Stonecrest Cottage Guesthouse Update

Our county is officially in lock down.  No non-essential businesses open.  Favorite thrift store closed.  Local antique store closed.  The antique store where I sell on the front porch - closed. The shooting range by our house -- closed (such a blessing.)  Of course churches have been closed for a couple weeks.  Our library has been closed.  Schools officially closed until April 24 at the earliest (I suspect they are just done until next fall.)Restaurants have been closed unless they are doing take-out or delivery.  All that said -- it is surprising what they do consider "essential" businesses.

Grocery stores are open -- thank goodness -- I am not good at "stocking up".  AND construction companies, can still construct!  That is more that a little OK with me.Things are finally moving along on our guest house.  (It only rained three times this week instead of every day.)

Part of the cedar siding is on.  All windows in, except one which broke during delivery.  Electrical and plumbing are in process.

Figure-8 Shaped Flowerbed

This flowerbed is on the east side of our house. You can see it from the office, guest room and sun room.  There was a big stump, and I had decided when we moved in two years ago that I wanted to put a planter on it so that it could be viewed from any of the three rooms.  So it begins.....

Last year we added a birdbath and irises to the area -- little steps.  

This spring my son brought his chainsaw and leveled the stump, so I could actually put the big "flower pot" on it.  We picked up a couple of awesome dogwood bushes early this spring that had been leftover at a greenhouse from last year -- they were a good size and super healthy.

So, it was time to put the knees to the soil and make a stone border.  If I told you about our stony clay soil you wouldn't believe me.  Let me just say -- we have stones to spare.  All last week I was weeding the area, gathering the stones, and laying the stones.  Whew. I still will plant some perennials in the ground and annuals in the big bucket. But, hey. With the quarantine I have time on my hands.  Our property is going to look professionally landscaped after this "isolation" period.

Hen House AirBNB

When we moved here a couple years ago the property included an ugly little metal building that was called the chicken coop.  No chicken amenities. No chicken in their right mind would give a positive review to that AIRBNB.  No fence, no window, no cute little chicken door. There was no "safe room" outdoor enclosure to keep from the girls from getting eaten when the BNB lady host is off getting chicken chow.

We were wanting chickens, but were lightyears away from the reality of chickens.  Too many steps to get us to where we needed to be …. unless the world gets hit by a pandemic.  What luck!  Time for all of those little steps. Here is the ingenious gangplank that my brother manufactured, and that my husband installed today.

Today my husband also installed a window in the coop door.  The window is an oldie with gorgeous wavy glass.

All we need now are the guests! We hope they find it a perfect place to stay.  Very clean and comfortable.  Beautiful views.  Everything they need, including some nice extra touches.  What more could a classy poultry AIRBNB offer?

Signs Of Spring

We'll take whatever positives come our way right now,

and are extra thankful.

Forsythia, daffodils -- all blooming.

The bluebirds and other birds that had moved south

for the winter are back.

So much fun to watch.

Honey Bees!

In 2019 we saw TWO, two stinking bees.

We have made numerous calls,

trying to persuade people to move a beehive to our property --

no luck.

And this spring they suddenly showed up in droves!

There is hope!

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #5 -- Chicken Living Quarters

It started out as a long range project.

As long as the great "isolation" lasts,

my husband and son would dabble around building the future 

chicken yard.  Eventually, it would be perfect --

and then we would get the poultry.

The same day I took these pics, 

I went to the grocery store.  NO EGGS.

I told the lady at the counter,

no problem.  I live in the country,

everyone has "Eggs For Sale".  Nope.

She said that the two people she knew with

"layers" have a waiting list for the eggs.

Then I made the mistake of looking for laying hens

on Craigslist.  Everybody wants them right now.

For the same reason I do.

Gorgeous, right?

Suddenly, I need them now now NOW!

So, my poor husband is going into overdrive.

Pouring concrete on the coop floor.

Hanging a gate.

Perfect chicken living quarters will have to wait --

I want to pick up my chickens this weekend.

Grandson Enjoying The Pond

My son was helping his dad with a fence today.

So that gave me some time with my 21 month old grandson,

primarily grubbing around in the 6 inches of rainwater

that has filled the unfinished pond.

 First of all you fish around for the right rock,

(or demand that Nana get one out for you.)

It's not as easy as he makes it look.

After the rock comes out, you examine it....

and sometimes you taste it.

 Yes, Nana bought the super-cool bug shirt

at a thrift store for him.  We had many discussions

about it today.  Admit it, you are jealous - you want one.

Then we throw the rock back into the pond, preferably with
a big splash.  It gives us a great amount of satisfaction.

 Nana, how about we do this a jillion more times?

How can you deny that cutie face?

Wash Tub Succulent Nursery -- Part 2

 I finished my succulent nursery project.

It took five huge bags of top soil (I used top soil

because succulents don't like all the nutrition in

potting soil.) And it's cheap.

 Each container has a different type of

perennial succulent.

I don't know all the names, 

but I do know that I don't like them to intermingle.

 I may use some here and there this summer,

but most of it will be a year from

"harvesting" too much of it.

 This year I will just enjoy

watching my little babies grow.

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #4 -- Hanging 1970s Schwinn On Shed

She is a beauty, we logged a lot of miles together.

Starting in 1973, when I was twelve!

I remember going to a Schwinn shop to pick her out.

Everyone in Jr. High rode a 10-speed Schwinn --

orange or yellow.

I was looking at Airbnb properties,

and one had this exact model hanging from the ceiling.

Like Art.

I showed the photo to my husband,

and next thing you know -- VIOLA.

She was hanging on our garden shed.

….And rocking it.

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #3 -- Frisco Railroad Sign

The Frisco Railroad went near our house,

so that was my husband's inspiration for painting this sign.

He is getting much braver with the distressing process.

This one went up on our garden shed.

More garden shed décor to come!

Wash Tub Succulent Nursery -- Part 1

 We finally had a nice day.

So we worked off some of our Corona Virus Blues outside.

I got a good start on my succulents nursery.

I kind of had one at our old house, but

the different types tended to grow together if I wasn't vigilant.

 So I have eight different containers now,

for at least eight varieties.

It is on the south side of our workshop,

so it will get plenty of light.

I made holes in the bottom of each.  Check.

I put them where I want them.  Check.

I have filled each one about 1/2 full of

rocks and cast off pieces of lumber from our guest cottage project.

I am well on my way!

 While waiting for a delivery of topsoil,

I weeded and edged this area with rocks.

We planted bee balm there last year and it has spread like crazy.

(Good for the bees!)

It needs a little garden decor on the fence.

The tractor sprinkler is from my childhood.

It would follow the garden hose all over the hard.

It weighs a TON.

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #2 -- Route 66 Sign

 We live close to the original Route 66,

so my husband has been wanting a Route 66 sign.

During this enforced vacation he finally made one himself.

He is planning on putting it on our garden shed.

I'll take another pic when it is up.

Love the painted-on bullet holes.

Tree Climbing Eastern Garter Snake

 We were checking out the buds on our lilac bush when

we spied this garter snake on it.

 Maybe he was eating these little black bugs.

Such a lovely pattern....

and smile.

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #1 -- Mini Pond

 My husband may be home for awhile with the virus outbreak.

We both are definitely going to have to find projects to stay sane.

So this is his first CVI (Corona Virus Isolation) project --

a 30 gallon pond in our front yard.

 First he dug the hole.

Very hard with our rocky soil.

While we have rocks galore, none are smooth.

So he had to go to a hardware store to get some smooth stones.

The daily rains are filling it for us.

 We have had the pump forever, waiting for this project.

But he had a hard time getting the tube up through

the bottom of it so that it will come out the spout.

It still needs some touches.  We plan to add plants

and some small fish. We'll keep you updated as it progresses.

 This is part of the stone berm that the pond is connected to.

I hauled each of these stones into position a couple years ago.

The succulents that I tucked in are doing great --

they look this good after a mean winter!

I also tucked in some moss last fall.

So pretty!