Out of the Dead Zone and More

Yesterday was a big day!! We moved from the dead zone and got internet and a landline today. Sadly there is not very good cell service so it is easier to have a landline. We have been without TV, internet and phone since we moved here, and I truly have enjoyed being a little disconnected. We were able to unpack and put our stuff away with no interruptions, I didn't have to worry about the phone ringing or the latest news on Facebook. I did get a little internet time when we visited my Mountain Mans mom, when we were at home there was no contact with the outside world. Now is the fun of setting everything up and giving family and friends our new number, so we can know whats going on again!

Since we got here in August it pretty much rained for about 2 months, it would rain 2 days, stop for and day and then rain for 3 more days, it did that all of August and most of September. Then it turned into nice fall weather till Monday and Yesterday it reached 80 degrees!! So of course we took full advantage of that on Monday and we cooked over the fire, we had garlic stuffed pork chops, roasted butternut squash and green bean casserole. mmmmm

Tuesday we waited for the internet installer to come, once he did Mountain Man helped run the new lines to the house. Let me tell ya its a little scary watching them put a new line in, the lines are right next to the road across the street form our house, so they had to make sure the line was above the road so no car ran into it. Lets just say my nerves were going crazy, I don't like heights!! After the install was finished I called some family and friends to let them know our new number, they were of course excited that we left the dark ages. While I was doing that Mountain Mans dad showed up with our first load of coal for the season and they unloaded it into the basement so we can stay warm this winter. 

Coming from the city where most heat is electric or gas, it has been fun learning about the coal burning furnace,  how to keep it going and making sure it doesn't get to hot. Waking up the other day and the house being 85 degrees was a little hot, I ended up opening doors and windows because there is no thermostat on a coal burner, so far so good tho. 

This morning we woke up to a little bit colder morning then the last two but still not too bad, however the leaves are so pretty on this cool crips morning. I would say its about half of the leaves have fallen, the colors of the ones left are beautiful tho, so many reds and golden colors. I love this time of year for the fall colors, cool weather, apples everything and pumpkin galore!

This is the view from our front porch and side deck!

Fixing It Up!

There is so much that we have to do to the house! A little over a year ago I went through and took some before pictures and started making plans for the remodel and decorating. The first 2 pictures are of the kitchen and we are planning on first moving the washer and dryer to another room, I hate having them in the kitchen. Then we will be pulling up the carpet, and replacing it with tile, a new coat of paint on the walls, and all cabinets will be replaced with new ones added for more cabinet space which is very crucial. New appliances and a pantry place will also be added.

 The first is the master bedroom, this is a room with not too much work. The carpet will be replaced, a fresh coat of paint and some new curtains that I am making.

Our living room may be the room with the most work. We will have too replace the whole ceiling, complete paint job on walls and ceiling, and the carpet will be replaced with new carpet.

The bathroom was in major need of a new toilet, the toilet in this picture has been leaning since I started visiting the house on vacations. When i say leaning, I mean leaning, this toilet was great when you were hungover because everything is messed up when you hungover but other than that it was a mess! So this was the first room we started on, my Mountain Man and his dad started by ripping the toilet out on a Monday and fixing the flooring under to toilet to make sure it will hopefully never lean again. After they finished the new floor I installed tile flooring so they could set the toilet and get it running, after a late night trip to Lows because our fill line was too short for our new taller toilet. I also put up our black shower curtain and got some new rugs. We still need to paint the walls tan with no blue stripe and replace the vanity with one like this.

Before

After

Thankful that we have a wonderful new non leaning toilet, I was so glad that was over so that we could start on or next project the plumbing!! The water was shut off on a Friday and that was my cue to travel 30 mins down the road to Mountain Mans moms where I stayed for the weekend where there was running water. No worries we were very nice and made them meals so they didn't starve, we even delivered it to them. They work for 4 days to replace all the plumbing in the house and run a few new lines so we can move the washer and dryer. I am so glad for the new plumbing, the water runs better and the sulfur smell is barely there. 

A Little Get to Know

My Mountain Man and I have been together for almost 6 years and going awesome!! We have recently lived in Peoria, IL  for the last 5 and a half years and recently moved to Southern West Virginia.
Here is a little about us... My Mountain Man was born and raised about an hour from our new home in a very small hollow. After graduating high school he went on to join the US Navy and served 6 years before getting out and finding a job in Peoria, IL.

I was born and raised in a small town outside of Peoria, IL. After high school I attended college at first to be a chef but then changed to my childhood dream of being a teacher. I have worked as a preschool teacher for the last 4 and a half years. Back in November of 2008 I was introduced to my manfriend through mutual friends and we started dating in March of 2009 and have been on the amazing roller coaster of life ever since. We share so many interests football, cooking, movies, being outside and most of all living a peaceful loving life.
We moved to the hills so that we can work on our way to being mostly self sufficient and enjoy a life of homesteading. We were able to put out a small garden of bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and hot peppers when we were visiting in May. Thankfully my manfriends dad was more than willing to take care of them while we were gone in exchange for the goods that grew when we weren't there. Since we have been here we have canned pickles galore and made some awesome tomato and eggplant dishes(I will share those soon)! Our plans for a large garden next year are already taking shape, we also hope to have chickens in the spring and a goat or two by next fall! A little about us and a little of out planning!

Making the Move!

On Sunday, July 27th, 2014 we picked up a U-haul and started the adventure of moving 700 miles, through 5 states to the mountains of Southern West Virginia. We loaded the u-haul on Sunday with the help of our awesome family and friends. Got up early on Monday morning and finished the last minute packing and departed our first apartment that had been out home for the last 5 years.

We drove all day Monday with minimal stops and made it all the way to Beckley, WV which is only 2 hours from our home but it was too late and dark to take the u-haul into the twist and turns to our home. Tuesday we made our way farther into the mountains and started the long and tiresome task of unpacking the over stuffed u-haul. We had totally unpacked the u-haul by Wednesday night and took it back and hope to never have to use one again! Now was the great fun, we started unpacking boxes and totes, trying to find a home for everything. Sadly until we remodel the kitchen not all of my fun kitchen items got to go in the kitchen. they were left packed and put into the barn for storage till a later date. Thankfully everything is unpacked and in its place or safely in storage.

Pulling up to the house knowing it is our forever home was the best feeling ever, we love the mountains and are so happy to be living in them everyday. Our home sits on 36 acres of beautiful mountain side with amazing decks for watching the wildlife and a beautiful creek running through the middle of our land

We celebrated our new home with some Chicken on a Stick our first weekend. When I say chicken on a stick people are normally like "what the?" and all I can reply is you need to try it! They as in my awesome Mountain Man and his father take just a normal stick, slide some chickens that have had a beer bath and been well seasoned and nail them on so they don't move around. Then they are put on a well seasoned fire where they are slow roasted and turned at least once every 5 mins for 5 to 6 hours.

It looks strange but is so so good! 

That was out first week but so much more has happened and I cant wait to share!!