August and September 2019 at The Shack

I've slacked at sharing stories about my progress at The Shack. In part, because the progress seems minimal and in part because I'm struggling with keeping up with daily responsibilities. Despite feeling this way, I have gotten some things accomplished up on my little piece of heaven. 

I keep trying to convince myself that even if I get nothing done during my trips up to my land, it is a camping trip. And what a wonderful place to relax on a day off. The views definitely can't be beat. And if I do get something done - either for my future life up there (ex. fruit trees for me that need time to mature) or for the health of my land (ex. cutting out the invasive plants to give the native species a chance) that is a bonus. 

I have to work hard to keep those things in mind and avoid the negative self-talk that stresses me out. (ex. I'm too old, too inept, too whatever, and who am I kidding thinking that I'm going to retire up on that gorgeous homestead on that West Virginia ridge). I have to work hard to give myself permission to spend time just watching the clouds go by. If I give myself enough time, I can see a T-Rex. Can you see it?

But I digress. On to the things that I/we managed to get accomplished over a week vacation and several weekends in August and September.

I have 4 pawpaw trees planted. Two in the "yard" and two in the woods. The two in the yard were purchased from Sun Nurseries and are already around 4' tall. For the past two years I see them starting to put out fruit and each year those little buds are nipped off. By deer I assume. The deer leave the tree alone otherwise, but those fruit get nipped off almost immediately. I have finally fenced those two trees and hope that deters my ravenous four-legged neighbors.  

My oldest son came to visit. It was most excellent to have him see the place and give me some feedback about my long-term plans. We discussed the health of my woods. I have so many invasive plants (garlic mustard, japanese stiltgrass, and poison ivy vines) that I worry about. But I also have only mature trees in my woods. Dying, injured trees and mature trees. Nearly no new growth. My plan is to work hard at planting seedlings in the woods. I have been gathering sugar maple seeds and a variety of acorns, I hope to be able to start many seedlings on my own.

It was also awesome that he cooked breakfast on the deck one morning. Yes, that's breakfast. A teeny cookstove and an MRE-type breakfast inside. 

In my yard I planted a Sioux Crepe Myrtle, a Chicago Hardy fig, and a Brandywine Viburnum. I also continued to work at trimming back the poison ivy and brush in one of the two brush piles in the yard. My plan is to allow the brush piles to remain but on a much smaller scale. They are good habitat for the wildlife. And I am focused on continuing to add plants that attract birds (i.e. the Service Berry is a favorite of Cedar Waxwings).

I pulled out the Pig Root weed that was trying to choke out my Service Berry tree seedling. I weeded my flower bed (where the lilac, rose, purple coneflower, and Japanese Maple are planted and doing well)

I checked my game and anti-trespassing cams.  As usual, I have deer. Many, many, many deer. So many that I worry about them having adequate habitat and food. 

We planted a Rhododendron in the woods. 

I smoked an active wasp nest out of my grill. It was the same aggressive type of wasp that stung me in the neck last year. I was prepared for them and I didn't get stung this time.

Whatever has been snacking on my purple coneflower was kind enough to leave one gorgeous bloom behind for me. I just planted it this spring so I am hopeful that it will continue to grow and spread. 

My son fell a couple of dead trees. One of which I was worried might hit the corner of The Shack if it fell on it's own. It fell in the direction he wanted it to but it was propped up on a thick limb, the steep hill, and the apple tree. 

It has been slow work cleaning up the branches and starting to cut it for firewood. But I'm making progress. Quite an accomplishment for someone just learning how to use a chainsaw. Not only am I making progress but I also now know how to take apart and clean the chainsaw.

During my visit last weekend, I focused on watering everything. It had been exceedingly dry. Clearly no rain for days, if not weeks. I'm not sure if the poor, parched viburnum will survive that drought. The lack of rain validated my plan to install a rain catchment system.

So many things on the "to do" and "to learn" list. I'll just keep puttering along and enjoying my camping trips to The Shack.

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