Weekly Update: 6.10.23

Weeks out here go by so quickly, it seems I blink and it's already time for another weekly update. Sometimes it doesn't feel like enough has happened to warrant an update -- it seems we are just continuing on. But then I sit down to write, and the details start to take shape, and I realize just how much we accomplished.

Our big focus this week -- as always -- was our foundation. We finally ordered supplies for the masonry portion of our build. That was both exciting and overwhelming. I took all the notes from our research and chose what I thought were appropriate supplies. However, I waited until my dad got home from work to approve my purchase before submitting the order. I didn't quite feel equal to taking on all that responsibility alone. Menard's is supposed to be delivering our order this coming week. I can't wait to get started!

On the practical end of things, we spent the most part of each day shaping the footing holes, making sure each is the right depth and size. We decided to add two more piers, so we started those holes as well. Bonnie-Jean and Grace spent most of each day digging, while I helped some of the time (I tend to get allocated to other odd jobs).

One of the more weird moments of the project was Grace's discovery of a wood beam in a hole she was working on. We are wondering if the previous owners buried some of their logging debris in this area. In a different hole, we found some ash and charred bits of wood. If the area has been excavated, it might explain how some holes are almost all rock, while others seem to have a healthy amount of top soil.

We have continued to make progress on fencing our garden. Because its lower on our priority list, we only spend about an hour a day there. It's frustrating that it has taken so long to get our fence post holes dug, but there is nothing for it but to keep on keeping on. We also made a little progress on our pool site. Our dad has continued to level with the tractor, and we have combed through the soil with rakes.

With all of the manual labor in the sun, we have had to take moments to rest and cool off. Last weekend, I whipped up some sugar-free cheesecake frozen custard that was one of our favorite recipes so far. (I adapted and doubled this recipe for our 4-quart churn). I cooked part of it on Saturday, then we churned it on Sunday.

It finished freezing much more quickly than I expected, so I didn't get a picture of that part of the process. It sure turned out pretty, though! We served it with some strawberries. It tasted just as good as it looked. Yum!

Saturday night, we fired up Jeremiah's projector to watch some outdoor TV. The days are so long, we can't start until after 9 pm, but its always fun to just relax after a long, busy day. We also enjoyed a full moon and starry sky that evening.

We also had a little midweek festivity celebrating our brother Levi's birthday. We are having a joint family party for him and his wife Erin on Father's Day. With so many birthdays and holidays, we have taken to combining celebrations this year. But we couldn't let the day pass without some observance, so we took a break from our typical meat-and-veggies menu to make some low-carb tortilla pizzas in our Dash electric skillet. They turned out great.

Speaking of dinner, we have learned the importance of regularly cleaning our gas grill. And by regular, I mean daily. Last week, we had a small grease fire -- and it hadn't even been long since we had last cleaned it. Right after, we had a small flame up cooking pork steaks -- and that was with a clean grill. So, Bonnie-Jean took charge of the issue and perfected the art of grill cleaning. I don't know how she does it so fast, but she makes quick work of it every night after dinner.

The taste of hot-off-the-grill meat is one of life's simple pleasures here on the homestead. It goes along with the celebration of the senses that this life seems to be. Flowers and blossoms scent the air and splash color onto the green landscape. Birdsong has become the soundtrack of our days, while crickets lull us to sleep. The hot sun is tempered by toes dipped in freshly flowing spring water. There is so much to savor, it is difficult to give it all the attention it deserves. Life is busy -- more busy than ever it seems. And yet, the beauty beckons us to stop, look, and give thanks.

Taking it all in, lines from the Psalms come to mind.

For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

Psalm 50:10-11, ESV

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6

I reflect on the beauty around us often -- but I think it bears repeating. As a Christian, I find this beauty faith-building. It directs me to look up and remember the artist who blesses me with such an exquisite world.