August Trip to The Shack

I recently went camping at The Shack. The dogs and I arrived Tuesday morning and left early Friday morning. I ALWAYS have big ideas when I go up and I rarely accomplish as much as I think I should. I have to work hard to convince myself to enjoy and live in the moment rather than bully myself for not getting enough done. I'm slowly learning to enjoy the views and just being up there on my land.

Other than the experience with the Flying Squirrel guest, I didn't have any one thing worth blogging about during this trip. So I'll give a summary and a few photos. I am really proud of the few things I did get finished.

Tuesday. Arrival. Put the Jeep into 4wd and bounced down the "yard" to The Shack. I came to a screeching stop mid-way down in order to stare at my lilac bush that had been stripped bare. Little toothpick-like stems with partial leaves were all that remained.

Aargh, the deer !!  The deer have ruined everything I've planted but the Paw Paw trees. I could have screamed.

Instead, I parked the Jeep. Opened the doors and windows and aired out The Shack. Swept the floor briefly to get rid of some dust and any bug carcasses (in the fall, there are hundreds of those ladybug-like bugs to sweep up). This time there weren't as many bugs to sweep up. Thank goodness.

I unloaded the things I brought.  A few groceries, a small cooler, a plastic tub that holds my clothes, hygiene items, kindle, shotgun, dog food, etc. 

Went back outside and stared at the poor lilac bush.

I thought to myself, "what would Misty Raney do?" (Misty Raney is my shero and she's the daughter on the show Homestead Rescue.  I just love her work ethic, gardening, and livestock-tending).  

I dug my overalls out of a storage bin, changed my clothes, and got to work "gathering"  8-12' skinny trees/logs with the plan to build a fence around my poor lilac/flower garden area. After all, I brought along a fig to plant - but that would be a waste of time if the deer will eat it. I need to fence in that flower garden area.

I gathered about three 12' skinny trees and four 8' trees and somehow carried them up the slope from the woods to the yard. 

those trees will make excellent fence posts

I was hot and exhausted by then. So I puttered around, admiring the Monarch butterflies, pulling some invasive garlic mustard, and trying to identify the grass that I think is invasive Japanese Stiltgrass.  I admired the giant dying poison ivy vines that I cut away at during my last visit.

Then it began to pour.  Really, really pour. An afternoon gully-washer.

I put my baby pool and my dishpan out on the deck to catch the rain. And I put multiple pans on the floor inside to catch the rain. I used the water I catch outside for bathing, washing dishes, etc. And with it raining almost as hard inside as it was outside, I decided that no matter what, I needed to make an attempt to repair the roof.

I make use of any rain that falls - Fig in the green planter; waiting to be planted

I read The Language of Flowers during the rainstorm that afternoon. And during subsequent rainstorms. But when it wasn't raining over the next two and a half days, I removed 4 full and 2 part pieces of problem tin. And then replaced it.  It was not easy work for me. But I did it!  I felt very accomplished. 

There was another pouring rain storm before I left. And there were no observed leaks inside!  YAY! The rickety Shack has a temporarily repaired roof. 

roof repair in process

Thursday afternoon was insanely hot. The breeze had changed directions - the ridge blocking any chance of breeze from The Shack. It was 90 - 100 degrees inside. A migraine came with the changing weather. The dogs and I were all pretty miserable.

When it gets that hot, the dogs and I hop in the Jeep, turn on the air, and take a ride to either the river or a historic wooded area nearby. It's a delicate balance with the dogs. People give me dirty looks sometimes - for having the dogs in the Jeep in the summer. But little do people know that it's hotter in The Shack. 

We returned when the sun started to lower and the trees created shade. 

Friday morning, I expected that the day would be just as hot as the day before so I packed up to leave. I left the Fig plant in the planter on the deck and I hope I get back up there soon enough to plant it and erect some sort of fence for it and the lilac.

I planted two paw paw trees that I had successfully started from seeds. So far, the deer do not touch the paw paw trees.  I have two planted in the yard and now two planted in the woods. Yes, I have to use a pickax to plant things at my place.

Paw Paws!

Then I headed back to the apartment. Driving out slowly and admiring the view. I always love seeing the fog below. 

I was anxious for a good soak in the tub... but missing The Shack already.  

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