Face your fears and dive right in!

So much to catch you up on intrepid readers! For starters, I found the main trunk of the old grape vine! I now thought I would Finally get a handle on all the crazyness! So I phoned my amasingly talented Father inlaw and told him. His answer was, "I'll be over at 4PM". When he got here I was already wacking away at the vine, feeling that controling it was soon going to be within my grasp. Old Mrs. Broadbent, the former owner of the house, had planted in right next to a fence,  My dad inlaw just started cliping away, with mom assisting him.  I was in high spirits, going along the fence and pulling and clipping that vine. Telling the old girl it was for the best. We worked on both sides of the fence, and I started to notice that some of the vines were REALLY large, and ran along the ground. I pointed this out to Bob, who proceeded to crush my high spirit to the ground. He told me that vines like the grape send out runners, sometimes underground, sometimes on top, and come up in other places...wait...NO! So my simple plan of cutting around the trunk and effectively killing all the vines taking over the yard wasnt going to be so simple after all!

That being said, we did make a dent in it, but its still very much a "work in progress". Little by little, im cutting that vine, but now im concentrating on freeing the trees from its choking embrace. The vine drapes across all the trees and shrubs, making in effect a living blanket of green! It covers everything in the yard . Well, half the yard. Im not really too worried about actually. I realized the other day that when Autumn arrives, the vine will naturally die back. Then we can start training it come spring!  Grapes will be produced! I should learn how to make wine!

The old Philco stove, built in 1952, has moved outside to be cleaned. The many cats the former tenate had owned made use of the old stove, and not in a kindly manner! Every part that Robin could get off the stove he power washed! It took Robin, Stephanie and I working together to get it outside. Its almost ready to move back in the house. All that will be left is running it and testing the oven and coils for heat accuracy.

We worked in the yard for most of the day Saturday, and I found the first rip fig that big tree produced! Delishious! Reminded me of my grandmother! We also had our first official bonfire last night. I think the neighbors might have been a little surpirsed. They arent use to seeing so much activity at the old place! That bonfire was my way of saying  "Were here to stay!"

Dog Days of Summer and the ant invasion.

I don't know if we're in the "Dog Days" yet, but this week sure seems to be close! Its hot outside, and hotter in the warehouse!
 Everywhere I look this past week I seem to be finding ants, lots and lots of ants. Robin doesn't want us to use pesticides, but I am thinking maybe we will at first to get a handle on the motley crew!
 Sad news, I had Robin remove some of the green house panels to let some heat out the other day. So he lowered about 3-4 of them. apparently a Hummingbird flew into the green house and couldn't find his way out. Stephanie and Robin found him yesterday. He was blue and green, really beautiful. I felt so bad! But, on a lighter note, today I worked in the yard alittle bit and discovered a small peach tree! so covered with that crazy grape vine that most of it's branches were lowered to the ground! I began to pull the vine out of it, being careful not to rip the small branches of the tree as well. As I pulled the vine away, I also uncovered a small blue chair that was completely covered with the vine!

I am really jazzed about both the peach tree, (its the second peach tree I found now) and the blue chair! The little guy was trying hard to produce peaches; I pulled them off so it would concentrate on surviving. It looked sickly from the vine hanging all over it. I also deep watered it. I cant wait to look at it tomorrow. I hope its better.
So the yard and the house are changing every day. Robin has been working almost every day in the yard, and Stephanie and I inside. Garrett wherever he's needed.
We noticed that the neighbors have been watching all the changes going on. They have finally started stopping by to met us and talk about the old place. I'm really glad to be here.

A picture paints a thousand words.

Friday night I sat in the old house; my feet stretched out in front of me and my hands in my lap. I was sinking into the feeling of despair and being overwhelmed. So Much to do and so little time! I did the only sane thing a girl does at a time like this. I called some of my girlfriends.  who made me feel so much better that I want to name them first in this blog dear readers. I want to say a very big Thank You Elizabeth Durst and Lolly Frykenberg! You two amazing ladies rock! Also a very big Thank You to Dave Patterson, Jason Gladney, Todd Dejarnatt and Bill, (the reliable!) Without all of you the move would not have happened!

Saturday was sheer craziness! Lots of people moving things and us ladies cleaning everything we could get our hands on. Lolly brought wine and we drank and sang and laughed and Cleaned! Stephanie came later and helped Lolly in the kitchen. On a side note, my daughter Stephanie and my son Robert have been a tremendous help to Robin and I with both houses! Good job guys!
Finally we stopped for the night. Then woke to a Hugh thunderstorm on Sunday! I cant remember it raining this late in July Ever! It pretty much rained all day. And the humidity was unbearable! the rain sure made the orange groves smell great though! Now, most of everything is out of the other house. not all yet, but most. I'm trying to figure out where everything should go.
Planning on a House Warming Party at the end of the month, so I must stay focused!