So by now we've become knee deep after the investigative process and begun the list of what needs fixed and/or improved. What we know so far: the well is kaput, but we are hooked up to city water and running fine. There is a small cabin size hot water heater in the main cabin so there is hot water for showers, etc. We are going to have another small water heater installed next to the sink in the cookshack for on demand use..
Barb did a beautiful job staining the deck connecting the two cabins. She has further outfitted the cabin with some floor area rugs, a new heater and bedding. There is also now a TV with DVD player. She has further plans to paint the cabin blue, but that is still in serious negotiations (not happening).
The cook shack has all the necessary utensils, pots, pans, hot plate, microwave, toaster oven, Mr. Coffee, space heater, and a small refrigerator/freezer. I also brought down a very good John Boos Cutting Block and several very good knives for smoking, butchering, etc. Barb did discover today that there are no plates or silverware as of yet. We have begun to stock the cook shack cupboards with extra canned goods, staples, paper towels, etc. We also store some of our perishables in that fridge as well. We are investigating several different type of solar lighting to keep the cabins, deck, and flag pole illuminated even when we're not here.
I have set up a nice fire pit area with plenty of stacked, seasoned oak as well as an adjustable fire pit grill and an AusSpit https://auspit.com This is a battery powered rotisserie setup that will handle 20 pounds of meat and operates on 2 D Cell batteries for up to 90 hours. I've had it for 8 years now; works wonderfully. There is also a propane shore cooker set up for deep frying anything and everything. To date we've done clams, shrimp, and fish beautifully. We have two benches as well as two Adirondack chairs under the live oak trees at the pit. For now this area also serves as our pallet storage and corn/alfalfa storage bins. In the next couple of weeks the new wood pit should arrive and the outdoor cooking area will be complete. Briskets, ribs, sausages, chops, chicken, and pork belly, oh my!
Texas Longhorn Smokers TL-96
The fencing project finally completed with the entire front of our property fenced with welded pipe, t-posts and field fencing as well as a new lockable gate installed. It is just a presence. We had the fence run to the inside of both the telephone junction box and the water meter for the utility folks. The electric has a 'smart meter' so it is read telemetrically online.
There was plenty of brush and small trees to remove before sinking pipe and t-poles
Voile' the finished fence and gates
Which brings us to this year's coup de grace. We do have septic, but it has one central tank and a single hookup (50 feet away) from the RV. It is not run to the cabin. The cabin has a compostable toilet. Ecologically sound, but not convenient. This entails us dumping the RV black tank into our 40 gallon portable Rhino Boy and towing over to the tank inlet to dump. This happens once each two weeks. In fact as I type this the tank is nearly full and needs pumped. There is a bright light on the horizon as the City of Leakey informed us there is a federal grant to provide free access for rural areas. So, we're on the list and should be hooked up to city sewage by the time of our departure next spring.
Little by little it's happening. Some projects were our choice and some were unexpected and surprisingly accomplished with little or no cost to us. It does hamper our ability to host guests this trip, but by next year we'll be nearly Air BnB ready....lol. You're still welcome to visit this winter, we'll just arrange for a 'porta-potty'. By the end of this month we should be in a place to just relax and enjoy good food, good neighbors, a couple of day trips, and good health. Joie de Vivre, my friends.
"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true"
Leon J. Suenes
WiFi courtesy of AT & T Wireless
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