Well, the sump pump is in and working - now we have had 11.10 inches of rain since March 1 and more predicted for Thursday/Friday/Saturday.  Although at this point we are not ready to see more rain, we are anxious to see if the sump pump will handle the load and prevent any water from showing up in the basement.

Saw 3 snakes yesterday - 1 in the lake and 2 in the backyard.  The warm temperatures are definitely bringing them out.  Discovered that I have 3 dogwoods in the backyard - so…

It has been a while since I updated my blog but Oak Grove Valley Farm is alive and well - almost 6 months since we closed and we are still not out there! 

With 9.17 inches of rain since March 1 (and as of today 1 more inch is being forecast), we have ran into more problems that delay our move and cost money.  We have water coming in at the perimeter of our basement and there was no sump pump at the house originally so the blessing in disguise is we had not finished the basement area -…

It has been one of those weeks, the best kind, where you start to receive your seed catalog orders and are anxiously awaiting others.  I have our first 42 seedlings going.  We're trying 4 different tomato varieties this year (Brandywine, Amish paste, Beefsteak and Dark Cherry). 

We got our first tree order sent off and have 19 trees coming for our orchard (3 pecan, 4 peach, 4 cherry, 8 apple).  We plan to add to it each year.  Strawberry plants, blueberries, boysenberries,…

We have had a whirlwind of weather this past week as I'm sure you have in your neck of the woods too!  From spring temps of 60 degrees to this morning's low of 10 degrees.  The wind has been cutting to say the least and I feel for my husband that works out in this weather all day doing construction.

We had 2.5 inches of rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  That filled our lake to overflowing.  I went to check on things Wednesday.  For one thing, I wanted to check the rain…

For a  little over 2 months now, we have owned a farm.  But it doesn't really seem like it because we've been inside the house most evenings and weekends doing rehab work.

Today, however, it was a warm day for January is Missouri and we decided it would be an "outside" day.  Hubby and son chopped wood, cleaned up some around the equipment shed, while I was cutting down cedar trees with my lopping shears. 

My friend from work came out with her dog so it could run - it stays in a…

First of all we got a total of 2 inches of rain last week and this was after 3 inches of snow the previous week so the ground was saturated.  It allowed our lake to rise about 2 feet due to the run off, etc.  We were very thankful!

I got my first pair of farm boots - black and purple Muck boots.  They came in handy after that rain due to all the mud.  I used them when I cut down cedar trees all day last Friday and part of Saturday.  We have so many and I'm trying to get some ground…

We were so excited when we ended the day Sunday and knew the water was back on and all systems were a go at the farm.  All the old copper pipe (for propane lines and water lines) are now replaced with new.  All the old framing in the basement is out (due to water damage from leaky systems). 

Now we are ready to start framing and doing the electrical work in the basement.  We will have to finish out our daughters area which consists of a bedroom, living area and bathroom.  The water…

As 2012 prepares to come to an end, I can't help but hope all of you at Farm-Dreams.com are having a good year and are making plans for 2013.  As gloomy as the economic news is, I'm still amazed at what our family has seen in 2012.  The property purchase was a dream come true but also a result of diligent planning and saving and a direct answer to prayer for us.

We're too busy to get discouraged about our progress, even if it seems like things are happening too slowly.  This week was…

Just over 1 month ago we closed on the property.  At that time we thought we would be moved in by 12/31.  We do this everytime - overestimate our rate of progress we will make. 

I remember one time when we lived in Oklahoma on 10 acres that we decided we were going to build a pole barn.  The one weekend project turned into a 1 month project.  That should have been my lesson.

Week 4 brought more plumbing, more carrying out of trash to the dump pile and more wallpaper removal.  I…

Week 3 of rehab on the farm house is going and the trash pile is getting bigger.  We got our new water heater delivered this week and my husband is working on getting that installed.  It is our first exposure to propane water heaters.  Most of his week has been plumbing  the new lines to Gma's bathroom upstairs and getting ready to re-route the main line to the new water heater and changing the propane lines.  I think this weekend he will make the "move" of the propane existing line (shut…

Well week 2 showed more progress as we continue getting the main house on the farm ready for a targeted move in at end of year. 

We got the rest of the main bathroom (area around the tub) down to the studs.  We got the tub and insert ready to install but we have to move and change up the plumbing.  All the sheetrock and panelling and ceiling tiles are out of the basement area so that we can beef up the framing, redo some of the electrical, add new sheetrock, mud/tape and paint.  We…

We have had a crazy busy week on the farm as we work full-time and go out on weekends and after work.  We have alot of repairs to do before we can move in. 

The first thing we did was change the locks - 5 on the main house and 3 on the 2nd house (that our son will occupy).  We still have locks to do on the equipment shed and barn. 

I worked with my son on removing the carpet from the 2nd house which was very bad and smelled strongly of pet urine.  My husband repaired the…

Oh so close.....we pre-signed today at 4 pm and got the keys to the farm.  We can't take possession until tomorrow at 5 pm.  They actually start moving out in the a.m.  They needed the funds from our loan to close on the house they are buying. 

So our bank account faded away but we now have a 20% interest in our "dream property".  It was really nice finally meeting our loan officer from Farm Credit Services (a really helpful company that I recommend).  He said "I still remember the…

We got to do the final walkthru on Sunday.  As always, it was a thrill to be out on the land and our future home.  The owners were still packing and getting ready for the move.  There was a large dumpster out by the equipment shed where they had thrown away 41 years of stuff they no longer needed and that wouldn't sell in the auction they had a few weeks ago.  I can't imagine how difficult this move is for them, having lived there 41 years, raised their family, built dreams.  And now, age…

On the way to view the property yesterday, I saw an eagle in a field about 4 miles from our place.  I had to stop and get out and take a photograph.  It was in the field eating the prey it had caught.  I zoomed in and tried to get as good a shot as I could.  The photo I posted was a picture of it as it took off in flight.

I just love wildlife in general but absolutely love eagles.  We try to see them on the Mississippi river each winter when they come.  The closest river to our…

We  picked up the survey last night.  This was after my son and husband had gone to walk over the fence lines and compare to the actual borders.  What we found out was none of the neighbors or the previous owners had ever had the properties surveyed.  Along the back of our property, the 2 owners have encroached on our property but won't have to move their fences because they have been that way forever and even if we took them to court (which we wouldn't) we more than likely would not win. …

This was my first of many to come I hope.  I had not been to one but this one was perfect - first of all it was our future farm that was having the sale.  The previous owners are downsizing and selling so much.  We were there for about 4.5 hours. 

My daughter got a pitcher and bowl set and we got a seed planter and 3 handtools.  We bid on a few more things but we had in our mind already what our max price would be.  I was impressed with our self-control and not going over…

Well it is done!  It happened on Thursday of last week but we don't get the report until closing.  But the good news is, it appraised for what the loan was for which means...we're on to the next step - the survey!  It is supposed to be done by 10/25 and the surveyor said he could get it done by then, so we are so excited - we are almost there. 

Over the last several weeks, I've made it a point to drive by the property on my lunch hour.  Something about the feeling it gives me and…

So how long does a farm appraisal take?  Still hasn't been done.  We have the farm appraisal and the survey to get done by October 25th or we will have to extend the contract. 

In the meantime we wait and it seems like it takes forever.  However, when I was thinking about it this week, it was just last October when we first started thinking about getting back to the land.  Alot has transpired since then.  Alot of saving, alot of downsizing, alot of looking to find the right…