Winter 2008-09

Tommy was the only family member to visit the property this winter--in December he went up to cut a Christmas tree for his family. We had made an appointment with a well driller to visit the property in late December, but unusual amounts of snow caused us to postpone that. We’ll reschedule the well driller appointment for springtime. We're thankful for the very local weather reports we get from our friends Jay and Diana! Our neighbors Larry and Lynn did go up to the property in January and pronounced it snowy but lookin' good!

Our family did lots of planning this winter, though, including a decision to move the family campsite closer to the first buildings that will be built. So one of our first projects for spring will be to choose a new location and get power extended to the campsite. This will probably be near the site of Jeremy and Katrina's cabin, and they've graciously invited the family to invade their territory. That way all the adults can still gather 'round the campfire in the evenings after the kids go to bed.

Bethany has put a lot of time into orchard planning, and we are making decisions about fencing materials. This summer we'll start fencing an area to include the utility barn, orchard, garden, and henhouse to keep the deer out and the dogs in. Eventually we'll plant a wildlife food plot near the pond for deer, turkeys, and other critters in an area we can view from our homesite.


On January 29, our first Maremma pup, Gus, was born in New York. His full name is Augustus McCrae, after our favorite character in the movie Lonesome Dove. Gus will remain in NY till he's trained to guard our home and family from potentially bothersome wildlife.

Christina is progressing on her veterinary education and will be able to help us with our livestock healthcare. She'll become a veterinary assistant this spring and then proceed with veterinary technician training till winter 2010. In January, Adele started the Snohomish County Master Gardener training. She's learning a lot of new info about gardening and horticulture, planning ahead for planting our orchard and gardens. We're also taking a forestry stewardship class to learn how to manage our timberland to be ecologically friendly and safe.