Robin Writes

When you’re moving onto your new homestead/farm/bug-out location, it’s really easy to get lost in the moving drama itself.

Things like unpacking, getting rid of even more “stuff,” arranging, filling cabinets, and, er, transferring data can all take precedence over survival activities.

Somewhere, you have to draw the line.

First, just like with any move, you have to know where things are—you have to be able to find them, some of them in a hurry. Our weapons are secure, for example, and close at hand. Food, clothing for whatever the weather brings, hygiene; the rest is gravy.

Unless you’re like me, and can’t stand the chaos for very long, and unless you’re working at one of those job thingies. Like me.

We’ve been here just over a week now. Completely unpacked and arranged and cleaned up and out.

I HAD to. Trust me, it’s for my sanity.

I also had to work—one more book for RHP coming out this month. But again, for my sanity, I can’t sit at my desk and work for very long at a stretch without getting up and doing something, anything!

So I planted my herbs and started some seeds. We’ve ordered the fencing for the garden and I planted some rosebushes. I’ve baked several loaves of bread to get us going and done all the rest of the cooking and cleaning and laundry.

Okay, so hanging all the laundry on the clothesline isn’t as much fun as I remembered from when I was a kid, but it’s not bad and it’s great exercise! Rain, however, can put a damper on things. Ha.

Then again, it’s an excuse to wear my new rain boots:

We hired a man to plow the garden; it was cheaper and faster than buying a plow to use a couple times a year and it’s nearly time, or even a bit late, to get some things in the ground. Remember, though, as much fun as garden catalogs are to read, don’t get carried away. Plant what you like to eat; otherwise, it’s a lot of hard work for very little return.

And yes, I did mention a fence for that garden. Depending on where you live, you may end up feeding the wildlife instead of your family. Here, we need a 7-8-foot-tall fence to keep out the damn deer. Picturesque, yes; major pests, also yes.

Don’t forget, too, all the other projects you’d planned. For us, we’re finishing the dungeon, aka lean-to, which has become the laundry room; also the furnace room. And we have a shower to put in, as well as the bathroom floor.

Sounds nice, or will be when it’s finished, but remember—you’re prepping here, and the other things won’t wait. SHTF certainly won’t.

Animals, crops, people. That’s your order of importance. The bells and whistles can come later, but if there’s ever a time to NOT put off today what you can you do tomorrow, this is it. You really never know what may come tomorrow, especially weather. Always have a backup plan for chores.

Take the time to practice shooting or using your weapon of choice; check your fence lines, or build or repair them. Keep your cash stash handy—it’s too easy to use a little here, a little there.

And take time to enjoy your new place. It’s hard, when there’s so much to be done, but do it anyway. Then you’ll know what makes it all worthwhile.

We officially moved to the farm this past Saturday! It seems very strange not to be figuring out what to do, and when, before we drive back to STL in a few days. The kid came over early Saturday to help load the truck, and by the time I left around noon, he and my husband were still at it.

I got here around 3:30 or so and took care of the dog and cat and watered my plants. I put the cat, who’s never been here, in the dungeon while I unloaded the car. Half an hour later, he was meowing to get out. He circled the house twice before scoping out all the windows and then taking a nap on our bed. He finally got to go outside the next day, and boy, does he love that! I’m not sure he could clear the fence, but he might try. I’m not too worried about him—he’s a 20-pound Maine Coon.

The unpacking is almost done. Still have a few boxes that either can’t yet be unpacked—like stuff for the laundry room—and some pictures that I have no idea where to hang, but mostly it’s done. The biggest part was rearranging the things we’ve been using and incorporated the REAL stuff from STL.

My husband has finished clearing the garden area and ordered fish for his pond. We picked up a horse trough yesterday, but no horse yet—this is first going to be fish transport on Saturday. At Fish Day.

Yes, that’s a thing.

I also discovered I have family in the area—how weird is that? My cousin passed away a few days ago; I saw her obit in the paper. I haven’t seen her in probably 30 years. Her brother still lives here.

When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time at Nana’s house. Aunt LaVerna lived next door on one side, and Aunt Mary on the other. I ran and played in all three yards and visited both of them a lot. Sometimes, my cousin Dolores was home; she was a mail carrier. I don’t remember her brother Lon very well. They were both 30 or so years older than I.

I DO remember a big family ruckus though, probably in the early 90s, when Dolores and Lon moved Aunt LaVerna out “to the country.” Just didn’t realize it was here! This is almost as strange as when we moved from Colorado to Granbury, Texas in 1999 and discovered that my husband’s grandparents had lived there—and their marriage certificate was still at the courthouse!

Well, anyway, back to the work part:

Yesterday, before the town trip to buy fish and a few groceries, we seeded the pasture with 50 pounds of fescue; going to add some alfalfa or lespedeza too. Planned it ahead of the nice rain we got this morning—perfect for sprouting.

I also planted my signature purple verbena for the five hanging baskets on two of the decks. The third deck, off the kitchen, is for my seedlings and herbs. And a grape vine. I think that’s what it is. Hard to say…

And I’m pretty sure all these gorgeous little yellow-flowered trees are sassafras. Don’t think I’ve ever seen them before, but we have a quite a lot. The blueberries wintered well and the peach trees have leafed out; the apple trees are budding.