Needed: One capable man, one old back-hoe, one heavy chain, and a friend or two. Stand by with a few braces, and...ta-d-a-a! Two walls went up today, and suddenly, I can visualize it! The Cabin at Many Moons is taking shape. This was even more exciting than pouring the foundation. Photos and captions below. (To … Continue reading How To Raise a Wall
If the foundation gives a thing strength, the frame gives it shape -- whether "the thing" is a cabin or a viewpoint. Quality matters more with some things than others. The people who shape one's viewpoint should have the highest possible quality, but the wood that shapes a cabin can be a step down from … Continue reading Framing Begins
Happy Freedom Day! Isn't that a nicer way to think of it than a date on the calendar marked by fireworks and parades? Freedom seems like a simple concept. But it's not simple at all. In the U.S., Independence Day (usually called simply "July 4th") represents freedom from British colonial rule. That's simple enough. But … Continue reading Freedom Day!
After the pour came the grind. Whew! One more big step in creating the multi-function foundation for the Cabin at Many Moons. (To read about the pour, click here.) It's nerve-wracking but exciting. Before "the grind," the foundation was basic black. We wondered what we will see underneath. I'm told that beautiful stones will emerge, … Continue reading The Grind
Ditches are unremarkable -- except when filled with lupin, as they are right now on the roads around Keweenaw and Huron Bays. In fact, much of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is decorated by these stately blue/purple flowers -- sometimes punctuated by white or pink -- which belong to the legume family. (Think peas.) Cars stop on … Continue reading Ditches-full of Lupin!
It's kind of like a barn-raising. When you pour a concrete foundation here in the remote far-north, neighbors and relatives join in while the hostess provides drinks and food as a coordinated dance ensues: Pour. Spread. Level. Smooth. Repeat. We hired a few experts, but it was the "show-up-if-you-can" group effort that made it work. … Continue reading The Big Pour
Foundations determine the strength and endurance of a thing. That goes for families, careers, relationships...and houses. Tomorrow, we pour the cement foundation for "The Cabin at Many Moons." Yikes. Why "yikes?" Because it's so...permanent. You get one shot. For do-it-yourself folks like us, that's a bit scary. Jeff is confident, which gives me confidence. But, … Continue reading Foundations
And we're off on the next big adventure! We have a building permit and just passed the first plumbing inspection. With any luck, a 28x36 cabin will be erected at Camp Many Moons this year and will be habitable next year. This is almost as scary as starting on The Great Loop. (To read that … Continue reading The Build Begins
Mainship Many Moons completed The Great Loop, America's great boating adventure, in July 2022. This year she will stay mostly on land while the Skipper and First Mate build a waterfront "dirt home" on Lake Superior. We miss the boat and love sharing the adventure. Here is a slide show, in PDF form, about The … Continue reading A Journey of Many Moons
It's the most densely populated country in Europe and each household owns about four bikes. So it got crowded at times, especially in town squares and at intersections. But everyone was so polite, giving way to each other. I guess you have to be when you're packed closely together. We who live in the urban … Continue reading Biking Holland (Pt. 2)
For Many Moons 