We have been in our new place for just over 1 year and I was reflecting back over the many lessons learned and accomplishments .
Accomplishments: Front gate installed, bed rack built and cabin walls closed in and covered with logs, porch built off cabin, outdoor kitchen built, bought trailer for visitors, repaired tractor with help from the neighbor, learned how to drive a tractor (thanks Ed), repaired road, dug outhouse and installed port-a-john, got brush hog on tractor and mowed, Dave cleared masses of trails with DR, workshop installed, built tractor canopy, built dog house, built gun range, cleared new cabin site, camp shower built, built garden with raised beds, ceiling covered in cedar planks, The Nelsons (our neighbor) bailed our hay and water fountain placed by pond.
Biggest lessons:
Buy industrial/commercial grade tools-we have been through 3 or 4 weed whackers, 2 chainsaws and 3 trimmers;
Buy good boots and gel insoles; Cordless drill is a must;
Meet the neighbors-super friendly, they keep an eye on things and are always willing to lend a hand or tool.
Watch out for yellow jackets nests and mark them so you don’t run into them twice
Warn the dogs not to play with the black “kitty”with white stripes-Gus got sprayed by skunk.
The local reserve unit flying helicopters low up the driveway and doing maneuvers over the pond- boy was he surprised when we were standing there.
Funny Early Memories: Installing new fence and storm drops tree on it next week; Road became a mud bog and almost got truck stuck; rained so hard it came in under door, under eaves and inside cabin and flooded us out in the middle of the night; Squall and Geronimo coming up to play with our dogs in the middle of the night and Dave thought it was a wild animal: mouse ran across my face while I was sleeping, and Gus got sprayed by a skunk and he slept in the cabin with us that night.
Best memories- Catching a huge bass; sunrises;fresh cut pasture with round bales everywhere;harvesting all the veggies from the garden; the most amazing stars every night; walking all the new trails; dinner with Ed and Betty at the winery; Richmond family reunion at the ranch; and bonfires on Rachel’s birthday.
I am so grateful for a loving God for providing this amazing land. It has brought us so much peace and quiet. I am blessed every time I pull through the gate and I’m greeted by Dave with that huge grin and the two dogs. Counting Stars Ranch is our little slice of heaven on earth!!!!
