Updates and Progress

We've had quite an exciting time over the last week. Last weekend it rained over an inch and half in a short amount of time. The creek beside our house reached it's banks and overflowed into the meadow (which is on the other side of the creek from our house). The creek is split into two about a quarter mile away from our house and then joins back together just below our property. At the end of the rain storm I think the two creeks were almost one. The water came up to the top of the underpass on the little bridge and flowed around it on the north side. Our house was in no risk from the creek and we didn't see any moisture in the basement. Unfortunately, we did have two roof leaks. Grrr. Add that to the list of things to have fixed. 

After the rain we had a visitor. I love that the Great Blue Heron visits our little neck of the woods. I couldn't get very close before he (she?) flew away but I saw him (her?) again later the next day.

You can see the water is even with the top of the creek bank and has overflowed on the other side.

After the rain, it was obvious that the creek bank is being eroded in a big way during these storms. I'm researching ways to create a riparian buffer that may also benefit the birds and other forms of wildlife that might visit our little homestead.

Indoors, Mike finished painting the tv/listening room. He accidentally bought the wrong color paint but it ended up looking better than I expected. We found a great rug which helped tie things together and cover the white floor. I'm really loving the way it looks and we've been enjoying spending time in there after work in the evenings. Unfortunately I can't stay awake to watch a whole show right now. Yikes. I'm showing my age....

Mike loves his room and so do I. The carpet really helped to bring the room together.

Finally, my most exciting news is that I've bought two baby goats. They are angora/alpine mixes and should be able to come home in a few weeks. I've been working on a backyard fenced in area for them and built a small shelter which will hold us over until they get a little bigger. They'll spend a lot of time inside until they get bigger and will need to be bottle fed for a few months. Needless to say I'm super excited and am having a hard time waiting until they arrive. 

I took this photo from my sewing room window. I'm pretty pleased with the fence. Now to find out if it will hold the goats!

I also just ordered our chicken coop. I spent untold hours searching for just the right thing. I don't really have the skill to build one from scratch and figure it would end up costing me just as much in tool and supply purchase as it would to buy a good one. The plan is to put it at the rear of our property by the compost bin. I'm thinking we can also have the chickens go into the goat pen. 

So, as you can see, we have lots going on! February is always a difficult month for me. I don't like the dark and the cold and I'm usually really chomping at the bit to start working on my yard and garden. The days are getting longer which brings me hope and it hasn't been super cold so I've been able to work outside without too much discomfort. Plans for this spring include building 2-4 garden boxes, taking out the fire pit and either adding a metal pit or just getting rid of it all together, planting shrubs and trees along the creek bank and planting in the beds that border the deck. I need to see just how much sun we get and where it shines before I can make too many plans. Until the trees leaf out it will be difficult to know. 

In the meantime, Mike and I are planning a little hike this afternoon before it rains (again) and I've got some meal planning and grocery shopping to attend to. Happy Saturday, everyone.