Zelda Meets #9

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. 

The second best time is now.

- Chinese Proverb

It started with a trip to the Hobbit House and led to a few hours of planning in Wolfgang's Garden.

TM and MH were making a repair on the Hobbit House. "Come out to the Hobbit House," TM said.

What's the Hobbit House? It is a fabulous cob constructed* house located in central Texas. It was built by my friends at Terra Living.**

I don't think I realized it would be so big.

TM discusses the "layers" in the growing roof.

They were working on a small repair as well as cleaning up the landscape a bit. I'd never met MH before, but I knew about her family's place - Wolfgang's Garden.*** They provide organic vegetables to a restaurant we frequent.

I got the grand tour - making it in and out of the Hobbit House and imagining things in my cupboards that might make good windows for future houses. Designed for little ones, big people can enjoy it too and I began thinking it would be a good alternative to a tree house (old knees, folks).

A young one had helped build the place and was still enjoying it. It is a place to read and play and dream. It is a place safe from the wind and the rain, where one can watch the geckos shed their skin and listen to the birds singing outside.

The open door echos the moon above while the tree waves a welcome.

The posts are no longer load-bearing. They were placed there for the construction, but have been left in place. I love them.

Conversation moved to a tree-planting event planned for Wolfgang's Garden. It's an opportunity for people to learn proper planting techniques, purchase a tree, and add some love to their own gardens. It is part of a plan - long term - for more cob building, more classes, and fun.

"Let's go out to the farm," they said. "We can look at the space and make plans."

So Zelda and I "geared up" and jumped into the pickup. As far as I know, this is Z-girl's first ride in a pickup and she was excited. Little did she know she would be able to roll around in wonderful smells, run circles in the pecan orchard, and meet MH's favorite cow, Black.

At first Zelda sat in the back seat with me. Once she got comfortable she jumped into the front seat. You can see better up there!

Maybe we need one of these, Mom.

We walked through the garden and around the barn area. It will be a perfect location for the tree planting event. Then we decided to take a look at the location for the cob house. A slab had been poured for a greenhouse that didn't happen. It would be the foundation for future construction (watch for cob house building classes to come). Along the way we saw enough fallen tree limbs to fuel a campfire and we decided not to waste a trip, loading up the bed of the pickup and off-loading at the fire-ring.

Zelda examines the Buffalo Gourds.

I was scoping out the place for the nature hike. There is always plenty to see, but do I know it...like these Buffalo Gourds...

...and these porcupine eggs, um, er, Rough cocklebur (cocklebur is spelled about 5 different ways. I choose this one.)

The leaves on this vine look like Virginia Creeper, but I've never seen the fruit before.

No se. Will have to do a full year at this place to know what is what.

Goldenrod at the site of the future cob house. (That may be why I am sick today.)

The old timer pecan tree.

An Osage Orange tree along the creek. Also known as Bois d'arc. I only "know" it when I see the oranges on the ground.

Amazing lichen growing on the fallen limbs we gathered.

More lichen.

We got a good load of wood.

At one point the herd of Limousin cows decided to say hello. They surrounded the pickup and MH started calling, Black. [As the story goes, MH met Black some years ago. The cow came over and licked MH, marking her. They are family now.] MH told us to watch for #9, aka Black. Suddenly a large black cow came over and stuck her nose in the cab of the truck. Zelda wasn't sure what to think, but we were just getting the full family welcome.

Black was a little drooly. Zelda wasn't sure who or what this was and growled a little.

A beautiful cow, she was interested in getting to MH who was in the passenger seat.

We said goodbye to the cows (and a couple of baby bulls) and headed home.

This is Ginger on the right. I suspect the small bull to the left was her baby.

In two weeks we will spend a few hours planting trees and enjoying the November weather. I'm in charge of a pot of beans and a nature hike for the kids. Oh, and I'll be bringing Zelda. She'll guard the hikers.

MH and TM tried out the playground before we left. I was fading and just took photos.

Isn't this the most welcoming swing?

  
NOTES:

*https://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/natural-building/cob-building-basics-zm0z13onzrob

** https://www.facebook.com/Terra-Living-203318843019635/

***https://www.facebook.com/wolfgangsgarden/

****Terra Living's 'If You Breathe, Thank a Tree' Planting Event --
https://www.facebook.com/events/1389884201088094/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%2222%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D