A View Runs Through It

The vision takes form…3 patio doors and 10 windows, with a view to the water or woods or both. That’s a lot of glass for a 1,000-square-foot dwelling. And that’s the point.

With four walls up now, the Cabin at Many Moons in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) emerges more every day. It brings to mind the book (and movie), “A River Runs Through It,” inspired partly by Ernest Hemingway’s account of his fishing trips to the U.P. I’ve been absorbing Hemingway’s writings lately. He was a complicated man, but his writing was not. (In fact, it’s known for being uncomplicated.) He was an astute observer, which makes sense because he was originally — like myself — a reporter. In spite of our personality differences, I can relate to him in some ways.

Speaking of observing! As I write this, a family of geese is swimming right up to my tiny waterfront studio (camper) — five “teen-aged” goslings and their mother. And here comes another group of 15! Two separate families, cruising together. They’re crawling onto the little sand beach next to the camper and exploring the head of the ditch, where it joins the bay and comes alive with minnows. Now here’s a fourth family, a small one, with three “toddler” goslings still wearing downy gray feathers. They’re pecking at the dirt where Boo The Cat does her business at night. (Mother Goose is probably saying “Don’t eat that!”) I’m not taking pictures for fear of chasing them off.

The building process is consuming us right now so I’m grateful for this reminder. This is the reason for it…to observe nature close-up from the comfort of four-season protection.

I admit to feeling overwhelmed at times. The “DIY” approach is satisfying but also exhausting — physically and mentally. One milestone is quickly followed by the next series of decisions about the next milestone, and then the physical work (and expense) to reach it. Occasionally, I regret not hiring a builder, which would have simplified the process. But then I would be simply “getting” a house and not “creating” one. And the creative process is the point, right after the nature imperative. “The journey is the purpose,” and all that.

However. I do get mentally tired of choices, and sometimes physically tired as “work-site assistant.” I feel disappointed in myself until I remember that I’m a short 65-year-old woman, so no wonder my muscles ache a bit after hauling and stacking 2×6 boards. Jeff is three years younger than me and a “brittle” Type-1 diabetic whose pancreas constantly messes with his blood sugar (and thus his energy)…and yet he goes on. And so do I.

It’s mostly just the two of us, putting up a house on the shores of Huron Bay. A first, for me! I do love novelty and a physical challenge, but I wonder if we are crazy or courageous or both? Then I remember that the author of “A River” was 73 when he wrote that book, his first. There’s time. And even if our energy runs out before this is done, there will always be something else to do “for the first time.” It’s a comforting thought.

Photos and captions below show the views after completion of walls and windows.