Whenever Possible, GRILL IT!

During our 20 years together, one of our favorite summer pastimes is grilling!  Over the years, we've owned a number of grills from self-built stone campfires with nothing but a metal grate precariously balanced over burning wood to a classic charcoal hibachi grill to a few commonplace propane grills, the last of which barely made it through last summer.




In our current situation, grilling is no longer a fun luxury, but rather a necessity!  After the last three weeks of Don hunched over our rudimentary fire pit and me turning our camper into a sauna, we decided it was time...

Don did some research on-line, then we went shopping...on Memorial Day to capitalize on the great sales at most stores, including Lowe's.


We ended up with this Char-grill because not only is it propane with a burner on the side, but it also has the charcoal grilling addition, which gives food such great flavor and of course, roasting marshmallows for dessert!

Hope you all had as lovely a holiday weekend as we did!  The weather cooperated from Friday through late-afternoon on Sunday.  Because William works for a county club in New York, he won't have much opportunity to visit this summer, so we were thrilled that he could spend 3 whole days with us this weekend!  Nate spent Saturday night and most of Sunday with us, too, so we celebrated their birthday altogether.



Don and Will went to town on the house demo, making great progress!

Mr. M stopped by, again, this time bearing a tasty gift - he brought along the most incredible "hoagies" (that's Delaware County for subs!) and had lunch with us, sharing more of the property's history and his gratitude for our ability to bring the place back to life.  He was amazed at our progress to date, but we have serious motivation - living in campers in crappy weather really stinks!


This whole "two days dry and sunny followed by "two days chilly and rainy" is for the birds!  I'm praying for a nice long string of dry days soon - and that needs to include a couple of weekends for Don's sanity!

On Friday evening, Don reviewed his proposed floor plan with me, Grace and Rosie, then he took some time Saturday morning to draw it to scale.


It's definitely a custom design!  We decided to stick with the one-floor plan, staying within the existing outer walls of the house, however, when we are finished, that will be the only remnants of the house we originally purchased.


Don's many years in the window-washing business, our many dwellings in 20+years, and even my 15 months assisting a fire investigator allowed us to see and experience lots of home lay-outs, so we have a pretty good idea of what we like and what we don't...what flows and allows for the most efficient use of space, but also feels warm and hospitable for all who enter, and promotes hearty conversation, of course!

And, to end with a bit of comic relief....

I came home from grocery shopping on Friday evening to see a glow coming from our camper...as I approached, this giant florescent-blue bug zapper is hanging under our camper awning and my husband smiling proudly standing in the doorway.

"Uh....where did that come from?"  I stuttered, staring in wide-eyed horror...ZZap!  The sound of death sent my dogs running towards the barn...


"Found it in the shed!  Works great!" He announces with that grin of his...ZZap! Bizt! I jump.

"It's not staying there," I reply flatly.  "No way".

"Sure it is." He laughs.

He's taking this redneck camper-living experience too far!

Well, we came to a compromise - he moved it to a much less conspicuous location, so I don't have to look at it...or jump every time an insect flies into the heavenly blue light!  And, he promised to only plug it in for an hour or two if/when the mosquitoes become a problem in the evening.



Visit right here for a new post this weekend.  A certain young equine has a birthday coming up and I will update you on his growth and progress - with lots of pictures!

On the Next Mountain

Found several of these antique jars in the shed!

My initial thought of the "camper plan" was, "Heck, no!"  Then, the idea grew on me...Outdoor living for the summer seemed pretty awesome, actually!

I wasn't thinking about the chilly, rainy days (like today!)...or the bugs and spiders...or the poison ivy (which is all over my left forearm!)...or how a camper feels like a combo of the fiery furnace and a sweaty steam room when you are cooking in it on a warm day!

I am overcoming these things one by one...(although I may develop a severe case of arachnophobia by September!)

Cooking...and eating delectable dishes...pastimes adored by both Don and me...are quite a challenge in a camper.  While wandering around Lowe's a couple of days ago, we were both drawn to the outdoor cooking equipment like moths to a flame...or a bright blue, giant bug zapper, as the case may be!  (More on that later...)  

We're thinking that our rustic little handmade campfire pit, while useful thus far, is not gonna cut for the whole summer.  Though a several hundred dollar investment, a nice grill with a burner or two on the side will be a worthy purchase for us at this time.  We'll probably use it daily, or close to it, for the next 5 months.  We plan to do some serious shopping this weekend, so if any of you have a favorite brand or grill, let us know.  Advice would be helpful!

Now in my early forties, I look back on my life and see a series of mountains and plateaus...with a few dark valleys here and there.

Moving to New York and right on through our first 2 years living there, we were definitely climbing a rather steep mountainside, struggling to keep our footing...and sometimes not knowing which way was up.

Then, we came to a bittersweet little plateau, catching our breath for a short while.




Now, we tackle the next mountainside; my intuition tells me this climb will not be as steep...And, I imagine we'll be working up this smaller slope for 6 months or so before we reach a plateau where our lives fall into a steady rhythm for a bit...at least long enough for us to take a deep breath!




Learning how to enjoy life during those challenging climbs has been key for me...for our whole family!  Taking pleasure in...even celebrating...the little victories along the way.  Reflecting on how far we've already come.  Taking time out to enjoy some well-earned "distractions" every now and again!

Last weekend, instead of digging deeply into the demo work, Don used his resources, aka. Nate and Rosie, to fence about a third of our hay field for the horses. Why? 

Frankly, we're running very low on hay...and horses gotta eat!  And, truly, at present we do not have adequate storage for the amount of hay this field will produce, so rather than waste it....

As the week progressed, we continued to work at taming the plant life that has encroached upon the house and the beautiful stonework surrounding it.


Don and Grace swear that the old lilac bush, the robust burning bush and one of the dogwood trees audibly sighed with relief as they freed them of the unruly vines that entangled and choked them!  Grace quoted Gandolf proclaiming, "Breathe the free air, My Friend!", as she yanked out the final leg of each vine.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Don also tackled the task of chopping down two enormous holly trees that threatened to push roots right through the foundation of the house...

Besides checking out grills, our visit to Lowe's included an appointment with their "project coordinator" to begin the conversation about working with together on our home remodel.  She was very helpful, and I will be spending more time both with her, wandering around the store, and on Pinterest, getting ideas of what I like, over the next few weeks.


House demo, thus far, has been slow and steady, but that may change this weekend - both of our sons will be around to help at one point or another, and destruction is their specialty!

Speaking of my sons, William and Nathaniel are 20 years old today!

How is it even possible that twenty years have passed? Seems like yesterday I was chasing around twin toddlers. And, what a privilege it has been to raise twins!  Not a "walk in the park", but we all made it in one piece and we've had lots of lessons, laughs, challenges and good times along the way!

Looking forward to spending some time with both of them this weekend, and showing William around the property - he's never seen our new PA home before!

Check back next week for an update and more photos, Friends.  Don wanted to have the demo work completely done by June 1 - We shall see!  Also, I am finally able to schedule my written exam for my PA cosmetology license - yay!  More on that next week, too.

Purely Pictures

I've been taking quite a few pictures just right around our 7.5-acre haven in the last two weeks.  Not all are worth sharing, and yet, there are more than I can fit into my weekly updates concerning our craziness!  I thought I'd use this post to simply share some of my favorite photos.

 Enjoy!

Maybe I can inspire some of you to visit us in person this summer...But, call first, please!  I'd hate to miss you...or not have any food to offer!

Another "treasure" found.  These pretty mason jars were wrapped in a 1986 newspaper!!

Off they go - Rose and Lex ponying Isaac around the property.

These buck were just hanging out in our pasture at 6:30 this morning!

This guy visits my feeder a couple times a day.

Good old Sassy Anna, enjoying the grass in the newly fenced pasture.

Lexie is watching Rosie muck out stalls.

I had planned to do a new post once a week or, maybe, every other week to chronicle our lives and our progress in bringing new life to this pretty little farm with its rich history, however, I don't think I can be quite so regimented.

Some weeks may require two posts, and some may have none...though that is unlikely given what needs to be accomplished in just 4 or 5 months.

So, Friends and curious on-lookers...and even you scoffers out there...keep watching...

...Although,more than anything, I am treating this blog as a journal and scrapbook for myself and my family - our journey will forever be saved in cyberspace so the next generation of Westbrooks can read all about their crazy grandparents. 😉

Is Mother Nature Bipolar or What?

Of course, I'm just being sarcastic, but REALLY?  In the 50's and rainy last weekend, to baking us at nearly 90 and sunny by Wednesday...

...And, back to chilly (low 60's) and rainy this morning.  Yikes!  Between the weather and Don's work schedule, he's been feeling a tad frustrated that he's not made more progress on the demo process.  As I write this, he's on his way back from returning our friend's 3-horse trailer.




He and our son, Nate planned to make some major progress on it today.

Earlier this week, the girls and I went on a little treasure hunt of sorts.  Of course, Mr. M, the man from whom we purchased the property, gathered up any valuable family heirlooms, and sent the many items of no sentimental value to auction long before we arrived on the scene, however, we did scavenge a few interesting things we plan to re-purpose...

...Like this table and chair set that just need some Rustoleum spray paint, new cushions, and a pretty umbrella!




A few other "treasures"...

Don's work involved taming the unruly vegetation around the house and the lower paddock in front of the barn...

...And taking measurements...

We've not come to any final decisions regarding the floor plan, yet.  Our first thought, to transform it into a cape cod with two beds and bath upstairs, seems unnecessary now.










Based on Don's measurements, we can use the existing footprint of the house for a comfortably-sized 3-bedroom, 2 bath, ranch-style house and still have enough space for a 9x10 office - everything on one floor, with a basement and/or attic for storage!  




Of course, any house over 900 sq. ft. will feel HUGE after living in a camper for a few months, but our living space will be approximately 1550 sq. ft. - a modest home with an artfully-efficient floor plan - that's the goal!

This is the inside of the house before demo began:

Enclosed front porch

  Living room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Many people, even me some moments, think we're a special kind of crazy for taking on this project!  As you can see, we have our work cut out for us.  So much has to happen before we even get to the actual re-build, but I am oddly at peace with it... much of the time.

My dear husband thanked me last night for trusting him on this one.  He acknowledged what a challenge this is for me and our daughters, and he validated my periodic sense of anxiety about the whole thing.  I truly appreciate this!

Our very tight living quarters act as inspiration for forward momentum!  Actually, camper living inspires the girls and I to get up close and personal with nature.

...The beautiful birds and butterflies are welcome...

...The insects and spiders are NOT!

Remember, a few posts ago when I shared about my interesting visit from Mr. M?  Well, he graciously shared with us a number of photos of the property spanning from 1945 thru 1983! Generously,  gave me permission to share some of them in my blog posts, so keep an eye out for them.  Here is one of the outdoor fireplace completed by his grandfather on Victory Day:

Looking forward to doing some more exploring next week, as well as visiting some friends in good ole Lancaster County!  Check in Wednesday or Thursday for the first of our demolition pics and hopefully, some pics from a hike at a nearby park.

Leo

I'm taking a detour today, Folks...


Still sharing our experience, just not about the house today; rather about a cat.


Leo.

14 years and 8 months ago, while living the dairy farm life on a picturesque farm in the heart of Lancaster County, I walked out the front door of our half of the beautiful 1900's farmhouse to hear a faint, "Mew...mew..." coming from the mature...actually, overgrown...bushes growing along the front of the house.  I carefully pulled the branches apart to reveal a lone orange tabby kitten that couldn't have been more than 4 weeks old.

Summer 2015

The family with whom we shared the house and property kept several barn cats, one of whom was an unusually pretty, petite female that Grace, not quite 3 years old, used to "lovingly" carry around by her throat.  This mama cat had two litters of three or four kittens each summer that the teens next door would sell to friends for $10 each.


This time, sadly, one little tabby was the only survivor of three.  And, maybe because fall was in the air, or she wasn't feeling well, who knows, Mama abandoned him in the bushes. I left him there for the day, hoping she'd come back and nurse him, but she never did.  So, I burrowed into that bush while Don was doing the evening milking, scooped him up...took him inside... unbeknownst to Don...and got him to drink some raw milk from a bowl.  The rest is history!

At the time, I thought "he" was a "she" and began calling him "Lena".  Two weeks went by before I was sure of his gender.  Then, "Lena" became "Leo".

Leo and Ginger were best buds for almost 13 years!

When he was stable and about 7 weeks old, he became more of a barn cat and spent much of his first two years with Don, watching him milk and care for the cows, catching mice and barn swallows, following me out back as I bottle-fed the calves, chasing the chickens.

When we left that farm, I couldn't bare to leave Leo behind, so we had him vaccinated and neutered, and brought him with us...even though we were going to be living in the little town of Quarryville this time.

The old house we bought in the center of town was huge, and the yard larger than average, so he adjusted just fine to being an indoor/outdoor cat.

And, so it went.  Other barn cats came and went on the various farms we called home for a time after leaving Quarryville, but Leo always stuck around.  Every time we moved, Leo came with us. Five moves in his 14+ years!

He's been my faithful feline companion through some really terrible times...and some great ones.

Always there to comfort me...always there to keep my feet warm on chilly nights...always there to keep me company while caring for the horses.

He even accompanied me up to my friend Pam's arena for riding lessons and on many walks through the woods in NY!

 He has always "talked" to me.  Sounds crazy, I know!  But, he had certain unique sounds he made when he greeted me or Don.

Anyway, about three months ago, we realized his years were catching up with him.  I have so many stories of patching him up after "close calls" with other critters.

...He had serious attitude...

And, Man, did he like to take risks!  I think that's why Don always liked him so much.  Kindred spirits?

April 2017

It became clear to us that he was nearly blind...and that his kidneys weren't working quite as well. His arthritis became increasingly evident.  In fact, about a month ago we noticed that he had stopped jumping altogether.  And, he often walked in large circles to "feel" his way around.  But, he was still talking to us.  And, challenging the dogs.  Quite the "bad ass", as Don would call him, the dogs were always a bit intimidated!

We debated whether we should euthanize him in the days just before our move, but my heart couldn't bear it...And, neither could Don.  Couldn't leave another pet in the woods of New York.  So, we brought him along.  I actually picked up Leo and peered deeply into his amber eyes the day before settlement and said, "I know, Buddy.  I just can't.  Can you please hold on another week, at least?"

Taken just 3 days ago.

Well, yesterday morning...one week and one day after our conversation...he just disappeared.  We've looked everywhere in the last 36 hours.  But, Rosie observed that he hasn't been eating much recently and Grace noticed that he has stopped talking to us in the last few days.  And, in my heart, I, too, felt his loss of dignity.  The time was near...  

Grace, who has felt closely-connected to Leo these last 5 or so years, believes in her heart that he wandered off to die alone, as cats sometimes do.  Well, he was always quite independent and loved being in the woods...

Maybe he'll turn up, but I'm more inclined to think that Grace is right.  Shed some tears this morning in the knowledge that I will probably never see him again.

But, at the same time, I smiled, thinking it's just like him to do it his way...and to spare us from having to make that dreaded decision that all pet owners must make at some point.


I am sorrowful, but I know he lived a great life.  A full life, indeed!  Maybe he'll turn up, but if not, I have many fond memories of our nearly 15 years together.

Summer 2011.  Helping Bugsy wash behind his ears.

I'm grieving my loss today, but I promise to update all of you on Friday, regarding all the interesting things going on with our property.  Been taking many terrific pictures, which I'll happily share!