I live in a gated community

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

It’s a very exclusive enclave we have here in the country.

Population: 2 (plus 1 cat and 1 kitten)

With our new gate in place at the bottom of the driveway, farm living has become quite chi-chi.

Open sesame

Actually, setting aside my new pretensions, we installed the gate for security. We’re far enough from civilization that neighbours or police really wouldn’t be much help to us in the event of a break in. If we’re home we can keep an eye on things, but when we’re not the gate may just be enough of a deterrent to people who are thinking about trespassing.

I’ll admit that I was initially pretty resistant to having a gate. I don’t like the way they look, and I didn’t want the inconvenience of opening and closing it when I was coming and going.

However, I actually like the way our gate ended up looking. It’s still a bit of a pain to stop, open the gate, drive through, park and close the gate when you’re leaving or arriving, but it’s a small price to pay for feeling secure about our house.

It’s a simple set up: just a chain and a padlock

If you want in, you have to have the key

My Dad and Matt made some metal hooks to support the gate when it’s closed and when it’s propped open.

The hook supports the gate to ease the weight on the hinges and also secures the gate in place.

We do like having visitors at the farm–at least from people we know. So if you’re planning on dropping by, let us know, and we’ll open the gate for you!

Welcome to the farm

Anyone out there live in an actual gated community? How do you deal with security at your house?

See my earlier post for the story of setting the posts for the gate.

Signs of September

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

On Friday I got all sentimental… and metaphorical and poetical… about the sun setting on another summer. I realize officially we have a few weeks left, but here we are the start of September (already!) and things are starting to feel a bit different.

They’re starting to look a bit different too

To mark the start of September, one of our maple trees has already started turning red.

I don’t mean to alarm you, but the change is not limited to just a handful of leaves

So far, the change does seem to be limited to the one tree.

But the whole tree is involved in the metamorphosis

I think it’s coming, people. Yes, it’s the f-word (not that one!), soon to be followed by the big W.

Are you ready?

Rain clouds at sunset

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

As the sun sank fully below the horizon, the clouds lifted.

A wave of bright peach orange floated across the bottom of the sky glowing brightly behind the dark spires of the trees. The light flowed up, ebbing to a light grey blue splashed with the dark flotsam of the rain clouds. Following the light up into the sky, my view shifted to the darkening east where the deep blue tide of night rose.

Wildflower week – Goldenrod

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Matt and I have decided to take it easy this week, so the blog is going to be a little quieter than usual. To tide you over until we resume our regular program of renovations, I present a week of wildflower pictures from around the farm. Thank you for allowing me to loaf a little.

Goldenrod (apologies to all allergy sufferers)

A stand of goldenrod

Wildflower week – Thistles

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Fuzzy bumblebee on a thistle

Thistles in the field behind the barn

Wildflower week – Cornflower

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Lovely light blue cornflower

Every morning, the cornflowers stretch eastward capturing the rays of the rising sun

Wildflower week – Birdsfoot Trefoil

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

A new flower for me, Birdsfoot Trefoil

The uniquely shaped blossoms

Wildflower week – Queen Anne’s Lace

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

The quintessential farm flower for me, Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace at sunset

Fall fashion preview

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Accessorizing your house with Mother Nature is always in style. For this fall, it’s about accessorizing your hair with natural elements.

Bring on the burrs

Burrs have long lasting hold and can be arranged in a variety of artistic patterns. Just touch them to your hair, and they will be held firmly in place, no need for additional pins or spray.

Removal is a challenge, but with a lot of patience, a gentle brush and high pain tolerance, scissors can be avoided.

Watch for these natural fashion accessories to appear at farms and forests this fall.

Joyride

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

It’s a long walk from the house to the back field. So the other night when Matt and I went to check on the trails, we took the tractor. Why walk when you can ride?

However, Wylie’s a one seater, so my seat is in the bucket.

The view from the front seat

You know the look a little boy gets on his face just before he pinches his sister or pulls her hair?

Look familiar?

Matt gets the same look when he raises the bucket.

The bucket is not the most comfortable perch. At six feet up in the air, it feels extremely unstable.

I should be clear that Kioti in no way endorses or condones my efforts to turn Wiley into a two-seater. In fact, the manual is quite clear.

Only one person at a time!

As evil as he may look in the photo above, Matt is very careful with me, and eventually, he brought me back down to earth and we continued on our way.

With the help of a handy fencepost, we even managed to get a family portrait of the three of us.