Harvest, home

Ate a strawberry today! They are predicting a hard freeze if the clouds clear, or frost if they stick around. So I picked ripening tomatoes, ripe cherry tomatoes, and volunteer lettuce -- I knew it was a good idea to let them go to seed. And there was one lovely, almost fully ripe strawberry. Yum.

Meanwhile, the house proceeds apace. Yesterday the vents went in for AIR CONDITIONING. Also the siding was delivered, to be installed Monday. Insulation Tues or Wed, fireplace by the end of the week, I believe, and drywall soon -- maybe next week? I showed Eric the color I was thinking of for the front door, and he suggested that I upgrade from steel to wood-grain fiberglass, which won't show dents so readily, at an extra $100. I said okay.

I took a vacation day; Lori Winder came out and inspected the place, then we went to Sutliff for lunch. She is really nice. She got to meet Eric in person, as he had come out to clean. She liked him, and said later that I looked really happy. She also mentioned, in this context, that she is often asked for recommendations. I can't praise him enough, and do so even when talking to people who can't send him much work!

Eric is very proud/pleased, both for me and for himself, I think. He said today, admiringly, that the siding would last for 30 years, the roof that long, the geo of course -- everything is no-maintenance. He sat on the ledge before the fireplace and said that he was going to borrow my idea (for the ledge) for his own future house. He really is fun. I can't wait to meet his wife and kids, and his parents -- I hope they will all come to the open house, if not sooner. Since I can't really imagine yet when the open house will be, if I am to paint and furnish.

The electricians worked Monday through Wednesday. I haven't been keeping up on this as I had intended, because I am exhausted. It is very difficult to sleep on that ancient saggy mattress, in a room with the wrong solar orientation (which I need to get used to), and with the alarm clock in another room down the hall. But there are no outlets in this room, and using the outlet in the hall would expose the alarm clock cord to rainfall. Only about 6 more weeks...

More House

Conversation with Linda at Ellison Insurance, last Thursday:

Since you're not actively involved in farming, we'll cancel the farm policy and just give you a homeowner's policy; we can add an endorsement for the rented farmland.

We'll start with builder's risk coverage, for materials theft, etc., and $128K [the loan amount] to start. As the house is completed, we'll increase the coverage to the final amount. The policy will be $300K liability, for $306.87/year with $1000 deductible. [That's SO much less than I've been paying heretofore!]

Let us know as soon as possible when the coverage should start.

A Brief History of the House

I want to centralize one place for various notes, so I can keep the kitchen table -- and my computer desk -- clean.

Notes from conversation with Lori Winder, my loan officer, when she heard back from the assessor (appraiser). "Everything looks good -- there's quite a bit of land with that. [Assessor] came in with $325,000, but that's inclusive. The value of the house itself is about $168K-$170K; the rest is the land. I've sent the abstract out to be updated; that should happen within a week or two. You could open a separate checking account for the construction loan. You can sign for the loan once we have everything set on our end, even if your builder isn't ready to start. The loan could just sit out there; no interest accrues until an advance is made."

My loan is for $128K (and if the stock market continues to tumble, I have to wonder if that will be enough). The house should ideally assess at the same level or higher than the bid amount, from the bank's point of view. So that they're not lending money for something that's not even going to be worth that amount. But we're good -- the house value is sligthly above Eric's bid -- and the property as a whole is about twice that. So the bank is happy to take my signature on a note.

The above was about a 7-10 days ago. At that point she sent out the abstract to be updated; when that came back, she had Doug Wuff (sp), the appraiser, give her a preliminary title opinion. Everything takes a few days to a couple of weeks...

Then Friday, Aug. 22:

Eric, I just spoke with Lori Winder, and also talked to my insurance company this morning.
The bank says that everything is in place to go ahead with my construction loan. I will meet with Lori on Thursday, Aug. 28, to sign the loan and open a construction checking account (that will help me keep things straight). She said to tell you that funds will be available beginning Thursday.
My insurance company (Ellison, in Solon) will have builder's risk coverage in place on that date as well. So from my point of view, things could get started as early as Thursday afternoon! (Of course, you may have holiday plans and other commitments.)
If there are other things that I need to take care of but don't know about, like permits and inspections and things, we can talk about them. I haven't notified Brian Ulch that I am building, but I think I need to clarify first with Rob Brown if and when he will want to prep the land for the septic field. Same thing with geothermal -- does that go out in the field where there is currently corn, and how much land is needed, etc.? Also I'll have a surveyor come out, once I know roughly what's going to be taken out of production.
Well, I'll stop fussing for a minute and just enjoy this little victory. We have an official go-live date! Woo-hoo!

Eric replied that he would get all permits, and would apply on Monday, but it would take a week or two to get approval. However, in the meantime, he could talk to Rob Brown and get started on tearing down the machine shed and clearing the land. Eric asked if I could meet with the two of them some evening early next week. I replied that I could be home by 5:30 any night. Haven't heard back yet.

Sweet no more

Had the last of my sweet corn yesterday, August 18, which was less than 2 weeks' worth of harvest. Not too disappointed, since I didn't really know what to expect, and I planted quite late, and only 2 boxes, and only a week apart, and their maturity dates were only about a week apart. What with the rain, and the Japanese beetles -- I actually did rather well.

And since I had to eat 2-3 ears every day, which isn't quite the treat it sounds, that was enough.

Sweets for the sweet

I must be awful' sweet, because I just had two ears of homegrown Butter and Sugar sweet corn. And I sliced up that first Husky Pink and ate it with fresh basil leaves and balsamic vinegar. Then I sauteed some store-bought yellow and zucchini squash, with onion and dried tomatoes and a little tube pasta.

The corn was a trifle bland -- a bi-color -- and so was the tomato. But they were real!

... and Garden

I've been picking a daily handful of Sungold cherry tomatoes for about a week. Today I picked the first Pink Husky (Husky Pink?). Probably a day or two from being perfectly ripe, but it can sit on a counter. There's another one right behind.

And I peeled back the husks on an ear of corn and pricked a kernel -- milky, not clear, so it may be ready too! I've had a dozen from roadside vendors, but this is mine own!

The HP tomato was just a variety at Earl May, where I also got the Sungold and a Brandywine (which died). I did a very late job of starting seeds this year, and don't expect much in the way of heirlooms, despite what Barbara Herring says! Luckily, a few Brandywine, and some other varieties, have produced volunteers from last year, so I should get a few tomatoes at least.

I blame the rain, rather than my sloth. Who's to know?

House

I met Eric Quaintance, my builder, at the Ar-Jay Center this afternoon. We made decisions on kitchen countertops, cabinets, design, and hardware, then went to the lighting department and chose lighting throughout the house (not including the table and floor lamps I already have) and for all exterior doors/garage, plus a ceiling fan for the library. We looked at the firebox he had selected, then went into a "sale" room, where they have various display items that are now many-percents off, and saw a beautiful oak mantelpiece, marked down from $700 (which I thought might be a good price for what it was) to $150!

We will get flooring at Bachmeier's in Iowa City, but he and I have pretty much the same ideas. Faux wood laminate and 18-in. faux tile vinyl. Slager's for the kitchen appliances, which I am going with black cooktop, but I don't know yet whether black or white for the refrigerator and wall ovens. I think because of the white beadboard cabinets, I may be better off with black appliances.

What I envision for the library is darkish "wood" floor, wood fireplance mantel, wood rocker (from Joyce), dark leather sofa, wood coffee and side tables, piano, and grandfather clock, with bookshelves of stained wood and off-white walls behind. Bare, unmatched woods and leathers with some throw pillows and maybe the other (grandma's) rocker in fabric. The curtains are that dark fringed wool. Floor lamps and ceiling fan of dark bronze. Rather spare and solid overall, yet homey and comfortable.

Eric seems comfortable giving his opinion, and I value it, both practical and aesthetic. But once or twice I "overrode" him, and he came around, or seemed to. Particularly in the case of the bathroom cabinets, where I wanted black to counteract the light-colored tops, that wouldn't go well at all with the white beadboard used in the kitchen. He wasn't sure, but after carrying the sample door over to the bath display area, he said he liked it. Certainly, it's my decision, but I'd like for him to be happy with "his" house. He has an artistic and professional reputation and pride.

Nice while it lasted

The Northblue bush seems to be done -- unless it's that pesky rabbit. Got a tablespoonful of Northsky, but it's also winding down. Got two nice strawberries, and two more Sungold. Knocked several dozen nasty beetles off the roses - and the sweet corn. The sweet corn is dropping pollen, but in several cases onto NO SILK. This is a weird year all the way around, so I don't know if that's typical or if it means I'll be lucky to get a half dozen ears total from my two bozes. I noticed, driving home today, that Dean Rebal has his signs out.

House & Garden

Eric brought over his bid, not quite final. It's really at the very top of what I could manage, so I need to pare down about $10K. Goodbye, geothermal. He said nice things about baseboard electric, but how I have my heart set on heated floors! It would be more expensive to re-use the wood interior trim from this house, as opposed to buying new, due to more labor costs in ripping it off. But he will talk to his guys and see if they would rip it off for $25 an hour or something. I'll look the bid over in detail while he takes his family to Door County.

The blueberries seem to be winding down fast -- unless it has something to do with the rabbit I chased out just now. Next year should see greater yield, and the following year the next 3 plants should start to bear. I want to plant additional varieties next year, as well, focusing on extending the season. But how lovely it's been to eat 1/3 C. every other day -- that's just about right.

House

Hooray! Eric Q. called yesterday -- he's nearly got the bid together and wants to meet!

Heaven in my hand

Or, rather, mouth. I just came in from the garden with a little cupful of blueberries, the first two tomatoes of the season -- Sungold -- and a huge strawberry, perfectly ripened, which I promptly rinsed and ate. Wonderful! It must be from the everbearing, rather than from the June-bearing, and I didn't know if the former would taste all that good. This one did!

I'm not certain the Sungolds are ripe, but they are orange and they are the first! Alas, the Stupice and other early heirlooms aren't even in the ground yet! I plan to set them out this weekend -- who knows if I'll see fruit, but it's worth a try.

Linden Festival

Things are running 10-14 days behind this year; I wonder if this festival can be linked to/same as/immediately following Summereve. The littleleaf (tilia cordata) smells great. The basswoods (tilia americana) don't seem to get covered with bloom the way the littleleaf does. I'll have to look up just what variety it is that grows and is harvested for scent in France.

Bugged

Oops, spoke too soon -- saw my first Japanese beetle today -- squashed him, but if I see any more, I'm spraying.

Year of the Snake

Also the Rabbit. I don't know what year it is in Asian lore, but I have seen more snakes (outdoors, thankfully) in two weeks than I usually do in an entire summer. I don't mean just in two weeks, either, I mean I see them often and have since the weather warmed. Different types, too, at least different colors, stripe/blotch patterns, and sizes. They all just slither away when I disturb them, without rattling, thank Dog.

But also tons of rabbits this year, more than usual. And of course, since I finally broke down and bought insecticide (if only NEEM), NO Japanese beetles! Not that I'm complaining.

A ruby-throated hummingbird has been enjoying the gas-plant/dictamnus the last couple of days.

First Fruits

June 24, 2008 -- 5 ripe blueberries! From the 3-yr-old Northblue plant. Large and tasty -- well, a little mushy, truth be told, but then the first tomato from a plant is often less than great. Northsky also has lots of berries, much smaller, and not apparently near to ripening.

I also ate 3 strawberries from the 6 June-bearing and 6 everbearing plants I set out a couple of months ago. Very tasty. They aren't supposed to be allowed to bear their first year, but I have only so much strength.

I'm wondering now if religions that offer "first fruits" to their gods in sacrifice do so because those tend not to be worth the eating anyway.

First Fruit - Blueberries!

I just ate 5 blueberries, the best blueberries I've ever had, because they were grown in my garden! These are Northblue, and it's June 24, 2008, for the record. I got this and a Northsky bush in summer 2006 from the nursery/garden store near the new elementary school in N. Liberty. I want to say Prairie Gdn Ctr, but then they all seem to be called that.

Truth be told, they were kind of mushy, but had a blueberry flavor. Often the firstfruits, such as with tomatoes, are not the very best quality. Even if these never improve, still -- I grew them!

I"ve also had, every two or three days, one strawberry, from the 6 June-bearing and 6 ever-bearing plants I set out a month or two ago. Again, I shouldn't really even be harvesting the first year, so that they can develop a strong root system, but how can I not?

The Northsky bush has about as many berries on it, smaller, and not yet ripening. Many things are late this year -- the catalpa bloomed, for the first time I know of since my childhood, not during the week of Mother's birthday, June 7, but just a few days ago -- about 2 weeks late.

NOTE: I wrote this post yesterday, but Blogger was down -- no wonder professinal bloggers switch to something else -- and couldn't post it.

Geraniums

The real kind, not pelargoniums, which I dislike. I have Johnson's Blue and Wargrave Pink. Common name Hardy Cranesbill. The blue should reach 2' wide by 18" tall, the pink can get to 36" wide by 2' tall, though mine haven't yet (2nd year). Bloom in summer (mine have just started) and prefer well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. Z4-8. The pink have wider leaves than the blue.

Thought I would start putting notes here on the Internet where they are unlikely to be lost.

Celebrate Small Successes

A most pleasing color combination, to my eye, is spiderwort with HP Sophie's Perpetual. (The southernmost spiderwort needs to be removed entirely and transplanted elsewhere, perhaps near General Jack? Sophie needs more air.) Now opening on the opposite pillar is a clematis that is about the same color as the spiderwort.

Another good combination is a lavender/pink delphinium with HP Marchioness of Londonderry, and a pink Canterbury bell just down the way, with geranium 'Wargrave Pink' farther down. The spiderwort also goes well with both HP Henry Nevard and HP Empereur du Maroc, along with HP Frau Karl Druschki. The lavender color is picked up down there by some pansies, and matched some of the iris earlier.

Seems like I dug the spiderwort out of a roadway somewhere, but what a find! The clumps increase yearly, blossoms open in the morning and close in the afternoon, healthy and laughs at both drought and too much rain. And it goes with everything.

There's a light purple monarda about to open; I don't remember that it does or doesn't blend well. Another monarda is red, and the pink achillea near it is beginning to open. The coreopsis hasn't opened yet.

I picked the first flower from DA Tamora just now. I shouldn't let roses bloom their first year, but this is such a great flower. Wonderful scent.

Roses Roses Roses

As of yesterday evening, I have a bouquet of 8 red roses (including 2 deep pink). I picked two more from General Jack, one more from Lorne, and the first from Baron Girod de l'Ain. The Baron shows no white yet, but that may come with later blooms.

Today is Mother's 86th birthday. The air is still heavy and redolent with honeysuckle and honey locust. As it is Mother's birthday, some of the fragrance may be catalpa, as well.

Just because it's June!

Today the first roses of the year bloomed: L'Empereur du Maroc, Marchioness of Lorne, and General Jacqueminot. Meanwhile, the first peonies are still a-bloom and the later ones are opening. Of the German iris, the earliest are done but Edith Wofford and her ilk are still going strong.

This is the first year I haven't had a sad gap between iris and anything else. The Hybrid Perpetuals are finally coming into their own, thanks to two years of 7-foot fencing.

A couple of delphiniums are thinking about blooming.

Today I received -- and planted -- the final four of the 10 roses I ordered this year.

It was 80 and overcast, all evening as I planted and then mowed for an hour. The air was so thick with humidity and a very strong scent that it was challenging just to breathe. Honeysuckle, honey locust, and catalpa are all in bloom at once. The highbush cranberry viburnum is just going out of bloom as well.