It begins!

So before I show the first step in turning the "turd house" (my pet name for the nice poop brown color) into the Terry Farmhouse (we are still working on names...I'm leaning towards Frog Farms...yes?? ;-)  kidding...slightly) let me catch you up on our last few weeks.

 

We are still adjusting (and readjusting) to a new schedule.  We head to Lufkin a few days a week (and for monthly 4H meetings, church, taekwondo, etc...).  Knowing this move was coming I tried to get as much on Tuesdays as possible to save us a trip or two.  Great idea and I'm glad we've done it but man, Tuesdays are long for J and I (taekwondo, Physics class, 4H photography...).  Thankfully Buddy was able to get in one day a week at Mother's Day Out so we are able to get where we need without an adorably demanding and very mobile 16 month old :-) 

 

J2, as of last week, has been allowed to join a Nac taekwondo class once a week to save us one trip (granted it's on Tuesday evenings) because Master Martinez is working on co-owning the studio.  That is going to be very helpful as it's just down the street from the rent house. J2 just moved up to his first color belt in Tiny Tigers and J is on his way to earning his purple belt! They are both truly enjoying taekwondo and get to go together on Monday evenings to their classes in Lufkin, J2 loves having J there to watch him.

  We try to hit the park a couple of times a week in the mornings after taking J2 to school so J can roll away some miles and I can walk with Buddy in his stroller.  Trying to start up training for the Avon 39 Walk against breast cancer that will be next April (if you would like to donate, feel free to click the link!). I can tell it's been awhile since I've truly exercised, but Buddy LOVES going for walks and J is enjoying the trails since we don't currently have a driveway like we did at our old house for him to exercise.

I am missing Wed. night church with my bible study ladies terribly...we've missed for over a month now, but J2 is tired from school, T is now needing a few extra nights to demo the farmhouse and Buddy tends to nap at 5pm.  I'm hopeful once we get another month under our belts maybe we can get back to a more normal Wednesday schedule.  Sundays are still working well for the most part (barring illnesses and events) and we actually tend to arrive on time now, lol! Yes we know it's a bit crazy to stay at our church when it's 20 min. away but we love it that much, the people are our family and we can't imagine being somewhere else. 

 

T is in his element...he and J2 have already been fishing in the new pond a couple of times.  He has purchased his tractor and has already christened it by moving logs.  He will complain that there's a lot to do but those complaints come with lots of happy eyes and smiles, I love seeing him so happy.  Yes, I know I am still a little bummed we missed out on other places, but I truly am excited about this home and especially the land, it's so pretty and peaceful.  And my man is so happy, he deserves that!

 

So...on to our first order of home business...trees!

T's first words after looking at homes for sale are always "I see several trees I can cut down". 
I'm not joking.

Have no fear, though, we will be planting other trees around the property (I am married to a forester, we are FOREVER cutting them down and replanting...seriously).

Before the trees come down...the small oak is to the left, large one directly behind

In the back of the home was a very large, beautiful oak tree...but sadly it had to come down.  It had a disease and was dying, it would definitely have ended up falling on the new roof if it didn't. 

Oak to the right, Catalpa to the left

Oak base

 
Once it was down, we discovered as large as it was, it was only around 50 years old which confirmed to T that the pond on the property is spring fed! That's pretty cool news.

 

 Another oak on the side of the house also had to come down due to disease. 

Thankfully, while looking these trees over, Brent (the tree guy) and T noticed the Catalpa by the back bedroom had a lot of carpenter ants around the base so it came down as well and it was a good thing...

 that's all that was left of the tree, the entire center was hollow!

 

  

And after...but ...while he enjoys cutting trees he also enjoys planting so we will replant!

We actually plan on adding a large deck where the large oak was, this will have a ramp included and will give J access to all three doors on the home with NO STAIRS.  Truly pumped about that! So this makes taking that giant tree down worthwhile. 

 

Next on the list...new roof and demo! Stay tuned...