Welp. I'm here. And obviously in good enough humor to use to words like welp. So yes, as you may have guessed, the dust has *slightly* settled since I last updated you on the move from lower Alabama to the great Pacific Northwest.
Though after three Budget truck breakdowns before we left our family's house in Georgia, I really wasn't feeling very humorous.
After another day delay in Atlanta waiting on the truck replacement, it was finally time for the kids and I to fly out. Stuart, his brother Justin, and his Dad are still making the 38 hour drive.
But let's forget the dirty details. Let's talk about something fun.
WANNA SEE MY NEW HOUSE?
I took a few pictures while Georgia and I were having a sweet little work party yesterday. Without our stuff there isn't much we can do, but we're at least getting bathrooms freshly cleaned, new laundry baskets put into rooms, flowers planted, and chicken coops cleaned.
Let's see…. where to start… ah, yes. The view.
Welcome to Wenatchee.
See that tree? That's my apple tree. I think. It may be a crab apple tree. What do I know. Regardless, I've decided that this little flat area, and another just over the teeny ridge, will be for the garden. It's out of the way and sunny all day. Perfect. The soil is horrendous, but since we'll be bringing in truckloads of compost, horse poo, and mulch, it should be fine.
I've discovered this property also has a small clusters of white birch trees. I love white birch. So classic. And such pretty leaves.
I've also discovered that the word “noxious weeds” has taken on an enormously important role in my life that I wasn't prepared for. Weeds, will you please move out of the way? I can't see the steps down to the coop and you make the home look abandoned. Please find a few able bodied Elliott males to remove you from the soil immediately. Thank you.
Speaking of weeds, they're practically eating my chicken coop. My Dad is 6'4″ and out in the middle of the pasture, they came up to his chest!
I spend the better part of the afternoon cleaning old poo out of the chicken coop. Apparently, whoever used this coop before didn't believe in cleaning their chicken's poo out of the nesting box because I scraped two five-gallon of chicken poo from six nesting boxes.
That's a lot of poo. Once I put the pine shavings in tomorrow, I'll be able to move the chickens over. That will be interesting, considering only one of them will let me touch her without having a spasm. BAAHHHH!!! THAT CRAZY LADY IS TRYING TO TOUCH ME!!! I'M GOING TO RUN AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND ACT ALL CRAY CRAY TO DETER HER!!!! Chickens can be so dramatic.
Oooh! And look what I found down by the coop running wild! I'll have to find a way to contain these little boogers that are actively spreading all over the ground. Georgia and I harvested a bit over two pounds from this teeny little batch. It's hard to beat a freshly picked strawberry still warm from the heat of the day.
After scraping, sweeping, and scrubbing the chicken coop, I took the poo up to a few old whiskey barrels that were left on the property. I thouroughly mixed it into the soil that was already in the barrels.
And then, to celebrate the summertime and our new little farm, I bought some flowers. Flowers make me happy. Almost as much as food. There is a special place in my heart that they speak to and today, I felt the need to celebrate that little place. It makes me feel at home.
I didn't capture the entire inside of the house, but I did snap a few:
It's SO WONDERFUL to have natural lighting in the house once again. The house in Alabama was so buried in the jungle that we barely saw the rays of sunshine. Our new house just radiates in the sun. I love having the light in my kitchen again! Especially since I'm constantly photographing food in there. Natural lighting is inspiring.
You know what else is inspiring? Lavender in an old bottle (I may or may not have stolen the lavender from a plant in the garden of my Mom's office) and light purple violets:
It's not a lot, but it's something.
It's not perfect, but it's ours. Well… technically it's our's to rent… but you know what I mean.
They boys are attempting to drive 16 hours tomorrow so that they can cut the trip a day short. This means that they should roll into town about 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning. I covet your prayers for traveling mercies – Lord knows we have a heck of a journey thus far.
More to come soon!
tawnya
I would like to ask you your opinion on something. my fiance would like us to move ” out” of town however I have some hesitation. for example the time it takes to get to town for activies and such. has that ever been an issue with you? also out of curiosity was it difficult finding a place to move to while still in the south?
Donna
I’m not 100% sure, but I think the tree is a Quaking Aspen rather than a White Birch. The greenish white bark & the shape of the leaves look like an aspen to me. You might like to look up the two & see what you think. π
Suzy
I was going to say the same thing π
Rosalyn
Me too but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. π Definitely quaking (or where I live, we call it trembling) aspen. Populus tremuloides. Either way, still a gorgeous tree! xoxo
Esther
Looks like you’re in for an adventure! (but could you p-l-e-a-s-e use a larger print size for older eyes to read?)
Nikki
Have you tried pressing “control and the + sign” (at the same time)? If it works on your computer it will magnify the whole screen. π
Danielle L.
On noxious weeds, straight white vinegar will kill them dead, note it will kill anything else growing too, but for like the stairs, just hose down the stairs with it, and by the end of the day, it s by would all be dead. Other places you can use it too just be careful to only get the weed you’re trying to kill. Beautiful home, congratulations!
Jody
Esther – you can make any pages print as large as you want. Hold down the ctrl button while you scroll up or down to change the print size. :=)
LOVING your updates!
bobbi
Traveling mercies to the boys. π
I know you are so relieved to be home. Everything looks lovely. What an exciting time!
Teresa Getter Messick
Oh, it just looks great! You mentioned containing the strawberries….since they have obviously adapted to multiply right where they are, couldn’t you maybe build a bed around them? Pull out the weeds and start adding mulch to keep them out? They must be pretty hardy to produce such great berries in all that tall grass! The coop looks great and I bet once your chickens have been around you for a bit longer, they will start to love you! The best of God’s blessings to you!
Sarah Peterson
I want to know how you keep your 3 year old “busy” during all these things you do! I have 2 kids as well, about the same ages as yours and I can barely get anything done….they are good, they just want to play! My daughter is getting good at helping, but STILL! Dang, I would never have had time to do all that–how much coffee do you REALLY drink hahaha π
Jennifer
that is some kinda poo! good grief! are yall going to have rabbits again too? my dad raised rabbits, and used their poo for his garden; we had the sandiest soil in florida:) i love your new home, and the view, and the light in the house! happy for you guys and praying only good things in store…
Heidi
Wooooww…and those white birch leaves are gorgeous. I’m so glad to see that you don’t have as much work to do inside the house as out…it must make it so nice to come home to. π
Melissa
Woo HOO!!!! You made it! The guys will be there soon! The chickens are going to be so happy and you already have flowers planted! It’s all coming together! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Keely Titus Murdoch
Great pictures. I know you don’t know me but I have been following your blog for a while…love it. And live in the Wenatchee Valley as well (Cashmere actually). Welcome.
Keely Titus Murdoch
Oh and the ‘White Birch’ appears to be a Quaking Aspen (even better, IMO).
Rosalyn
Shaye, it looks wonderful and I’m amazed at the chicken coop accomplishment that you’ve already taken on! The landscape is gorgeous, so different from where I live (Prince Edward Island). I can’t wait for more updates! xox
Josee Bergeron
Oh my how exciting! We’re just a hop and skip over the Canadian border from you. I hope you love your new home, it looks lovely.
ruzzel01
What a fine area! I will love to live in this place.
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