This Old American Foursquare

Over the last year, we have made tremendous friends with a few families here in Sullivan County. When it came time to take down an 80+ year-old pine tree that was literally overshadowing our front yard's and house's beauty, it was a group effort and our friends did not hesitate to rise to the challenge. Before you think that this was an impulsive decision, I will state for the record that we came to this decision based on a number of factors: The quote for removal by a professional tree service = $6,000 😱 Removal of tree was not necessarily immediate BUT it would affect the amount of sun we would need for a future orchard The number of branches falling onto the driveway creating a muddy mess after every storm was annoying At least one or two of these branches were definitely widow or widower- makers that we were not taking the chance on So, we put on our thinking caps and called on our friends with expertise: one is a structural engineer and the other has the larger power tool...

While the kitchen and half bath are not 100% complete, there have been strides made upstairs. Matt and I completed demo and did the insulation ourselves. We are leaving the drywall to the experts, and we think it's totally worth it. They used a crane to get the drywall into the house through a window! Things I Learned: Another Perk of Being Small: I am really good at insulation and getting to the small spots Change up music playlists when insulating to keep the energy up Wear a mask and gloves You may find insulation in your hair even after you've showered Clean as you go You can never have enough insulation Use a painters tool to get a good fit into small spaces Use an electric bread knife to cut insulation to size  Measure twice, cut once Know your limitations (see above about drywall) Make sure your dog doesn't pee on the construction paper Second Floor Before Demolition During Demolition More Insultation in Progress...

It's been some time since our last update, and I'm excited to share there is progress and a light at the end of the tunnel. Matt and I spent the fall of 2024 doing demo in the kitchen and the second floor. Here are some before and after pictures. Our contractor started to work on the kitchen just before Christmas. We also got a new electrical panel so that I wouldn't blow up the house every time I simultaneously used the hot plate and our microwave. Things I've Learned In the Process: Use Zipwalls: If you think you're dusty now, you will get dustier Get two air purifiers Don't put in the cabinets first Nothing will come out perfect the first time Make lists when frustrated Hot plate meals can be creative A microwave can be your best friend Stay patient Pre-Renovation Kitchen In Progress Demolition December 2024... March 2025

Matt and I have never been to an agricultural fair, and it did not disappoint. Blooming onions, rickety rides, and the ubiquitous carnival fare were all present, but I was more excited about homemade ice-cream, fresh milk, and a lady making her own yarn. We saw proud 4H students show off their prized cows, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and more. There were quilts, garden vegetables, honey, pickled vegetables, and other crafts vying for a blue ribbon. There was also a lumberjack competition that was more stressful than fun for me to watch. If this fair was Grahamsville's 144th, I can't wait for the 145th! 

 It's been a minute. So here's a few things that happened since my last blog post.  We got in touch with our patriotic side with some fun bunting, which surprisingly held up during multiple summer storms including a microburst! We had a few trees milled for future projects including window trim! What did we learn? Stacking boards is a lot of work and you can never have enough stickers. The smell of cherry, ash, maple, and apple seasoning in our garage is beautiful. We seriously need a truck. Our test pollinator and wildflower garden is surviving! I tested using weed tea as fertilizer but couch grass is persistent.  I planted a second test garden and the deer demolished half of it even with deer-resistant  plants like black eye susans, mint, and salvia.  I'm discovering more wild flowers that have come up in the seed bank and we have four wild blueberry bushes!

One of the treats of experiencing our first spring and summer here is watching the variety of Flora that pop up as temperatures rise. Daffodils were the first flower to come up in April and seeing those bright pops of yellow made the arduous task of planting 500 bulbs last fall made it worthwhile.  Since then, I have simply been an observer to the flowers and plants that follow. There have been fox-and-cubs, ox-eye daises, foxgloves, and forget-me-nots. Now I'm seeing white yarrow, five-finger cinquefoil, and white aster. Thank you Google image search for helping this armchair horticulturist.