Home at last

It took 20 hours, but we finally made it. 

A piece of advice, do not drive through the Ozark's  at 3 am in the fog. Yes, yes I can hear the natives giggling at me. But heed my words Ozark neophytes, don't do it. 

We left late Monday evening. We had every intention to bring the cattle, alas! It wasn't meant to be. They are in the capable hands of Good Neighbor for the time being. Husband will retrieve them in a few weeks. 

I know some of you work in the music industry, so you may know my driver, Bear.  I know so much more about some of my favorite bands, awesomely funny stories. Of course by the end of the haul, we were a bit slap happy. He came down from Denver to help us, I am so grateful.  

As for the rest of the trip. First, the rental truck. Budget is cheaper, yes. However they have governors. This made for horrible slow goings attempting to get up hills. We would drop from 70 mph to 35 mph. One reason it took as long as it did.

The trip was relativity uneventful.  Lots of dead things in the road, two deer suicide attempts, and one armadillo. We had to deviate from the planned route when two sherif offices flagged us down and informed us that our truck wouldn't fit over the Mo/Ky bridge and had to head to Illinois.  Only 15 mins out of our way. An hour later we had to laugh, 15 mins hahahaha!  Small farm girl started to worry, I am informed, because we lost contact for several hours. And the walkies came in wonderfully handy between the trucks. 

We finally made it to our new home. It's just as glorious as we left it. We let the dogs loose, taking them down to the creek, immediate heaven!  The puppies splashed and frolicked, the two older ones turned back into puppies, running and galavanting. They are in love with the new home. 

So here I sit this morning, having coffee, listing to Bear's stories. Gearing up for our first day of the rest of our lives. 

I love it here.

Stay tuned for new adventures.

And we're off

Only Five More Days

And I leave the Neophyte Homestead behind. And Mother Nature is determined to continue to throw us trouble.

We have been flooded for almost two weeks now. Our corral is completely underwater. Not sure if we will be able to load the cows there yet or not. Between harsh winters, severe drought and now constant flooding, I hear grumbles from the farmers. They all have said, I know I shouldn't complain about the rain, but this is ridiculous. I agree. Corn is laying down, it's too wet for the combines to harvest. It's August, everything should be dead or dying. Yet we have to push on with what we are given. Just don't expect hay prices or food prices to go down because of all this rain. They will stay the same, as flooding is just as devastating to the land. Washing out the things the plants need to thrive, or unable to harvest before fungus or rot set in. 

And it has delayed our move. Several things have delayed it. If we were only moving within the State, than it would have been done already, but 905 miles of road lie between the homesteads, and family demands, and weather has kept us from running. However we have rented a truck, or I should say reserved a truck through Budget, they have turned out to be the least expensive and easiest to work with. We have someone to drive, we need an extra driver or we have to make many trips back and forth. And we should be on the road soon. Come hell or high water, we will be on the move. 

I keep fantasizing about my little cabin in the woods. And then I become grateful, and humbled. This blog over the years has paid off for so many things. You are some wonderful people! If I didn't spill my guts day after day, this acreage may never had come my way, nor the abundance of online friendships and the kinships I have developed. Makes looking like a sorry sack worth it. Haha!   

It's hard learning to live like this on your own. Come this month I will be around others that live like I do. That excites me. We may not have the same philosophies, faiths, or ways of doing chores, but we have the same goals. And learning from them will be a thrill. Several bloggers that I read live within an hour of my little cabin in the woods, plans have been made, deals have been wrought. . . 

This seems like it has taken forever to get to this place. Time will tell if it was the right choice. For now it seems like the perfect decision for us. Work there for Husband is the only thing. But with his reputation it shouldn't take long for motorcycle work to come in. 

I am rambling aren't I? Good thing most of you are use to it.

So many things could go wrong, and you know that we seem to like doing things the hard way (not sure why). Our goals and dreams may be lofty, but there are so many ways of reaching them. First step, get to the Appalachians! 

Kansas is showing off

Last night we had a wicked lightening storm. Husband And I hung out watching it roll in. So beautiful, you can watch it for miles. 

Then the winds, frog strangling rains, and golf ball size and larger hail presented itself. Kansas' short term drought is gone. Long term is a different story. If I had a garden this year, it would actually be doing wonderfully. The temperatures have been in the mid to high 90's. So much better than the 115F of last years average. And we have had storms this late into July. This is more normal for summer in Kansas. I am happy to see it. August, well August no one should be in Kansas. 

Husband and I were down south the other day, our truck was slammed into by straight line winds. Never heard how fast, but the trees were all bowing. I giggled. Not out of nervousness, but a bit of childish glee. Not much longer now and I will be in Kentucky. Kansas is just showing me what I will miss. And yes, I will miss these storms in the big skies we have here. I guess I will have to make it a point to visit family during tornado season. 

I was reading a post by Mystic Mud yesterday. About how people keep buying the property next to her's, then soon they would pack up and leave. She doesn't know why, can merely assume that they are just not cut it for the demands that living on virgin land has on you. From what I understand, similar things have happened on the land we are moving to. A couple of people, using it to dump trash and then bailing out of the property. Maybe it's haunted! That would bring a whole new twist to this homesteading thing. Ha! 

I think I am getting nervous. So much is new to me there. I just know I will end up getting lost, and unable to find my ridge. I am feeling blessed that the cabin came up when it did, at the price it did. Even though it isn't finished, it gives us something though. And we have been working with a solar company on our off-grid plans. Of course they are very helpful, as they have a product for me to buy. But it has made things a bit easier, the math is a bit mind frying. I will give you guys a review on the company once everything is set up and going. I don't get a discount or anything for it, bummer.

Last night during the storm, we lost power. It happens way too often. I had yet to pack our oil lamps, so those flickered merrily as we listened to the ebbing storm, then we drifted to sleep. 

Certified Veterinarian Inspection

I really don't have a whole lot to tell you on this subject. However it is all part of the moving project.

A CVI varies from State to State. You need to find the laws for the State you are moving to, and follow those. 

For us, Kansas is a TB free State, therefore Kentucky says all I need to have is a signed certificate that says a visual inspection was made and that there are no visible signs of disease. 

No blood work, no touching. Just a looky lou. 

Obtaining an Address in Kentucky

Our adventure starts when Husband emerges from the Holler for the first time since we got there. Almost a week later. A trip to the largest town in the county. While there, we decided to see how one comes by an address in these parts.

We decided to take our query to the Post Office. Seems obvious to me, Post Office deals with addresses all the time. The lady at the desk referred me to the County Court house, third floor, at the E911 center. 

The court house is, of course, a historical one. At this time I was still using my cane and not very proficient at stairs. Husband had the bright idea to use the elevator. No, never again. I have had nightmares about these types of elevator. No larger than a closet, the five of us squeezed in to go up one floor. It groaned and grind. It made horrible, I will drop you noises.  The boys giggled nervously.

Once on the third floor, we navigated the narrow hallway, reaching a sign that permitted inmates entrance to the court room. Oops wrong way. We finally found the E911 center. Doors locked up tight, a sign declaring a darken, glass encased room as addressing and mapping. We stood there for a moment, contemplating what to do. Husband pushed the intercom button on the E911 centers door, help would be with us shortly, chuckle. 

Next came the almost impossible task of telling the man where our property was. Took ten minutes to find it on the computer, satellite images of the area. He took our information and told us it would be two weeks before he gets out there to physically see the property. The numbering system out there is so much different than here. Since the property isn't a grid, but all wiggly wobbly, they measure the distance the house is from the main road, and that becomes your house number.

I took the stairs, very slowly, out of the court house.

Two weeks passed, and we heard nothing from addressing and mapping. Week three passed and my patient level expired. I can't move without an address. Too many things have to be done that requires an address! I called on a Monday, not open. Called Tuesday morning, he was busy on the other line. I called Tuesday afternoon, finally reaching him. He informed me that the computer forgot to schedule a visit in. Color me confused, I thought that was the data entry person that scheduled. He said he would go to the holler that afternoon. I texted Small Farm Girl, asking that she unlock and open my gate. That was one of the requests from addressing and mapping. She was more than happy to, guess she went and played down there. Haha! I don't blame her for hanging out, she said it was 10 degrees cooler in the holler. Wonderful news to me! 

No phone calls came for two days. I was getting ready to call them, when he called me. He had temporarily lost my number, and he didn't go to the property until the next day. Sigh. He then proceeded to describe the property, to be sure he was at the correct place. He told me he felt like he was going to be shot driving down our driveway. I could help but smile. He then added, "you have a beautiful place down there, I couldn't believe it." That thrilled me to no end, a local that's seen a lot of places, thinks our place is great.

I then was given my street address, and he began to tell me what types of road names are acceptable.  I had to interrupt him, we already know the name of our road. We have been changing it weekly. As time has passed, waiting, we came up with several different names. We ended up doing a play on The Wizard of Oz. the addressing and mapping guy chuckled. Knowing that we were coming from Kansas, he said it was very fitting and he liked it. I am sure we were the gossip talk yesterday. 

Now the full address goes to the Post Office for final approval. He said he doesn't think they will have a problem with it, and that I should know for certain in 2 weeks. Ugh, more patience on my part.

It has taken 7 long months to move, but now it is nigh! 

The driveway.

No one talk to the rabbit

As my long time readers have noticed, I did not participate in blogathon this year. Those of you that are new, every year I choose one charity to raise money for and will blog every 30 mins for 24 hours straight. It gets silly and we raise a good amount of money. 

This year with the motorcycle wreck and the move, I just didn't think I would be up for it. Now I think I could have, but my time line for soliciting businesses to donate raffle items was expired. 

If you are feeling charitable, my friend and fellow blogger, mmpaints, is still crowd funding for her commercial kitchen. The response has been wonderful, but she is still half way to her goal. You can read updates on her farm life over on self sustained living, and her business plan on this crowd funding site. 

We have decided to take the boys to a professional fireworks display this Thursday. Two of them have never seen it before, as we always just set off our own display here. We really don't care for all the crowds and traffic, but they should experience it at least once in their childhood. 

Husband has decided that we are moving to Kentucky in three weeks, address or no. So I have had to ramp up my packing and purging. So much to do still. 

I have been walking around the house without my brace. I am still weak when it comes to bending my knee and trying to kick my own rear. I am still stretching, not quite to reasonably normal, but getting closer. I can sort of walk up stairs like most people do. Just takes me a bit of time.

Since the ads on the left side of the screen have been up for the year, and I did not do a blogathon, they will be removed sometime today. Maybe my pictures will now fit into the white bits.

I was getting grief over hills in Kansas yesterday. So I will leave you with a picture of Mt. Sunflower in Western Kansas. 

Top 6 Things I Will Miss About Kansas

6. The smell of Brome

I was surprised to learn that there isn't brome hay in the hills. Orchard grass will have to suffice.

5. Freezing fog

Small Farm Girl has ordered me to leave it behind.

4. Grain elevators 

They have small, personal silos, but none of these.

3. Supercells

I was informed that tornadoes happen occasionally in the hills. Not almost daily like here in the spring.

2. Windmills

Average wind speed is only 3 mph

1. Yellow Rabbits

 

 

What you didn't see; part two

As Husband and I were walking, I made it about 50 ft up into a hill, I told him that now I don't mind the wreck so much. I mean without us going down, things wouldn't have lead in this direction. I don't suggest that you, looking for property, go out and break your knee by any means. It's one of those moments when you realize that things happen for a reason.

If we hadn't wrecked our motorcycle, we might not have caught those men trying to steal our sheep, Husband wouldn't have asked for time off, been fired for it, I wouldn't have blogged about us looking for a new homestead. You have been so supportive through it all. 

After we caught those men, and started looking for property, I jokingly said to Husband, "I have family in Kentucky, you want to go there?" Not five minutes later Small Farm Girl messages me, "you want to live in Ky"? She's this freaky mind reader that can hear conversations 905 miles away! Spooky!  

The pictures she sent me were amazing. I of course fell in love with it. And the bonus was that it was owner carry. Talk about a sweet deal. At that time the cabin part of the property was too expensive for us. The rest of it we could finically handle. A week before we were to head out there to physically see the property and sign paper work,The cabin price was lowered. Small farm girl was literally running people off the land as we were on the phone making a deal to purchase. We just barely made it! My new neighbor is awesome! And it is a win win. She got to chose her neighbor. 

The pictures she sent though didn't encompass the full beauty of the place. I had thought the slopes more of a gentle roll, not a 100 ft drop. Some of the hills we own go up to 600 ft. This astounds us. Even the pictures I post here, it's hard to actually tell the steepness of the hills. I am not complaining, at all. I am awed by it all. So many bad things have happened in the last two years, that this new life awaiting us is a blessing. We never once thought we would be in this place. Never once thought we could ever be lucky enough to live in such beauty. We just hope we are indeed worthy of it. 

This is part of the cabin land. On the left is the creek, the property follows it, turning to the right, and meeting the top acreage on the hill.

Trying to give you an idea of how tall the trees are. This is a walnut next to the cabin. Here in Kansas we are use to 30 ft tall trees. The wind topples them if they get too much taller. Although you can find taller trees in the city where tall buildings block the wind. This walnut is about 60, maybe even 70 ft tall.

The cave. The area on the way to the cave is cleared, so I can drive close to it. But it is up in the side of a hill. With Husband's help I was able to climb up to it. I didn't go inside because of all the loose rock, and I am not yet brave enough to walk on that. Soon though, soon. We have only seen evidence of deer using the cave. There is also water that, clear clean water, flows over the top of it. Help feeding the creek. We were informed that arrow heads had been found in it in the past. If the boys were so inclined to clean up the fallen rock inside, who knows what they might fine. Bones of animals most likely.

Large found these on his creek walk.

Lots of little critters for the boys. We have salamanders here, but not on a large scale like on this property. Small is loving it. 

It wasn't all play. We had to set some pens for the animals to come to.

Putting fence up through so many trees and hills is so much different. But we did it, and loved it. 

The first time I saw a turkey hen, I honestly though it was a peahen. The turkey hens there are much softer in their lines than here in Kansas. I told Small Farm Girl that they weren't so rough looking as ours. Husband on his adventure both scared and got startled by a Tom. He said it was a good sized bird, closely the size of a bronze. I too had a run in with a Tom. I was headed to the creek and startled one up the hill. At first light you can hear them gobbling at each other through the holler. And by mid day they are clicking at each other higher in the hills. 

There is so much food there, it is overwhelming. Found wild onion on our last day. I found Polk and other southern greens. You could easily live a hunter gather lifestyle there. As long as you preserve for winter.  We have about 25 acres of grazing space. The rest is forest, creek and hills. 

I am going to need an edible weed book and a tree book. 

Today I work on purging my Kansas life. We hope we can be back in a month. With temperatures hitting 100 F today, I fear Kansas is headed right back into drought. Now is a good time to run for the hills. 

 

What you didn't see; part one

I can't stand it. I have to show you. There were some places I couldn't go, (because of the whole almost losing my leg thing, ya know) or places that I didn't dare venture with my tablet.  And with you badgering me for pictures (grin) I only posted what I could take. You have seen the top 13 acres, and part of the bottom 13 (the cabin area) but you have yet to see the other 30 acres. I feel bouncy sorry. I am itching to get back and get my life started anew! 

Husband took this picture. I have to get use to the smell of honey suckles, the place is covered with them.

Here is the cabin from the creek.

The boys found a pool of tadpoles.

Large stole my camera and headed down the creek with it.

Husband with Medium and Small headed into our 30 acres.

Grandpa will be looking for gold here.

Large and his creek walk, this time up stream.

That's actually more of a drop than it looks like. At the bottom Husband and Large found blueberries and wild strawberries.

 See the water does run clear.

 Just thought this was pretty.

More really cool stuff, like the cave, later.

We don't have a move date. We have to wait for 911 to give us an address. Then we can plan a bit more.

An over excited Phelan. 

Back in Kansas

I am sorry about all the typos in the previous posts, and the lack of acknowledging your replies. I was using Small Farm Girls Internet, and was trying to be a good guest. Of course now that we have had time to get to know one another. . . 

The drive home was uneventful. We missed all the storms that the weather channel had threaten to unleash on us. We arrived around 230 am, Kansas time. Wasn't happy about what I found here, but that's not important right now. 

Now we plot and pack. We all want to get back ASAP. 

The cabin wasn't suppose to be ours. It was a last minute, price suddenly reduced, purchase. It ties the rest of the land together nicely. We didn't know what we would live in before this land was offered to us. We got lucky.

Ok, now is the time to ask those burning questions about all of it. I have the lazies today, catching up on rest, and will be able to answer you. That is after I run into town and pick up some coffee. We seem to be out here.

Drive way down to our cabin.

Our last day here

For now.

Today is our last full day before heading back to Kansas. We have a wonderfully busy day. We have to get our holding pens up. It's marked off, now to pound in t-posts and string barbed wire. We leave early tomorrow, so it has to be ready for our return with livestock.

I was asked here, if we worried about flooding. The previous owners have spent time on this land since childhood, and claim to have never seen the creek out of its banks. Even Small Farm Girl tells us that we won't have to worry about flooding. However there is flash flooding within the banks of the creek. We are just too high up, without a lot of higher land above us.

It's been raining often, ever since we got here. We have been given credit for its arrival, and the tornado south of here. Small rope, nothing hurt. 

Yesterday we ventured out on our own to some of the small towns. First a lawyers office to sign the final deed. Next the post office, that sent us to the court house to E911 to apply for an address. So many stairs! Ugh. We have decided to name our driveway, as we don't actually have a road connecting to our drive and most of our property, the driveway needs a name. "Better Run" you can decide if it means something good or something menacing. 

I also did laundry in the creek. So old school. Fun novelty for a moment, then no more. But we have clean clothes for the trip home. 

We honestly don't want to go back to Kansas. Kentucky is feeling more like home. But we have to go take care of the Neophyte Homestead, and say goodbye to those we love.

See you all again in Kansas.

Day four

Small farm girl took me to several towns yesterday. Honestly have no idea how to get back from them yet, but I think I can make it there. 

Wow, so many things happening today, that I am having a hard time remembering everything that happened yesterday. Husband and large explored one of our hills. They found a bunch of pecan trees. We have an area that we are calling the holler in the holler. It's hidden away and has wild strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. I don't want to over use the word awesome, but awesome!

We will be completely off grid. Ain't no poles in sight!  We have figured all that out.

We had Small Farm girl and Hubby (that's her husband) down for lamb on a campfire. We had s'mores, a variety of s'mores. And talked and laughed into the night. She is scarily similar to me.

We have also decided that every insect has sent a rep to check us out. That or they have a taste for flesh. That could be why the place hasn't sold as quick as I thought it would.

Last night was our full night in the holler. We woke up stiff and chilled. The fog sinks into our holler, and it's a bit damp. We don't mind. But we slept on the floor. Ouch. 

Day three

Finally saw a map of our property line. It's a funky T shape. We are so use to straight squared grids, that it took us a moment to understand it. And I have to laugh at myself, I keep thinking in terms high winds. Everything I do, I think open how Kansas wind will tear it down and start to adjust for it. Then remember, we aren't in Kansas anymore Toto. There is a breeze, but nothing like back home. 

I met one of the neighbors, she seemed nice. 

Husband and the boys went exploring one of our hills. They found a pecan tree, and large paw prints. Husband and I found what we are calling a holler in a holler. It's like a secret garden. We found wild strawberries and blueberry plants.

I have been a bit melancholy about it all, but it's only because of a migraine I have been fighting for days. If I get too excited, I get migraines. Punishment for being happy I guess.

Husband is giddy about it all. It's wonderful just to see him so excited about things. And the boys, Large has hit that moody stage of being a teen and hasn't smiled in months, now he has been beaming. That in itself is worth all the trouble of moving. The boys haven't gone to the cave full time yet, the creek in front of the house keeps them busy. It's like we live in a national park that I would visit as a kid.

Drive way

Looking down into the holler in the holler

Our cabin in the holler

My backyard

The butterflies here have a taste for human flesh

Our creek

This is just on one small plot of the land. We have more to explore! 

Day two

We woke to rain yesterday. Nothing like Kansas rain, here it actually comes straight down, it's not vertical. Never seen anything like it!  (Being playful)

We are here in Kentucky for a week. We got the deed yesterday and we sign for it Monday. We just bought about 58 acres of the most gorgeous hilled land. My girls should never want for good hay again! 

Husband and I went exploring in the rain yesterday. So I wasn't able to get pictures. Today is a different story though. 

The driveway is a steep grade down hill, the drop off one one side is easily 25 ft. The holler is open plain. With trees starting at the base of the hills. I am not able to get into the cave area, because of my knee, but saw it from a distance. The boys had a good time exploring as well. The cabin is more finished than we had thought. It has septic, and a rain collection system. It's only one bedroom, but as it isn't finished on the inside, we can change it to two for now. 

Ad it is so quiet. No polka music, no ticked off horses waking me in the mornings. The holler I is even quieter than Small Farm Girl's place. She has a great set up.

It still all feels so surreal. No one has pinched me yet, and I am not sure that I want them to. I feel so amazingly blessed for getting this land, and honored that my neighbor wanted me here.

I will be back tomorrow with pictures.