Nature continues to entertain us as the kitchen takes shape in the Cabin at Many Moons, on the waterfront in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Cabinets are in and countertops are on the way!
We are now one year into this building project. (For Day 1, see this post.) It’s consuming but tolerable, since we are surrounded by nature. I welcome distractions from what sometimes feels like a grind to me. Jeff plugs along more cheerily; this kind of hands-on project is more natural for him than for me. More on our DIY project and nature’s “interruptions” below.
DIY cabinet installation is a painstaking process of lifting, leveling, and trimming.
Our stamped-concrete covered porch is still a workshop and will be for weeks more. Jeff uses his table saw to trim the board that covers the kitchen island.
We love the final look, including the crown molding and valance. Ceiling-high cabinets are “the thing” now, but since our ceiling is sloped, that didn’t make sense to me. I’m not a big trend-follower anyway! (For details on cabinet type and color, see this post.)
Jeff is spending most of his time indoors but took a break from that today to start spreading the gravel to create a path to the waterfront. I plan to add flat walking stones, edging, and ground cover. This part I enjoy, but I have a lot to learn about landscaping since I’ve been living with small patios for decades. (But I did a lot with those small spaces. Hands-in-dirt = Happy Mary.)
For that landscaping project, I’ve also been hunting for bark to serve as a temporary ground cover and visited the local sawmill just after a thunderstorm. Didn’t see what I wanted, but I enjoyed an unusual visit to a muddy yard with huge piles of “stuff.” Byproducts of sawmills take various forms and sawdust is just one of them. I keep learning new stuff…
Speaking of sawmills, Jeff used his private little sawmill — at his own camp near Camp Many Moons — to cut the cedar board to make this sign. (He also created and inserted this post, with room for the neighbors who share our private road. The Ruona’s are at the end so have the top spot.) We cut down the tree that generated this board. I created the letters with a Sharpie and Jeff used four tools to add all the style — a small vibrating saw called a multi-tool, a carver called a dremel, a butane torch, and a sander. So this is truly a home-made sign.
My “home-made” efforts are done largely with plants. (And with words.) This is what counts as curb appeal for a rural home. I’ve planted so many things on this roadside and they’ve all been defeated by snow, deer or drought. This one might work. I transplanted these privets from elsewhere – because they just weren’t thriving — and added fertilizer, mulch, and strategic pruning. (Privet is invasive in some places but not here in Zone 4.) You can barely see the cabin and the water behind the trees. Privacy is part of my vision. Most waterfront homes here have huge lawns, and Jeff probably would like to show more to passersby — since his family and friends live near here and want to admire his work. Well, they’ll just have to drive up!
I mentioned nature’s distractions. A strong SE wind recently downed some big branches from an otherwise healthy maple, reminding me why we’ve removed any trees or branches that might threaten the house or the trailer. (We’re still living in the waterfront trailer. I don’t include many photos of that because…well, it’s a trailer! A white one. š¦ )
Another of nature’s distractions, encountered while raking. Garter snakes are welcome neighbors even when they startle me. As gardeners know, they’re great for keeping pests away.Ā
June weather can be changeable in a lot of places (tornadoes have been seen near my home in northern Virginia lately), and I love to watch the moody sky on Huron Bay.
So often, a moody sky lifts right at sunset … just in time to illuminate the east side of the bay.
This bay is 12 miles long. It can be glassy, like this during my near-daily row, but also very wild. The variety makes it fun. (I usually row rather than paddle because it’s better exercise.)
My “curated-nature” efforts on the waterfront are a bit delayed this year. I’ve planted flowers in pots, plus a lavender plant (to deter flies) and mini rose bush, but haven’t figured out their arrangement yet. The Finnish word stones that decorate my driftwood pile need repainting.
Roscoe gives me an excuse for my tardiness, if I need one. When you’re the caretaker of an aged loved-one, whether human or animal, they deserve priority. For novelty, I drove him to the village dog park — had to help him get into my car, poor guy — and discovered that he’d prefer walks in the woods. No surprise. He’s more stimulated by deer-scent than dog-scent. In his 90s now, he’s become distressed by thunderstorms and we do what we can to ease his discomfort. I remember my Mom’s various discomforts in her 90s and 100s. I didn’t judge her and I don’t judge him. (We buried Mom here in Michigan a year ago. Still miss you, Mom!)
Great pictures and progress on your Great Lake home. I started following you when you did the loop which I dream of doing one day.
Having built a lake home wish I would have taken all the considerations and thought you have made. I just grabbed a builder and said do it which turned out good but great would have been awesome. After 5 years we are ready to sell and build one more time after watching your build.
Anyways appreciate your blogs and best of luck to Roscoe. We will be visiting the 1000 Islands in July and hope to maybe spot atleast one looper. We are staying on Big Stave Island before my parents sell their place.
What a nice note! Thanks! You made me feel good. š DIY may be fulfilling but it’s also consuming and tiring. So thanks for the boost. Your upcoming trip sounds awesome. If you find yourself on Lake Superior or in our area, be sure to let us know!
For Many Moons 
Ms. Mary,
Great pictures and progress on your Great Lake home. I started following you when you did the loop which I dream of doing one day.
Having built a lake home wish I would have taken all the considerations and thought you have made. I just grabbed a builder and said do it which turned out good but great would have been awesome. After 5 years we are ready to sell and build one more time after watching your build.
Anyways appreciate your blogs and best of luck to Roscoe. We will be visiting the 1000 Islands in July and hope to maybe spot atleast one looper. We are staying on Big Stave Island before my parents sell their place.
look forward to more of your project progress!
Ben
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What a nice note! Thanks! You made me feel good. š DIY may be fulfilling but it’s also consuming and tiring. So thanks for the boost. Your upcoming trip sounds awesome. If you find yourself on Lake Superior or in our area, be sure to let us know!
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