Coffee center

Ok, so this is mostly for our kids--anyone else can just shake your head in wonderment at our enjoyment in making coffee :0

This is our "coffee center". We have a vaccum coffee pot, a grinder for the beans, which we do for every pot. It makes a world of difference in the taste. We mostly brew Starbucks, although we found another brand that we like, too. It's just not as readily available. Back to the center--we also have a hand grinder-- (both grinders are burr grinders for the best flavor ) which came before the electric one and we'll use it when traveling or camping. Along the same thought of travel--we have a french press, measuring tools (have to get it right!), coffee beans, creamer (I know--it's my 1 bad habit) and pure maple syrup for sweetner. Tom is actually drinking it black most of the time now. He is learning to enjoy the different flavors within the coffee. I should tell you--this new enjoyment and facination for coffee started after we attended a coffee tasting at Starbucks several weeks ago. They were introducing their new Tribute coffee and their new line of treats. It was quite interesting and the treats were good--probably not good FOR you, but good :)

I keep a small french press at work and take coffee I've ground at home, as well as my own creamer and sweetner so I can still enjoy a good cup of coffee if I don't get it made before I go. I have to be there by 6 a.m. so --yes--sometimes I don't get it brewed before I leave. (yawn)

When Hannah comes home we'll have alot of fun since she's our Starbucks queen. Nathanael will require a full pot instead of our 2 cups and Aaron will just think we've really gone way out :)

This is our vaccum coffee pot. It makes a wonderful, hot pot of coffee and it's fun to watch! The water heats in the bottom and is sucked up to the coffee in the top.

Water has been sucked up to the coffee and is brewing--just a few minutes, then it begins to perk.

After it perks for about 30 seconds, you remove it to a hot pad to complete.

 Coffee is beginning to be pulled down into the pot. This usually takes just a minute or 2.

Coffee is now ready! It stays hotter longer this way, too.



Yet another project

Yep, another project is beginning. This is the beginning of a small pond out front. We think it will be a nice addition to the scenery and a drawing card, so to speak, for the wildlife. since we'll be able to sit at the dining room table and see it , it should prove to be lots of fun. Once it's dug and the liner set, it will probably take shape fairly quickly. We had one in Ada. Tom dug it out in a heart shape. We had some water plants and a few goldfish. It was the center of our garden there and the bees actually benefited from the water source. The same will go for them here.

There was a crooked man who built a crooked house

Don't know if the man was crooked or not, but his building sure was!! Between Tom, Nathanael and Andy, they'll have it all fixed and it'll look good. This was originally a horse shelter/tack room combo. Oh--storage for us!!

Looking into the bedroom--the floor tilts right now--that will be corrected so the bed doesn't have to be shimmed!

Track lighting for the living area

T?his is the view from the back. Tom has made a temporary path for us to cross over. Eventually he'll make a permanent pathway and clear some of the brush.  The big log is a bit rotten, of course. Tom scraped it on top and planted some wildflowers on it in hopes of adding some gorgeous color to the scenery.

It's started!!

The garage is under way!! Woo-hoo!! We're excited to finally get it started. That means we're closer to clearing out boxes and getting things organized. Yes!!!!!!  It probably will not under roof until May, but at least we're seeing progress. Tom has to complete the guest cabin so my brother has a place to stay while he works on it. That will be another project completed! I'll post some pics on that too so you can get the before and after affect. It's a remodelers nightmare!! Out of square, out of level--just a mess. Once it's done though, it's gonna be a cozy place. 

 This very large rock was dug out and promptly placed on my oregano plant! Oh, well!

 These 2 huge rocks at the top, which we have a lot of around here--had to be pushed out of the way before construction could begin.

The block is almost completed, but due to rain it will probably not get done til next week--but that's ok. Hopefully the floor will be poured by next Tues.. It's a 24x36 garage with loft space above. We plan to turn part of the loft area into a place for the kids or company to stay.

Spring happenings

Spring has arrived and we're enjoying it! Getting alot of planting done and entering in to alot of projects. Our garage foundation should be done next week! We're so looking forward to it!! Then, I'll be getting a new kitchen! Woo Hoo!!!

Here are some pics of some of our spring at the cabin.

 I found these cedar planters at The Christmas Tree Shop for 4.99 and longer ones for 8.99. I've put them on the deck rails and filled with violets and pansies. I have 4 so  far and plan to add 1 or 2 more. Last year I put impatiens in pots on the deck floor and they were gorgeous! I plan to do the same this year--I love the color and beauty of flowers. God certainly gave us a lot to enjoy. I'm planting nasturtiums  use in salads, echinacea for medicinal purposes  as well as calendula,bee balm and evening primrose. My mint is coming up as well as the strawberries and some other herbs. How exciting is all that?!

 We have a lot of birds around the cabin and last year there were so many gold and house finches! I added a new sock feeder as well as 2 others-1 up by the deck. We've already had many visitors-they just have to get used to us being around again. Last year we were able to sit on the deck--which is just about 10 or so ft. away--and watch them while we ate or talked. We'll put up a couple hummingbird feeders again soon. They also got pretty used to us being around and would come eat while we were right there on the deck. So much fun!  Behind the feeders here is our raspberry patch.

 Welove the wildflower patches so Tom planted a long patch down the drive. They're starting to sprout! we're looking forward to a beautiful entry to the cabin!

I found this for 90% off at The Christmas Tree Shop. Once the pansies fill out I think it will be very cute by the front door--a cheery entrance will await!

Tom has wanted a purple martin house for quite some time. We took the plunge and finally bought a nice 16 house "apartment". We hope to be able to attract at least a couple pairs this year. It should prove to offer a lot of entertainment. Not to mention, our neighbors should like the benefits of them for the horses--the martins are said to eat as many as 2000 bugs each per day!