We had an unbelievably warm and beautiful weekend for working outdoors. (This is January?)

We cut down some more trees and bush-hogged under a group of pines beside the house. It's hard to tell from this picture, but the difference is pretty dramatic.

These pines are covered with poison ivy vines. Gay and I scrubbed and scrubbed after working there...but I've started the countdown nonetheless.

Speaking of vines, how's this for tangled mess? The hurricane kindly blew this knot down from a cedar. It was not easy work dragging it to one of our debris piles, but at least it only took one trip.

All of this tree work has given me a case of what I've named "Plantation Elbow." Feels like I've wrenched my right elbow good. Looking forward to giving it some rest this week!

William started a new dig today behind the 18th century section of the house, but came up dry. I think this is the first time that we've ever dug a hole without coming up with a bucket full of finds. But as usual, the dirt was gorgeous. Not a rock to be found!

William also spent time learning to drive the tractor and found that if he stuck his tongue out just right, it was pretty easy. WooHoo! Grass cutter in training!

I met a gentleman from a neighboring creek who is erecting and installing his own Aermotor windmill. We are looking for ways to work together to share costs and muscle. He has researched windmills in Lancaster County and has only found 8 still existing.

Picked up a copy of the new Lancaster County history book this weekend (Lancaster County, Virginia: Where the River Meets the Bay). What a well-done book! Lots of mentions of Enon Hall Hathaways peppered throughout its pages. -- Bill

Spent some time at the Virginia State Library yesterday and located the 1762 deed to Enon Hall, as well as some other information that I will post soon.

So far only about a dozen single dots of poison ivy. No major outbreak. Gay has about the same. -- Bill

c-c-c-c-COLD!

Our only accomplishment for this weekend was deciding to repaint the bedroom that we painted blue last year. What were we thinking, anyway? -- Bill

Now, I'm a pretty calm, laid-back kinda guy. I rarely get overly excited or even raise my voice. But today I was yelling out loud when I opened the mail. (Have you seen the telephone company commercial with the lady opening her mail at her mailbox and screaming? I was that lady.) We received a re-assessment notice from Lancaster County. They increased our Enon Hall property assessment 300%!! (And, therefore, our taxes will be 300% higher.) I was standing in the middle of the kitchen trying to take deep cleansing breathes when Gay and William came running from upstairs to see what had happened to me. Surely I will be able to challenge the insane assessment. After all, we have a very recent appraisal that comes to a little less than half of this new assessment. Sure, the assessment needed to go up...but not 300%!!. (See, I'm getting all riled up again.) Happy thoughts... happy thoughts... -- Bill