Basil Seedlings

Hey! Nice to see you! Grab a cup of coffee and let's go around the back.
Remember when I put up the little fence and planted along it to define our property line? Well, the Basil is finally sprouting!
Soon I will have a living fence and plenty of fresh basil to dry for yummy meals.

Frank & Helen Rowley

Planting Corn & Squash

Good evening! Welcome back!
I've decided to jungle a little more! After I weeded, I spread corn and squash seeds randomly over the area. Then I covered the seeds with a fresh layer of mulch and watered thoroughly.
Soon I'll have loads more squash and corn.

Candy Mulched...

Willard & Monna Rowley

Barnet Cemetery

More Mulch

Hi! Just a quick picture of Matthew filling buckets with fresh mulch. It's always nice to have such a good helper around!

Clarence & Edna Rowley

Elmer & Ruth Rowley

Corn, Tomatoes & Beans Grow

Well, hello! Isn't it a lovely sunny day?
Take a look at how much our corn, tomatoes and beans are growing! This area was experimental, using a jungle technique. I really wasn't sure how well all these plants would grow together, but was happily surprised!
The jungle technique does work well and allows little light for weeds to grow as promised.
I will definitely use this technique all over my lot!

Squash & Tomatoes Take Shape

Hi! How are you faring in this humidity? Grab an ice water and step out back.
Would you look at these vegetables?! I planted them a couple weeks ago. I was trying to get crops in, one small area at a time. As I had planted late, I really wasn't sure if it was worth it.
Look at how cute they are! They're making every effort to grow despite all the excessive rain.
It sure brings me renewed hope for my homesteading dreams to see them so healthy!

Front Lounge Takes Shape

Hey! How are you today? I'm afraid our front lounge is being rehabbed so we have nowhere to sit out here today.
What do you think? As I got ready to pull more weeds and spread more mulch, I decided to start with the front lounge. This room has really been bugging me as it is so unfinished!
One bucket full of pulled weeds and one of fresh mulch, it's slowly becoming the nicest room on the homestead. Stop by soon to see it when it's finished!

Mae L. Cowing

Entrance Says 'Welcome'?

Hello! This is the revamp of the entrance to our property. Weeds were pulled. Seeds and fresh mulch were spread.
I am hoping that the improved look says "Welcome Friends!"
What do you think?

Briggs at Oakwood Cemetery

It Finally Died

Welcome the the last day of a seriously old bench. Poor thing came with the house and we were already being careful to sit down gently.
Today I tried to move it to weed under. It was in no shape to be moved! There was no point in trying to resusitate, so we declared it DOA and carried it to the curb to be hauled off for scrap.

Briggs at Oakwood Cemetery

Veggie- Egg Creation

Well, with truly fresh veggies everywhere, it was hard to not make dinner mostly veggies!
I chopped potatoes, onions, zuccini, red bell peppers and sausage into a fry pan and cooked until tender.
Then I scrambled in 6 eggs and some shredded cheese.
Happy,full kids!
Tummies full of veggies!

Thank You to Joan!

Many thanks to Joan at Pilcher Park Nature Center!
Matthew was so delighted to be chosen to bring in a garter snake and name it 'Matt the Snake'.
Kudos for making Matthew a part of the Nature Center!

Alley Rehab...

Good evening! Welcome! Grab an ice water and let's go talk about the mess the alley was and what I envision out there.
When we bought this property the alley portion of the lot was strewn with debris! Railroad ties, chunks of concrete, glass and poison ivy were everywhere.
Slowly, this year, I have pulled the concrete back from the fence, planted rugosa roses, moved the railroad tied to start a curb, mulched heavily and verbally threatened the poison ivy!
Next I need to level off a space just outside the railroad ties, but inside my blue string. In that spot I'll anchor the cinder blocks to create a solid curb.
When the alley turns to ice this winter, no one will slide into my fence!!!

Matthew Rides Again!

Matthew learning to drive a riding mower!
Kudos again to Chris McCullum at Oakwood Cemetery for his willingness to give so much time and patience to Matt.
It's something all community leaders should do.

Matthew loves to Help!

Matthew learning to drive a riding mower!
Kudos again to Chris McCullum for his willingness to give so much time and patience to Matt.

Watching it all Grow

Corn, beans, tomatoes, chocolate mint are all growing together here.
It is so nice to wander outside and see that, yes, we will have fresh, safe fruits and vegetables again this season! As we watch this country spin further and further out of control, the basic necessities of life seem more and more precious.

What a Surprise!

I came out to give some used coffee grounds to my rhubarb and found the cauliflower had formed cute little heads.
What a wonderful surprise for a Sunday morning!

Want to Volunteer?

The guys at Oakwood Cemetery love to see smiling volunteers!
Could you spare an afternoon once in a while to stop by and mow?
Could you drop off a pitcher of ice cold lemonade?

Mowing at Oakwood...

Come Mow w/ Us!

Stop by Oakwood and join the guys for a neverending mowing expidition.
Don't miss out on the fun and comradary!
Take a minute to honor our city's founding fathers!

Brunson 6.20.09

It's a beautiful day at Oakwood Cemetery.

Refilling Wiper Fluid

Well, I decided to do another practical living skills lesson as long as we were out of wiper fluid.
First we stopped at Citgo gas station and Matthew went in and bought the wiper fluid on his own.
Then he learned to pour it into the right receptical. A little at a time he is learning to be self-sufficient!

Hat-Lady Hats!

What if we all donated one thing to a homeless person to get them through the winter?
I am knitting hats again this year. I only have 7 finished. That is not good! There are, obviously, more than 7 homeless people in Joliet.
Last year I gave a free hat to anyone who asked. This year only the truly homeless get a freebie. I've decided to charge everyone else $4.00. That will cover the materials to make that hat plus 3 more.
The Farmer's Almanac calls for snow in October this year... Brrr... That's early! Not much time left.
I've got to go knit! You do your part, too.

Prepping Pots to Plant

Hi! Glad to see you!
Today I am not at the homestead; I'm at work. This is the little apartment off my office.
I am needing to get better at growing vegetables in pots, so I'm using available space here.
With both Russian and Mexican scientists forcasting another ice age, and this summer being decidedly cool, I realized that I'd better get a move on and get ready!
How ready are you?

Property Line Gets Defined

Hello! How are you? How is your homestead doing?
As we are only able to afford to fence a little at a time, we have added the mini fence. Along it I placed pieces of cardboard. On top of the cardboard I sprinkled vegetable seeds and covered with mulch.
The mini fence is helping to keep the neighbor kids out of the yard when we are home. The vegetables should provide a friendly edible fence until we can finish the permanent fence.

Added Summer Squash & Mulch

Matthew rides again!

Chris let Matthew practice on the little Craftsman mower yesterday.
I've never seen Matthew so proud of himself as he was riding around in the rain!
He took the practice very seriously. He avoided every puddle and stick on the little gravel roads!
Many thanks to Chris for taking time for Matthew and boosting his confidence like that!

Added Eggplant & Mulch

Hi! Glad to see you! Step out back a minute so I can show you what I did.

As I can not plant another rose until we put up the fence panel that will go in front of the gate, I decided to make use of the vertical surface and plant vining vegetables.

Can't you just envision eggplant winding it's way up the latticework?

A Yummy Fence!

Still a Long Way to Go

Nice of you to stop back by! I've been up to my knees in weeds. There just never seems to be enough time to pull them all.
I spent a good hour on the far corner. I pulled weeds, mulched and planted more vegetables.
Although it is a neverending chore, I really enjoy it. It is so satisfying to see even a small area transformed into a mini paradise!

Berry Bush

Hello! Welcome back!
This is a bush we planted last summer. Boy, has it really taken off! No sign of berries yet, but the weather has been weird so I'm still hopeful.
How are your berry bushes doing?

Matthew had a snack!

ever wonder what it would be like to be severely mentally handicapped? To not be able to control yourself without medication? And not have full control with the medication?
Did you ever want so desperately to be 'normal' that you cried about it?
Did you ever crave carbohydrates beyond a reasonable desire? Did you ever eat enough for two grown men and feel starved? Did you ever confiscate all the junk food in the house and eat it secretly?
And so is our little world. Trying desperately to achieve something you and I take for granted.
If you know someone like this, can you take the time to be extra patient and supportive?

Cleaning Up & Planting

Why, hello! nice of you to stop by.
This corner was really bugging me so I spent some extra time on it. I pulled weeds galore (I may have to build an extra composter!).I planted a few tomatoes to disuade the groundhogs, then I scattered a few seeds. I mulched around all existing plants and over the seeds. I watered thoroughly.
Now to sit and wait for my seeds to sprout and hope the groundhog feels unloved!
Stop by again soon!

Our Latest Freebie...

Hi! Grab some iced coffee and come around back!
Check out all this chicken wire we got from a nice man on Joliet_Area_Freecycle! Many thanks to Jan for dropping the big roll at the house. You're great!

Edible Parkway

I was standing her watering and thought you might want a peek!

A Great Freebie Today!

Hey! I have to tell you about the great posts we got from Joliet_Area_Freedom. Would you look at all these fence posts! Someone offered these... For free. She had received them through Joliet_Area_Freedom and used as many as she needed.
We were so happy to relieve her of them. And, she was so happy to have them gone.
What a great freebie!

Resort Paradise or Home?

Hi! Welcome back!
Isn't it amazing how a little ingenuity and hard work can transform a mess into a peaceful retreat?
I can't wait till the whole yard is fenced!

Learning to do a Man's Job

Today we bought plants and manure to redo a planter at work. Although Matthew was not interested in choosing plants, he was more than willing to haul the 40 lb bags of manure for me.
It is so nice to have such a strong and willing helper!
And a blessing to see him try.

Chocolate Mint by the Shed

War Memorial

Garlic, Tomatoes & Cantalope

Around Climbing Tree

Our Fence Takes Shape

Who Was Edna?

This is a signature I found in a book of hers. I would imagine it to be hers, but cannot guarantee it.
As you look at her signature, can you imagine her life?
Her daily activities?
Her quiet pleasures?
Her innermost prayers?