Toxic Plants

So many trees and plants have started growing on the land since we first saw it! Some trees and bushes are getting quite big. I had to go and look at the different plants to see if we'd have a problem with toxicity to horses. I about had a heart attack over one plant:




All I could find on line that looked like this was the WATER HEMLOCK! One of the deadliest plants in N. America! Then I found these Pin Cherries, all over the place, and also toxic, not even goats can eat them!




And I think these are Red Maple, also toxic to horses! So much for my plans to let the horses clear the land.



I dropped samples of the first plant and the Pin Cherry off at the Pine Tree Aboritium, we pass it on the way to Pittston. The aborist wasn't in his office, so I left my number and he called about an hour later and said that the trees are indeed Pin Cherry, but the other plant was Bristly Sarsparilla, which isn't toxic and actually a beneficial root, and you can make soda from it too! You can tell because the stalks are prickly and the flower clusters are shaped like a ball, the Water Hemlock has flatter shaped clusters, more like a Queen Anne's Lace. Now I just have to find out about the maples, they aren't as plentiful as the Pin Cherry, which are EVERYWHERE! At least they should be easier to pull up than the Sarsparilla plants. We got a handy dandy bush grubber from Northern Tool



We'll be doing all that on Wednesday I think, thats when we're planning to move the run-ins.

Many uses for a Tractor

The neighbor wanted our swingset for their grandson and when they came to get it, Alan decided to deliver it for them!

They Always Know

Poor Chase has been aware that something is up, he's been clingy and not wanting to stay by himself when we leave. He's never had a problem with that before! When we packed up the garage yesterday, he climbed onto the trailer and onto the bottom shelf of Alan's workbench, all packed up and ready to go, LOL!

New Digs

So we have been "going with the flow" trying to figure out the best plan for temporary housing. Nothing has seemed just right though. The 30' camper we looked at was nice, but so cramped feeling. The yurts were nice too, but would be pretty expensive by the time you build the platform, buy the yurt and then have to put in kitchen, bath, etc. Plus it takes 4-8 weeks to get one delivered. If we can't afford to build a house, then the yurts would be a good alternative home for a few years. But we need something quickly. The used ones just weren't working out either. Mobile homes have been disgusting and expensive so far.

On Monday, I had an overwhelming urge to call my good friend Pat, who lives in ELLSWORTH and built their own house when they moved there. I asked her what they had done while building and they had gone the camper route. She advised getting one with slide outs though, said it makes a big difference room wise. So we decided to revisit the camper option. We looked in Uncle Henry's and found this:

45 ft 5th wheel travel trailer. Custom designed in 2002 for use in Acadia National Park. Perfect for camp or temporary housing. Well - maintained, Very clean. Used seasonally as employee kitchen, dining hall, laundry, assistant manager's sleeping quarters. One bdrm. w/2 single beds incl. innerspring mattresses Large Bathroom w/full sized toilet and shower. Kitchen w/dbl sink, full sz. gas range, full sz. dishwasher, lg. side by side refrigerator. Laundry w/full sz. washer and dryer Large living \ dining space w/two 10 ft slides. Ample cabinets for storage Two air conditioners, furnace, on - demand hot water heater, antenna, also wired for cable. New cost over thirty k dollars. A steal at $12,500 Delivery Available-Details-Seal Harbor, ME

So we immediately called and made an appointment to go see it. The ad says its in Seal Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island, but it was really in ELLSWORTH! As we were driving up to go see it, I was wondering if it was the right thing for us, and as we passed our Credit Union, the time on the digital clock was 11:11! The LOA group says to pay attention to what you're doing when you notice double numbers, patterns, etc and its usually a sign you're on the right track. So I quit wondering.

When I read the description of the campers (there were two, one had been customized into a bunk house), the thought crossed my mind that these may be the employee housing for the stables in Acadia. I had read where they had changed hands this year. Sure enough, we got talking and the owner had started the stables and these were employee housing campers. We all agreed we could live in the camper comfortably and bought it.

I have been waiting for the right solution to present itself and this seems like the one. Its been a bit nerve wracking having faith instead of a plan, but I felt things would work out, although it was getting a bit close to moving time not to have a firm plan, LOL! Things are all falling into place and we should be on our property in 12 days. Oh yeah, the buyers want to close a day earlier, the 20th instead of the 21st. Maybe that will work out best, we're still deciding.

Past Revisited

Photos from May 1982, my sister-in-laws came for a visit!



Today is my birthday and I received a phone call from my youngest son wishing me a Happy Birthday! It was great to hear from him, and he had some news. He is in the Air Force and is stationed in Georgia right now. He has orders to go to ENGLAND! He'll be stationed there 2 years! I'm so excited. We spent 3 years there in 1980-83 and absolutely loved it. Two of my boys were born there and I've always wanted to go back and visit. I'm going to start saving my pennies and getting my passport!

Where Have all the People Gone?

Well, so far, relocating the horses is proving to be much easier than relocating ourselves! We have the two portable run-ins and the lumber ready for the new one, fence posts ready to go and they'll have plenty to munch on! Their transition to the land should be quite a bit easier to manage than ours.

We've looked at used mobile homes. We've been to 4 dealers so far and found one we would live in! Its $26,000.00 plus it would have to be moved and set up. The others ranged from $13,000.00 to $20,000.00 and all but one of those I would seriously not let my dog live in! The one I find liveable, Alan does not, so its not my pickyness holding us up, LOL! We looked at the camper, and it is in nice shape, but those close a quarters for an extended period, and then having to rent something different in the winter seems too complicated.

Bring in the yurt! We are going to get the house plans drawn up today, and get an estimate on materials. Since we want to do this move and come out of it financially free from a mortgage, it will probably take at least a year. So far, the most comfortable, economical and lets face it, fun (at least for a while) solution, seems to be a yurt. I know they resell quickly and are moveable. So a trip to NH to White Mountain Yurts is in order I believe. We are going to check out the yurt at Friend's Folly Farm in Monmouth, they got their Yarn Yurt from WMY. We stayed in a small yurt when we went to Grand Manan Island last year, and it was one of our best vacations there! More yurt info on this and many other sites.

Clary Lake Pony Club Lessons

Photos from May 17, Amber was sick so Macy borrowed Toby


The girls are doing a great job at their riding lessons with the Pony Club. We've had 4 so far I believe, 2 with Rachael and 2 with Ivy. They like our ponies and the girls and ponies are progressing quickly with the extra weekly lessons at our house. I think both Angel and Maya will be suitable for the girls to compete on, we just needed some consistant work and guidance! I'm still hoping FlyAway will be rideable someday, but have started looking for a horse that Alan and I can both ride right now. We need 4 rideable horses anyways, since we all enjoy trail riding together.

Photos from May 31, 2009

Bathing Beauties

As the days get warmer, the chickens start lazing in the sun. The first time I saw them do this, I thought they were sick! As it heats up outside, they really stretch out, legs fully extended, flat on their sides! Such a difficult life.