Mountain Lane Homesteaders

A Year Does Make a Difference!

10:45 AM, Thursday, October 12, 2006 .. Posted in Journey to the Dream .. 9 comments .. Link

Before I started blogging I had not been very good at keeping a written record of our homesteading adventure. I have a few things that were written down hastily on a piece of spiral notebook paper and then torn out and placed in a folder. The trick would be to actually find these if I were to go looking! I knew I needed to keep track of all we had been doing but finding both the time and the energy to do that during the midst of the most chaotic part was difficult at best. In an effort to clean up scattered school "keep" papers recently I pulled out a folder I had on my desk and started filing away when I actually did come across something I wrote just last October. I thought that since we are now a year beyond where we were that day it would be a good time to share it.

Although our rain in the house trials would get worse before they got better, this is a record of a moment in time during our hardest time last year trying to get everything all ready for winter. We had been working day and night for weeks gathering our supplies, milling our wood, and getting the cabin up. We had no roof yet other than the floorboards of the loft. The rafters were in place and a few rows of decking but that was it. Rain kept leaking in regardless of the plastic we had set up. We were sleeping in sleeping bags on foam mats on our concrete floor. We had a porta potti, no running water, and no electricity. Our lighting was coleman lanterns and I cooked on a 2 burner coleman propane stove. We were living in one half of our cabin and the other half was still a "workshop" full of ladders and tools.

Stress was indeed high but so was the joy. We were DOING it!

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I really, really

11:32 AM, Thursday, October 12, 2006 .. Posted by erisarei
Really enjoy your blog! :) I think it would be so cool to do what you did. Eric is just now WANTING to live in the country. So I think that what you are doing, is not what we will do! :) I would try it though.
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12:52 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2006 .. Posted by JoyceFamily
Your story is one of the most inspiring I've ever come across. I truly hope you find all those scraps of notebook paper and compile a book!
Eleanor
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3:52 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2006 .. Posted by southofthegnatline
Darcy ~

You and your family are a real inspiration. I can not imagine how strong (mentally and physically) y'all are to do something so many people "just dream about doing"........

Unbelieveable experiences - thank you for sharing!
Harriette
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5:14 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2006 .. Posted by mc2rwe
Darcy... I am so glad that you have kept your humor and incredible writing skills. I just love hearing about your journey...

Kat
Great post.

5:15 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2006 .. Posted by MissionaryMom
so how is it better now? Obviously you have a roof...can you compare and contrast it?

Carol
You've Got Fans

9:52 AM, Friday, October 13, 2006 .. Posted by teapots66
Friend, you have so many fans! Already I am comment #6!!!! You truly are an inspiration. I was wet this weekend, but at least I could get into my bed and let the water stay on the floor. I, too, hope you find all your past journaled thoughts and get them down. By the way, you should copyright your stuff here on the blog. Can you just put a little paragraph on here somewhere? And maybe start getting your book organized. Do you keep copies of your entries somewhere on your computer or on a disk?
Sending my love this morning - as always, enjoying hearing your stories. Here's to no snow this October. -Chris

Edited by teapots66 on Friday, October 13, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Hello

8:18 AM, Saturday, October 14, 2006 .. Posted by marthaskitchen
What a great entry you wrote. I just loved reading it. I will definately be back to read more of your home steading adventures. Your family are terrific and I so admire what you are doing. Good on you all.
God bless
Helen
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9:15 AM, Saturday, October 14, 2006 .. Posted by Pattisea
It's good to be reminded of the trials as well as the triumphs! It keeps me from getting into envy or coveting.

Aren't you glad it's in the past, now?

Patti

PS - thanks for your encouragement the other day!
Thanks!

4:23 PM, Saturday, October 14, 2006 .. Posted by katenicholl
Thanks for commenting on my blog today. I'm really chuffed when people take time to "talk" to me! It's funny that you love all things Irish whereas when i read your blog I realise that you are living my dream!!
Could we swap?!
Feel free to call in for a wee chat any time. The craic should be mighty.....ie. the fun should be good!!

Catherine :-)

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About Me

My husband and I along with our 3 children, moved from Iowa to Montana 3 years ago fulfilling a long time dream of living in the mountains. Last summer we purchased and moved onto our bare land and are currently living in our home made cabin which has evolved from a shed to a barn to our cabin and future guest house. The foundation for what we now call "The big house" is dug and waiting for our next burst of energy!