Snow Day Update From the WannaBe Homestead
We moved into our new home in Pennsylvania in August. We’ve spent the past two months unpackin’. As I’m sure you can imagine, it’s been a busy time for all of us.
It's October 30th. There is snow on the ground. This is a new experience! My husband grew up in the mountains. So this isn't entirely new for him. However, it's been quite some time since he lived in the mountains so this is somewhat surprising for him given where we're living. According to our newly acquainted neighbors, we live at the highest point in our area. The highest point NOT on the mountain. So we generally get snow earlier than those 2 miles down the road. Interesting lesson we learned over the weekend.
In light of the mention of our neighbors, we have learned we have 3 officers living in our area. It's somewhat comforting. However, given the state of our world, it's somewhat scary. I hate to pass judgement on any person, however it's difficult to trust anyone right now. Even the people who are supposed to protect you. FYI **We back the Blue** However, the following comments are made because of what is coming in the near future. I advise to be cautious, but do not live in fear. God is Sovereign. He knows all. Read the book of Revelation for starters, and pay attention to our government. Our government is corrupt. Your political stance is irrelevant in this statement. Our government is clearly doing any and all it can to overstep our Consitution. And sadly, people like these officers, will have to make a choice for or against their morals one day. How sad, that any person regardless of their job, will have to take a stand for their morals in the near future. Come quickly, Jesus. Get us out of here!!!
On a different note, our new home is splendid! There is work to be done, as with any property. But it's perfect for us. I'm so happy I found this place back in May. We have a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house with a walk out basement. It's different from what Paul or I have ever seen in some ways. We also have roughly an acre of land. I wanted more cuz....I'm all about that space. 🎶 But our options were limited. Apparently an onslaught of people were fleeing New York and New Jersey due to the "pandemic" restrictions at the same time we were simply trying to relocate for Paul's job.
I have several plans for our property (so does Paul). My plans include chickens (not having fresh eggs is making me crazy), a couple greenhouses, a mushroom patch, and a series of large, raised gardens. Paul is planning to build a property wide RC track. Gonna thank his uncle Eddie for the inspiration. He video chatted us last year after he visited us in California while hanging out with some of his friends. We witnessed the glory of an RC track that would rival a commercial dirt track. Even I thought it was awesome. Keep it off my garden. That's all I ask.
For obvious reasons, we need to become more self sustaining. Grocery bills suuuuuuuck yous guys! We gotta save some big bucks on food for these man cubs. The garden is a necessity. Annnnnnd my mushroom patch. I am so excited about my mushroom patch! I found a seller of mushroom spores earlier this year, and purchased some for my Grandpa, bonus dad, and myself. I'm gonna have a Morel patch!!!! David is the only person beside myself who likes mushrooms. But, other people love Morels. There's a little money to be made so they don't go to waste.
Oh, this is a new thing. Our septic tank. Anyone with a septic tank around here generally refers to it as "The Poop Hill" or (language warning) "Mount S***more" (our realtor called it that when we arrived to sign papers). I never knew this was a thing--putting a septic tank under a hill. Paul and I are familiar with septic tanks but the whole point was to NOT mess up the flatness of your yard where we lived. So, there was a hole dug, the septic tank was set down in it, and then what stuck up out of said hole was then buried with a series of dirt, sand, and concrete layers, with a number of PVC pipes sticking out of the top to allow the biodegradable gasses to escape. It's an interesting feat, to be sure. It also prevents erosion from occurring with the mixture of concrete within the layers. Pennsylvania is environmentally conscious, which I like. But the restrictions are not like California. From what I've read, these are practical, logical, well thought out rules to protect our environment. We were charged steward the earth with the creation of humanity. That responsibility falls on all of us. Humans haven't done the best job. There are the people who don't care, and then the hypercritical ones (who worship creation, not the Creator) due to their over protectiveness of animals and not human life. And then there are people like me. I'm in the middle. I believe I have a healthy desire for the earth that doesn't exceed Biblical moral boundaries.
What's nice about our home now, is the storage space. We didn't have that in our last place. Not to mention, I could spit into our neighbors windows if I wanted. Call me gross. I don't care, quite frankly. I'm simply pointing out, if I'm confident I can spit through your window, you are far too close to my house. No one should be living that close. All about that space!!! 🎶
New thing I've never dealt with, nor Paul as far as I know. We have a bear around here. A kindred spirit 😅 It likes trash cans. Also, bird feeders. There's also some kind of weasel/cat looking critter that is clearly something to be wary of. I cannot remember what it's called. However, it reminds me of a Bearcat. A real one. Not what the Dexter Bearcats portrayed as their mascot, FYI. Coyotes are another concern. But eh, strength in numbers. Alone, they're wimps. The number of deer here, is more than I've ever witnessed. I want so badly, to set up on my deck during deer season, and fill my freezer. I love deer meat. The Man Cubs do as well. If you follow my IG, you'll know that I posted a picture of a fat gray squirrel a few days ago. Easy shot from my kitchen window. I've been craving BBQ squirrel. Call me weird, that's fine. This HoneyBadger don't care.
We are not fully unpacked yet. I hate laundry. I used the Man Cubs' unneeded clothes to pack with. I swear, if I find one more box with ANY clothes in it, I will use them in the wood stove. I am so sick of laundry! Thankfully, the house as a whole is set up the way we need it to be. It's the rest of the random stuff we've been finding in the tubs that we have no place for yet. One of the downsides of moving, is purchasing items to organize with. It's always custom with every space, despite the similarities between properties. Thus the reason we aren't fully finished.
As far as school is concerned, we are doing well. We should be in Week 7. We're a week behind. Which is good, considering what we've had to do to get settled in. DMV, voting in person, grocery trips (an hour away), Paul working from home, every day house work, among other things, has proven to be a contributing factor in finishing our lessons. And I'm teaching 3 kids instead of 2. More kids, more time, of course. I teach Bible/History, Art, Poetry, and the Basics of Band to all 3 together. I also read the same stories to the 3 of them between our lessons and at bedtime. We recently finished "Sled Dog School." I loved it. Isaac and Nolan did as well. It was a little too wordy for Ethan, but what he paid attention to, he enjoyed. We are also currently reading "The Princess Bride," the abridged version by William Goldman. The movie is well loved by our family. Having the backstory to one of our favorite movies is awesome! The Man Cubs are also taking piano lessons. I'm teaching them. It isn't a daily thing, due to time constraints, but the elder man cubs have soaked up their lessons in amazing ways. David LOVES the piano as well. He's my music man. I see so much of myself in him with his love for music.
Oooh, in our walkout basement, we have our MMA mats set up. We were hoping to do online lessons with our previous dojo, but we havent been able to do it. According to our Master, he's had scheduling issues between in person and online lessons. May be for the best. We are busy as it is. And there are plenty of things I can teach the man cubs on my own. We did recently meet another Master from NJ. He's an acquaintance of ours whom we spent time with recently with some of our new friends. When this "pandemic" crap dies down, I intend to check out his teaching style for all of us. Until then, Momma Bear can teach the Man Cubs.
Isaac has matured immensely since we moved. He is a huge help with David. He's beginning to cook on his own a bit. And he's reading, but he chooses to act like he doesn't know how. Annoying. Nolan is reading a bit as well. But it doesn't appear that he realizes he's doing it. He's helping out more around the house. As long as it doesn't involved picking up toys. I swear, he will be useless all his life when asked to pick up toys. Ethan is amazing me with how much he's learning academically. And how he speaks is cool. He's witty. And sarcastic. And he's so articulate. He will be my rival in speech. This, I know. He's given me a run for my money already. David is chatttttttty. So chatty. And he's mouthy. He's a smart cookie, to be sure. I expect my children will excel in speech. Their momma talks a lot. You're welcome.
Funny thing Isaac said to me during our Ancient Greece lesson: "I wouldn't want to visit Ancient Greece because it sounds greasey." In the same week, he asked his Dad: "Dad, when you fart, do you get a 'gas incoming' warning?" You can't make this stuff up, y'all!
Now that we're home, I'm gonna work on making more blog posts. The past year of packing, moving, and being stuck between a rock and a hard place, I have not done much posting. There simply hasn't been much to update. And I'm not feeding into the fearmongering, therefore I was not gonna make up some "2020 Pandemic Quarantine" blog posts. I'm not about that. What good things have come out of this for everyone, are numerous. However the fearmongering has caused many to concentrate on the bad. I'm not doing that. I refuse to. You don't like it? I don't care. Harsh? Yes. If you haven't followed me from the beginning, or are not familiar with me personally, my bluntness can come off quite rude. I'm not rude. I'm blunt. I don't sugarcoat the obvious. The blessings of this life far outweigh any bad in this world. My faith allows my perspective to be this way. That doesn't mean I fear nothing. On the contrary, I fear plenty. I am human after all. But I will not live by fear. And neither should anyone else.
Faith in God = Perfect Peace