The past weekend marked eight weekends until move in date…but that accounted for two weekend trips that can no longer be taken due to the corona virus precautions in place. So now we’ve got two extra weekends AND Husband’s work got shut down for two weeks. So, (positive side to the virus) we’re hoping that for once, our projected date might be possible!! I’m not going to move up the date, and I’m going to try not to let us slack off, because every project takes so much longer than anticipated. Plus, I’m sure I’ve missed some major pieces of the project in my projected projects list. Cross your fingers June 1st is still going to be the date!!
Our major project this weekend was to get ourselves a subfloor (fully insulated underneath)! I think after the subfloor, the projects are all going to make the place seem more and more like a home. I am so incredibly excited to get to the point where we walk in and it finally feels like it could be a home. We’ve been working for over a year for that exact feeling! Husband put in the support beam for the loft and then with the help of my FIL we started working on getting a row of subfloor in, then getting the insulation up underneath it before the next row went it! Husband and I tag teamed the insulation installation on day one. Not a fun job.
Maverick was so cute when we got the first row of the subfloor in last weekend. See, he hasn’t been able to hang out with us at all in the Cabin since we’ve put the floor joists and beams in, and he is an incredibly family oriented dog. When we’re working on the Cabin, he’s typically laying down outside waiting for us. So, when we got the first row of subfloor in, he walked right in all excited, tail wagging, and very carefully laid down (pushing between tools and supplies to make room for himself). I’m pretty sure he just didn’t want to get booted out! It was so cute! I’m bummed I didn’t snap a photo.
I had to go to work on day two, but Husband and my FIL worked hard and got the rest of the subfloor down and all the insulation installed. I CAN’T BELIEVE WE FINALLY HAVE A BASE FLOOR!! Next week will begin the process of framing in the loft. I am so excited to finally be getting into the building projects! I can’t wait to see the space transform.
Once we got our subfloor down, we had to get to work finishing up our new pen! I had already finished the shed, but we needed to get the area fenced in and put a gate in the fenced pen. Once we got all that done, all I had to do was spread some hay in the shed to make the place cozy and we were off to bring home our new Homestead mates: Ben and Jerry!
I had a pet goat, Tramp, when I was a teenager, and I absolutely LOVED him. So when we got our property, goats were high on my list. But I didn’t want to milk every day, so I went with male goats and decided to prep for them as much as I could on my own because they are not an animal that will be providing for the Homestead. They are simply very fun, very cute pets….who might help clear blackberries and stinging nettle if we’re lucky :). I am SO in love already. I chose Nigerian Dwarfs because I was looking for a smaller breed as they’re just for fun. I’m so proud of what I was able to create for them, and I am so excited to watch them grow!
The last thing I did for the Homestead this weekend was clear out “the oasis”, an island of blackberries in the middle of one of our fields closer to our living spaces. This project was made so easy by the John Deere tractor brush mower. It took no time at all and was leaving me with that instant gratification glow I just adore. We still have so many more areas to clean up, but it felt good getting rid of this one!
The Homestead Journey 