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Offline WoodsWoman

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Living in the country
« on: February 16, 2012, 04:53:50 PM »
I love living out here.. one never knows who's coming to visit.   

Earlier today one of my dogs who lays on the back of the recliner watching the yard started to shake.. so I took a peek to see whats out there.   Big ol' fluffy muskrat walking across the yard to my front steps. 

And hour later..she starts to shake again  so I took a peek thinking that muskrat was toodling around again.  Whoa.. not more than 15 feet from my window is a Doe and her two fawns.   We stared at each other for awhile and the Doe decided to check things out on my picnic table.

Now ..not even 20 mins ago the dog is shaking... now whats out there?   Heh..  four turkeys.. same route..past the window.  Not in any hurry to get past the now barking dogs.. (six of em)   

I coulda had my freeze full by now..  ha.     

WoodsWoman
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Offline Red

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2012, 05:02:58 PM »
lol, sounds wonderful! when i look out my window, i see my neighbor's house :(
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Offline rogumpogum

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2012, 05:37:59 PM »
I see an ice cream shop and a winery, so.. I do see wildlife, of another sort.
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Offline easy_rider75

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2012, 06:11:17 PM »
Quote from: redman8066 on February 16, 2012, 05:02:58 PM
lol, sounds wonderful! when i look out my window, i see my neighbor's house :(


Unfortunately same view here to many  of them  LOL


Sounds like a bit of heaven
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Offline Nelson

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2012, 06:14:45 PM »
Jealous of that Woodswoman. I like the others see my neighbors.
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Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2012, 06:20:28 PM »
I'm lucky. Though I do have some great neighbors (and a couple of awful ones), I can go to the end of my street and be on public land for miles and miles.

We live in a "city", but wildlife comes in among our houses all the time. We get rabbits, mule deer, partridge, coyotes, and the occasional black bear. I've seen antelope, bighorn sheep and bobcats within a few miles of here as well. And there are also mountain lions but I've only seen tracks.
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Offline Red

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2012, 06:22:15 PM »
dang PW, im gonna have to come visit with you one day! that sounds great being so close to public land!
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Offline Nelson

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2012, 06:23:28 PM »
Now I'm jealous of you PW. When I say I live in a city in it an understatement....
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Offline greyhound352

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2012, 06:26:53 PM »
I would love to have view like that. I get to watch renters drive their scooters into their house. The realtor trying to sell the house actually posted a photo of a scooter in the living room, this house will never sell.
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Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2012, 10:14:38 AM »
I live on the edge of a small village. I have deer and turkeys in my yard scrounging apples under my apple trees. I've watched eagles hunting turkeys on the hillside across the way. Coyotes in the fields beyond serenade the full moon, on occasion.

I used to live along the I-5 corridor in WA. There are fewer car registered in my entire county here than you used to be able to SEE on the freeway at any given time!

I also raise my own chickens, and rabbits. I have a large greenhouse, and multiple raised garden beds for growing green stuff.

It might be a bit inconvenient to have to plan major shopping trips on a monthly basis, but living "on the fringe of society" more than makes up for it.
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Offline WoodsWoman

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2012, 12:01:36 PM »
OP ..  you and I are pretty close to the same.    We have 100 acres here.. surrounded by lake/pond.   My nearest neighbor is a mile away.   And she is 87 years old.. owner of most of the land around here.   She has the apple orchard.   

Shopping town is 10 miles away.  My mailbox is a mile away on the other end of my driveway. 

There was a pair of Eagles sitting atop a tree in the backyard this morning.   I'm thinking they are watching for Mad Mable the Muskrat......

Coyotes give me the willies...  and now they say theres a cougar and black bear and a moose in the area.

I do have a greenhouse..but its small  8x8.    Hopefully I'll have a good sized garden growing this summer.

I've raised pheasants, rabbits, meat chickens, steer (bad idea) , pigs, chukars, turkeys and roen ducks.   Not raising anything in the last few years.    I'd like to get some egg/meat type chickens going in a chicken tractor this year.  Then I'll just incubate the eggs to keep the supply going.

WW.
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On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good.

Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2012, 12:27:10 PM »
You are in the situation we envisioned. Budget wouldn't allow it, though. We do pretty well within our space, though. Considering the average winter here, living on the top of a mountain is problematic.  ;D
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Offline WoodsWoman

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2012, 12:34:41 PM »
OH ya.. lets not forget winters.    Those butt deep bus long drifts can slow life down for a week or two..

OUr driveway bends at half way .. so one sneeze from any direction can plug us in for awhile.    I have one room thats .. "the store".      " Hey Hun,  will you go to the 'store' and grab a bottle of ketchup?"...  :)

So far..the record drift was 12 foot at the bend.    I'm loving this winter with no snow...

Fedex and UPS guys hate seeing packages going here.   I try to be nice and not order anything in the winter time.

WW.
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On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good.

Offline Barbarossa Bushman

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2012, 12:43:47 PM »
Old Philosopher and Woodswoman I am jealous and I don't get jealous often. My dream is a cabin in the middle of nowhere someday where the only way to get to me is by a bush plane.
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Offline WoodsWoman

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2012, 01:22:00 PM »
BB.. if ya hurry and rent a bushplane you can land on the lakes ice and come visit...  :) :)     You can toodle your plane right up to behind the barn.. walk up a steep hill with woods and your here!  ha ha.

I do wish sometimes we had thicker woods around us.    We just have a narrow band of them.  Cant get lost very easy.

WoodsWoman.
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On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good.

Offline Wilderbeast

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #15 on: February 18, 2012, 03:13:32 PM »
I'm 8 miles from the nearest supermarket on 28 acres.  My neighbors are out of sight but good people.  We help each other out.

Not being around the corner from shopping requires a bit of extra planning but really isn't much of an inconvenience.  You figure it out fast.  Shopping lists are my friend.

Country living is new to me, I'm a transplanted New Yorker.  I moved from a county with a population of 2.5 million to a county in Western North Carolina with the same square milage but 22,000 people and 8 traffic lights.

Been here for four years and we're loving it.  I like collecting my fresh eggs, growing most of my produce and not having to deal with traffic.  I really like being able to get in my traget practice from my deck instead of driving to a range. 

And having lots of bush to craft in is wonderful.
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Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #16 on: February 18, 2012, 04:21:11 PM »
Quote from: Wilderbeast on February 18, 2012, 03:13:32 PM
I'm 8 miles from the nearest supermarket on 28 acres.  My neighbors are out of sight but good people.  We help each other out.

Not being around the corner from shopping requires a bit of extra planning but really isn't much of an inconvenience.  You figure it out fast.  Shopping lists are my friend.

Country living is new to me, I'm a transplanted New Yorker.  I moved from a county with a population of 2.5 million to a county in Western North Carolina with the same square milage but 22,000 people and 8 traffic lights.

Been here for four years and we're loving it.  I like collecting my fresh eggs, growing most of my produce and not having to deal with traffic. I really like being able to get in my traget practice from my deck instead of driving to a range. 

And having lots of bush to craft in is wonderful.

That's my dream home! I have it really good where I'm at, but I'd love to get a nice 20-40 acre piece where I could shoot off the back porch or deck. That would be bliss! We live on the edge of town, but are still within "city limits", and can't legally shoot within a mile of town. And it's still a residential street. One day, perhaps. But for now a short hike or ride on an ATV gets me onto BLM land so it's almost as good (until they change the BLM regulations to outlaw shooting or motorized access).
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Offline Wilderbeast

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #17 on: February 18, 2012, 04:44:45 PM »
Quote from: PetrifiedWood on February 18, 2012, 04:21:11 PM
Quote from: Wilderbeast on February 18, 2012, 03:13:32 PM
I'm 8 miles from the nearest supermarket on 28 acres.  My neighbors are out of sight but good people.  We help each other out.

Not being around the corner from shopping requires a bit of extra planning but really isn't much of an inconvenience.  You figure it out fast.  Shopping lists are my friend.

Country living is new to me, I'm a transplanted New Yorker.  I moved from a county with a population of 2.5 million to a county in Western North Carolina with the same square milage but 22,000 people and 8 traffic lights.

Been here for four years and we're loving it.  I like collecting my fresh eggs, growing most of my produce and not having to deal with traffic. I really like being able to get in my target practice from my deck instead of driving to a range. 

And having lots of bush to craft in is wonderful.

That's my dream home! I have it really good where I'm at, but I'd love to get a nice 20-40 acre piece where I could shoot off the back porch or deck. That would be bliss! We live on the edge of town, but are still within "city limits", and can't legally shoot within a mile of town. And it's still a residential street. One day, perhaps. But for now a short hike or ride on an ATV gets me onto BLM land so it's almost as good (until they change the BLM regulations to outlaw shooting or motorized access).

My wife and I are very fortunate to live where we do.  We also have miles of trails to hike and ride the ATV on.  The Pisgah NF and the Appalachian Trail are practically in our backyard. 

Once I get squared away with a photo hosting site I'll post some pictures of our little bit of heaven.
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Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #18 on: February 18, 2012, 05:06:49 PM »
Sounds good! I'd love to see it.  :)

My wife and I want to get some recreational land and build a small one room cabin on it. More of a "super tent" than a real cabin. I think I can get all the materials to build a nice 12X25 gambrel roof cabin for under $5,000. With a nail gun it could go up really fast. If you've already got a level slab, one person can get the floor built and the walls framed up in a day. The roof trusses cut, nailed and gusseted in another day, and then the trusses and ceiling joists in yet another. Then you can get the exterior walls, and roof sheets on in another day (need help with the roof).

I think a summer of weekends would be enough to fully complete it. I built a 12X20 one using a hammer and nails instead of a nail gun and it took me a lot longer. But I think a nail gun would easily cut my time by 75%.

Now I just need to find a piece of land with a nice flat spot in the mountains that is easy snowshoe distance from the highway, but far enough away as to be relatively private...
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Offline Wilderbeast

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2012, 05:26:13 PM »
For off the grid framing, paslode is our friend
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Offline WoodsWoman

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #20 on: February 18, 2012, 07:20:45 PM »
Ok Wilderbeast.. whatsa paslode?   

WW
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On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good.

Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2012, 07:28:52 PM »
Quote from: PetrifiedWood on February 18, 2012, 05:06:49 PM

Now I just need to find a piece of land with a nice flat spot in the mountains that is easy snowshoe distance from the highway, but far enough away as to be relatively private...
There are plenty of small (and not so small) cabins built here on platforms/decks on anything but flat ground. I may have a picture handy.....
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Offline Wilderbeast

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2012, 07:33:19 PM »
Quote from: WoodsWoman on February 18, 2012, 07:20:45 PM
Ok Wilderbeast.. whatsa paslode?   

WW

A framing nail gun that uses gas cartridges and doesn't need a compressor.
They rock.


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Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? One should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved.

Offline WoodsWoman

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2012, 07:41:11 PM »
Ahh......THAT paslode..... gotcha.

WW.
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On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good.

Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2012, 09:22:55 PM »
Quote from: PetrifiedWood on February 18, 2012, 05:06:49 PM
...
Now I just need to find a piece of land with a nice flat spot in the mountains....
Here ya go! Not much flat ground under these two "shacks".  ;)

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Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #25 on: February 18, 2012, 09:54:22 PM »
That's plenty flat for my purposes. We checked out a 20 acre piece about three years ago that was about a 40 degree slope. We passed on it. It just needs to be flat enough so you can set something down on it without worrying it's going to roll away down the hill. :D
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Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #26 on: February 18, 2012, 10:11:17 PM »
Quote from: PetrifiedWood on February 18, 2012, 09:54:22 PM
That's plenty flat for my purposes. We checked out a 20 acre piece about three years ago that was about a 40 degree slope. We passed on it. It just needs to be flat enough so you can set something down on it without worrying it's going to roll away down the hill. :D
That's what they make earth moving equipment for!  ;D You ought to see some of the terraces carved out of side hills around here!
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Offline PetrifiedWood

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #27 on: February 18, 2012, 10:22:30 PM »
Well, sure. But then it becomes a decision as to whether it's more cost effective to re shape the land, or just buy some with a flat piece on it. :D  I'm looking to go the simplest route possible that will allow me to DIY as much of the building as possible. But this is all a few years off from now anyhow.
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Offline rogumpogum

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #28 on: February 19, 2012, 09:49:06 AM »
Not sure I can find the plot of land I want here in NY, simply because of cost and taxes. It's getting pretty scary how much normal, undeveloped land in the country costs now a days. As an example... up the road, about 3 miles outside of this tiny town (population ~300), is a .75 plot that's an empty field with a driveway. It's 1 million dollars. Why? Because it would be excellent for growing grapes or building a winery, as I am on the Finger Lakes Wine Trail - we have hundreds of wineries around here, it's a big business.

Now, as for these lakes that I'm living near... Lake frontage property is $1000 a square foot and the taxes are through the roof.

So, yeah, I'm going to have to move away to find my little plot.
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Offline Old Philosopher

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Re: Living in the country
« Reply #29 on: February 19, 2012, 10:24:29 AM »
I don't want to let myself get started on how greedy developers and realtors have created a false market value and priced young families out of their dreams.
Let's just say that around here, after the boom of 2006-8, even raw land has an asking price of 3x-4x what's reasonable. 10 years ago a 50'x100' bare lot in my little village sold for around $10k. The asking price now is $25k-$30k! And this is after the two major employers in the area pulled up stakes and left.
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