What We've Been Up To

 Autumn is my  favorite time of year and this year we're grateful to be enjoying an unusually long fall. It's been absolutely glorious. Mornings in the high 30's and afternoons in the high 60's. It's just been too nice to be indoors. The weather will chase us inside soon enough.

We've been chipping away at projects

This spot is not accessible by truck. It's even iffy with a UTV, but DH has been working on a water line with a neighbor and they've had to clear some downed trees to access the area. So we've been going back to harvest the beautiful firewood. 

We spent some time posting signs on the fence line 

                                         

Exploring spots to clear in order to blade a road around the property. This will help when we replace the old fence as well as give us easy access should we ever encounter a fire situation

We found an old cook stove in the creek bed

Such a magical place. Coming from the treeless desert (that had its own magic), I am delighted by trees

We had a Conex container we bought last year delivered

It's in a pretty tight spot and the delivery driver couldn't set it up on the railroad ties so DH had me climb into the skid steer and move the container around so he could set the railroad ties perfectly square. 

Then I put together shelves and filled them with storage containers - it makes my heart happy to have everything organized and easily accessible 

                                              

We also cleaned out a shop that the previous owners had used for storage and we filled up a 10 yard dumpster. They are very kind and offered to pay for the dumpsters as they were not able to clean the shops and barn out on their own

DH is finishing up his tack room

I stained a backboard for my cast iron collection

And I've been procrastinating the one indoor project I've got to tackle because I'm loath to waste time inside. The former owners chose the perfect nature inspired colors for every single room...except one. The office (they used it as an exercise room)

The red had to go. It's not a big room, but the ceilings are 10 ft tall. And covering that red...oye.

I knew I needed to tackle it before the Cortisone shot I had 4 months ago wore off anymore so I just made myself do it. The paint store fella insured me the high dollar paint I bought would cover it, but I was skeptical and used a coat of Kilz first. As anyone that's painted rooms before knows, it's the prep and cutting in along the baseboards, windows, and ceiling that takes forever, but I succeeded. I am much happier with the Dove Wing than the red and more boxes are now being emptied.

Whew! I probably climbed up and down that ladder 200 times and although my knee didn't love it, Jesus made it doable.

The hot water circulator sprung a leak on a Friday. We've never had experience with one and didn't even know what it was. DH figured he could fix it, but it was sautered together so we did call a plumber (recommended to us by a ranch friend) the next week. He replaced it in a way that would allow DH to fix it if we ever encounter a problem with it again. We didn't want to call anyone out on the weekend so DH McGyver-ed it using an empty Tide bottle and the tube from a Dectomax applicator. Even the plumber thought that was very clever.

At the end of the day, we're tired, but grateful 

The other morning began with a visit from the neighbor

I think we're gonna like this neighborhood.

Are You Still Making Quilts?

 This is a question I'm frequently asked since we've moved. The short answer is yes... eventually. Probably when winter sets in. We've just had so many projects we've wanted and needed to tackle to make sure things were in place before winter set in and the weather is just too glorious to be spending time indoors. And even after dark, we'd rather sit out on the deck, visit, and listen to the mountains close out the day.

This house is 19 years old and the former owners put a lot of thought and love into the details. We had originally thought we'd find a piece of property and build, but we fell in love with this property and it came with a beautiful home. If we had built, I would have chosen 90% of this home to build.  The only thing I would change would be to add an outdoor kitchen and a quilting studio, but honestly, this house is more than we need or ever even imagined.

There are 2 nice sized guest rooms and an office so the only option is to use one of the guest rooms to sew in. Living way out here, folks often spend the night so I really need to keep 2 rooms for guests right now. There is an older home on the property and we are considering demolishing it and building a small guest cabin so then I would dedicate one of the rooms in our house for sewing. But that's a project for later.

In the meantime, I have a lovely space to sew and I am looking forward to setting things up in there. The room is 15 x 16.The closet's not very big, but all of my project boxes fit nicely on the shelves. Moving my fabric stash made me realize I have way too much though.

And there is room on the right side for fabric bolts and for hanging quilt tops

The quilt shop in Ruidoso (an hour away) is collecting quilts and quilting supplies for those affected by the recent fires and floods so I will comb through what I have and donate things there. The little local library in a small town 32 miles away, is supported by a thrift store and there are a lot of quilters in the area so I will also donate supplies there as well. I went in to get a library card and they were raffling off a quilt so I plan to donate another one after this raffle concludes. 

Currently, I have 5 quilts that are waiting for binding so that should get me through the winter. It rained one afternoon so I did take the time to trim 2 quilts

This cart was our island in our previous kitchen. I found it at Sam's years ago and I've always liked it. I was determined to keep it, but did not have a spot for it in this kitchen, but it makes the perfect cutting table with great storage!

I also repurposed this cabinet which a local woodworker made for me to use as a microwave cabinet in the old kitchen. I love it too, but once again, there was no space in our current kitchen. However, it makes a great addition to my sewing room!

Once I actually get in here and sew, I'll be moving things around, but for now the drawer behind the doors is the perfect space for fat quarters and the space below is pretty much empty except for my sewing box that holds thread.

I like that piece so much - I would love to have Bobby make another one and set the pair on either side of my sewing table, but sadly, he is no longer able to work.

DH was away for a few days tending to our cows so I dug out the quilt I started binding before the move and added a few stitches to it one evening. I've always been a slow binder and now I've gotten even slower because I spend more time watching the mountains than I do binding.

           

And I turned on my sewing machine the other day for the first time in 3 months and made a toddler pillowcase to add to a box I was sending to our granddaughter 

I'm still unpacking boxes and trying to find things, but I did put my sewing machine out on the deck one afternoon and sew binding to the front of a quilt. Best sewing room ever!

In the Kitchen

 One of the blessings of moving to the mountains is being closer to my in-laws and having them over for Sunday dinner. 

At 86, I think my MIL is tired of cooking. She was such a wonderful cook and many of our family favorites have been passed down from her. I couldn't cook when we married and I tease her that she shared so many recipes because she wanted to ensure I fed her boy well.😂

My mom was a great cook as well and growing up, I often  heard, "feed your husband." 😂

So with grooming from both sides of the family, I had to step up to the plate. 😂

Thankfully, DH is not picky so that has made it fun for me to try new recipes. With the move, I haven't done that lately, but, I got a box of Jonathan apples a few weeks ago

And my dehydrator has been busy making dried apples...lots and lots of dried apples. We've been snacking on them, the kids each get a gallon bag stuffed with them, and I make some for my FIL

Apple pie has been on the menu

On Wednesday our low was 37° - it was cool and wet and baked apples were requested

I should have gotten another box because we all love homemade applesauce, but with apple season being in the middle of the recent move, I didn't feel ready to tackle that, but I made these Pumpkin Pie Spiced Snickerdoodles last Saturday 

DH smoked a chicken on Sunday. I made baked beans, fried okra, jalapeno poppers, and our favorite mac & cheese to go with it when my in-laws were here. Summer Berry Pie for dessert!

So, no new recipes to share today, but I feel like we're finally settling in and I'm feeling incredibly spoiled in this new kitchen.

- even if I still walk around opening drawers and cabinets looking for things. Half of them are empty because previously, I had a small kitchen and I don't have that much stuff. (the door on the top right goes into the mud room - the one to the left of the fridge is the pantry)

And yes, that is a tv above the door to the pantry. I do spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but I certainly don't need a tv in there - the previous owners left it - I doubt I'll ever turn it on+. I love the huge windows (that need to be cleaned on the outside - those wooden windows are HEAVY and I need DH to help me remove the screens so I can wash the windows)

I also didn't have a pantry in the house we just left and I'm excited to have one here. With shelves on all 4 sides, I've got a ton of room. I may or may not open it often just to look at it. 😂

I think I'll have to start thumbing through those cookbooks and try something new soon. So, I'm still cooking, but it feels REALLY odd to not be fixing meals for a crew of cowboys for days on end. After 38 years, I've been programmed to cook for them during spring branding and fall weaning and shipping. I certainly don't miss stumbling into the kitchen at 2:30 a.m. to start breakfast though! Still, it's going to take some reprogramming, because I was up at 3 this morning without an alarm, thinking I had overslept. 😳

Retirement

 Lots of folks have been asking if DH is retiring. This is my response. 🤣🤣🤣. 

Those that know him, know that 'retirement' is not in his genes. After all, our first project is putting in 2 miles of new fence in the mountains.

Our broker is a friend we've known for over 37 years and even she wondered. She's good friends with a ranch owner we know and when he found out we were moving to the area he told her, "Have him call me!" She said she left it open, but she didn't think DH was looking for a "job ".

He just spent 10 days in Texas gathering our cows and weaning our calves. Spent 1/2 a day at home and then spent 2 days as a judge for a ranch rodeo.

Friends are inquiring in disbelief, "but what is he going to DO?" We're still working. Just working for ourselves now. After all, ranchers don't retire.

But never fear - there is a list of projects.

There are welded, pipe horse pens to build. Old fence to tear out and roll up. 2 shops and a barn to clean out because much was left behind. An old chicken coop to break down. A new chicken coop to construct. An orchard to plant. Wood to cut. A garden to grow. Roads to build. Horses to work with. Cows to tend. Country to explore. A fishing pond to dig. Brush to clear. Weeds to spray. A fire pit area to install. A yard to make. A shop to set up. Sheds and old wire to break down and haul out. Friends to visit. Hunts to plan. A house to turn into a home. And most importantly, family to enjoy and grandbabies to spoil.

In other words: memories to make.

If he worked as hard as he did for someone else in his former life (80 hour weeks were the norm), he'll work just as hard, if not harder for us so, I think it's safe to say we won't be twiddling our thumbs, but we ARE going to make time to sit and enjoy the view along the way!