I spent the last few years debating what firepit I wanted, and I finally ordered one. And after spending a few hours in front of it last few nights, it’s money well spent. It gets me outside more and I need more of that. I should have done it many years ago.

Plus, it’s nice sitting by the fire with my better half.

It’s also going to be good exercise splitting and moving wood. I have a few more evenings of old wood, but beyond that I’ll need to order a cord.

I do know one project will be putting in pavers around the area in some interesting design. Probably sooner than later.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be out in the dead of winter. Who knows, maybe I’m turning over a new leaf.

The second thing that finally came was the replacement lighthouse that covers our wellhead. I have no idea why it was left so high off the ground. It had two big bushes that had engulfed it when we moved here.

They were ugly bushes that each year seemed to attract paper wasp nest. We eventually cut them down and put up this black and white lighthouse over it. Here it is below a few winters ago.

And here it is this past winter. It had finally bitten the dust. It separated from the base. The wire railings at the top had broken or fallen and the wood was rotten. It lasted 11 years, maybe 12. The solar light was still working.

We finally got our new lighthouse and the solar light connected. Balanced it and working on the stone surrounding it. Got a few more buckets to bring out. And this one is impervious to rot so it will outlast me.

Photos by Mike Hartley

Improving the homestead, one step at a time.