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…
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
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
In the far north, the cabin's superstructure is done. That is, the big bones which give it shape and integrity...trusses, beams, roof. Now, work proceeds on the smaller bones...interior wall structure, loft, stairway. Things have moved along while I've been in Virginia! In fact, I can't believe how much we've done in four months. (Posts … Continue reading The Inside Bones
It's another big milestone in DIY building because (1) it means the house shell is almost dried-in and (2) at least that decision is done! Choosing shingles was almost as hard as choosing windows. And I never even thought about roofs or shingles before! For weeks, I looked at every house I drove past, watched … Continue reading Shingles Are Up 🙂
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
For Many Moons 