5/24/2019 Day
1
We
arrived at our property today with our cabin already delivered and set up. We
pulled in with a twenty-foot trailer that was loaded with all our stuff. We got
the trailer set up to where we could unload it efficiently. We want to work
smart and not hard. I stopped to look over our property which had turned green
since we were last up here.
It
looked like we had not touched anything because the grass had grown up over and
around everything. We knew we had a job cut out for us. We got everything
unloaded off the trailer and into the cabin because we feared it would rain.
Then, the cabin became cluttered. We were already exhausted from the five hour
drive it took us to get here and then having to unload the trailer. Let’s just
say we both didn’t care how hot it was we collapsed onto the bed and fell
asleep.
5/25/2019 Day
2
The
night had been chilly, and it felt nice and cool inside the cabin enough to
where we didn’t want to get out of bed, but we knew that there was work that
needed to be done. We got up and drove into town stopping to get a cup of
coffee before going to Walmart to get some things we needed. We loaded up on
water and food before buying a five-gallon gas can to have for the lawn mower
and weed eater.
We then
headed back out to the property which is about nine miles from any store or gas
station and began setting up the lawn mower and weed eater to get started with
clearing the property. Our focus was to get the front and back yard done so
that when we were ready to build a fence, we knew the boundaries. The dogs have
been able to run free except for one because we never know when she will bolt
off the property. Once the fence is installed, she will then be able to run
free with the others.
We
spent the better part of the day in the sun clearing the yard and hauling
branches and tree limbs to a pile where the grass had already been mowed. We
worked as a team except for a few tiny arguments because of being in the heat.
We took a break and went to cool off sitting on our front porch and then apologized
to each other for the outbursts and arguing.
We
worked on the yard until the sun had gone down and it became to dark to see. We
are here with no power except for a large generator which we only use at night
to run our air conditioner enough to cool it off and a lamp. We have no water
except for the gallon jugs we fill at Walmart and a five-gallon bottle. We
conserve the water to make sure it lasts long enough to have for the dogs and
to bathe with. Once we are done in the evening, we do a wash up from a tub of
water and then we lay down to enjoy the coolness from the air conditioner until
the generator runs out of gas, then we go to sleep.
5/26/2019 Day
3
Sunday
is supposed to be a day of rest, and we agreed that we would take the day off,
but it didn’t happen. We both ended up outside in the heat clearing more
property. We have almost three acres of land to clear and we have managed to
get half an acre cleared already. The dogs are enjoying the space and must
inspect every area that is cleared and mowed down. We still have a long way to
go before reaching the back property line but working on it every day we will
finally reach the back.
My
husband loves the fact that there are blackberry bushes everywhere, but we had
to agree which had to go and which ones could stay. Where the house is going to
be added on, those blackberry bushes had to go to make room for the house.
We will
never be bored here with so much work to do. I get to work in the mornings and
evenings outside while spending the hottest part of the day inside working on
my books. It is so quiet here and the reason for the move was to get away from
all the drama and to give me a place to write quietly.
It hurt
us a bit financially to make this move and today I began looking at the bills
and how was I going to catch them up. Some bills will not get paid on time and
some will only get partial payments until I can get them caught up. Everyone
will just have to wait until we get things back on track which should happen
sometime next month.
Some
bills will be paid off in a couple months while others stretch out until the
end of the year. When doing the budget, I also have to budget in gas for the
generator and car, plus water until we get a water source here on the property.
I might have to buy dowsing rods to locate the water, but we do have IBC totes
which once we get rain gutters installed, we will have the rainwater catch
system for a water source.
5/27/2019 Day
4
This
morning I woke up to my husband wanting intimacy which we both needed some
release. After that he made me a cup of coffee and enjoyed watching the sun
come up together. Once the sun came up and our coffee cups empty, we went to
work cutting and pruning trees while I ran the weed eater. The afternoons are
very windy here and it blows through the cabin keeping it cool. It also keeps
it from becoming to hot outside which my husband and I have already been burned
by the sun.
We will
be taking a trip back to Walmart later to buy ice for our cooler which keeps
our drinks and water cold. This evening we will be hauling more trees and
branches to the wood pile and cleaning up the yard from our mess. Right now, my
husband is taking a nap since he hasn’t been sleeping well for about the last
week due to the stress of moving. But things are still moving right along.
5/28/2019 Day
5
Today
was a mediocre day but stress levels began to rise as the day went on. I know
that my husband says he doesn’t believe in God, so I have to have enough faith
for both of us. He began digging for water today while I used the weed eater to
clear more grass and brush.
He
began getting frustrated after digging four feet because he had not found water
yet, but I tried to keep him motivated to dig deeper. We had to make an ice run
and trips out to the local post office to put in change of address cards and
visit the local social security office to change our address with them. He got
even more frustrated because I closed our food stamp case for Georgia and
applied here in Tennessee. I will not be a part to fraud, and he was just
exhausted mentally from the move and having to work so hard on clearing the
property.
We have
cleared half an acre so far and found numerous blackberry bushes and fruit
trees which we can sell at the local farmers market in town. Anything to help
us out financially. It hurts to see him frustrated because we are always broke
and behind on bills, but I can only do so much.
I will
keep positive about things and do the best we can. It will take a few months
but we will be back on track soon and everything will be okay.tt
5/29/2019 Day
6
It was
a good morning with the dogs happy and enjoying themselves outside playing
while we drank coffee on our porch. After that, we got ourselves together for
work and went out into a breezy morning cutting and pruning trees as well as
clipping vines that were attached to the trees. I hate those vines and with
their thorns it hurt quite a bit moving them.
My
husband did most of the work while I stayed inside the cabin organizing things
where they should go. He would take breaks and come in and check on me because
he knows that moving around a lot can drop my sugar quickly and we haven’t even
looked up where the nearest hospital is located.
I
finally got things organized and put into place and was ready to join him
outside working. He was taking down trees while I grabbed the weed eater and
went to work. I worked for a few hours and kept regular checks on my sugar
levels which have been in the one-hundreds for a while since moving to our
property and keeping away from the drama of everyone else’s lives.
It was
a good day and we finally got to meet one of our neighbors who is Mennonite and
lives completely off the grid. He has several acres next to us and eats what he
grows and hunts. I thought he was a nice man and he gave us some advice about
our property quality. I rather enjoyed his visit while my husband thought there
was something wrong with him. I had to explain how that culture survives and
all I got was a funny look. But it was still a good day.
5/30/2019 Day
7
Today
started out groggy because of my medicine and the fact that I was exhausted
from the prior days work. We go to bed early and wake up early here. It is
funny how it happens when we were always going to bed late and sleeping late
and our prior residence.
We
worked hard all-day clearing land and piling it all up on a clearing next to
our driveway. We work good as a team, but he still worries about me and if he
sees me struggling with something he will come over and do it for me. I
appreciate him so much because of how well he looks after me. Sometimes, he
cares more about me than himself.
Our
neighbor on the other side of us a few lots away came over to introduce himself
and he seemed like a nice man too. The other neighbor told him how we were
digging a well and hadn’t hit water yet. They had two wells and offered to fill
our two IBC totes with water for us so that we could have water for bathing or
whatever we needed. So, he took my husband and the totes over to his property and
they cleaned them out and filled them both with water while I continued to work
on the property. We are putting sweat equity into our property because of
wanting to live out our dreams of homeownership and a house that we built.
5/31/2019 Day
8
Today
is payday for us and we got up and headed out first thing in the morning after
our one cup of coffee. We went out and paid bills and bought stuff that we
needed, and this was a whole day adventure. We went to Lowes, which is over the
state line in Mississippi, and I wanted to walk around and look while he kept
trying to rush me. I finally told him that after riding in the car all day that
I wanted a chance to walk around and stretch my legs. He still kept rushing me.
We got
everything we needed and now have a spicket on our totes to get the water in
desired amounts. The dogs are happy with the water, but my husband is not used
to drinking well water and he needs to get used to it. Our neighbors offered to
give us water any time we needed it until we get our well drilled. I thought
that was pretty nice of them.
We are
going to bed early tonight to get a fresh start in the morning on clearing more
property from brush. We have half an acre already cleared and looking nice for
a yard and good curb appeal. My husband is exhausted and so am I so I will cut
this post short. Good night.
6/1/2016 Day
9
I was
too drowsy this morning to get up with my husband, so he allowed me to sleep
another hour before waking me up to work. By the time I got up, he already had
one corner of the property at the road cut down, pruned, and cleaned up. I got
out there and helped a little but today I begin working on my books again and
for a couple hours everyday I come inside and write.
My
husband has been outside working while I am here writing articles and working
on my next book. He was outside when our neighbor came over and I got to meet
his wife who is really nice, and they like to stay away from drama which is
good. They stay to themselves and have projects around their property that they
are working on.
He came
over today to check on us because our truck has a slow leak in one of the back
tires. While my husband was outside with him, I had an episode of hypoglycemia
where my sugar check read forty-four and I began to get confused and shaky, so
I called for him and told him that I needed him. When he came inside, I tried
to tell him what was going on but it was hard to speak and move.
I lost
the feeling from the waist down and felt like I was going to pass out and he
made me eat a couple of snack cakes we just bought and it wasn’t helping much,
so we went to get something to eat and my husband drove like he was panicking.
He kept asking if I wanted to go to the hospital and I kept telling him no.
We got
something to eat and right now I am still a little wobbly, but better than I
was earlier. Thank God I wasn’t alone, or I would have gone into diabetic shock
which is what I think was beginning to happen until he made me eat those snack
cakes. He just came in to check on me and I told him I am better. I love him so
much. Well, I need to get working on my other writing tasks and he wants me to
check my sugar again, so I will leave you until tomorrow. Take care.
6/2/2019 Day
10
This
morning I got up to go to church for the first time in years and it felt good.
I know that I have to church shop to find the one that best suits me, but I
think this church will be my home church. When I got home, my husband was
clearing more property around his blackberry bushes. He asked me how church went
and then it was back to work for me.
I
picked up the weed eater and went to work clearing the tall grass that filled
the pathway to the back of the property. The dogs had a fun time and even
helped my husband dig in the new spot that he is going to try and find a water
source. The last hole was a bust so it will be our outhouse until we get some
more of the house built to include indoor plumbing.
We then
both took a nap and he tried to wake me, and I had wanted to go to Sunday night
service but clearing the property had been a priority since we moved here and I
know that I should put God first. I will go back to church Wednesday night for
bible study and go from there.
All in
all, it was a good day and we got plenty of area cleared. We finally sat on the
front porch and watched the dogs play while drinking a cold beverage. Today was
a good day.
6/3/2019 Day
11
Today
we got up and had our coffee before going back to work on clearing more of the
property. It was hot with the sun beating down enough to give us both a little
sun burn. We got most of the front yard done with a small corner left to do.
The
dogs were having fun running around free and playing. They just don’t know that
they will have a fenced in yard with no escape yet. With what little money we
had left, we bought a few can goods to eat, but haven’t had much of an appetite
because it being so hot. We had a good day.
6/4/2019 Day
12
This
morning when we got up and had our coffee, it was an overcast day and looked
like rain was coming but it never showed up. We spent the day cleaning up our
mess and raking all the mulch we did with the lawn mower and getting it ready
for grass seed. There is some grass, but I want to give the dogs a nice thick
lawn to lay and play in.
After
several hours of moving branches and small trees that were cut down, we got
most of the front yard cleaned up and most of the mulch put into piles for pick
up. By the end of the day, we were exhausted and looked forward to sleeping. We
have nothing but time to clean up the property and found more blackberry
patches as we cleaned up. The yard was looking good and we could see the hard
work we put into it. We are putting sweat equity into our property.
6/5/2019 Day
13
This
morning we thought we would take a day off which in the end we still got out
into the yard and cleaned up some more. We are not punching a time clock but
feel the need to work everyday to get the property cleared and cleaned up.
We did,
in fact, work only half a day today because it started to rain a little bit. It
felt good because the rain here is cold and being in the heat so much it feels
replenishes our body temperatures. Sometimes we sit on the porch and talk about
the plans for the property. I am glad my husband has some input now that he has
found his blackberries.
6/6/2019 Day
14
We woke
up to cloudy skies and lots of wind. We watched as the clouds rolled in and saw
the lightning strikes in the distance. We knew that we weren’t going to get any
work done today. About an hour later, it began thundering overhead and the rain
poured from the heavens. It had been dry so long that it made me happy to see
everything getting water.
Halfway
through the day I began to not feel well. I had a migraine starting and tried
laying down. A couple hours later, I felt nausea and did not want to eat
anything. My head hurt all day while it poured rain outside. The smaller
puppies were not used to thunder and lightning and it freaked them out enough
to snuggle up to me trembling.
We laid
in bed most of the day while my migraine got worse. I took a pain pill with
hopes that it would help, but it kept me up most of the night and I blacked out
and fell twice. Let’s just say I didn’t get much sleep.
6/7/2019 Day
15
Today
was another rainy day with flash flood warnings in the forecast. We sit on top
of a mountain and not too worried about flash flooding here. I felt a little
better this morning after my morning cup of coffee and telling my husband how I
blacked out twice and my hip was hurting from falling.
He got
upset because I didn’t wake him up to let him know I was having issues. My head
wasn’t hurting anymore, and I still had no appetite but forced myself to eat a
peanut butter sandwich. It rained all day with no chance of letting up and just
as the migraine went away, it returned with me feeling like I was freezing. I
felt so cold that my body hurt.
I
snuggled up to my husband on the bed with socks on my feet and a thick blanket
wrapped around me. After I warmed up a little, I tried rolling over to sleep
but my head just kept hurting. I knew I needed to go to the hospital but we
found out that the nearest hospital is thirty minutes from our house and we are
on limited gas since we have a big trip coming up to return the trailer we
borrowed to move. So, I took another pain pill and laid down to sleep, but
before I did, my husband made me eat a can of Spaghetti and meatballs to have
something in my stomach. I finally fell asleep.
6/8/2019 Day 16
This morning was okay. Our food is now becoming scarce and we don't get food stamps for another few days. My husband is getting a little frustrated because of our situation but I keep the faith alive for both of us. We worked a little today but it was getting too humid which made working a bit hard. He did most of it because he let me sleep longer while he pruned and finished off the corner of the front yard.
Once I got up, I began dragging brush and branches to the pile laying next to our driveway until I couldn't do it anymore. We took the rest of the day off and he made a makeshift shower on the back side of the cabin with some old plywood we had laying around so that we could take a somewhat normal shower.
After that, we ate some ramen soup and had a cup of coffee while enjoying the forty-five minutes of air conditioning we get every evening off the generator. That is how we are living right now until we get our finances in order. I had to make the decision to send my car back because we need to save money to have our well drilled, but it means more gas money by a hundred dollars for the two trips to Dalton, Georgia that we take every month to see our doctors. I will leave it in God's hands now.
6/9/2019 Day 17
I went to church this morning after having coffee with my husband and found it to be revealing in some ways. I want a closer walk with God and asked for prayer while I was there. It made sense to me now about the car and that I need to allow God to handle it. If it is meant to be it will be.
I came home from church and my husband is out lighting ant mounds with gas and fire to kill them off because I have way too many bites all over my body and two may be infected. So, he is killing the ants today. I will be going back to church tonight and continually praying for my husband and for our finances. I know it will be okay and have faith in God.
