Between land disputes and other life problems I haven't worked on my house in a month. But, thanks to a lot of encouragement, and help from my sister, my vineyard is taking shape. I plan on having some income from it in three years, well Lord willing that is. 

I am digging out and leveling a path all the way down both sides of this row as it is on a fairly steep grade, I would be falling down backwards constantly if I don't do it. After it is dug out, then I have to find something for small retaining walls that doesn't cost a lot of money and is quick and easy to install , so I can put in a thick mulch all through the  vineyard. The next step to do is put in the posts for the blackberries, then start my straw-bale rows that are actually going to be for strawberries next fall, but until then I am going to grow other stuff in them. So, at least a little something is getting done around here, and I hope to work on the house a little next week. Until then, God bless. Ozarkmoma

 Well, happy day! I was able to get three more posts standing today, before I left the house, and I brought back the quickrete I need to finish after I have them all in place.

This is a closer view of the post that will be next to the rock, I was hoping to get it closer to the wall and rock, I thought that once it was finished it would look better, but hopefully it will turn out OK. I am hoping to get them all up tomorrow, and pour the quickrete, but, that may be hoping for more than this old fat woman can do. Until tomorrow. God bless. Ozarkmoma

 Well, hope everyone is well today, and happy. So, not much going on since my last blog about the bamboo if I remember correctly. I went to Branson, Mo for the Feast of Tabernacles, it was awesome. So, about the bamboo, if you look real close you can see some behind the block, I have it pressed against the inside of the dome to get a slight curve in it.

 Next week I will take the bamboo, cut it into 8ft sections, and stand them up on the wall, attached to re bar. then I plan on building a frame and use the frame as a sort of form. Now, this may not work, and I am prepared to accept that if it doesn't, or, it may not speed things up, but if the Almighty is willing it will be easier on my back.

Obviously I have never worked with bamboo, as this picture shows, but I think that this small frame will do what I want it to in spite of the look of it, if not, I will try again. In case you haven't figured it out, I am either too determined or stupid to give up, but most of all, I want a house, without going into debt, and I am willing to work for it. So, God willing someday it will happen. Until next week, may God bless you all. Ozarkmoma

 I kept 8 grandchildren during spring break, before I picked them up, Vernon and Jade came out and helped me on the house. We laid the bags on the laundry room pod, and that finished the row. Then it was time to go back to the dome and start another row.

On Sunday, 4-3-11, Vernon, Jenifer, and the kids came out. We planted a garden, then we started the next row on the dome. They had to leave before it was finished, but they helped me get a really good start and I was able to finish the section between the door and the pantry pod. I can't thank them enough for all of the help they are giving me. I don't know when I will post again, I have started working night shift and it is going to take some getting used to. Until the next post, God bless, Ozarkmoma

Happy dirt day everyone! Just a quick blog today to kind of stay caught up. I put two barrels in the dome week before last, this past week though, the weather was too bad to work out there. As I am sure you all know there was a bad winter storm, thank God I didn't get the snow and ice, but the temps have been very cold and the dirt is sure to be frozen, and I would have too, had I tried to work out there.  Have a great weekend. Ozarkmoma

Barrel form over the pantry pod

Barrel form over the laundry room pod top left.

Happy Dirt Day To All!! Well, after a few more set backs, I actually managed to work on the house yesterday with great success, at least to me it was. I laid the next row on the section that has the log stairs in it, I put the last log step in and another light tube. I even laid a few more buttress bags, and all the pain I am experiencing at this time, and through the night is worth it, now, if my poor old aching bones can take it and the Almighty is willing, I will get as much done today. I will try to keep you posted. God bless!! Ozarkmoma

Dirt Day 5-24-2010

    Well, dip me in dirt, I managed to completely miss another week last week didn't I!!!! I could list off a bunch of excuses, but what would be the point? Below you can see what is left of the clay that was in the blue tub, not much~ it only took a few good thunderstorms to wash it away, the before picture is on flickr, you can click on the flickr link to go there, if interested.

   I can't believe I missed doing any work on the house last week, and now it is so hot I am sure I will not be able to get much done, but I can't give up, and I won't give up, but this am I worked on trying to put the swing set together and that didn't go too well. I finally quit on that, and was going to plaster, but the mixer needs some new parts, I am sure I won't be able to order them, so will have to get some help to take it apart and go to that bolt and screw company in Russellville to see if they could fix me up with some bushing or something that would work, but I could end up replacing the whole assembly, so, have to mix plaster by hand until all of that happens, and that is bad, really bad, took me hours to mix a small load, the sun was just beating down on me and sucking my energy right out of me, it is really hard getting old, I remember only two years ago I could hold up to it a lot better, but, being inactive last summer is probably what did me in, I am a firm believer in keeping your old bones moving, I am sure if you don't you will loose your muscle and strength, and I now have proof... DUH. I can't tell you how many times I have told my friends to keep moving their bodies, I am so bad about not following my own advice! DOUBLE DUH! So, today I put on a small load of plaster around the inside of the pantry door, tomorrow I will do better, and that will be the last day this week I will be able to work on the house, dag-nab-it. So, God bless you all, and will blog again tomorrow. Ozarkmoma

Dirt Day 5-13-2010

Dip me in dirt! I thank God for helping me get the work done today and keeping the skies dry~! I made lots of room for the mixer, and after I was finished with laying the bags and tamping them, I took a short break and went back out and covered the house back up, I hate doing that but it is necessary until it is either plastered better, or in the dry or both?!*? But at least I am making some good progress, at least I think I am. After that I took care of the animals, and cooked for the weekend. OH! I hung the mixer belt on the steering wheel of the car, wonder if I will remember it? We shall see!*! Until next week, God bless you all. Ozarkmoma    PS: Next week I may try using that fancy butane torch thingy whacker my sister bought me!!! Maybe I will do a video, it could be interesting and educational!

Dirt Day 5/11/2010

Well, dip me in dirt y'all!!! I just wanted to do a short blog, I want to show you all this chunk of clay dirt that I dumped out of a tub today while I was trying to clean around the house area. It is awesome!!! Let's see how long it takes for the rain to wash it away ok? I bet it takes a while because it is hard as a rock, I tried kicking it and was only able to knock a little off of the edges. Anyway, I continued to move dirt away from the pile so I could move the mixer and the screening area, so I put the dirt into bags of course. I made more mush too, and tomorrow I would like to possibly plaster a pod, I also moved the blue tubs that had lime in them, Lou, I know you will really like it. It is looking much better now, and I will be able to see where I am putting the swing set. God bless you all. Ozarkmoma