On the Farm

Gate Installation 101

claudiaFebruary 10, 2010On the Farm

Project of the Week: Install Driveway Gate

So we’re about to start the property fencing, and our friend Ron is going to help us with that, but Mike insisted he didn’t need any help installing a driveway gate that will connect with the new fence.

Project summary and lessons learned:

1. You need a flatbed truck to get a large, heavy, metal gate home. Hanging it out the back of a Sequoia while driving down the highway is not a good idea.

2. A concrete base for a fencepost is best put in when the weather forecast calls for sunshine, not rain.

3. A 4×6 fencepost from which to hang a big gate seems reasonable–but a 6×6 is better.

4. A 3/4″ drill bit is needed to bore holes for 2″ bolts. Off to Lowes to get a new drill bit.

5. Ready to drill the holes. Uh-oh, both drill batteries dead. Charge batteries and find something else to do.

6. Okay, holes drilled. Whoops, realize that special 2″ crescent wrenches are needed to get the 2″ bolts off the hinges to hang the gate. Back to Lowes.

7. Hang the !#*^@)*# gate. Pop open a beer. Proudly send wife pictures. Put shiny new tools away ’til next time.

15 Years, 15 Blessings

Fields of Gold

Hay Hay Hay

‘shroom! ‘shroom!

Barks & Belly Scratches

claudiaFebruary 5, 2010Animals, On the Farm

Mike got a visit from a neighbor this week while working on a fence. “Sissy” from across the way stopped by to say hello. Actually, we met Sissy last year on our second visit to the farm…right before bought it. We were checking out the upper pasture when this crazy dog started barking furiously from across the road, then ran toward us at breakneck speed. Well, I tucked tail and starting running, too–AWAY from the potentially mad, rabid dog. But Mike stood his ground (as Mike usually does) and when Sissy reached him and Adrian, she dropped and rolled onto her back for a belly scratch.

Arielle’s Country Boudoir

claudiaJanuary 26, 2010Family, On the Farm

She’s usually too busy to come stay @ the farm, but when she does her room will be ready.

15 Years, 15 Blessings

A Mother’s Gift

‘country’ girl

Antiquin’

claudiaJanuary 21, 2010On the Farm, Stuff We Like

Mike, Arielle and I have been hitting flea markets and antique stores lately and snagged the following:

1. Empire table (yep, that’s “Talladega Nights” playing on the TV, with Ricky Bobby & Jean Girard in a lip-lock).

2. Oak wash stand, circa 1910.

3. Something called a “dry sink” with this neat old copper liner. Mike has claimed this one for his bar.

4. For Arielle’s room, an 1880s humpback trunk/piece of luggage and a really cool primitive table (but I’m now wondering if that chipped paint has lead in it?).

one man’s trash

A new chapter

pickin’

today’s helpful hints

B. Brown ’91

claudiaJanuary 19, 2010Inspiration, On the Farm, Stuff We Like

Found this at OutsiderInside Art in Atlanta which, sadly, recently closed up shop. The painting is by Betty Brown and was done in 1991. Apparently, she was married to a well-known primitive artist who has since passed away…last name also Brown, but whose full name I can’t recall. (Where is folk art expert Randy Siegel when I need him?) Kathy, OutsiderInside’s owner/dealer who originally purchased this work, told me that as she tried to negotiate the price, Betty walked up to her painting, stood close and stared at it for a long time, then turned around to the dealer and said slowly, “Well, that cotton took me a long time to do.” Kathy relented. Ms. Brown, wherever you are, your sweet painting has found a permanent home at our farm.