Saturday, May 10, 2014

Saturday on the Homestead


Spring is nothing but exciting on a homestead.  So many things to get done with the weather finally cooperating!  We were busy, busy, busy today, so I will regale you with photos and then sink into my favorite chair and put my feet up! 

Two girls curled up with a stock tank full of puppies!

What could be better?

Calvin & Hobbes warming in front of the cookstove - after wading in a mud puddle.

Pre-drilling beams for our new fence

Loading beams onto the 4-wheeler

Moving a stack of the rails into the field

Unloading

Master Hand Grenade flexing his muscles

Every beam is screwed into place - very sturdy!

Working together.

The fence doubles as a fort - just add blankets!

Perfect fun.

Calvin & Hobbes - Growing Up Country!

A corner

It's coming together.  We still have to add supports to the backside of the corner.

While the guys were fencing, I was making black-bottomed muffins

Adding the cream cheese and chocolate chip filling.

Warm from the oven!

While the guys were fencing and I was baking, Maid Elizabeth was making her famous "Viking Hair Wraps".

Still looks pretty good after a rowdy day outside.

This one was slept in.

And in a grown-ups hair.

After fencing, the guys started in on the wood deck.

Already getting ready for winter!
Have a wonderful weekend! 

19 comments:

  1. What a lovely weekend....Enola, I have tried multiple times to get a hold of you as I can't seem to get your e-mail link to work, (including asking Patrice for some help ) so I can buy one of your books. I would rather buy it from you then from Amazon. I don't know if the information is not getting through, or if you just aren't interested? If you don't want to do this would please send me an e-mail or text me at the 422 number so I will move on. If you still don't have the information, I will check back on this comment section for directions as to how you would like, or not like to proceed. I am very happy you are back up and running. God Bless your gifter. -NH

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  2. I'm sorry that I have been elusive. I'm not sure what's up with the email. Please feel free to contact me at paratusfamilia@gmail.com Hopefully that should work!
    Enola

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  3. We've been contemplating fencing for our property for years but have yet come to an agreement. Every fence option has pros and cons. What helped you to decide on the jack fence?

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    1. Me too!~

      Elizabeth

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    2. We've come to know this fencing style as "Buck & Rail", but I've heard it called "Jack Fence" before as well.

      We live in an area of soil that is very heavy clay. We have had hot-wire fence, cattle panel fence and barbed wire fence. The biggest challenge here is with fence posts. The ground heaves the fence posts out every spring, making the fence wobbly and loose, but in the fall, the fence posts are so solid in the ground that they can't be removed without big equipment. During the spring the animals can just push the fence and down it goes. Then, when it hardens, it is crooked and terrible. Fencing has been the bane of our existence!

      A few years ago, we sold all of our big animals because the fences were such a problem. We just couldn't come up with a permanent fence that wouldn't require constant maintenance and still look like. Now, I am desperate for at least a milk cow. I started looking for a fence that would work with our soil, not against it. After contemplating board fences, cattle panel fences, re-bar fences, barbed wire fences, we finally came across the buck and rail fence. We loved the way that it moved with the land, looking beautiful no matter what. We loved the fact that it didn't require ANY fence posts being driven into the ground. We loved how substantial the fence was. We were really intrigued by the 3 dimensional aspect of the fence. And interestingly, we have found that it really isn't terribly cost prohibitive, if you buy the components on sale.

      We chose to use cherry landscape timbers because we could buy them for $1.47 a piece from Home Depot. Each section is 8 feet long and requires 7 timbers (8 for the first section). With the hardware (bolts and screws) plus the timbers, we figure we have $5 dollars into screws, $4 into bolts and $10.29 in timbers, making each section of fence $19.29 for every 8 foot section. Really, that is a pretty sturdy, permanent fence for the cost of a wire fence (or even less).

      I hear that wildlife (deer and elk) don't like to jump buck and rail fencing because it is three dimensional, but I have no evidence one way or another.

      I'm sure that the buck and rail has cons, but we don't know what they are as of yet. They are the stoutest fence we have ever built. We think they will be perfect for large animals (horses and cattle). I don't think they would work at all for goats and for sheep you would have to add another rail on the bottom section of the fence. The timbers that we are using are 4 x 3, so they are much beefier than your standard board fence. They should withstand snow very well and they will move with our heaving soil.

      I'll keep you posted on our progress and let you know the pros and cons when we have actually put it into use.

      Enola

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    3. Another note: Metal T-post (the heavy duty 7 footers that we use) cost $9 apiece. If you use two in an 8 foot section, that is $16 in fence posts alone, with no wire yet. And we are using somewhat expensive Timberlock screws. They have very strong. We have not broken one yet. They are ceramic coated. We hope they last for years.

      Enola

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    4. how do you plan on maintaining the fence line. I image weeding it is going to be a nightmare. or are you just going to let it get overgrown. any experience with a hedgerow?
      michael

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    5. To tell you the truth, it never occurred to me to think of weeding! In my experience, the horses will do a fine job weeding in the fenceline. We've even had horses get on their knees and snake their necks through the fence to reach the grass on the other side. Other than that, we like the "natural" look. No, we don't have any experience with hedgerows. I love the look of them but have always wanted a fence that we didn't have to grow.

      Enola

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  4. I like the look of those hair wraps - could you show a bit better how they work, exactly? Are they any good for super fine, straight hair? Thanks!

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    1. Maid Elizabeth has fine, straight hair and the wraps work really well in her hair. You can make them as loose or as tight as you would like. The wraps themselves are leather and the beads slide up and down on the leather. I will try to get some pictures to give you a better look.

      Enola

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    2. i'm also very interested in the hair wraps....Maid Elizabeth should start selling them. i would definitely buy some. can you please show pics of how to put them in the hair....but don't give away Maid Elizabeth's way of making them. i really think she could sell them either on your site or on etsy or something. but i would very much appreciate a demonstration on how to use them. thank you very much.

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    3. Same here! I would love the purchase one! I have fine hair but A LOT of it so it appears thick. I think these would be so amazing to purchase!

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    4. And are they easy to put in alone?

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  5. Thank you for explaining the fence, Enola! We live in your area and have the same soil. We have never fenced our property, although I would like to. The problem, of course, is digging those darn holes for fence posts, and I hate the look of wire fences. Your fence looks beautiful, and something I could do. Thanks ever so much for the tutorial!

    And I, too, would like to know how those Viking Wraps work. I have very long hair, and keep it braided, but I think those would look great on my braid.

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  6. Happy Mother's Day Enola!

    I hope that you enjoyed your day and that you were able to enjoy some of the many blessings that you have bestowed.

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  7. Share the recipe for the muffins, oh please. Looks yummy!

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  8. Wow, awesome looking fence. Very interesting explanation on the benefits of your new fence and disadvantages of the other types in clay soil. Thanks.

    It's early May, and you are busy getting ready for Winter. ha ha. We are doing the same thing.
    Montana Guy

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  9. Another question about your fence: what about the gate(s)? Is there a suggested gate system that goes well with the buck and rail?

    Elizabeth

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