September 6-8, 2014

This was our last trip to the farm, the final page of an eleven year chapter of our lives. With some grieving, we will move on. I put off making this post to put some distance between our separation, but it really hasn't helped. Of course there was no deadline this time, no need to get the previous post made because another would be due. Ah, I guess deadlines do serve a purpose.

This picture was taken on our last walk to the pond the morning of closing, part way down the hill at the bend in the road. The sky with the early morning sun, fog and high clouds was brilliant. It was foggy because we had gotten some good rain, two inches Tuesday and another half inch on Saturday morning before we came out. Saturday was very cool with a high in the mid 70s (unseasonable for early September), with it warming up a bit Sunday into the low 80s. I failed to make note of what the lows were.

Craftsman and Sale Items

The buyers had agreed to buy lots of furniture, the mower, the high wheel string trimmer, and the trailer. That was great for us, not having to haul it all off and then try to sell it ourselves. But that was assuming I had gotten the mower fixed – not (see the previous post). I told them about the problem with the broken weld on the mower and lowered the price. But given that information they decided against the mower and high wheel trimmer. I then told them I would have to retract the trailer, as I would need it to haul the mower and trimmer off. Plus I said I would keep brush whacker (priced at $0) so I could maybe sell the lot together. In the end they offered $200 less than what I thought was fair, and we accepted. It was so much simpler to just leave it all, and let them deal with fixing the weld on the Craftsman (shown in this picture).

Mow and Weedeat

It took most of the day, but it finally dried up enough for me to mow what was needed: the front and back yard, above the spring, around the spring, and in front of the barn. Sunday I used the brush whacker to clean everything up.

Fires/Blow Log

We had fires both Saturday and Sunday evenings. The buyers were driving up Saturday with a trailer that they had asked if they could park in the barn (shop was the term he used) until closing. We had agreed and expected them about 6pm. Being very cool out, we thought having a fire going would be nice. But then they had car problems and had to stop and have some radiator hose clamps tightened. We went ahead and had dinner out back and enjoyed this blow log.

Soul Tree

While loitering around, I tried to get Sally to let me take her picture with her soul tree – this Colorado Blue Spruce she planted on Sunbridge as a bareroot twig, moved to Elm Street, and then out here. She opted to let me pose with it. What history, what ties.

Deer Blind, 2 Feeders, and a Generator

Our buyers rolled in about 8:30. They almost got stuck making the turn toward the barn, but managed to back up and get back on the road. We went down to welcome them and see what we could do. They had a large diesel SUV pulling this trailer loaded with a huge deer blind, two deer feeders, and a generator. I wasn't sure it wood fit under the top of the barn door, and width wise I had to slide the door entirely out of the way. Once in the barn I didn't know what they were going to do because there was no way to turn the whole thing around, not even back behind the barn. He dropped the trailer in the middle of the barn, drove out back and turned the SUV around, and was just barely able to drive around the trailer and get back out of the barn. They then unloaded some more belongings to leave with the trailer.

Sally was pretty shaken by all this. When he asked if he could come back Sunday and set up the blind in the field Sally objected. I said we would get back with them Sunday. Apparently they were planning on driving back home right after closing Monday morning. I was shocked, but the daughter they had with them had to get back to school and they had other kids. Her parents were also with them, and they were the ones actually buying the place even though they had never seen it. We ended up letting them come back Sunday to look around, but they were not to move the trailer until after closing. A good call on Sally's part. They asked about the brush hogging. Apparently they had thought I had said I would have it brush hogged before closing. I believe I had told them I would have it mowed. I felt a bad about the misunderstanding, but all in all I think they got a great deal.

Walks

We took a lot of walks, soaking in our last Serenity Farm experience. We went to the pond both Sunday and Monday mornings. It was very foggy both mornings. We walked up the hill a couple of times, and over to the swing past the spring in the evening to enjoy the night and take in the nearly full moon.

Swing Repair

The swing past the spring had a slat partially hanging off. Being out in the weather it has taken a beating, while the one on the porch is in near perfect condition even though it is older. I took some screws over and re-secured the dangling slat.

Mammals

We saw two deer near the edge of the woods coming down the hill upon our arrival. We saw three more as we rounded the corner at the bottom of the hill on our Monday morning walk. One just stood and stared at us for a long time – pictured here. I caught a glimpse of a ground hog out back a couple of times, just beyond the apricot tree. One evening we were hearing these unusual animal noises. Sally said it was a mother fox gathering her young, and I will take her word for it. Monday morning before we got out of bed, and with the window open, I heard a very strange sound that moved from the front of the house, along the drive, and toward the back. I had no idea what it was, but felt it was a mammal of some sort.

Garden

The Italian pepper was loaded and we brought home quite a haul. The only other plant still producing was the basil, so Sally made one more double batch of pesto. I didn't bother weeding, and it didn't need watering. I did pull up a tree that had come up volunteer. I had thought it was a walnut, and so was leaving it since I had transplanted a couple of those out front from the garden in years past. But this tree was getting taller, growing really fast, and I finally decided it must have been a heavenly tree – and invasive exotic. I have never seen one out at the farm, but there are a real problem in Fayetteville. So I just pulled it up and burned it.

Loveable Loo

With the cooler temperatures and new owners coming, I decided to put the loo back into commission. I filled the sawdust bucket, got a new compostable bag to line the poop bucket, and seeded it with some sawdust. I made use of it both mornings. Perhaps that will be its last use. (I love the morning view from back there.)

Thistle

While taking our walks, I had noticed a few thistles beside the road near the house. Monday morning before leaving for the last time, I went out and pulled them up and stuffed then in the feed bag/trash bag we were taking with us.

Pack and Clean

Since we were leaving so much stuff, there really was not that much to pack up. Fitting it all into the back of the truck was a little tricky, but not hard. Most of it we loaded Sunday. I covered it with a tarp and then backed the truck into the garage so that the bed was sheltered. That way there was just loose ends to throw in Monday morning. Cleaning the house was more work, but it wasn't too bad. We did stay busy over the weekend.

Kings River Title

Closing was supposed to be at 8:30 Monday morning in Berryville. Of course we were out of sorts, didn't sleep well, and were up early for our last walk to the pond. We planned to have breakfast in Berryville, so we were out of the house and chaining the cattle guard in plenty of time. This selfie is our last picture of the place. We ate at the Original Ozark Cafe, not great food but it was very interesting watching the locals. We got a call while eating and were informed that closing was going to be delayed. Sally was mad because we could have had an extra hour at the farm.

There was a lot of waiting for us at Kings River Title. We visited with the buyers some, but it was awkward. I did give them the title to the trailer and the keys. We waited more while Farm Credit met with the buyers, and then while the buyers settled and signed everything with the title company. Then it was our turn. It went quickly, we got our check, and went straight to an Arvest branch to deposit it. Then we went to the Farm Bureau office to cancel our insurance (had a little trouble finding it since it had moved). We came back via AR 21. Sally swore she had never been down that road, while I was confused thinking she had come that way to the farm often from Harrison.

What memories we have to cherish.