BROKEN OAK HILL(R) Dispatches from the heart of Wisconsin At the Farm
Top photo: The new house peeks above the rye grass growing on the mound for the new septic system.
The changing landscape
Our builder, Jim Langendorf, has pointed out the deer tracks in the mud coming within a few feet of the new house. Not an environment you would think they would like, but just like the people in cars who drive slowly by but don't stop, I guess they are curious.
We haven't had a lot of time for wildlife watching or working in the woods while the house is going up, but next year should be great. Meanwhile, I've noticed a few phoebes, who used to love to nest on the old front porch, have been looking around but have found that things are changing too
Gayle spotted this little DeKay's brown snake sunning on the logs from the old oak tree.
fast to find a place to nest in the new house.
I've heard a red squirrel or two and saw one this trip, but I didn't have the over-and-under with me. If one of them so much as looks at the new house, I will have him in my sights.
We rarely have blue jays around, but I've seen a pair of them fly quietly in and out of the ancient yellow apple tree just below the house. Since they
This is the view from the window in the north bedroom upstairs. The blue jay tree is at the left.
usually can be counted on to make a lot of racket, I wonder if they have a nest there.
Woodpeckers of various types have been busy in all of the walnuts around the house, too. And I've spotted a couple of bluebirds out in the area of the front gate.
Our goal is to get a really good bird list going, hopefully with the help of our friend Carl Schwartz, who helped us start one last summer, and to start cataloging all of our wildlife and trees, wildflowers and other plants.
But meanwhile, Jim and his crew are moving ahead on the house project with great speed, despite unseasonable heat one week and too much rain in others. We met with the electrician on this visit, also, and were able to take care of a lot of lighting and electrical decisions.
The changing landscape
Our builder, Jim Langendorf, has pointed out the deer tracks in the mud coming within a few feet of the new house. Not an environment you would think they would like, but just like the people in cars who drive slowly by but don't stop, I guess they are curious.
We haven't had a lot of time for wildlife watching or working in the woods while the house is going up, but next year should be great. Meanwhile, I've noticed a few phoebes, who used to love to nest on the old front porch, have been looking around but have found that things are changing too
Gayle spotted this little DeKay's brown snake sunning on the logs from the old oak tree.
fast to find a place to nest in the new house.
I've heard a red squirrel or two and saw one this trip, but I didn't have the over-and-under with me. If one of them so much as looks at the new house, I will have him in my sights.
We rarely have blue jays around, but I've seen a pair of them fly quietly in and out of the ancient yellow apple tree just below the house. Since they
This is the view from the window in the north bedroom upstairs. The blue jay tree is at the left.
usually can be counted on to make a lot of racket, I wonder if they have a nest there.
Woodpeckers of various types have been busy in all of the walnuts around the house, too. And I've spotted a couple of bluebirds out in the area of the front gate.
Our goal is to get a really good bird list going, hopefully with the help of our friend Carl Schwartz, who helped us start one last summer, and to start cataloging all of our wildlife and trees, wildflowers and other plants.
But meanwhile, Jim and his crew are moving ahead on the house project with great speed, despite unseasonable heat one week and too much rain in others. We met with the electrician on this visit, also, and were able to take care of a lot of lighting and electrical decisions.
July 23-24
Framing the future
The master and commander surveys the universe from the prow of his ship ...whoops, wrong cutline...John stands on the north end of the new front porch.
A look at the "bonus space" upstairs, with room for a couple of bookshelves along the wall then a chair and a small table by the west window.
In this view from the upstairs north window, the lady of
the house looks pleased with the way things are going.
The back door will have a modest little covered porch.
Here, the morning sun streams through the kitchen window. The door to the cooking deck is just off to the right.
The new house as it looked from the road on June 24. The rest of the shingles will be on soon, then windows and doors.
Framing the future
The master and commander surveys the universe from the prow of his ship ...whoops, wrong cutline...John stands on the north end of the new front porch.
A look at the "bonus space" upstairs, with room for a couple of bookshelves along the wall then a chair and a small table by the west window.
In this view from the upstairs north window, the lady of
the house looks pleased with the way things are going.
The back door will have a modest little covered porch.
Here, the morning sun streams through the kitchen window. The door to the cooking deck is just off to the right.
The new house as it looked from the road on June 24. The rest of the shingles will be on soon, then windows and doors.
