Did Someone Say Mulch?!

We had an adventure earlier this week when we went to Lowe's to pick up 2 pallets of black mulch; each pallets holds 65 bag and each bag weighs about 40 pounds, so a LOT of weight!

The Lowe's employees had a heck of a time getting both pallets loaded onto the trailer. Due to how the sides folded down and the wheel covers being in the way, it was a challenge that took quite a bit of time -

Once both pallets were loaded we ran into another issue, flat tires, both sides of the trailer -

Fortunately, the manager of Lowe's had one of those portable tire pumps that plug into the cars lighter and he was kind enough to drive over to fill both tires! Both tires were at a 27 PSI when we connected the pump but the tires require 50 PSI, so it took a while to get them filled but it worked out perfectly -

We strapped both pallets, each with two ratchet straps, to ensure they wouldn't shift as we drove, then off we went at 30 MPH to our destination some 20 miles away, UGH.  Very slow going but worthwhile to be safe.

We eventually made it to our destination, then spent the next 4 hours or so unloaded, edging and emptying bags of mulch in the flower beds around the front of the house and front trees.

A lot of work but boy does it all look great!

Now some extra strength Advil PLEASE! 

Our Humble Garden Hose Spigot

We had a Yard Hydrant (spigot) installed by our site crew -

Our house came with only one spigot and it's located in the back center of the house and we had concerns about not having a second one in the front of the house.  Our solution was a yard hydrant, which is connected directly to the incoming water line and all buried two feet underground.

It's already been successfully tested!

As the phrase from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Water water everywhere... however, we can drink our water!

Nope, Not That Aunt Bee

Aunt B with an A!

We headed to Aunt Bee's Home Cooking restaurant for breakfast in Greenville on Monday morning after our 9AM meeting -

A diner type restaurant with plenty of seating. We were seated right away and had our coffee without waiting.  Our food came out relatively fast and wasn't too bad - sausage gravy and biscuits, eggs and bacon. The wait staff was friendly too.

I'd go back.

I Spy With My Little Eye

The view of the rear our house from afar on Pritchard road -

There's not too much tree cover at the rear of our place between us and the neighbors but fortunately, they're far enough away that hopefully it shouldn't matter.

Shush!

Cat on a hot tin roof -

Seems like an odd spot for a "cat" nap.

Gravel: Nature’s Doorbell

This weekend the crew has been grading and leveling the property.  They brought their BIG tractor and grader back and have done a great job cleaning things up!

You can see the tractor passing by the front of the house below -

The area behind the house looking good -

Going up, on the right side of the driveway -

An expanded view with the pond -

They even leveled and graded the driveway too!

Looking back down towards the Pritchard road easement -

Looking up, driving up to the house -

More gravel to be delivered, dumped and spread once the final inspection of the electrical trench has been signed off on.

Things are taking shape!

A View From Above

Continued progress at the ole homestead!

Our septic system has been installed AND signed off on by the town inspector!

A nice birds eye view of the system, as well as the two halves of the house being put together -

It's been a beehive of activity this past week.  All crews have been working to take advantage of the beautiful weather to get things done, as next week looks rainy and unsettled.

Tis Empty

We're Making A Splash

We spent half a day yesterday at our farm, working to clear the overgrowth of thorns, vines - kudzu, sucker saplings and the pruning of tree limbs where necessary, from next to our pond -

The overgrowth is many years in the making, which is why there's so much and why it's so thick.  We're hoping that once the initial cleaning is done, we'll be able to maintain the areas with a mower or bush hog -

 The goal is to enjoy the pond, and the wildlife it attracts!  We're headed in the right direction and can already see how nice things are starting to look with only several hours of clean up done.

We're like a couple of Snow Whites dwarfs - hi ho, hi ho it's off to work we go...

*** UPDATE ***

We've done more cleaning and clearing!  You can really see how much we've opened things up! It looks great -

And we've only just begun...

Circle Just O K...

We stopped in and had lunch at the Circle S Butcher Block & Farm Kitchen in Greenville yesterday afternoon -

We stopped in once before, over a year ago, but didn't stay. Can't be too sure why but I believe we had an appointment and was looking for something relatively quick and to-go, so we passed.

It has the 'kitchen' feel, which is fine, however, I was expecting more of a pub feel.  The food wasn't too bad but again it was more kitcheney than I would have liked. I got barbeque beans as a side and they were very tasty!  The service could have been better and our waitress a bit friendlier but not too bad.

While seated waiting for our food, we watched an old farmer through the front window of the restaurant, relive himself out in the front parking lot - I kid you not!  He positioned himself behind his opened driver side truck door with his backside to Rt 11E, yes a major highway, and there was no mistaken what he was doing.  However, instead of relieving himself directly on the ground, it appeared he went into a container of some sort, EWWW!  The ironic thing to me was he had just finished eating in the Circle S which has bathrooms!  So why didn't he use the restroom inside and why was he doing his "business" out for everyone to see...well that I cannot answer. Another one of life's mysteries.

He was still in the parking lot when we were leaving, sitting on the tailgate of his truck, and I will tell you he was a VERY friendly and chatty old man.

I would go back but it would not be high on my list as a Greenville option.

I'm "Flush" With Excitement!

Stopped in at our homestead late this morning and was very surprised to see our new septic system being installed -

The crew planned to have the entire system in place by end of day today, as they had already reached out to the town inspector, who was expected to be on site in the morning to inspect and signoff on the work.  

Once approved, the crew will bury the system and grade the area -

Progress! We're getting SO close!

I'd Like To Place An Order...

Looks like we have a customer at our window -

She's adamant and determined to get our attention -

Poor thing doesn't realize the drive through was closed!

How Bout Some Teppanyaki?!

We dined at Yuimaru Kitchen, a Japanese restaurant here in Johnson City back on February 22. It was a birthday gathering and celebration.

The food was tasty but I was a little disappointed in the chef.  He fine and he cooked the food perfectly fine, however, he just wasn't into it.  Part of being a Japanese restaurant chef, behind that grill and with the audience gathered, they really need to get into it and be more vocal and more of a showman.  The chef we had, although he kinda tried, he missed the mark in my book.

But yes, I'd go back.

Drill Baby Drill, UGH!

My view this morning, from the oral surgeon's chair -

Tools of the trade and ready to be used on me, GULP - 

I didn't notice the gross ceiling stain until looking at this picture.  This is the work area and table behind where I was sitting -

Step 2 has been completed as of 10:45ish this morning.  The novocaine is now wearing off and I'm starting to feel the throbbing and some pain, which thankfully I did NOT have during the procedure.  Hoping the bleeding stops soon.

They did prescribe antibiotics, a strong ibuprofen and a strong pain-killer, an opioid I believe, which I have no plans to take but have at the ready if needed.

Now we wait; (4) more months of waiting for this post and graft to set properly before proceeding to step 3 - good times! 

Going Once... Going Twice II...

On our way home from the farm, we stopped at the WJ animal auction to see what they had for animals and we were NOT disappointed!  Oodles of crates with mostly chickens of all shapes, sizes and colors but also quail and rabbit and guinea pig, geese, guinea hens and peafowl!

Here are some handsome bantam roosters - 

Some white guinea fowl -

A beautiful trio of Lavender Orpingtons, my favorites -

A pair of peafowl - 

Two Appenzeller Spitzhauben roosters -

Some content white geese -

So many animals up for adoption and all SO tempting too!

House Delivery Collateral Damage

Above is a new brush burn pile.

All the limbs and branches in this pile were cut from trees along Oakdale and Pritchard, so our house would safely make it's way along those roads with damaging the house.

It's quite a BIG pile too.  A bit deceiving how much there was until we started lumping it from the driveway to where we intend to burn it all.

You Can't Contain Us!

We spent yesterday and today out on our farm mending a section of barbed wire fencing that was damaged when we had a number of trees removed.

We installed (12) new 5' tbar metal posts along a section of fencing about ~600 feet long, then we installed (4) new stands of barbed wire the entire same length.

It's difficult to see the fencing in the below pic but hoping the video link below does a better job illustrating and showing the Frye brothers handy work -

Click the link below to see a quick video showing the fence line and our handy work at installed barbed wire -

Repaired property line\fence line video

We're making progress and enjoying our time working on our land!

With All The Little Pieces!

The heart knows what the heart wants 💗

Courts In Session

We stopped in at the Jonesborough court house the other afternoon to take care of a little business -

The Ten Commandments posted at the entrance to the court house - 

Flags a fluttering -

A nice old, historic East Tennessee town.

How Bout Some ETSU Hoops!

We took in an ETSU men's basketball game against Wofford college, at Freedom Hall, this past Wednesday night.

Although, ESTU fell to Wofford 69-72 it was a great take -

Gotta be honest, the ETSU mascot was kinda lame. He was obscure and really didn't get out there to rile the crowd.  Rather he remained more in the background and was just blah -

The highlight of the night was the Honda Small Dog Race that was held on the court during the half time. Eight small dogs (under 20 pounds); defending champion Jubel, marketing icon Poppy, and six newcomers: Remi, Oscar, Oliver, Molly, Fenrir, and Dobby, competed for a $1,000 PetSmart gift card -

Only one of the dogs new what to do and what direction to head in out of the gate, see below, and won easily -

The fan favorite was a three-legged dog but he came up a leg short, DOH -

Another fun East Tennessee event!