Work and Having Fun

No pictures today, but I did want to let everyone know that the John Deere garage (I call it the barn) is almost done. Today it was painted, and it looks great. It is also the house for the atv.

This week we have been busy, busy, busy. We felled a tree. Well, actually Don and Craig felled a tree. I was just a part of the clean-up crew. A big job, but the guys made quick work of it.

I have worked in the gardens. The jonquils and daffodils are done, and the tulips are on their way out, but the irises, lilies and lilac are ready to pop open.

Skeeter and Buddy have helped with weeding. Skeeter makes sure that I am guarded from every mole, vole or ground squirrel. He frequently looks like he is digging to China in the process, but it must be working, because I have not seen them. Buddy is more like Ferdinand the bull, he likes to chill and eat a few weeds or forget-me-nots.

Don had a wedding this weekend, that's why there is not a single photo to put with this posting, but it does catch you up on the happenings at A Way Back

Busy, busy, busy, but we almost have a barn

Oh my how time flies. I think that it is a lifestyle choice to be this busy, but maybe that is an excuse for not keeping the blog updated.

It has been a cold and wet April. The flowers love it, and so do the weeds. May has not been different from April. Still wet and cold. The daffodils and flowering fruit trees are just about finished with their glorious blooming, but now we have tulips and dogwood. Pretty soon we will have lilac and iris, but not quite yet. Today and tomorrow promises to be in the 50's with no rain, so, Don and I will be outdoors cleaning up winter debris and manning the fires.

The great news is the barn is ready for inspection.

Other good news is that there are three weddings this month and Art nd Jo will be staying at A Way Back.

June will be "busting out all over.." and we look forward to your arrival. Enjoy spring, we are doing precisely that at A Way Back.

Oh, I promise to not let two weeks go by without a note on life up here in the middle of the woods next to the creek and by the river.

Cement Day

Everyone is excited, even Buddy and Skeeter who are required to stay indoors during the pour. Today the cement truck is coming. The garage foundation will be poured. By the way, it is raining, but apparently not hard enough to stop progress. Once the foundation is setting up, I may sneak out and put in our initials. Maybe in a heart, would not that be sweet? (I took lessons on how to write in cement from Andrea and Ted.) It's here IT'S HERE and it is HUGE. Yikes, it truly is cement day.

And the end result-forms.

Obviously, this project is far from completion, but I promise to keep you updated on John Deere's open ended garage as it unfolds. This is an exciting project.

Right now we are preparing for winter like weather. The weatherperson is projecting 4.2 inches of snow tonight.(How can they know it will be point two and not point five? I think point two sounds so official and that that is why they choose such a number, but maybe it truly is something that can be projected to the tenth of an inch.) My guess is it will look like rain and icy conditions here, if it materializes. I am hoping this is just a quick little reminder that it is not spring yet. By quick, I mean gone by tomorrow. That may not be realistic, but one can always dream.

In the meantime, I need to start channeling my inner Julia Child and think dinner.

Spring Project

It has been fun at A Way Back!! Projects,projects, and more projects. Don decided that John Deere needed a garage. So, after clearing ground, burning brush, bringing in sand and getting a permit (the hardest part of this project)the fun began. This is the fun you are missing.

We have had spectacular weather for most of this month. Although there was some rainy days that the guys worked through.

The dogs LOVE rolling in the sand. Buddy has had more baths since the clearing stage of this project than he had all year. As the project continues, we will post new pictures. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the property, the J.D garage is going in right next to the truck port. We now have 4 out buildings. . I think it is time for a Kathlyn project. Do I hear potting shed in the future?

Is it Spring Yet? No, but...

We keep getting closer to spring, and from the looks of the weather map the west coast is closer to spring's arrival than the east coast.

After a few days of rain, we once again had a beautiful day. It was in the 50s today and sunny. Two things happen as a result of such great weather. The first is we get itchy to be outdoors,playing in the sun. For Example, Don and DJ washed vehicles. Kathlyn just wanted her hands in the dirt and "the boys" just want to play in the creek and get muddy! The second is that we each feel the need to complete our winter projects. Now, however, we check the weather forecast. All winter projects are postponed until the next rainy day. The good news for completion rate is that this is still Oregon-so rainy days between now and June are never too far away. Anticipation for spring is harder to predict. We need to be a little cautious about planting anything less than winter hearty plants, unless in our neighbor's potting shed. We still have freezes on clear nights.

We do have a few weekends where we are already busy. Call Don and he can advise you as to when there will be an opening with your name on it. Buddy and Skeeter are looking forward to accompanying anyone on walks or ATV rides. They love to show off the area-they know the best hikes. Buddy is eager to show off new tricks and Skeeter is just eager to show off. Kathlyn will share her newest favorite titles, although she is practicing re-cyclying them, and trying to use the library more frequently. But, she is always willing to give you a list and to transport you to Blue River library.

By the way, there is still time to do some great chainsaw work in either winter cleanup of trails, or in clearing the new space for John Deere's garage. There is always something happening in the big woods next to the creek in the middle of the mountains and near the river.

Spring is right around the corner

Away back is getting ready for spring, even though the ground hog says it is still sixs weeks away. Well to be honest, we need the six weeks to get things ready. Oh the house is nice and toasty, but we are just starting to clean up the gardens. Soon they will look like the picture.

Don is busy with a new project for the John Deere. He is creating its own garage. The Deere has been a deer. It sure saves our backs and just about everyone who comes to Awayback helps out in a project or two with the Deere's help. It is not a requirement. You certainly can just relax, read,or hike, but you always have the option of getting in on the fun!

Anyway, the gardens are getting ready and the bulbs are up, getting ready to bloom. So, start planning your retreat.

A WAY BACK in February

The days have been filled with productivity. February is an interesting month, more wintery than spring-like, but there have been some beautiful days with the sun shining and blue skies above. Of course it still is freezing at night, so apparently the ground hog has it correct-6 more weeks of winter. However, Away Back will be a beautiful retreat by the end of the six weeks. The early bulbs will be in bloom and the new garage will be on its way to completion. Don always has at least one major project going-I think he likes the sound of hammering and chain saws, not to mention that there is nothing as great as a fire being used after clearing a major section of forest debris. Don will plant new trees yet this spring for all the ones that were felled, but they will be in places where they should grow nicely-he has a manageable forest. Away back remains a wonderful way back. It is a way back in the woods, but more importantly it is a way back as in a path to finding whatever it is you need to make your life whole again and to quiet the noise of busy days. It remains a wonderful retreat, even in winter.