Project 52 {Week 23}

Our life.

One week at a time.

Twenty-twelve.

Week 23.

June 3rd - 9th.



This week. . .

Picking strawberries daily now.

The strawberries were planted last year and are off to a good start. The kids picked 87 {small} strawberries in one day! (I am keeping track of Malachi's count on my sidebar). New perennials include rhubarb and a raspberry bush.



This year, I am growing: garlic, onions, lettuce, spinach, cilantro, basil, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, sunflowers and lots of stringless pole beans. I planted tomato seeds directly in the garden this year (because I didn't get them started indoors). They are an early heirloom variety (55-60 days) and I am hoping they will do well since we should have at least 90 days in our growing season between June, July and August.  I'm pleased with it, considering I did not put as much effort into my garden this year (and thankful that I made all the changes I did to it last year).

Malachi received a book from the library for a reading program. We walked to the library to pick it up and then to the park to read and play.

He's really picked up on his reading and is progressing nicely. I'm happy to see that he often reads on his own, as well.

I'm thankful that we have two nice parks in a short walkings distance from our house



 and a beautiful cool day to enjoy them.  

On a day trip to the property and Costco to get groceries. 

Summer math.

Time to go. :) 

Building the House



It's been awhile since I have updated on our would-be homestead. We have a 2,000 square foot off-grid, unfinished home on 22 acres in Montana ~ aka "The Property."  It needs solar, water, siding, texture, paint, flooring and a propane line ran for the gas stove. The house is heated with an amish made Baker's Choice wood burning cook stove (also burns coal, but we have a seemingly endless supply of firewood).  

25x40 2 story home

The new and unused (see photo of girl holding shovel and toilet paper above) waterless composting toilet is powered by a wind turbine, with battery power back up.  The house is plumbed with gravity flow pipes that feed grey water into a french drain system.

The back door walks out onto the hill. Note the green metal roof - a must in these parts.



The ping of the rain plays a soft lullaby.

The top sliding glass doors will out to a walk around deck that wraps to the left



(so it doesn't block the morning light).



That is, after the siding is completed and painted.



We are hoping to get some scaffolding to finish the siding - that or it will have to wait until



we build the deck because of the height {and a certain someone's fear of heights, ahem}.



But the attic will soon be occupied unless we fix that hole soon (woodpecker?).

Kitchen - lots of drawer space and room for custom built cabinets,



with a lovely picture window above the sink that overlooks the hillside. 

Dining / Living Room - with recessed lighting and open floor design. 

Chillin' :) 

Up we go. 

From the top of the stairs - my dream school room / family room that steps out to the dream walk around deck -



lots of natural light - a must with solar power! Plus, I love natural light.



Ready for tape/texture, paint, trim and a wood floor. :)  

Taping and mudding in progress - 1st coat - learning as we go! 

From the back door - laundry / mud room - with laundry hook ups and a space for a water heater.  

And closet.

1/2 bath - sink and waterless composting toilet (shower/tub is downstairs).

Bedroom #3 sleeps 4-6 (double or triple bunks built in on each side of the room). 

Closets at the end of the beds (or built in shelves?). 

Another closet or built in shelves in the far corner. 

Bedroom #2 - sleeps 2-3 (double or triple bunk built in). 

Bedroom #1 - master bedroom - I love the natural light and big picture window. 

Walk in closet in master bedroom, hall/linen closet in the hall (can you tell we love closets?).  

Not pictured: downstairs bathing room (shower / tub / future sink), composting room, 2 large storage rooms (no windows / concrete walls) for solar/utility/storage and a very large pantry (cool for food storage).  

The spring is barely running and muddied up from the cows. If we fence it off, it might run. 

And the fruit trees I planted didn't make it (thanks to the drought conditions). I guess the only nice thing about the drought is that the noxious weeds are not (or at least have not YET) taken over the place (that or someone sprayed them). 

Courtesy of Montana's if-you-want-them-out-you-gotta-fence-them-out law. 

 The land is cleared 100 feet around the house (of dead trees) for fire safety.



I think the tree next to the house needs to go, too.



(Lots of new little LIVING trees throughout the property).



We NEED a culvert on the driveway. 

An aerial view from the ridge - we are in the valley on the north side of the road (see the green roof on the right?) The property runs along the road (only visible at the top) for 1/3 of a mile, and about half way up the hill.



Luke says our land is the shape of Tennesse -



 I said we should call the property Tennesse in Montana. Or some other name, other than "The Property." 

Did I mention that we built this debt free? What an adventure!



Should we sell it? Start over? Build another dream?



Or keep plugging away no matter how long it takes us to finish it?



Do what we can when we can?



Includes a potential life time supply of timber for firewood and a log splitter for a side business.

And the potential to teach boys the value of work. 

Can't put a price on that.