It’s all “MEANWHILE, back on the farm (and the office) today: For one thing, the weekend is crammed full of preparation for next week’s launch of “The Walnut Grove Tent Camp.” As I’ve mentioned, Jim has worked all summer building a platform for a permanent tent that will be erected next weekend. It situated on the highest point of the farm, under a shady grove of mature walnut trees. If there’s a breeze, that’s where you’ll find it, and we’ve already spent one lovely evening grilling out and enjoying the view. We have guests coming in a few weeks who will be our first tent camp visitors, but we’ll no doubt stay up there ourselves before they come. Basically, we’re creating a way to go camping in our backyard. It’s also up a very long and steep hill, so I assure you there will be nights when I say to Jim, after hiking up the hill two or four or five times already that day, “Nah, you go ahead and go up, I’ll see you back here later.” But, then, I’ll think of this view and probably hike back up the hill yet one more time that day. Who could resist?
The platform is done and the tent and tent fly has arrived, now we just have to put them all together next weekend! Wish us luck.
In addition, our office of twenty five years is moving. It’s “just across the street,” but you still have to pack everything up, load it into the truck, unload it and unpack it in the new office. Driving everything from A to B, whether it’s 100 yards or 100 miles doesn’t make much difference. We are down-sizing because we’ve partnered with the good people at Dogwise to do fulfillment for all orders of books and DVDs. They are already doing a great job, and this way I’ll have more time for writing, and maybe some more talks along the way. The building we’ve been in, The old Black Earth State Bank building, has its challenges for sure (yeah, it’s really old), but it has great character and I have to admit I’ll miss it.
But as I said, they are literally across the street from each other, so the little Midwestern town of Black Earth, WI will still be home, the website, blog and Facebook will all be the same, and cross your paws, I’ll have more time to write and give some more talks when my memoir is done. And goodbye to our old home, a lot of history here!
But there’s a lot of packing to do (boy can you accumulate a lot of stuff in twenty five years!), and we’ll be off line later this week while the equipment is being disconnected and transferred, so I thought I send out a light post this week. However, I’ve already got next week’s half written… stay tuned, it’s gonna be fun!
Wish us luck!
Barbara says
The tent platform is such a great idea I might want to try it on my 20+ acres. Are there “facilities” up there.
Jann Becker says
Beautiful spot for not-quite-roughing-it! Taking reservations?
Your new home in the former bank reminds me of the Louis Sullivan bank building in Grinnell, IA, where I went to college. Do you know who the architect was?
Peggy says
I found moving very disorienting. New students at my school also forgot half of what they knew for a while. Could dogs be the same? Be gentle with yourselves!
Bruce says
Hi Trish, good luck with the move. Yes, our experience has been that space + time = stuff. Not sure how that happens, it just does.
Your tent camp looks gorgeous, I hope you spend many happy hours there.
Apropos of nothing, we signed up all three dogs for obedience classes with a positive reinforcement trainer; the Sammy and the Pug for basic, and Red Dog for intermediate. Should be fun!
We took the dogs to the creek today. Red Dog is not a swimmer (yet), but she was hunting minnows in the riffles. Looked like an Alaskan grizzly bear, but on a much smaller scale. Pug is a swimmer, surprisingly, but the Sammy remained resolutely on dry land (probably just as well with her coat).
That is all. Carry on!
Monika says
Good luck with the move and erecting the tent. It’s a fabulous view!
Lacey says
Indeed, all the best luck to you!
Susan S. says
We’ve had a big tent set up for guests for four summers now. It’s in the woods on the shore of our small lake & last year we had some flooding which turned the ground under the tent into deep squishy mud, so this is the first year it’s been on a platform. We have a real bed in there: frame, box spring, mattress, & the headboard essential for reading in bed. There’s a nightstand with a solar lamp & there’s a good rug. I love to sleep there when it’s warm because all four sides are screened. The only real problem I’ve had aside from very loud frogs has been our large, young, exuberant dog trying hard to get IN to fetch me in the morning.
Frances says
The tent platform looks amazing – what wonderful views! I do not envy you the move, though. My only advice would be to put up lots and lots of shelves in the new place before moving in a single box (even if they are only temporary it means stuff gets put where it is easy to see and find and not heaped on the floor), and to be very wary of throwing stuff away. It is a strange law that you can keep an item for 10 years without needing it, but find it is absolutely vital within 10 days of chucking it. And it will have been discontinued 10 months ago, and only be obtainable, at vast expense, from a far and distant country (can you hear the voice of bitter experience here?!).
Keli says
Good luck with the move! That old building was pretty small though…I was there back when you shared with an accounting firm! Then back later when you had the entire floor, but it was a tight fit! Surprised you didn’t burst at the seems sooner!
Em says
What a lovely platform site! Good luck with your office move. Try not to climb your hill TOO many times ( maybe it’s an opportunity to teach Maggie and Will to pull a little wagon- or a boost a tired owner those last few yards -probably not the greatest idea with Willie’s shoulder, but still, one can dream! 😉
Or better yet, now that you’ve got hauling to do on the regular, maybe it’s time for another pyr or possibly an akbash dog in your life 😉
Florence Szabo says
You always share such informative ideas and evolved views on how to live well in nature, with our other-species friends. The tent platform makes me wish I could visit you there, and your expert canine insights have helped me better understand and cohabit with my dogs. Moving stinks, but new ventures bring new achievements. All the very best to you and yours, humans and otherwise.
Diane says
Have to admit I’m a little jealous of that beautiful view! Enjoy.
Good luck with the move – 25 years does accumulate a lot of STUFF…and to me it tough to decide what to pitch and what to move.