Tuesday, March 6, 2018

What's Been Going On Lately



Temperatures have changed, and the sun finally came out.  The rain stopped, we’re waiting for the partially cleared clay (hole) to dry. We have more skimming, tilling, and fencing to put up before adding rich soil, and planting seeds / seedlings.

While waiting for this area to dry out, Bulldog Man and I decided we’re going to start our orchard.  We purchased our first apple tree, a Honey Crisp.  Because it was raining like crazy, we stored that tree inside the dog run against the house.  This way the deer would leave it totally alone.

Since the rain stopped, we dug a nice hole twice the size of the tree’s root base, on the south side of the property, where the tree will have sun access and plenty of space to spread out.   We added moisture retaining soil, and compost to the hole then planted the tree.  Then we placed T-Posts, and fencing around the tree, to help protect the tree from deer eating the branches, leaves, or apples when they come in.




   






 
Starting this orchard has put a smile on my face.  Now, I can’t wait until next week, when we go purchase a couple more trees.  Our goal is to plant more apple and peach trees.  Eventually, we’ll have all the trees we want planted.  This is a project in the making!!!

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I needed a larger place to dump my compost.  Right now, I have a plastic barrel designed to spin easily.  It’s just not big enough for the size of garden we eventually would like to have. 
 
After having all of our sub floors replaced in the house, we were left with all kinds of left over plywood.  Bulldog Man, Tank, and I pulled out several pieces we thought would work for making a large compost holder on the ground, not too far from the new garden we’re working on.

 
We pulled several small trees, previously cut down in the back part of the property.  Bulldog Man decided we’re going to use the trees in the corners of the compost box for support.  Here’s what the project looked like as it went up. 


Plenty of openings for ventilation, and water access when needed.  After helping the guys with the project, I attached the small trailer to the old yard tractor and drove it down the driveway toward where our drain ditch is located, out by the gate, to rake up two trailers full of damp wet leaves, and drove them over to the compost box, where I dumped them.  Everyone knows compost needs wet leaves and worms!


Tank was home to help wearing his strange boots!!!

 



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The other day while going outside, I came across approximately 23 – 25 wild turkeys, walking around our pond, near where we feed the deer.  I realized I forgot my camera, and ran back into the house.  This obviously scared the turkeys, and they wondered from the front area of the house into part of the woods out back.  I was able to capture part of a large group walking through.  This was the largest group I’ve seen on our property.


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A friend of mine, Harry at Self Sufficient Mountain Living,    commented on my blog stating he sure wished he had my energy.  I responded back to Harry with, “I have arthritis in my back, and hips. If I don't keep moving the pain is worse”.  It’s true!  So I keep on….keeping on!  My doctor suggested I see a pain management doctor to help with the pain.  Off I went to an amazing pain management doctor up in Oklahoma City.  He examined me, looked at my x-rays and MRI, and made an action plan.

This past Wednesday, I went in for 6 lumbar epidural steroid injections and 1 sacrum (to the hip) epidural steroid injection totally under anesthetic.  These injections are to help reduce inflammation around the spinal nerves and pressure on the nerve roots.   I should know in a week or so if the injections will make a difference with my pain, and actually delay/prevent me from having surgery.   I don’t dwell in my pain; I get up daily and MOVE!!!  

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In the state of Oklahoma, you’re allowed to feed the deer……..please don’t send me complaints about this!!!  I feed the deer because there isn’t much for them to eat in the winter time.  Twice a day, I provide corn and apples.  When spring starts knocking at the door, I slow down their feed to one bucket, and then eventually to none.  Lately, the deer have become a bit possessive with the feed.  I’ve started spreading only one bucket in several areas across our dam for feeding.  

 
I’ve attached several pictures of a pregnant deer trying to hog the feed, she bites and kicks the other feeding deer. 





Life is good living in the country!

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12 comments

  1. Yea for you guys getting your orchard started! Our peach trees died last year but I noticed that one of them had blooms all over the 'off shoots'. Can't wait to hear how your compost bins hold up. Ours, made out of pallets, bit the dust within 2 years. Love the video of those turkeys. And, we feed our deer corn in the winter time too.

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    1. DFW,
      We are getting our orchard started. It's going in slowly, hopefully we'll get at least 6 trees in the ground this year..... I'm keeping my fingers crossed. This evening I had Bulldog Man dump an old 25 pound of flour in the compost and mix it up with the leaves. I researched about getting rid of flour on the internet and learned it was okay to put it in the compost. We shall see if the flour breaks down okay in the compost. Im sorry to hear about your peach trees.

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  2. We tried to plant an orchard here, in our meadow. We bought about 12 trees of different types, planted them, and put deer guards around them. Then that winter it was one of those with a lot of sub zero weather, and they all died.

    You sure took the bull by the horns on the arthritis. I'm afraid to do that, scared they'll start in on me and before I know it I'll be having hip replacements and all that! So I just take two Ibuprofen and two of the other one that has the mile long name nad starts with an A, every 8 hours. Doesn't work all that well, though.

    Your place is sure coming along nicely.

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    Replies
    1. Harry,
      I'm sorry to hear about your trees not making it with the extreme winter you had. Hopefully the trees we plant will make it through the next winter. Yes Harry, I took the bull by the horns, and I'm still feeling the pain from two of the needles. I need to give it about a full week to see if the injections helped. Eventually surgery will be required. Until then I will keep trucking along until I can no longer take the pain. I know your suppose to use cold compresses on pain however, I've learned heat helps me. I use a heating pad anytime I sit down for more than ten minutes. No meds don't always work that well. Have you tried taking magnesium? I take a product called Natural Calm (a powder you mix with water) 1\2teaspoon twice a day and it helps with pain. All natural supplement.

      Slowly but surely our place is coming along😊

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    2. Have you tried turmeric for your arthritis? I had knee pain for YEARS. Someone turned me on to turmeric about a year ago. I've had almost NO knee pain since! And the stuff is CHEAP! You can get turmeric pills at Wally World, no problem.

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  3. How wonderful your orchard will be! Given the number of deer on your property, you are going to have your hands full, defending your trees! And bless your heart for helping the deer through a tough winter. All creatures need a hand from time to time. It makes me feel happier just looking at your bright, sunny header!

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    1. Susan,
      We are looking forward to picking apples and peaches years from now😊. We're hoping to fence in the trees, and deer proof every thing. There really isn't much food here in the winter for the deer. The deer feel safe on the property, their here year round. Feed is on one end of the property, and the orchard is on the other. It maybe a mistake......they say we learn from our mistakes.

      Hugs,
      Sandy

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  4. The start of your fruit orchard! Go little apple tree, go!!

    What a great looking compost bin. I love that you used trees (instead of 2 x 4s) for the corner supports.

    Sandy, you're to be given a lot of credit for refusing to sit in a chair and let that dang arthritis take over. Here's hoping your new treatment works wonders for you. You and your family have a lot of wonderful things to do on your new little homestead and I know you want to be as healthy as possible to do so many exciting things there. Hugs to you!

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    Replies
    1. Mama Pea,
      Lol!!!! Right, this little apple tree is going to have to fight with a little help from us to survive Okahoma and the two and four legged critters.

      Bulldog Man want to use the trees we cut. He also plans on using cut trees on several small out buildings for storage.

      Thank you Mama Pea for saying what you did. For years we've wanted to purchase property, and be more self reliant. Now that we have a place, I want to do everything I've dreamed of doing. Even if I have to take it a little slower to get the job done. Life is just to precious to let it pass you by. I say we all must keep on moving even if your in pain.

      Hugs,
      Sandy

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  5. How exciting HOMESTEADERS!! I love seeing you both steadily moving forward with your dream.
    We feed the deer too....I think it is a smart practice! ;)

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  6. Progress!!! Love to see it and love that you fight through and do what you need to do. That's all we can do. You know I've been back and forth on feeding deer. Some people say yes, some people say no. So far they seem to have enough to eat, we kind of just wanted to put some feed so they'd feel safe on our property but I might be drawing them in to eat our 'good stuff', ha.

    We finally have some small peaches this year, we'll see who gets them this year, us or the birds/deer/whatever else.

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