Trash!

Cullman, AL

Sometimes when buying a house you get more than you bargained for.  Sometimes good, sometimes not. 

It's taken us a year to finally get to the completely overgrown back acre.  Just last week Leonard made it to the back property line.   Up until recently we could not even walk through the thick brush.

This shows how thick the growth was.  Our neighbor Hilton last February doing a bit of clearing.

After we bought our Mahindra tractor in October Len has been pulling out trees.  Our intent is to fence this area and get a couple of head of cattle.   

How it looks currently.

Our house was built in 2001.  We have been told that prior to the house sitting here there were trailer houses.   Once we started tearing out brush we found where they had their own personal dump.  Once Len got trees out of the way, we started removing items ..... sinks, bathtub, water heater, stove, washer, dryer, air conditioner, bed springs, etc.etc.

Now what to do with it.   We found in the local Shoppers Guide the number of a man who carries away metal.   We could take it and sell it ourselves, but have enough to do than load it up in our trailer (we only have an enclosed trailer) and haul it away.   

These two nice elderly men were glad to make a bit of extra money and we were glad they came to get some on Saturday. 

Len got out the tractor and assisted in the loading.

They took all they could carry and will be back for more.  The recycle center damaged the rails on their trailer on Saturday.  Leonard told them to bring it over and he will weld it back together.  They are so thankful.  We are glad to help.

 This is how the dump pile looks currently.

Still a lot of do.  It will be cleared.

Had we not wanted the brush cleared off the property we would have never known what lay beneath.  Once we found it, we knew we could not live with trash in our backyard.

Until next time.

Winters Cold

Cullman,   AL

This month has been exceptionally cold not only here in Alabama but throughout most of the country.   Some days here in Cullman it never got above 20 and at nights down to 5.   Oh how we look forward to Spring.

But there were rays on sunshine. 

First rays were visits for four days of my daughter Terri and son-in-law Steve.

And grandson Justin

They flew into Birmingham airport from Harrisburg, PA.   We picked them up at the airport and after unpacking, four of us went to the local Logans for dinner and then to Len's sons Lennie's where Terri and Justin met our new daughter-in-law Lois.    Steve was under the weather with exhaustion and a cold having played in his band the night before and getting less than two hours of sleep.  He stayed at the house hoping he would feel better the next day.

The next day was again very cold.  We went to the local attraction Clarkson Covered Bridge.  That was about it for the day.   Other things we wanted to do but with  the extreme cold...... guess those things will have to wait.   Unfortunately Steve was still ill.   However, I had made arrangements for soap making class at my friend Stephanies.   So the next day Terri, Justin and I made soap.

We each made 12 cakes of soap.    Mine is the brown one.  The scent is Hazelnut.  Terri's is the green and white with a more outdoor woodsy scent.  Justin made the white cakes and actually smell like coffee and has spent coffee grounds in it.

All too soon it was time from them the return to Pennsylvania.

A few days later my sister and her grandson Lance came for 4 day visit.  They live in NJ but Debbie has two sons and their families that live in Wytheville, VA.   Their homes in VA are half way between here and NJ.   So Debbie and Lance spent a few days in VA, then drove to Alabama for a few days and then back to VA for a few days.

One day we drove up to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.  They were having their annual Crane festival.   It was cold walking around but not unbearable.

Cranes must really like this place. There were 100's. Sand Hill cranes  (and ducks and geese).

And one of the two resident Whooping Cranes

Another day we went to Ava Maria Grotto.   The go-to place when we have visitors.


We haven't done much since our visitors have left.   I've had a cough for close to two weeks.  It seems to be getting better.  But I feel really good.  (Except when coughing).  Len has been down a bit with cold or flu symptoms.    He too has a cough but also a low fever, headache and no energy.  But he too is on the mend.   As it is supposed to get in the 60's tomorrow and it is his birthday..... time to get well!

Until next time.

I'll think of something else..... soon.

Cullman,  AL


Poor Leonard.  As soon as he gets one project done I will think of something else for him to do.

This week it was changing out the UGLY recessed lighting over the kitchen sink.

Not only were they outdated with those gold rims, but they were useless.  The ceiling is slanted down. When standing at the sink the lights shine behind me.

Do we ever love Lowes.   And they really love us back.

Out with the old

Notice the different shirt?     When we got home from Lowes I realized although I liked the lights I chose, they just did not go with the rest of the kitchen.    So back to Lowes.  Oh, and since it was about lunch time..... stopped for Bar B Q.   Can't really cook when other work is being done in the kitchen,  right?

Yea, thinking I'm gonna like these more.

I do.

As with most areas of the country, we are in a cold spell.  Down to 11 at night and only in the 20's during the day.   He can't work outside.   So it behooves me to find things for him to do inside.  Chair rails next?

 I will cut him a break for the next two weeks.  Tomorrow my daughter Terri, her husband Steve and our Grandson Justin will be flying in for a four day visit.  Then next Saturday my sister Debbie and probably her grandson Lance will be here for 4 days.  None of them have visited previously.  Looking forward to the visits and introducing them to our Alabama living.

Until next time.....