted some Leyland's around the Hen house yard to kind'a shield them from the neighbors in the future.

Maggie has been a big help to me. With her Sawbuck and Panniers, she carries things like T Post insulators, which are quite heavy. And it is nice to have a buddy along when you are doing work.

Nari is a lot happier now we can let her out of the house when either DS or I are outside. 

To be able to have her out all day, we still have to get the hot wire up around the house fencing. This is to keep her in and the local dogs out, so she stays safe. Hoping that will be done by next week.

Nari helping DS do the morning chores.

And here I thought this was my Art Desk?

I guess I was under the mistaken impression....this was my Art desk. Not a sunny lounge area.....


As soon as we can get the hot wire strung up around the house, she needs to go outside to hunt, so I can create some Art.... on my desk....without help.......

New Hen House and other stuff~

 Back gate going out to the pond and part of the fencing around the house.

The new, half off, store display shed. Hate the odd red color but it can be painted.  DH is getting the inside caulked and the floor painted, that way it will be easy to clean. Should be ready for the chicks come April.


Will also be adding a Hen House yard, for those days I want them to stay close to the shed.


In the back area around the shed, if you look closely, I have planted some tiny Leyland Murray's. 
Unlike Oregon, plants are not cheap here and very hard to find. Had to order by mail.
 But these trees grow fast and will help screen out the neighbors.


Not used to being this close to people. But knock on wood, so far all is good!

Drive from the new hay shed, looking towards the hen house and the big gate at front drive. 
Still have to get the rest of the fencing done in front but we only had enough fencing for around the house for now.
Which is ok... gives us a safe area for Nari and the future chickens.

Another View of the front of the house.

Hay in the Hay shed..... finally!
Good hay is hard to find here. The two big green bales to the front left, are the ones I brought from Oregon.
Others are from two different hay places in VA. 
Needless to say the horse's like the hay from Oregon the best.
So it will be an on going quest to find good hay.

Things are slowly coming together

We are slowly having things come together. Sheds for the animals and hay are in. Started a path from the shed to the animal pasture and now we have the round pen in the same area.
Moved the round pen because where it used to be, is where the hen house will be.


Found a pre build shed that was on sale for a very, very good price down the road.  Will arrive tomorrow.  Have until April to get it fixed up and ready for the chickens.
Can't wait!!

Wether Goats

After searching far and wide for a wether sheep buddy for Apollo and finding none.
I started looking for goats. Came across these two 9 month old Nigerian wethers . 
We ended up getting them for free, which was wonderful.

Now we have buddies for Apollo and a couple of extra brush eaters.


Only problem is... what to name them? Normally I look at an animal and a name pops into my head. 
For some reason, I keep coming up with blanks. 
One kind'a reminds me of Sid in Ice Age. But the other? Hmmmm....

Smithsonian Natural History Museum

On Jan 1st, we decided to take a break from all the work we have been doing at the new place and have a day off.


 I have never been to DC and have always wanted to see one of the Smithsonian Museums. Figured this day, would have the least traffic. 
Pretty nice drive in, however, don't use GPS.... silly thing can't even find the White House, let alone a museum.

DH and DS at the S.M, standing in front of the only good diorama in the place. I guess after being to the Natural History Museum in SF a number of times, that the Smithsonian would be better some how. While not a bad place, it was no where near the quality of the SF one. 

Impressively sized bones...

Oh and if you are handicapped and need a scooter... bring your own. All they have are uncomfortable wheel chairs.

However, I did enjoy the day with the family. 


Have more photos to unload from the other camera's. To which I will post soon.