Signs of Spring: A Walk

Spring is fighting to arrive here at Hearthstone.  I LOVE walking around the property looking for more signs of her arrival.  I find new sprouts with each walk.  These sprouts are fighting their way through the frosty ground even as it is currently sleeting outside.  I thought I would dedicate a blog to the constantly blooming signs of spring.  Bulbs are popping up EVERYWHERE, even in the areas we had to clear to get near the house.  They are sprouting all over the front, back, and side yards right up through the mud!  It is SO exciting this first year eagerly watching to see what will pop up next!

Here are the sprouts that finally popped on the side wall driveway garden.  This is the area that Rocky raked last week:  

This little "future herb garden" is on the back patio of the main house.  This is on my to-do list to immediately rake out! 

These next few pictures are from the driveway edge by the waterfall.  This is a surprise spot as I was totally not expecting so many sprouts.  Maybe day lilies?

More snowdrops!

These next few photos are of what I think are scilla growing underneath the first arches by the creek.  They look like the violet blue version of snowdrops.  Mary and I were googling to figure out what they were.  They are gorgeous!!!  In my limited knowledge, I think I can best describe them as a mix of snowdrops & myrtle blooms.  (also need to rake this area ASAP)

These are quince?  Hmm...I'm not quite sure I remember, but these are also found along the second arch of the bridge right over the wall by the creek.  You can see them as you drive up the driveway.  They are beautiful!

These are bulbs that randomly popped up in the back of the cottage towards my favorite picnic spot by the pond.  Also, there are huge clumps of bulbs growing along the "thicket" edge in this area.  This is one of my favorite spots!

I absolutely cannot resist posting the next few pictures of my walking buddies!  Thanks Don for bringing the girls down to go on our walk!  You can see Sophie loves the back picnic spot as well!  Notice the bulbs behind the girls in this first picture.  This is right outside the cottage in the barnyard along the stone wall.  Check out all of those bulbs!  

Storage to Come in the Barn

Here are some updated pictures of the barn process.  This will eventually be a storing room for all of our additional belongings, clothes, and furniture that we do not have room for in the cottage.  Roger is doing a great job milling the pieces while Rocky puts it all together in the barn!  A big thank you!!!!  I can't wait to get more things settled!

Raking the Side Yard

Good afternoon!

Here are a few updated pictures of the side yard.  Rocky brought the backhoe up and was raking and hauling out all of the old leaves and brush to clear the gardens so that we can play "I Spy a Sprout!"  Later, we walked around the property and the boys discussed the barn doors.  They tend to get stuck on the track "rolling thingy" (in Brey-language).  Seriously, is it warm yet? 

I'm running outside to get some more pics.  I will post shortly.  

Rocky's new fave.  Cousin Steven's Armstrong Ales, "Stoney Run"

Brey's First King Quad Run

Backhoe mastered = check.  I guess my decent unofficial backhoe license and driving ability has inspired enough confidence with Roger to teach me how to drive the King Quad.  I have had no previous experience with these quad shenanigans and so I was a bit nervous at first!  Peter has worked so hard on this thing, I just don't want to destroy it!  Anyways, it was a bit warmer this day and we took on the challenge.  It's a bit tricky, but boy, is this fun!  Jeanie happened to drive by at the start of my lesson and sweetly snapped this photo to capture the moment!  Thanks Jeanie!  This will be helpful as I continue to do yard clearing and clean up.  

Now of course there is a story to go with this one...  the downside of owning 10 acres of property and a King Quad is when you get stuck (erg...or so you think...) on the outset of the property.  Here I was spending the nice afternoon (post-lesson) working on clearing the brush by the pond when I realized it was getting late and I should park the quad while using my newly attained quad skills.  The thing started so easily!  Neutral, run button, reverse, neutral, everything started perfectly.  So as Roger was finishing up his current project, my soaring confidence led me to take this machine for a spin on the wood's trails.  It was going great!  Wind in your hair!  The first signs of spring!  As I rounded the corner, I cut the K.Q. in a hard right to make a turn and boom! It shuts off!  Right by the steep cliff.  Hmmm...I'm thinking that these things can totally be finicky, so of course I calmly go through my specific instructions on starting the thing again.  No luck.  5 minutes later, the sun is going down, and I am frustrated.  So I humbly call Roger...6 times!  No answer.  What is the point of cell phones anyways?  Thinking that he may have left his phone in the house, I do the next logical thing and start yelling Rooooogggeeeerrrr!  at the top of my lungs.  Still no answer.  At this point I realize the inevitable "even colder" long walk will ensue.  As I'm finally rounding the corner to the main house, I see my hero and neighbor Don with the pack of dogs in tow.  HE heard me!  (this is a very comforting thought on such a big property)  He was awesome and offered to tow the Quad.  At this point, Roger checked his phone and walked back up to see what mess I had gotten myself into.  The end of this story isn't nearly as exciting because he just simply stomped the thing into neutral and turned it on.  Poor Don and the puppy girls!  I guess I'm at a level "2-approaching mastery" (my teacher friends will understand this self-reflection!).  Hey, there's always room to improve and I learned that nothing replaces the good 'ole fashioned communication device: the whistle, when stuck in the woods!  Needless to say, it was a very memorable first King Quad experience!  

P.s. Since, I have limited my KQ experimentations to directly around the main house and barn :)  We are improving.  

First Signs of Spring

The first signs of spring are poking up around the gorgeous grounds at Hearthstone this late winter.  These are an old Hearthstone favorite...we call them snowdrops.  They are beautiful!  They are along the driveway and some of the big trees in the back yard.  Also, all around the pond and creek!  It is so exciting to catch these early glimpses of spring's arrival.  Can't wait to see what pops up next!

Clearing Out the Bottom Part of the Barn

Roger worked on clearing out the barn this Sunday!  This was all previously covered with tons of old junk, frames, and gross stuff!  He took advantage of the pettibone (we are still ever so thankful for this machine!) to load all of the junk and materials out.  He organized the important materials upstairs while trashing the junk.  I totally helped out by taking pictures ;)  

Look at the difference!  We have been talking about making this bottom area into a nice little workshop to finish projects for the property.  Maybe put some solid floors in and make it cozy?? The natural sunlight is beautiful in this area.  

He sure did get a lot accomplished as we have used this area for storage in the cold winter months.  Hopefully he finally got rid of the old cornstalks that we threw in there in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy?!?!?!  One can only hope!!!  We are counting down the days till warmer weather!

P.S.  The pond is beautifully quiet from the flocks of geese that cannot land on the frozen pond! :)

My First Walk on the Pond!

It was an exciting weekend over at Hearthstone!  We had lots of company including old friends, JA and Paul, and dear family from out of town, Jon!!  What a great weekend of touring the property and laughing with memories!

On Saturday night, I finally got to walk on the FROZEN pond!!!!!!!!!  It was thrilling!!!  What a gorgeous sight with the full moon lighting the way!  I was definitely a little nervous, but Rocky showed me the ropes.  Roger was hysterical navigating the ice.  The next day, I went out to buy ice skates!  Check out some pictures (although I apologize for the lighting and picture quality...these were taken without the flash and pre-set settings).  

From the peninsula...doesn't the house look so cozy???

The gorgeous full moon!

Blurry shot...

On the peninsula!!!

Our tracks

Rocky paving the way!

Walking up the creek...can you believe it?!?!?!

My new skates!!!  Yes, they are white with matching laces.  

Some Favorite Winter Pics

 Here are some more winter pictures.  Although after last night and this morning, I can't wait to get outside and get some pictures of the frozen pond and ice hanging off of the waterfall!  More pictures to come...  I just couldn't resist posting a few of these pictures I found on my computer of some of my favorite spots at Hearthstone!

Pine Trees By the Pond

The Winter Cottage

The Waterfall is Starting to Freeze

Anxiously waiting for spring....

A Winter Sunset at Hearthstone