bits and bobs: A random assortment of things; small remaining pieces and things
My entire body aches. I can’t imagine why. And, I’m beginning to think giant man arms might be unavoidable at this point. Pilgrim life, it’s not for sissies. Also, we have come to the conclusion that we are going to need a LOT MORE than 3 cords of wood to last 6-7 months. {Pictured is the 1 1/2 cords I stacked} I don’t even know if 10 cords would be enough. The HH has his eye on a log splitter though, and you know what? I think it would be a good investment.
My hands are finally starting to adapt to the weather here, or at least I think they are. When we first arrived I could rub lotion into my hands 15 times a days and it didn’t feel like it was making a bit of difference. Lately though, I’m down to about 3 pumps of lotion daily.
A care package from my mother.
ALDi vanilla wafers are about 10 times better than Nabisco. Plus, they are only 1/3 of the price. Go fight win.
My rhubarb plants arrived in the mail from Johnny’s yesterday and I can’t help but think it’s too early to put them in the ground. But being a local company, I guess they have their ship dates lined up with planting times for the area, right? I’m going for it.
Tick update:
I ended up ordering K9 Advantix II Flea & Tick Treatment for Large Dogs 21-55 lbs based off your recommendations and on the fact that the product had the highest reviews on both Amazon and Chewy. We even watched the video on how to apply the entire tube topical gel. But because it was my first time applying the gel to Lucy, I wasn’t quite sure how hard to squeeze the tube and so instead of getting 6 equal strips of gel from the base of her tail to her neck, she ended up getting more like 18 little strips.
Oh well. It seemed to work.
Later that day we came in from the garden and I found 2 dead ticks on her {and a little dried blood in her fur}. That was Wednesday. Yesterday we were out in the garden off and on and each time we came inside, I checked for ticks. Guess what? NO TICKS. Not even dead ones. Yee-Haw! Take that you disgusting little blood suckers.
Now I just need to find something to spray our “outside” clothes with to keep the bugs from getting on us! Life here in New England, it’s just one new experience after another. 😉
Enjoy the weekend,
~Mavis
HollyG says
I don’t know if you can find this in the NE or if your property, like ours, makes this impossible but our neighbors get a partial log truck of full logs every couple of years. The logs are 10-12 feet long, not split, and need to be seasoned, but they save a bunch of money on wood.
Martha says
It is called a grapple load of wood, and yes we can get it in New England. We purchase one every other year or so. Lots of work, but lots less money per cord.
Katelyn says
Your dry hands might also be caused by the hardness of the water – a lot of New England has really hard water thanks to so many mineral deposits in the earth. Depending on your palate, you might find the water tastes different/better. If you find your soap isn’t lathering as well, that’s a sure sign of hard water. Your body will adjust but you’ll want to watch for mineral buildup in your coffee maker or even inside your tea kettle, as well as on the ends of your faucets.
Michelle says
Hello Miss Mavis,
Very long time reader and occasional commenter . Living vicariously through your move to east coast 🙂 we want to also move from California to North Carolina but still have to keep on saving for awhile as my husband doesn’t want to have to work once we move. My concern is paying for medical of course as we will still be 10 years away from Medicare . Hope everything will work out! Have a great Friday and enjoy that snow.
DR in TN says
Michelle: Your comment about “10 years away from Medicare” reminds me of a JWR post I saw January 2 about what happens to aging preppers and retreat owners who fall victim to the inevitable decline. It may be something to consider prior to your move to beautiful NC. It’s not a topic anyone really wants to talk about but it’s reality. Homesteaders need a Plan B is they don’t have supportive family or a like-minded community surrounding them to whom they can pass on their beloved homestead. There are resources available at http://www.basiclifetraining.com and a few other sites. Point is…make an exit strategy part of your preps from the get-go. Nobody wins the battle with aging – and you don’t want the state to become your only heir.
Bless you and keep up the great work Miss Mavis.
Sue R. says
If you think you are sore from stacking wood, what will it be like after cutting, splitting AND stacking 🙂 Heating with wood is your goal–but you do have another source of heat, right? Take care of yourself and the HH!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, we have an oil tank. Wood would be so much more economical for us though.
Eileen Stewart says
Can you have chickens? They will eat a lot of ticks. Guinea fowl are even better but there is a real noise factor with them.
Mavis Butterfield says
Chicks are arriving next week! Watched a video of Guinea fowl on YouTube…. Not getting Guinea fowl. THE NOISE. Oh my word!
Ulrike says
We had them once, and that was enough. One got separated from the other and they were so loud it was horrible. Even when they got back together they were still at it. Never…Again. I’ll stick to my chickens thank you very much.
Rita says
Please tell what lotion you are using. I can’t seem to find one that does the trick. Thanks.
Mavis Butterfield says
Just Target’s butter cocoa lotion. I think it was 3 something for the big bottle. HH doesn’t like the smell of it though.
debbie in alaska says
Some people have a lot of luck with plain old Coconut oil as hand moisturizer — and you can buy in bulk at Costco for cheap 🙂
Laura T. says
I’m glad you found something that works on the ticks! Isn’t it funny how different life is depending on what part of the country you live in? Same country but so different! I like your care package! It looks like she dipped into your Christmas stash early! :0)
Michelle says
Your stove is pretty, but is it efficient? We have a Blaze King Princess and I can quite often get a 24-hour burn and our house is cozy! It has a catalytic converter, so it’s very efficient. Cutting, splitting, and stacking wood is great exercise! Do it as long as you’re able! 🙂 I am loving reading about your new adventures, but where the heck did you move to exactly?!?!?!
Karin Carson says
My thoughts , the stove doesn’t look very efficient for long time heating , more decorative, Blaze Kings are fantastic stoves , I live in the Rural Interior of BC and most people heat with wood and have BK , we filled once in 24 hrs .
Mim says
I have to chime in with an alternate view. We had the same model stove for 23 years and it heated our 3600 sq ft house completely- downstairs thermostats at 62 and upstairs turned off. We used 3 cords of wood a year — October to May — and usually had wood left over.
But Mavis, to do that, you need to get over the hump and get used to having the stove going all the time. And don’t fall for the routine of cleaning the ashes every day; you need to build up a bed of ashes to keep the fire going efficiently. Let it go out every 3 months or so and clean out the ashes (when they get so high that you can’t get wood in), but that’s it. IE, ignore the nifty ash pan underneath. It’s a swell-seeming thing, but not practical if you want to use your stove as an ongoing heating source. It’s for people who build a fire on the weekend and otherwise leave the stove cold.
THE most important thing is to have dry, hard wood. And I am sorry to be a naysayer, but it is more cost-efficient, easier on your backs, and frankly safer, to buy dry wood from a reputable local person than to cut and split it yourselves and trust that it’s dry enough. We spend $1100 a year for high-quality wood and fill our propane tank once a year for backup heat, plus hot water, gas stove, etc. We spend two or three days throwing the delivered wood into the basement and stacking it. If you do the cost-benefit analysis, it’s worth it.
That said, when a hardwood tree or branch comes down, we do cut it up with a chainsaw and put it out back to age until it’s dry enough to burn. And if the chunks of wood are huge, we wait until we have enough and then rent or borrow a splitter. Unless you are planning to supply all your own wood, buying a splitter is not worth it.
My 2 cents after 40 years of heating with wood in NE.
OregonGuest says
Looks similar to one we had (a propane Jotul) that we finally got rid of. There was no blower, and the manufacturer said we couldn’t get a blower for it. It was pretty, but you practically had to straddle the darned thing to stay warm. We replaced ours with a different one (propane insert) that really puts out the heat and seems to be much more efficient.
debbie in alaska says
“you practically had to straddle the darned thing to stay warm” — that made me laugh and choke on my coffee.
Michelle says
Oh, and they have fans out that sit on top of your stove that are propelled by the actual heat of the stove! We have one so we don’t have to use the electric one on our stove! Moves the heat well, and no noise!
Nancy D says
Crazy awesome wood stacking skills….free standing with no supports!?! Anything you aren’t talented at? 😉
Vicky says
Yes, if Lucy is getting ticks, you are, too. And the nymph or larva stage is so small that you probably would not see them. Outdoor clothing should be removed in a mud room or laundry, never in the bedroom. Ticks can be active all year long – we gotten them in the dead of winter.
Take a look at these two products on Amazon. We use them here in Oregon. Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent and Adventure Medical Bens 30 Tick Repellent Pump, 3.4-Ounce
If you want to do a fun experiment, get a piece of dry ice, wrap it in a white cloth/sheet and toss it out into the area where you feel Lucy is getting the ticks. They are attracted to it and you will see how many more ticks you have than you realized. You might check with your neighbors on both sides of you to see how they handle the ticks.
L. bryant says
Mavis,
glad to see you’ve got the ticks under control. Get Lucy to the vet for her heartworm pills asap.. If you have a pond you will have mosquitos and they will appear on the first day over 60 degrees. Mosquitos do not live in moving water. It only takes one infected mosquito bite for her to get heartworms. She will need a negative blood test and the meds can be started immediately (its a once a month chewable tablet). She will need a few days for the meds to work in her system so you don’t want to wait
Treatment for heartworm infection is rough and expensive. In addition to the damage done to the dogs heart.
Heidi Cleveland says
You have also moved into the heart of Lyme Disease country (CT here) . Make sure to always do thorough tick checks on the Lucy and all humans. It is a pain in the butt to do but it becomes second nature after awhile.
Mrs. C. says
You will need to throw a tarp over that wood pile!
Mavis Butterfield says
Why? I thought the wind was supposed to get to it. Is that wrong?
Teresa says
Just cover the top, the wind will dry it anyway. Next time you stack, turn the bark side up it will shed the water, the wood will dry, not as fast but faster then if the cut side is up to collect all the moisture.
Marie says
YES! check out your neighbor’s wood piles. The air must circulate around the wood to dry it consistently. Huge
stacks all together will invite critters to nest and multiply. They will thank you (!) however once you disturb their “new home” you will understand why it’s not a grand idea.
Lynn says
Yes, buy a log splitter! Ours is 25 years old (it’s a Yard Machine brand), and we’ve split an awful lot of wood in that time with very little maintenance other than the routine oiling. You’re going to lose trees, and it’ll save you a bundle both in time, money, and effort.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Oh bother, I accidentally posted this under the Friday night movie post — sorry about that… Here it is where it belongs!
Hi, Mavis — Two thoughts for you on cold weather hand issues. One, try Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Handcream (I like the unscented); pretty good at healing up those oh-so-tender thumb cracks. Two, try Bag Balm. Really. Yes, it was originally to prevent sore udders in milking animals, but other kinds of mammal skin (i.e. ours!) appreciate the soothing, too. You can certainly find it at your local feed store, if not in the local grocery/pharmacy. Comes in a little (or large!) green can. Third, get yourself some really good leather gloves for wood handling. Look at the versions for small man hands; most of what’s made for women is too wimpy. Nice stacking job!! (Got the giant bottle of ibuprofen yet??)
Debi says
My mother’s doctor said that if one has a lot of allergies to chemicals the two best lotions to use with the least amount of chemicals are Aquafor and Eucerin. They work on my mom very well.
Mavis Butterfield says
Great tip! Thanks Debi.
Carrie says
Mavis, you are just beaming! So glad you found your happy place. I am getting to the point where I need to live where I have something to do outside. I sit too long at work and need to get up and move after hours!
Barbara Gantt says
We use old pallets at the ends of our wood piles, Keeps them from shifting to the side. Also covering the wood with a tarp is a good idea . Keeps it dry in the winter. You dont want it to be wet from snow or rain.
Lisa-Marie says
We got a few used pallets for free that we stack our wood on. Keeps it off the ground and we cover it with a tarp. With snow and rain you’ll want that wood dry.
You might need to have at least 6-8 cords. That’s what we use. You’ll be getting lots of downed wood after storms, so that will save on wood buying.
You’ll definitely need a log splitter. We use ours every year and it’s a great help! Couldn’t be without it.
When you’re out working in the woods, spray your shoes and lower parts of your pants with Permathin. Best thing here. Remember to change your shoes and clothes after you’re done, as it’s a poison. Check yourself for ticks too!
We certainly don’t mean to scare you, but better safe than sorry.
Things are going to be different now you’re here! I am sure it’s going to be just great!
I’m looking forward to mud season, as you know we have 6 seasons here, mud season, spring, summer, Indian summer, fall, winter!
I’m hoping to get my green house this year! Fun to have a plan!
Gail says
Can you please post pictures of your kitchen. I had crazy dreams about it last night!- and now I’m curious! Guess that’s what happened because I read your blog before I went to sleep last night! Thanks. What a wonderful and happy place for you to be in.
Deborah says
We use Bravecto for our animals. It’s rather expensive, but works for 3 months. It is the only thing that our animals 2 dogs, 2 cats use. Nothing else works on them. I guess here in East Texas they’ve gotten immune to everything else.
As for lotions, Cornhuskers is what hubby uses. I make my own. Coconut oil, cocoa butter, and a bit of bees wax. You can add essential oils, some will keep the critters away. Bugs and such. Peppermint, camphor, eucalyptus are good ones for keeping ticks and fleas off. Plus skitters too.
MEM says
Mavis, if you have not already discovered The Frugalwoods blog, you’ll want to! They invested in a log-splitter and consider it worth every penny. They are in rural Vermont and heat almost entirely with wood. I’m guessing you are in Connecticut but I don’t recall if you said…
Valerie Barbeau says
What an adventure! I enjoy reading all your posts and your day to day.
Can’t wait to see pictures from your kitchen.
It’s all a learning process, hang in there!
Patty P says
We use Permethrin on our dedicated outside clothes. We got ours from Bass Pro Shop, but you could probably order it online or get it from a hardware or sporting goods store. You basically spray your clothing (outside) and let it dry. You should not apply it on your clothing when you are wearing it. You have to respray every time you wash your clothes, so it would be ideal if you could wear the items several times before washing. I found this website that explains it: http://www.tickencounter.org/prevention/permethrin
As a person who contracted Lyme nearly 30 years ago, I am super anxious about being infected again. I did get treatment within 48 hours and have minimal side effects from it, but those little buggers really creep me out! As an indicator to how small the ticks are…I was bit on the back of my right hand (as an 8 year old) and never even saw the tick! I just had the bullseye rash and my aunt (a nurse) was persistent enough to have my pediatrician test me for Lyme. I was the first confirmed case in our county (not sure that is an honor….). Keep checking and keep yourself safe. If you do get bit, get it checked out…better be safe than sorry! I’m not generally a “treat with chemicals” person, but Lyme (and some of the newer tick diseases) are not to be messed with!
Cass says
Mavis, I know you love free containers and to garden. Look into “Bushel basket gourds”. They grow on a vine and have lovely flowers. Once you know how they grow (and they do GROW LONG) you can use them as decorative plantings over/around fences.
I grow them every year. Some years I don’t get any that are very big, sometimes I get them the size of watermelons. Once they are harvested I use a HUGE knife to cut a large hole at the stem and scoop out the guts. (be sure to save the seeds for the next year) Then I put them in a place to dry. They dry hard and can be used as a container. For anything. Have a flat bottom? Use them in the kitchen to hold stuff (like chicken scraps) Have a warped side? Use them outdoors to make planters. (they look really cute because they are at an angle.) Small? Use them to hold garden seed packages. Large? Use them to hold small items in the potting shed. They can be painted to make the pretty, but I enjoy the spots that mold causes on them as they dry. (Don’t want spots, wash with a dilute solution of bleach and water)
Check it out. I’m a convert to their versatility once dry.
Linda says
There are specific ways to stack firewood that will help the pile not fall down . As the stacked wood dries, it shrinks, and that shrinking will oftentimes make the whole side of the pile fall down, or the whole top of the stack tip over. I was a novice wood pile stacker once, and got sick of my pile falling over , so I investigated the best ways to stack and secure the sides of the pile . Please do not stack against a tree, as that promotes tree bark injury. Country living is great, but having a neighbor who could help mentor you and your husband would save you both alot of frustration and money. Sometimes the cheapest solution is not the best one for living in the country. We know from experience as Calif people who “dropped out” and moved to central Wisconsin.
Loriann says
You can treat your clothes with permethrin. Supposed to be great according to my outdoorsy husband. Amazon has it, of course, as they have nearly everything we would ever need. Maybe your local hardware or landscaping store carries it, too, or even has ideas of what might work best in your area.
Great swoodpile job! Wow! You are one hardworking woman. Loving the new home and how many big jobs you’ve gotten done in just the couple weeks you’ve been therr!
laura says
i have read about using tunnels around the borders of your yard for the chickens to run through and that they are very good at tick control. not personal experience but interesting . . .
Mary Beth says
I like Permanone for treating my outdoors clothing. I’m a medical entomologist, so part of my job is actively looking for ticks and mosquitoes. Permanone contains permethrin and lasts for several washes.