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[Beekissed]

I hate to be nosy, but I see that ramp. . . I know neither you or mom needs a ramp -- both too active for that. I'm visualizing the ramp as a way to get wheelbarrows of foodstuffs in and out of the house and down to the chickens.

None of my business works for me, but I was just wondering.

We used to have steps there when the cabin was first added, but we got a neighbor that was in a wheelchair and Dad thought it was sad that he couldn't invite him in the house, so he built a ramp.

Well, later that neighbor moved and the ramp got old and it was time to decide to replace it or go back to steps. I encouraged Mom to replace the ramp with a ramp, as it would only be harder and harder to carry wood into the house and with a ramp we could just push/pull the wood carts up to the porch. While not exactly planning for her eventual old age and mobility issues, I was planning for our aging and still wanting to heat with wood.

It also comes in handy for moving appliances and furniture into the home and,yes, maybe one day for mobility issues.

Gotta plan ahead!

 

[Nyboy]

All of my doors have levers instead of knobs, because I read with arthritis levers easier. Planing ahead.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm always in awe of folks who finally have the wherewithall to build their own homes when they get in their 50s...and they build this 2-3 story monstrosity with stairs everywhere you look. As a nurse I always shake my head over that...50s aren't too far from needing a level floor plan if one wants to utilize their whole house in years to come.

It's one thing to buy those kind of homes, as sometimes that's just what you can get at the time...but to intentionally build a home, with all the love and care that goes into designing a home just for themselves and forgetting they may want to age right in that home. The real kicker is when they place the laundry room in the basement.

 

[ninnymary]

Bee, your place looks so green and tranquil. Love that log home with the flower garden in front. I see your chickens free ranging and I so wish I could do that too!

Mary

 

[Beekissed]

I feel blessed to live here, that's for sure. I also feel blessed to be able to free range these chickens...I've lived where that couldn't be easily done and it's miserable for the birds and for me to keep them confined.

One of the true joys of even having these birds is to watch them live a life of freedom and health out in that grass and woodland. So peaceful to see them walking along, heads down and tails in the air, eating things they WANT to eat, not just what I want to feed them. Imagine a life of eating the same thing day in and day out for your whole life...ick.

 

[Beekissed]

We have a little bat that lives on our front porch now and again. Now, Mom doesn't like it because he leaves his droppings behind, but I've always liked bats and how useful they are in this world for eating insects. Mom usually tries to dissuade bats from taking up residence there and I can see her point...they have the potential to carry parasites and disease, not to mention they leave a little mess behind.

Do you guys intentionally create bat habitat at/near your homes? I've often thought of building some bat houses to encourage more bats to this area but have just never gotten around to it. I know in this state they've been having trouble with the bats dying out due to a fungal infection, so I'm always eager to see about encouraging their presence if I can.

 

[journey11]

I've been wanting to build a bat house. I have had them take up residence in the little gap between the chimney stack and the siding of the house before. I don't see many about anymore and I figure it is because of the white-nose disease that has killed off staggering numbers of them. They are so important for keeping mosquito populations at bay, which are also vectors for horse, dog and human diseases. I'd rather have bats than mosquitoes, as long as they stay outdoors.

 

[Beekissed]

Me too! Bats are highly underrated, IMO. I just watched a vid on how to build a bat house and it's amazingly easy! I just might take the time to throw one together so that our little brown bat might be lured to another abode and Mom can rest easy and not find guano on the porch each day.

 

[Lavender2]

Love your cabin @Beekissed , and dh just walked by and said, 'cool cabin, when we going?'
The garden out front really adds to the charm, very pretty! Having lots of flowers around helps me get through the sad end of the vegetable garden also.

My son just made a bat house for DIL for her birthday. She was thrilled!
We have a basketball backboard on the garage that has been a bat hotel for many years. I guess that's kind of a tip that my kids never really got into basketball.

 

[Beekissed]

How neat is that? A basketball backboard would make the perfect place for a bathouse and also has the flat surface on which to build it. The vid I saw showed them building a bat house that was almost the exact size of a basketball backboard!

You and hubby can come any time you like! Fall is mighty pretty around these parts and we just got a comfy new sectional couch that feels like a dream for sitting, talking and soaking up the wood heat on a chilly fall morning. I'd make you homemade bread, venison stew(if we've had a good season!) and we'd have fresh eggs in the morning for breakfast. We'd have a ball!

We could even have a bonfire and sit out under the stars, listen to the owls hooting and talk about life. Love doing such things.