The Clawfoot Tub

We found an old cast iron clawfoot tub for $50. This week we had the outside sandblasted by a local - Bachman Pugh - do you think he's German? Pete has sprayed the outside with Rustoleum. . .


So . . . how does a man and his 5'2" wife get a 400# cast iron tub off the trailer and into the house????

Fall Views from Green Pastures Farm

Here are some photos from around the farm including Resurrection Lilies, Black Walnuts, Pecans, and Pears. Also, that wheelbarrow is Daddy's original and only wheelbarrow circa 1950s!

1930's Construction

The farmhouse is really 3 (maybe 4) add-ons over the years. The original house is 2 rooms (which will be our living room and our master bedroom). This part of the house is at least circa 1890's, maybe earlier. The construction of the walls is 4" by 5/8" tongue and groove wood.

What Have We Been Up to???

Long time no blog . . .

Since we last updated the blog we've had both a celebration and a sorrow. We celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary with a getaway to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We sadly had to say goodby to our dear Toby. Although he had been showing his age of almost 13 years (96 Labrador years), he rapidly deteriorated in the first few weeks of September. We miss him greatly!

Debby vs. Chimney

Again, please start with the first post from earlier today, this makes more sense then.

Next, was bringing down the old chimney. This had to be done for several reasons. The original mortar at the base was just clay, no cement, in Pete's words "just a pile of rocks". It leaked. And it currently or at some time harbored rodents and insects.

Farm House Foundation

So, if you haven't started with the earlier post today, start there and this will make more sense.


As you can see in the following pictures, first Pete needed to find out just what was under the house. There were large wood posts that were obviously original (when removed they were like paper). There were intact sills and some rotted sills as well as usable carrying timbers and some that would need to be replaced.

Multiple "Catch Up" Posts

It's been a while since we blogged. There is a good bit to catch up on the happenings and progress at Green Pastures Farm so we'll attempt this in a series of posts; let's see, where to start . . .

He Huffed and He Puffed and He Tore that Shed Down

The Problem . . .

The Solution . . . (truly a picture is worth a thousand words)!

Lots Going On!

Wow! I didn't realize it's been a month since our last post. A lot of changes have taken place here at Green Pastures . . . where to start??? Remember this barn?

 

Why We Love the Farm

Here are some random pictures . . . enjoy . . .

The Vulture

As promised, the baby vulture born in one of the barns. Is this what is meant by "so ugly its cute"???

Clearing the Land

We are continuing to clear the pasture. Here's some befores, durings, and afters.

It's Been Awhile

Sorry it's been awhile since our last blog update. We've been up to Harrisburg, PA for our niece Jehnna's graduation and a wonderful visit with Den & Deb and family!

So, what's new at the farm? We have plums (yellow) and blackberries!

We have baby birds! This is the second round of sparrows . . . .

. . .and the wrens are just leaving their nest (built in a stack of our tiki torches). . .

. . . and the baby vulture is trying to decide the best time to try flight! (will include a picture in the nest blog post)

Dad and Mom bought us the skid steer (Cat) you saw Pete "trialing" in the last blog post. Not to be outdone, the women had to try - "anything you can do we can do . . . . . . better????? . . . . . ok in this case we'll stop at can do."

(this is our friend Kathy who came and helped us this weekend)

and speaking of help . . .

We just got a call from brother David. He's in Atlanta and is planning to come up for a few days to help Pete!

We'll try to get a second blog post out this week - but that's it for now.

Pete & Debby

New Toys

In our last post we showed a picture of Debby's new toy - a yard tractor.


Here are two new Pete toys (well one is our's and one is likely soon to be our's).



First is a trailer. Pete has hauled the kitchen items from Florida that David and Priscilla gave us. We made 3 trips to the dump yesterday. And we've started moving some stored items to the farm from our home in Columbia. "You've got to have a trailer if you live on a farm" says Farmer Pete!

A Gift from David & Priscilla

Sorry it's been so long since the last update -there's been a lot of behind the scenes work going on about the farm, not necessarily at the farm.

Pete has to get a contractor's bid on building the house and then as long as he [Pete] is the lowest bidder, the bank will allow him to be the contractor/builder. . . we think we can make that happen ;>}

Brother Sam sent a laser level and Pete rough surveyed for the planned home site. As soon as the building loan is secured, we'll have a professional surveyor site the property. At this point, estimate for "breaking ground" is the end of June!

Check out our farmhouse kitchen! Pete spent a few days last week at brother David and Priscilla's home in Florida. They graciously gave us the refrigerator, double oven, a microwave as well as a dishwasher! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And if that's not enough . . .

Making Mulch

Another weekend at the farm. To start, here are a couple pictures of the wood and metal roofing Pete was able to salvage from taking down one of the pole barns.















Now, this weekend's projects . . . .

Just a Quick Follow-up

Farmer Pete (aka the "burn master").

Befores & Afters

It's amazing how quickly a week goes by. All week I intended to post an update on our progress from last weekend, but somehow the week has slipped by.






We are "overnighting" again this weekend at the farm. We had planned to rent a back hoe and start clearing the pasture of small trees and brambles, but it's supposed to be a rainy weekend. So, plan B is to burn the brush piles from the week's work. (this is only a partial pile).

First Overnight

Greetings from Green Pastures Farm

The Naming of our Farm

This Easter Morning is the perfect time to explain the name of our farm.

A Walk on the Farm

With April's arrival, we are discovering some of the flora on the farm. We went exploring last evening and here are some of our discoveries . . .

The Farmhouse

The existing farmhouse on the property is estimated to have been built in the late 1800's. According to the heir that was at our closing, her father was born there in 1910. The property was part of the Hawkin's family land at least 2 generations prior to that. The "old" homestead is further up the road on property adjacent to us. It is in sad disrepair - part of it has already fallen in on itself and is overgrown with vines.

We are Farm Owners

Greetings Friends & Family!


We are now officially owners of our very own 14.3 acres farm in Prosperity, SC. We thought it would be fun to chronicle our journey for ourselves . . . and well . . . why not include those of you who would like to follow along.

First, I guess we should explain a little more. This all started with 2010 New Year Goals - one of which was what would we like to do in our retirement, when will that be, where, etc., etc. Pete & I have always talked about having some acreage, planting a big garden, maybe raising some animals. In our early relationship, that idea was along the lines of homesteading in Alaska and "living off the land". There have been a variety of iterations over the years including completely abandoning the whole idea. But, as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary this year, we find that our old dream continues to resurface.