Before the Storm

April 6, 2025 On Thursday (April 3), after my physical therapy, we checked out a salvage store and purchased 4 metal chairs at $35 a piece for the blueberry circle. We just need a table for the circle now. We also bought two end tables at $45 a piece. I like the shape of the […]

We Are Okay, Blackberry Homestead With Downed Trees

April 6, 2025 The tornado that touched down in Muscle Shoals was about 6 miles from us. We huddled in our closet part of the night when the tornado warning sirens went off and the electronic warning said a tornado had touched down. Nox really didn’t like hanging out in the closet. I believe she […]

Into the Drink and Out Again

April 4, 2025 On Tuesday (April 1), I was using the loppers to cut down small trees and bushes in the cross fence. Bruce came out of the house and called out to me, “Hey, I’ve got a situation and need your help.” I called back as I started walking towards Bruce, “Are you okay?” […]

A Visit from My Sister and Her Husband

March 30, 2025 On Thursday (March 27), I had a doctor’s appointment for my physical. My new doctor is going to recommend some doctors in the area. I have a toenail that is trying to become an ingrown toenail. I also need a neurologist in the area who is familiar with my condition. After my […]

Six Blueberries Are Planted

March 27, 2025 On March 25 (Tuesday), we planted the six blueberry bushes we purchased from a local nursery, Porter Garden Center. We had planted two small blueberry bushes from Gurney’s Seed & Nursery (mail order) earlier. We planted the blueberry bushes in the circle Bruce had measured out. Bruce dug the holes. I placed […]

Update on Repairing Our DeRubeis Artwork

March 25, 2025 I received another email from DeRubeis’s office. “I spoke with the artist and he does believe that scratch is repairable. The cost for repair is $200, plus shipping. He does want to note that if you send back just the panel that needs to be repaired, it will be shinier than the […]

Planting Bare Root Fruit Trees

March 24, 3025 For some reason, Bruce thought we’d take it easy on Sunday (March 23) after “An Evening of Fire and Smoke” on Saturday. We did sleep in a bit. I woke Bruce up to make sure he was in time for the family Zoom call. Once Bruce was done with the Zoom call, […]

An Evening of Fire and Smoke

March 22, 2025 Yesterday, knowing we had friends coming over for “An Evening of Fire and Smoke.” Bruce named the party this in his invite. Having friends over really motivated Bruce to finish several projects. Thanks, S and C! Bruce put replaced the broken screen door pneumatic closer and put up the missing wind chain. […]

Cutting Down Dead Branches

March 22, 2025 On March 19 ( Wednesday), the weather was lovely. I planted more seeds in my raised beds, spinach, lettuce, carrots, turnips and Japanese mustard. While I was busy planting, Bruce decided to cut down some dead branches from our row of pine trees in the back pasture. It was a lot of […]

Return Contact from DeRubeis’s Office on Scratch

March 20, 2025 I received an email from DeRubeis’s office manager about the scratch on one of the artwork’s panels. she wrote back: “Hello Julia Thank you for reaching out. It is usually possible for a panel to be repaired but to look into it further, would it be possible to have you take a […]