Mackay's Back To The Land Project- The Fruits of Our Labor

[Mackay]

There will be snow on some mountain tops most of the summer, at least till July 4th or so. Go back in a little ways and I heard there are some glaciers but I haven't seen them yet.

 

[Mackay]

Spring is finally here. It a long hard winter in these parts.. I sat out in the middle of the pasture to be yesterday and took surround shots of my view.

DH has been working hard on the irrigation system for the pasture and we finally got two lines working this morning. We bought an old used system so it has taken a fair amount of repair... but since we have more time than money it was worth it. We are starting out with a 1.5 acre pasture and will double it this fall by clearing some more land and planting winter wheat or something like that on it.

Here's photo of one of my garden beds via the lasagna method. I swear it has taken so long for things to come up. Every day I go out and check on things and its just sooo slow... I want my salad NOW!

The foundation for the house also went in this week... so things have been pretty busy, especially for DH, as he does most of the real WORK ... but we did have an expert concrete guy for this. The boys are coming again this weekend to start construction. First the foundation will be lined with hardboard insulation. See that little square in the concrete footprint? bottom left, oh you can hardly see it. about 8 x11 Thats going to be my root cellar. Now all I have to do is learn how to grow somethin.

here's a photo of our irrigation supply ditch. Its really a pretty little thing. Horsetail is sprouting up on its banks right now and I'm going to plant shasta daiseys too soon as the seedlings are ready.

 

[framing fowl]

Beautiful! Makes me homesick for the Gallatin Valley, MT. (Where Mom said they had snow 2 weeks ago.) Makes gardening a challenge!

 

[Wifezilla]

Having helped my parents build their house I can tell how hard you have been working.

Everything is looking great!

 

[lorihadams]

WOW! It sooooo pretty....I can't imagine waking up to that view everyday.....breathtaking!

 

[Mackay]

Yes, it is quite beautiful here but treacherous weather a good part of the year. They say the Indians wouldn't live in this valley because of it.. It takes stupid white people to do stuff like this.

Yesterday was warm and just fine all day long... a real change cause often half the day is windy or cloudy or something... the wind can be fierce.

Was up working on the irrigation till almost 11 pm, under the light of the 3/4 moon, finally getting my garden watered as it got put off for the needs of the pasture. I was so reved up by the time we ate dinner, after 11 pm, that I couldn't get to sleep... then woke up at 3 am wide awake, and got to see the crack of dawn at 4:30... We still have one more line to get going and grass seed cooking in the field...The ponds and the lines are working great though and I'm pretty proud of my DH who has spent most of his life sitting at a desk in an office.... he is really rising to meet our new lifestyle and all the physical demands and creativity in new directions..

As for me, my nursing license finally came in the mail today... so I guess I will have to go back to work before long Don't know what this small town has for me and I am secretly hoping there just isn't much out there! Would just prefer to work on developing a massage practice and come and go as I please instead of meeting schedules, writing reports, jumping through other peoples hoops as I have done for the last 27 years.... I would really like to be done with it! .... but only if I can figure a new path.

 

[Wifezilla]

You could market yourself as a private nurse...pick up a few good clients on your schedule... ??

 

[Mackay]

We have muich more done than this photos shows. My camera battery went dead so I cant download the most recent images till I get to the city... 110 miles away to get a new battery. got the sunroom on the face of the house now, roof on, and all the windows in and the internal wall framing up, ready for siding in the spring and to start the inside work.. 1,600 square feet to the house with a sunroom 10 x 20, all glass surronding.. The plumber will do the rough in plumbing while we head south for the rest of the winter.

and here is a better photo of the ponds that back up our irrigations system. We planned to add another 2 acres to the pasture but didn't get to it... maybe in the spring.

 

[TanksHill]

Looking good Mackay!!!! The ponds look like they are really holding well.

The house sure is coming along..

g

 

[lorihadams]

Wow...you've been busy baby! Looking good so far.....it is so pretty there!