While insulators rescued the house from cold weather, we rescued our meadow from a fallen spruce. The house is now warm and the meadow is now clear. An industrious day. Photos and captions below. (To read about the house-building process from the start, put "The Build Begins" into the search box at bottom.) Strong winds … Continue reading Clean-Up & Open-Cell…
It's all about preparing for winter now, both indoors and out, at Camp Many Moons on Huron Bay in Michigan's U.P. Today, the dock came out of the water as insulation went into the house. I'm sad to pull the dock but excited to receive insulation! In the midst of all this activity, an 80-foot … Continue reading Dock Out, Insulation In
The State of Michigan has given its approval. We can insulate the Cabin at Many Moons. Yay. I say "the state" because individual states issue building codes, and state inspectors enforce them. Three such inspectors visited us recently, and all gave us their go-ahead. Whew. These so-called rough inspections must occur before insulating because inspectors … Continue reading We Passed! On to Insulation!
You're wondering what gunshots have to do with windows? Just that I'm hearing them...close, too...as we put the last windows into the new house today. It's duck-hunting season, and this house sits on a bay that's beloved by ducks and therefore by hunters. I'm not against hunting when done respectfully. I'm not afraid of weapons; … Continue reading Gunshots & Last Windows
Our tires get mired in the cold mud. Our bodies get achy in the cold air. We work in jackets, gloves, and warm boots. Yet we soldier doggedly on, with an eye on inspection deadlines. We must pass three before we can insulate, and we want to insulate before the deep cold sets in. If … Continue reading Step by Shivering Step…
Winter arrived early. I usually greet the first snowfall with delight, no matter when it comes--but this year, not so much. When you're building a house and therefore don't have one yet, winter makes things more difficult. Prettier, but also more difficult. However, here it is. So I cleaned out the trailer, climbed a ladder … Continue reading Transitions
This past week, it's been about the nerves and arteries ... electrical wires, plumbing pipes ... all that behind-the-walls jumble that makes a house come alive. And still the autumn colors continued! My heart and eyes are both full. Previous doubt about this DiY process faded as my brother arrived from Montana, in the midst … Continue reading Nerves, Arteries & More Color!
House-building is a series of milestones. Foundation done, walls up, trusses in place, roof secure. All those milestones have been met since June. And today, in mid-October, another milestone: windows and doors all in! (Well, almost -- two more decorative ones still to go.) The truck arrived at 10:30, carrying 15 windows and doors. By … Continue reading Windows & Doors! And Colors….
While building my house on Huron Bay, we live in a trailer. I call it a camper. So I guess we are "camping" -- even though, in my experience, camping requires a tent. I've been living this way for several months a year, over 4-5 years. I love camping, whether by tent or trailer. In … Continue reading Autumn Camping
Fall has arrived at Lake Superior as we put up soffit and fascia, pick up lumber, and enjoy the falling leaves. It's 36 degrees as I write this in the little camper and I'm burning leftover lumber parts in the little wood stove to stay warm. The pre-winter construction race is on. Photos and captions … Continue reading Soffit, Fascia & Fall
For Many Moons 