Shed Demo (part 2)

more progress on the shed demo

In February, I finally worked up the nerve to begin demo on the shed. That included working up enough nerve to stand close enough to the shed to begin pulling off some of the siding. I was proud of the little bit of progress I made during that weekend visit.

You can read about the beginning of the Shed Demo - The Shed Has Got to Go! here. 

Last weekend I was back at The Shack and I continued pulling some of the vinyl siding off the two sides that I could reach.  I removed the vinyl, cleaned off the dead bug carcasses and spiders, and stored it in The Shack to be used later. I worked very hard to keep track of the hundreds of rusty nails.

My plan was to remove all of the vinyl and plastic portions while dropping the wood and nails into the hole underneath. When finished, I planned on burning the wood then burying the remaining nails and metal trash. 

As I pulled the plastic barrier, dust and bugs flew everywhere and the shed shook and rocked. I removed some of the particle board wall. The wooden walls and studs were so rotten that they crumbled into dust if I squeezed too hard. 

rotten wood and rusty nails galore

I began to realize that there would be no safe way to lean a ladder on the remaining side in order to begin removing the vinyl siding. 

I decided to not leave the structure standing as it was so close to tipping over. I gave a couple of shoves and pulls and the building toppled over easily.

Looking out at my handiwork at the end of the day. I was pleased.

During my next visit I will find a way to continue to safely remove the vinyl and plastic from that final wall while dropping the rotten wood into the pit. 

It may not seem like much progress, but I am THRILLED. That was a giant step for me. Everyone who homesteads does so at their own pace. Or should. The important thing is to just keep moving forward toward your dream. 

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Bird Journal: Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker - photo courtesy of Pixabay

I knew it!  I just couldn't prove it! Until recently. There are Northern Flickers at The Shack. I'm thrilled to have finally positively identified one. And through the excitement of seeing an elusive Flicker I am learning a bit more about them.

When I lived in my previous apartment, a single Northern Flicker sat perched on a tall, dead tree very near to my 3rd floor balcony. That is how I became familiar with what the large woodpeckers looked like. I moved away from that apartment and hadn't seen a Flicker since.

At The Shack, a couple of years ago, I thought I saw a Flicker. But it was at a distance. I let self-doubt creep in.

Flicker at the birdbath with the support of a bluebird.

During the camping trip in February the Flicker came to visit my birdbath! Several times. The Flicker was bashful, clearly knowing that there was motion inside of The Shack. He flew away every time I moved even the slightest bit. While the bluebirds clearly know when I am present (they seem to look in the windows to see if I'm there) they allow me to move around in front of the window and take photos of them. So I moved my position (hiding behind the wall) and propped my camera up (I REALLY need a tripod) and I waited. Eventually, the Flicker joined the bluebirds. I could barely contain my excitement.

The next morning, if I held perfectly still, the Flicker came on his own.

My photos aren't very clear because the double-pane windows at The Shack have some condensation between the panes at the bottom. But between my photos and watching with the binoculars, I clearly see that I have a male Northern Flicker as a neighbor! And in the morning light, his colors are especially beautiful.

For a bit, I thought I may also have a female Flicker present. But I did not get photos of her. And it may have just been the male but at angles that made his mustache hard to see.  You can be sure I will continue to watch for the Flickers and hope that it is a pair living there. 

 a Flicker's colors are beautiful - even through a foggy window

Northern Flickers

Since seeing the male Flicker, I have looked up some additional information. I now know that:

• Male Flickers (eastern) have a black "mustache" and the females do not (western birds have a red mustache)
• Other identifying colors of the yellow-shafted birds in the east include a white rump (visible in flight), red crescent on the back of the head, and a black bib. They also have grey and tan shades of face.
• Northern Flickers are woodpeckers but they also spend a good deal of time on the ground (which I observed in my yard)
• They eat mainly ants and beetles (which may explain why they like my woods. I'm told many of my trees are dead from beetle-kill). 
• Flickers aren't known to frequently visit bird feeders but do like birdbaths (yay!)
• Northern Flickers are migratory - although in West Virginia, the map shows that they remain year 'round.
• Northern Flickers nest in hollow trees. 

Related Links:

For more information about the Northern Flickers, including recordings of their sounds, visit theCornellLab's All About Birds site. I cannot access the internet at The Shack, but when I return to the land of internet connections it is my favorite site for identifying birds.

Because my woods is dying and the hollow trees are falling down, I want to put a nesting box (or two) up for the Flickers. NestWatch includes measurements and tips for making bird boxes specifically for the species of birds. 

I keep a bird identification book handy since the internet is not accessible while at The Shack.  I like the DK Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of North America. While more expert birders would recommend other field guides, I like this one because it is easy for a novice to use and the photos are in color and very helpful.




*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

Shed Demo - The Shed Has Got To Go!

As with many projects, the hardest part is knowing where to begin and taking that first step. I've been planning to tear down this little building ever since the first time it blocked the view from the window. I've just been too afraid to begin.

The existing shed. Falling down and scary. 

The shed scares me. I think the previous owner/builder of the shed had planned on putting in an outhouse. Local rumor is that the owner argued with the county about whether or not he was trying to build an outhouse. It sure looks like a good beginning for an outhouse to me (which the county does not allow). There is a huge hole dug under the shed. 

I imagine all sorts of wildlife living under there... from bears, to skunks, to spiders and snakes and the bogeyman. The shed gives me the heebie-jeebies. I won't walk near it unless it is broad daylight for fear of what might jump out at me.

No, it isn't a rational fear. I know it's not rational. But I'm still very scared of that shed. And for everyone who thinks I'm brave to go camping at The Shack, you can see that I'm not really so brave after all. 

From the time I bought the land, that building has been shedding pieces (see what I did there? haha). Little bits of roof or siding are blown off and during each camping trip I'm out in the yard picking up bits of shed litter from the yard.

During my trip over the long weekend in February, the shed had lost even more shingles and siding. And it has started to lean noticeably.  I decided to be brave and even if I just pulled one piece of something down, it would be a start.

Over time the roof shingles have all blown away.

Rusty nails and rotted wood everywhere.

The amount of siding that has blown off.
And look how much the building has begun to lean.

I salvaged a crate full of brackets and some aluminum pieces from inside the rickety building - the rotting floor barely able to hold my weight. Then I started pulling some siding down.

Under that siding and plastic were a large variety of bug carcasses and spider eggs. It was very disgusting. But I kept at it. I worked very slowly and carefully, trying not to drop any of the rusty nails. There is already an enormous amount of rusty nails jutting out from the boards, I did not want to add to that danger.

I swept off the removed pieces of siding and I took it inside The Shack to store for later projects. I might salvage enough siding for a small chicken coop or dog house!  

I did not get very far. Other people could have torn down the entire shed in one day. On one hand I feel frustrated that I accomplish so little during each trip. On the other hand, I tell myself that it's okay. I'm not other people. And that I got started is progress enough. Not only is it enough, it's pretty darn remarkable. 

The progress I made removing siding.

I'm a "mature", out-of-shape grandmotherly type who has never demo'd any building on my own. Let alone a terrifying shed. 

Overall, I am pretty proud of the progress I made.

PS. I forgot to mention that the additional motivation to tear down the shed came from having reached out to a builder. I've sent him information about how I want to build the new Shack and I'm waiting to hear back for an approximate cost. There is a slim chance I can begin building in 2020!  That motivated me to begin working on removing that ugly old shed. 

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

A Jar Full of Biscuits

Delicious biscuits from scratch.

I've recently had some really good luck at making flaky, tasty biscuits with a new-to-me recipe and technique. I am so proud of these pretty biscuits that I keep them on display in a jar on the kitchen counter. 

This recipe and tips came from Appalachia's Homestead with Patara. I have tried to make biscuits from scratch previously. Many times. But they came out flat and dry. Sometimes they were bitter. I finally gave up on making my own biscuits. I kept buying Bisquick or those biscuits in the cans that can be found in the refrigerated section of the store. 

Recently, after a weekend of binge-watching homestead videos on youtube and after watching several of Patara's videos on making taller biscuits, I was inspired to try again.  I chose her "splitting the fats" recipe and gave it a try. The results were taller and tasty Bisquick-like biscuits. I will no longer have to spend money on Bisquick mix!!

Since that success, I have made these biscuits every day or two. They are so quick and easy to make! With the exception of bagels, I have not purchased any bread from the store. 

These are the biscuits from my first batch:

Patara includes her tips for taller biscuits and preheating the oven and pan. I'm convinced those two tips have helped me be successful with this recipe. 

The recipe itself is so easy that I just have this list of ingredients hanging on my fridge for convenience:

In addition to Patara's helpful tips, I have adjusted for my own style. Initially, I thought I'd buy a biscuit cutter. However, I think I prefer the small square biscuits I get by cutting the dough with a knife. Also, I have found that if I roll the dough out on my baking stone (at a cold room temperature and lightly floured) I am successful rolling the dough. 

I am very excited about being able to quickly make these biscuits. I will no longer have to buy Bisquick or canned biscuits (which aren't cheap). Also, I am glad to be developing skills that will help reduce my trips to the grocery store once I move to The Shack. Living here at the apartment means there is a Wal-Mart within easy walking distance and several convenience stores in between. I can shop for meals every single day on the way home from work. At The Shack, the closest convenience stores are driving distance and large grocery store is almost 10 miles away and Wal-Mart is 25 miles away. I want to increase my skills (cooking, gardening, canning, etc) so that I can decrease my drives to the stores. 

Here is Patara's tutorial for tall, delicious, easy biscuits using two types of fat.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you

Sights and Sounds at The Shack in January 2020

I hadn't gone camping at The Shack since NOVEMBER! That is far too long between visits. But this past weekend I was able to go up and enjoy my little bit of land on the ridge. Here are just a few of the sights and sounds from the trip.

It was extremely foggy when I arrived. I had to hang my head out the window in order to stay on the road. I began a few false turns before I was able to find the Santa sign in my yard literally a couple feet in front of me. The fog up there is thick, disorienting, and like something from a movie set. Mother Nature is amazing.

It was cold in the top half of The Shack. Only 40F degrees when I arrived Friday evening. But I am not going to complain. I believe the weather was more mild that what is usual for January.

I immediately lit a fire in the wood stove and settled in. I LOVE that old wood stove and the crackling fires.

I also lit the kerosene heater that my BFF left for me when he borrowed The Shack in December. Between the kerosene heater and the wood stove, I almost cooked myself out!  It was a nice 72F degrees in that drafty, uninsulated building!

It rained all evening. I couldn't watch the stars as I fell asleep, but that was okay. The rain beating on the tin roof (yes, rusted!) was a nice sound. Sorry, I didn't think to record that.

In the morning, I had an egg and sausage bagel - cooked on top of the wood stove. 

While my food cooked, I checked the game cam memory cards. The batteries had run out on both cameras but there were still plenty of photos. No bears this time. But plenty of deer, cats, and birds. The bird bath continues to be a popular spot to visit. It is clear that when the bird bath is dry, the wildlife still checks it out. Then when it rains, they gather for a drink. I look forward to being able to always keep it filled. In the meantime, I'm glad the animals at least get a drink when it rains. 

The remainder of the weekend was dry but very windy. Confirmation that in addition to my solar panels, a wind generator would probably be a productive piece of equipment on my land. 

And last but definitely not least, I've met someone who is beginning her West Virginia country living dream. Her name is Deb and if you would like an introduction to Deb and her land, you can read about it here. 

The view as I leave....           it's so hard to leave.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.

Introducing Deb - She's Making Her Dream Come True

I would like to introduce you to Deb. She and I are very similar in some ways. Deb has decided to make her own dream of living in the country true. She took the huge first step and has purchased her own piece of land.

The country road approaching her land

Congratulations Deb on taking that step! And congratulations on finding such a glorious piece of Almost Heaven, West Virginia!

This weekend I spent time at The Shack. On Saturday I went by Deb's land. I am thrilled for her. Absolutely thrilled. She and I "met" on social media. On Twitter. Someone had asked a question like "If money were no object...." and my answer was something like "Build The Shack and buy the adjacent lot". Deb commented to me that she's been looking at land in West Virginia, from east to west and some places further south. She definitely has actively house-hunted for longer than I had and in many more parts of the state. Coincidentally, she had looked in the same area that The Shack is located. Deb was serious about choosing the place of her dreams. For both of us, that dream includes being more rural than our current urban/suburban locations. For both of us, that includes a place that allows chickens and is large enough for a garden.

Anyway, as usual, I've rambled. 

Saturday I went to see her land. She gave me the tour and it was breath-taking. I'm so happy for her.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The existing hint of a driveway.
Note: the photo does not adequately show the steep incline.

Up the steep "driveway" and down the hill is a hidden pond.
A wonderful, glorious pond!

I instantly fell in love with the pond.

Deb and her pond.

Neither of us know why this rock looks like this.
But it is interesting.

Back down the hill where holes are being dug for the gate.

Digging holes on ridges in WV feels (to me) like trying to widen
the grand canyon using a teaspoon. It's not easy. Fortunately, her cousin is
helping her get things started.

Deb's country road.

This piece of land is amazing. I look forward to watching her progress in turning this bare land into the home of her dreams.

The Benefits of SLOOOOW Progress Toward My Homesteading Dreams

For the most part, I feel like moving toward my retirement homestead dream is not happening quickly enough. I become overwhelmed and frustrated. I question my sanity and wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew. However, I also sometimes think of the good things about this snail's pace progress - spanning over four years so far.

(The photo is mine - The Shack October 2019. The Slow/Caution sign is available on Amazon).

The tangible act of purchasing the land occurred in 2015. I go camping there as frequently as possible and dream about living there. And I continue to adjust my plans as I wait.

Maybe this writing is an attempt to make myself feel better about going so slowly. This is definitely NOT a jab at people who have the means and personality to make decisions and make the move immediately. I am learning, I think, that for me there are some important benefits to moving at a glacial pace and getting to know my land before building and living there.

I feel like yammering on about the planning in general. There may be future posts that include more detail but today I am sharing my thoughts that skim the surface of my planning.

Caution: this is likely to be a long and boring post for those who aren't in the midst of their own homestead dreaming.

Off-grid or On-grid

When I bought the land, even though the electricity is available, I had grand plans of living off-grid. No bills from public utilities. Woohoo, wouldn't that be wonderful?!  As I camp up there I realize how much I miss air conditioning during the hot and humid days. And the ease of turning a faucet to produce hot, running water needed to comfortably wash off the stink after a day of work.

I also have dreams of raising my own meat. And for that, I imagine using a freezer.  As I imagine a freezer, a fridge, and air conditioning I imagine myself being at least partially reliant on the grid.

As expensive as it is, I'm leaning heavily toward solar and wind systems that are tied to the grid. I have been watching videos of homesteaders who are tied to the grid but don't sell their power back to the utility company. They have a way of flipping their systems to public utilities on the days their solar/wind systems aren't producing sufficiently. I believe I have decided to use this system.

However, as you'll see if you read on, my plans often change.

From the "top" of my yard, you can just barely see 

The Shack roof through the fog.

Many, Many Different House Plans

I believe my house plans is the thing that has morphed the most over time. It isn't easy (for me) to choose a dream home that will best meet my needs (and my finances). This is a sample of my indecisiveness over time:

• Rebuild and fortify the existing Shack. Nope. Too small at 20 x 24 (480 sq ft).
• Log cabin with a loft. Nope. Changed my mind. 
• 2 story Monitor Barn. Nope. 
• Hire Lancaster Cabins to build a cabin for me. As much as I love their work - nope. They no longer do site builds.
• Back to the Monitor Barn idea. I sure do love Monitor Barns!!!  But Nope. I never ended up liking any floor plans that would fit in that footprint. 
• A grandiose home with some sort of 2nd floor "turret" for second floor/outdoor access. Oh yes! If I had a viewing area tall enough, I'd have a 360 degree view. Back to reality - Nope. Can't afford that. I'll stick with carrying my lawn chair to the top of the yard for the that view.
• Back to rebuilding the existing Shack to save money. Big Ol' NOPE as it seems to be starting to settle and lean downhill a bit. 
• 16' x 40' ft mobile home plan as a guid with some revisions. This equals 640 sq ft floor plan. And hopefully on a cinder block, walkout basement foundation. Yes! This is my future home plan.

I have finally decided on that floor plan that meets both my needs and the restrictions on my land (Basically, I have to have over 400 sq foot and it can't be on wheels). I have stuck with this floor plan for a long while now. So, I'll make some minor adjustments after getting advice from the builder (i.e the placement of the plumbing), but I have decided on this floor plan. This decision came only after having camped up there for so long. I now know which direction that natural light comes from. Which directions the breeze comes from. How close I want to remain to the tree line so that I can watch the birds and how far down the hill I want to remain to avoid the never-ending, choking dust from the dirt road.

Looking up at The Shack from the downhill side

and through the trees. Showing both why I want 

to tear it down and build new as well as why 

I think a walkout basement 

would be great.

Passive Solar

I have thought a lot about passive solar for warming in the winter time.  The more I camp up there, the more I am convinced that this is a great idea. With ceramic or stone floors and a big old window facing the south view (which is where I want one of the two primary views anyway) I will have a wonderful source of heat every time the sun shines during cold weather.

 

Daisy and I soaking up the sun during our last camping trip. 

The other side of The Shack registered a cool 40 degrees.

 But we were warm and toasty laying in the sun. The sunlight

alone allowed me to let the fire burn out. Times like

this have made me confident that passive solar heat (in 

combination with wood heat) will work out great!

Wood Heat

I sure am getting a lot of practice with the wood stove. Cutting firewood and learning how to burn it so that it lasts longer.  I LOVE the little woodstove that came with The Shack and will definitely be using wood heat in my future home.

Kindling in the woodstove. I'm getting better

at starting a fire quickly.

Water Catchment

Due to the location of The Shack, high on the ridge, I cannot have a well dug.  I'll have a water cistern and water delivered to that storage system. But I will also have a rain catchment system.  A natural water source is a "must have" for many homesteaders. I hope that I don't later regret choosing land on top of a ridge that doesn't have any sort of spring or well. We'll see. 

It often seems like the weather on top of the ridge is more dry than in the valley below (I often see that it is raining below me but then the rain clouds blow around and past my little piece of land). However, when it does rain it fills my camping rain catchment system (a blue kiddie pool) quickly. 

I think because I've been so frugal with water during my camping trips - carrying my water from the apartment, using a local spring, and catching rain water - I think my awareness of water usage will help me be okay. Only time will tell. 

The amount of rain caught during one brief downpour

one day in October. This makes me feel confident that

a good rain catchment system will help keep an adequate

water supply at all times.

Where to Put What: animals, trees, and garden Oh MY!

I am still changing my mind every few days about where to place the gardens and the small animal barns. I do know that I will refrain from planting trees just south of my home due to my plan to use passive solar. I'll need to avoid having shade and shadows on that side of the house.

Beyond that, I'm undecided where to plant things.

My thoughts about where to place the garden is ever-changing. I had initially planned to have the garden at the 'top' of my yard. But if I have rain catchment at the house, I'd have to carry water from down the hill to the top. No thanks. Some days I can barely carry myself up that hill! 

I definitely think my idea of having a grandiose garden is changing. Since my soil is ridiculously rocky, I will plan on doing hugelkultur beds scattered here and there. And, I think my largest vegetable garden area will be butted up against the house and fenced in - an attempt to keep the deer from eating everything to the ground. 

I also am undecided about where to place the small animal barn (I plan to have goats and rabbits at some point) and the chicken coop. There are so many things to consider.

Barn North of the House - On the bedroom side of the house, which means I'd hopefully be able to hear any night-time drama or predators. But it will also mean that the house would be downwind during those hot summer days when the wind blows from that direction. A possiblity of having a stinky breeze! Yuck.

Barn South of the House - On the livingroom side of the house. So that barn and animals would be in the view from that large, passive solar window side of the house. Good and bad. The barn and animals would be in my view.... and the barn and the animals would be in my view. I really like the idea of having a view of only yard and woods.

Barn toward the top of the yard from the house - This seems like the best placement. I could easily deliver hay and feed at the top of the hill. However, it also means walking up and down that steep, steep, STEEP yard to do chores 2+ times a day. At least I wouldn't need a gym membership!

Pests: Deer, Bear, Groundhogs, Raccoons, Squirrels.....

The game cams, slow progress in moving toward living there, and the camping trips have been very educational in the way of knowing how prevalent and damaging the wildlife is up there on that ridge.

I definitely am working hard to maintain a large portion of my land that is a welcoming and healthy habitat for the wildlife. But with that is coming the awareness that wildlife is damaging to plants and trees. The wildlife will wreak havoc on my future vegetable gardens if I don't plan carefully.

I've had to take down bird feeders due to the raccoons and bear. That makes me sad. The deer have killed MANY plants I've started up there (raspberries, blackberries, a Japaneese Maple, and several fig trees - just to name a few) which makes my checking account unhappy. 

The raccoon emptying the bird feeder. He stole 

the suet feeder. Somewhere I have photos of the bear

stealing my birdseed. And he/she destroyed my favorite

feeder. While I love the wildlife, my visitors are

very destructive. 

More Pests: Invasive Plants (Stiltgrass, garlic mustard, massive poison ivy vines and a new vine still unidentified)

I am learning about invasive plants and the poor health of my woods. I have a long way to go in this area. But it is definitely a focus of mine. Succession planting, prescribed burns, and disturbed land are new but important phrases in my knowlege base.

I have learned that because my land (the yard portion) was previously an apple orchard, then left unattended, has created a perfect setting for the invasive plants to come and take over. 

This is the one area that is not benefitting from my very slow move to living there. If I lived there, I could pull more garlic mustard out and cut down more poison ivy vines. If I had a water source, I'd feel comfortable burning out some of the stiltgrass on a windless day. I am hopeful that when I live there, these things will get done. 

Thanksgiving

I think the best result of my dream taking years to evolve has been that I am thankful for the land and the experiences I've had thus far. I have new skills and new confidence in some areas. I am thankful for the time I've spent there and gifts Mother Nature has given me. And I will be even more thankful for the home that has taken so long to build. 

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you

Related Links:

I've known I want to build a "small" house for a long while. This post explains 3 Reasons I Want to Build a Small Home. 

I do have 2 solar panels from Renogy. I LOVE them. Unfortunately, I have to replace the worn out, new-to-me batteries with new batteries. But the time that I did use the Renogy panels was helpful and convinced me that at least some of my power will come from solar. 

If you are looking for a THOW (tiny home on wheels) you MUST check out Lancaster Cabins (Keystone Kabins). If I could have a THOW on my land I would absolutely buy one of these. Check out my review. They are beautiful, quality cabins with a reasonable sticker price.