grass is greener

A new lawn has grown in really well since we planted grass in September.


The grass is so bright and green that it looks like it might glow in the dark.


the lawn replaces not just dirt, but also the road that came over to the walk-out basement is no longer there.


The yard on the west side also came in so well that the clothes line could be brought over from the old house; no more dirt blowing around.

dirt + hay

it started raining as we were spreading the grass seed, fertilizer, and straw.

grow grass, grow.

trees + shrubs

the house viewed from the lower field.

new concrete entry walk and apron in front of the garage.

Dad found and painted an old metal bench for the front porch and put out some potted flowers.

some plants going in around the patio and the patio furniture brought from Wisconsin.

After planting trees I scraped the yard with the tractor and we all raked out the remaining stones.

the south yard ready to plant grass after planting numerous shrubs and trees.

the west side viewed from the patio with new bushes and trees.

Dad waiting for the newly planted grass to grow.

stonework + formwork + homework

the crew was back to re-stack some of the stone walls that had settled poorly over the winter.

they brought over large flat stones to make a path from the drive to the patio area.

They also started the formwork for a new concrete patio. Dad's homework is to dig out prep for a concrete walk to the front door, and to find someone to stamp and color the concrete for the patio.

In front of the rebuilt terraced walls is a shaped rock border to mark the edge of the planted area.

the rock border curves all the way back up to the driveway. It just needs some topsoil and planting can begin.

day 351: full house

Dad + Mom are mostly moved into the new house, and they waste no time enjoying their TV + WiFi.


We spent some time filling the living room shelves with books and treasures, at least as a starting point. It will take some time to arrange everything to their liking. They plan to get a large ottoman and maybe put a small recliner where the Christmas tree is right now. and Mom promised to reupholster the furniture after they settle in.

the kitchen island will have some counter stools eventually. otherwise it seems to perform nicely. the giant pantry is probably the best feature.


ikea kitchen cabinets with Samsung quartz countertops and Maytag appliances.


the 48" x 88" kitchen island looking into the dining and sitting areas.


i forgot to lower the dining room chandelier before i flew back to new york.


the fireplace heats the entire public area of this floor. it is a very warm house!

day 350: early morning

Homer Lane on an overcast morning.


view of the house from the upper field. further back you can't see the house at all.


the east side, early morning. see the Christmas tree in the living room?


from the southeast


northeast


northwest


south. landscaping will have to wait until the spring.


mom admiring her new house.


mom buries her food scraps in the area she wants to plant a garden.

Merry Christmas + Happy New Year

Merry Christmas from Homer Lane Farms

day 330: unpacking

Eric, who installed the mantle and stone upstairs, came and installed this old barn beam in the family room while mom and dad were away in Wisconsin. i think there is a lot of steel behind that wood to hold this on the wall. it's heavy! and you can see that they are starting to unpack and place things around the house. This will take some time, but stay tuned for some pictures. or visit.

day 328: driveway

Bob Reese from Tri-State extended the driveway over to the house while they were away in Wisconsin packing for the move.


This part of the driveway was laid using recycled blacktop asphalt and a topping of small-scale limestone. No more getting stuck in the mud.

day 324: moving day

Dad and Mom drove from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, Dad in the moving truck with all their stuff and mom in the minivan with the pets. Moving day finally came on day 324. congrats!

day 323: packing + loading

mom and dad went back to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving and are packing up the house.


Mom said she tried to bring a lot of the boxes to the first floor to help make loading day a little easier.


Our long-time friend and professional truck-packer, Eddie Horvat, came to make sure every square inch of the truck was utilized on loading day.


Almost full. Here's a note from Dad about loading day:
"Josh the move was incredible! Eddie Horvat said in the middle of the move that it couldn't all go and to start to pick and choose. We then filled the dining room with stuff to leave. Well Eddie started to call for more things and more things and more things and when we were done the dining room was almost empty. Toward the end of the move i stuck in that big painting of Jesus so we decided He enlarged the truck and it was our bread and fish moment."


A huge thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday to help load the moving truck. Mom wishes she had taken more pictures because it was quite a sight to see. There were enough people that they formed a "bucket brigade" line from the house to the truck and just passed boxes from person to person. Here are some of the guys posing for a photo with Dad.

day 308: grills

the air registers were installed in the slate floors


... and in the wood floors. it was either white or this color. and apparently the design on these hasn;t changed since i saw them as a little kid.


mom+dad bought the "surprise artful toilet seat" for the guest bathroom. haha!

day 306: towel bars

two days of mopping in the family room downstairs.


towel bars master bath.


towel bar guest bath.