We live in the woods. Live Oak and “Cedar” (a species of Juniper). There are acres of trees of all sizes and shapes. Over time, I’ve admired the beautiful work done by artists who use the idiosyncratic shapes of natural … Continue reading →
We’ve been looking forward to this all summer. We’re helping our friends, Alva and Lisa build a Tiny House. Last spring, they were looking for contractors in Austin, but everyone’s too busy with the current building boom. They’ve been developing this … Continue reading →
We moved to the Ranch in December of 1996. Everything was brand new and shiny. The well had gone in a few months before as part of building the house, so by now it was about 15 years old. Most … Continue reading →
Two years ago, I bought a packet of Italian beans at the nursery thinking it would be fun to have a trellis or wall of beans growing in the garden. There were (as I recall) three types of beans in … Continue reading →
As houses age, repairs are needed. I have been living in the Log Home for nearly 14 years, and it is no exception. We originally installed a propane water heater reasoning that we would have hot water without electricity, and modest amounts of … Continue reading →
It’s been very hot here this summer, with very little rain, and we’ve had to take steps to shelter animals and any plants and trees that we value. With temperatures rising to around 105 degrees nearly every day for the … Continue reading →
We like music at Roy Creek Ranch, and some time ago I decided to get one of my pianos rebuilt. There are two pianos here, an 1893 Weber (originally purchased at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893 — but that’s … Continue reading →
In the post of April 17, 2008, I mentioned the addition of a second rainwater tank to the north tank farm. It was actually purchased and delivered last spring and has been sitting on a decomposed granite pad since then. … Continue reading →
There are various strategies for keeping the rainwater in your tanks clean, including filters, “roof washers” and so forth. No matter what though, you find that the water collects debris over time — especially when it’s stored for a while. … Continue reading →
In an earlier post, I alluded to “bins” or “pens” That I constructed in the greenhouse. Something of a cross between a raised bed and a giant pot, these miniature gardens are very efficient, and easy to construct. Here’s how: … Continue reading →