The first "retirement farm"

We began our search for the "retirement farm" about four years ago after my husband was transferred from Northwest Arkansas to North Central Arkansas.   We already had 160 acres that bordered the Buffalo River corridor.  The only problem with it though was that it was just too darned steep.  We knew that we wanted to raise cattle again and it's difficult getting up and down those hills.  You're either going up or down those steep hills.  Now don't get me wrong, we loved that place.  We originally purchased that place about 1999.  We knew that we liked that beautiful area and needed a place for the guys to hunt and found this place that was 120 acres.  It had an old house and a barn on it.  We purchased it and then were able to add an adjoining 40 acres to it.  We let a neighbor tear down the old house and we put up a log cabin. 

We were involved with the building, but we didn't build the whole thing.  The man we bought the logs from knew how to notch the corners and frame in the windows.  We helped as we could.  We then had another local man build the fireplace for us.   We hired another local family that does metal roofs to put ours on.  It was a fun place to go for the weekends. 

We also had the carpenter bring over his portable sawmill and mill some of the cedar to be used for planks inside the cabin....it always smelled so good when you first opened the door....just like a big cedar chest!  You can see that we used it on the gable ends over the fireplace.

Please excuse the mess, this picture was taken while moving stuff around.  this shows the inside though.  It was all open with the bathroom door to the right.  We hadn't added a kitchen yet and were only using a hot plate and microwave for cooking.  We had a small dorm size fridge and it all worked pretty well.   The loft held an iron bed and we had a ladder to climb up there. 

Our water source was a spring that had originally  been piped up to this house site.  Before we had purchased the property, a mobile home had sat there, so a septic tank was there also. 

This was also already on the place and just need a little repair to stop a leak.   Tank filled from below from a spring and then was piped up the hill to the cabin. 

I do miss our little cabin on the hill.    We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the building of that thing!   We also had a lot of good times there, but we realized that we didn't want to spend our years on those hills, although they are beautiful!

I also wanted to tell you about a contest I saw over at Prairie Flower Farm.  She and Gooseberry Patch are having a contest and someone will win a wonderful cookbook, so go on over and enter!

Happy New Year.....2011

Well....we got back home from the farm a short while ago.  We had the opportunity to socialize a little last night, ringing in the new year,  with some of the fine folks of the community up there.  When we purchased the farm a couple of years ago, we thought we were really secluded.  Way out in the middle of no where with lots of quiet.  Not.....    There is something going on almost every weekend!  We love interacting with those folks....lots of good converstation and similar thoughts and hobbies and activities, morals and values.  That is also a consideration when purchasing your farm to live on.  Who will you talk to when you have said everything you have in your head to your spouse and children?  Ya gotta have some adult friends that you like!  And telephone conversations don't count.  You've gotta have access to people for face to face conversations and visits. It just makes life much more enjoyable!
     I guess, since this blog is supposed to be about the farm, I should be talking a little more about it.  In my next post I'll tell you the story of how we found our wonderful farm.  But for now.....Happy New Year!

May your new year be filled with lots of happy exciting times.  May you also find peace and your place in life if you haven't yet!  Go out and be a blessing to someone!

Etsy :: Community

5PineKnollEtsy :: Community

Recycled sweater into baby cap

I finally had time today to work on something that I've had waiting on me for the last several months.  I had purchased a gray wool sweater.  I had already felted it in preparation for these projects.

I knew for sure that I wanted to make myself a cap out of it and I would see what else I could do. 

I managed to also get some hand/arm warmers from it.  I simplyl cut off the arms of the sweater to about the length that I wanted and cut a slit in the seam side of the piece.  I don't have to worry about raveling since it has been felted.

Then there was also a smaller piece that I kept looking at and thought it would be just the right size for a newborn cap.  Then looking through my scrap bag I found just the right size of pink wool that I trimmed it out with!  Isn't it just the cutest little thing?


And as I was further looking at the piece of sweater, I envisioned a cape or poncho for a small girl.

I'll probably take a little time and embelish this a little with some yellow yarn that I have. 

The cap is already listed on my Etsy store 5PineKnoll   @ http://www.etsy.com/  

Christmas light round-up and containment!

For the last 3 years, our farm has provided us with a Christmas tree.  Since we have an abundance of cedar trees, I can't see going out and paying money for something we can get for free.  Besides, it makes one less tree on the place!   I always look forward to going out and finding just the right one.   And they always smell so good when they are finally in the house!  Now, since it's been in the house for a week, it is getting dangerously dry.  So today, I undecorated it and while rolling up the lights, I thought I would share a way I have found to keep them all contained and ready to use next year without having to detangle them. 

There is a use for all of those paper rolls that are now empty after wrapping all of those Christmas gifts.  Cut a roll about a foot long and put a slit in both ends.  You will stick the plug into one end and wrp the lights til you get to the other plug at the other end.  Stick it in the other slit.  There you have it....your lights all contained and neat for the next time you pull them out.  One less hassel for the next year!

Merry Christmas!

I've spent the day preparing for a family dinner tomorrow.  I've done today what I could, so as not to be too rushed tomorrow.  I've got a small turkey and a ham also.  I've crumbled the cornbread and sage in preparation for the dressing.  I baked a pecan pie and a pie shell for a lemon meringue which I'll finish tomorrow.  I've a little picky about my cream pies.  I don't like them to sit over night...I want them freshly made the day they are to be eaten, that way the crust doesn't get soggy or the meringue weepy.  I've  dipped oreos in white chocolate.  Dipped Ritz crackers spread with peanut butter sandwiched together in chocolate.  Made bon bons.  Made fudge.  Gotten the dry ingredients ready for homemade bread and wrapped all the gifts!   Whew.....I'm just a little tired!

I'll close tonight's post with this thought.  May you have a wonderful Christmas wherever you are.  I hope you have family or friends to spend time with.  If not, there is always someone at a nursing home that would welcome a visit.  There are many people in nursing homes that don't have anyone to visit them.  Merry Christmas and may you remember that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our saviour!