more progress

 Oh!  Our baby is getting bigger!  Jim periodically puts Arlo on his scale for packages at work.  Here, he even got a label...but he is not for sale! What a sweet baby!  He stands there so nice! Our "baby" is not so little anymore though.  At 30 pounds and almost 15 weeks, he has been growing quite a bit, and even graduated out of his puppy collar this week. He has the SIT and COME down really well...he can stay for 3-7 seconds, GIVE with some reminders, FETCH, and fights like he is being attacked by fire ants when I try to get him to LAY DOWN....we'll keep working on it.
Today we discovered a really nice, long walking trail just one mile from our house....this improves my whole outlook on life- it is just what I needed- and will be great for Cross Country skiing this winter. It is right along the river, so I can imagine the mosquitos in the summer, but for 8 months of the year, it will be great!

 Here is a more recent picture of our house!

 This was the inside about a month ago...since then, we have put up all the pine walls and added some furniture.  Our pellet stove is now working, which has been really nice! I can tell I will definitely need to buy some slippers though with our cement floor, it gets very chilly!! I am now sitting on the couch with my feet up on the couch trying to warm them.  Hmm...would be really nice to have my warm seal skin slippers from AK....but I won't dare risk that for about another YEAR.  Arlo just managed to pull off the wood plugs covering the screws on my new stool and ate them.  He doesn't like things that stick out apparently.   Overall, he has been pretty good, and he has learned what "No" means....but when he gets something in his head, he always tries to go back and get something when I turn my back. Puppies...just like my 4 year olds sometimes!

So I have been taking it a lot easier this week.  I am exhausted and burnt out.  We got our Occupancy Permit on Friday, and I guess I took that as an OK to crash.  Not that I've been lazy.....I managed to clean up a lot of stuff this week and move some things into the house, and actually get caught up on a few things at work and my life (such s bills). I spent 3 hours at a class I am taking on Tuesday night, bought groceries for our new fridge we bought (in celebration of our occupancy permit, and a Christmas present from Jim's Mom), did laundry and cleaned a bit, got caught up on weeks of work email I can't check usually because I have no internet there, and I THINK figured out some insurance stuff for the cabin.  So much fun....But, I kept falling asleep this week whenever I would sit down!
Today I got back to work on the house again- put some weather stripping on the door, spray foamed around the new window and one last wallspot, cleaned Arlo's stink box, and polyurathaned 2 wall sections 2 times.  One more coat and they should be done! I could poly for a week and not be done in this place though....wood everywhere.  I could wait on it...but everytime you hit a bug and it splatters, Arlo rubs against it, or whatever, your wall will look that way permanently unless you sand it.  So, I have incentive to get at least the first coat of poly on soon so I can at least wash my walls.

The toilet is now back in, as of yesterday morning....I mean, put in for the first time....since Wisconsin code says nobody but a certified plumber can put anything in until you get an occupancy permit.  I would never break the rules. We also have the parts bought for the shower, have a little bathroom sink my Dad gave me a long time ago and have a kitchen sink (though no cabinet to put it on yet).  We will see what we can get done this weekend.  A shower would really be nice, but the rest I am not too worried about, other than polying the walls.  We have a sink next door in the meantime, in Jim's house....and I NEED to relax a bit.  I have not been feeling like myself lately, and I know it is mostly because I am overtired and burnt out. With a good nights sleep, and an actual day off....not a day off work to spend more time on the house, will improve my mood in extremes...and I am not thinking just 2-3 hours this time.  I need a real, full day, sit around and be lazy, read a good book by the fire, then take the dog for a long walk and then cook an actual meal and maybe visit somebody while not feeling rushed for time, kind of day!
This week I had a parent come in and ask when her son's Sharing Day was,  saying that she thought she had missed it.  She said she was just so tired, and she couldn't keep anything straight anymore! She seemed exasperated, exhausted, and at her wits end.  I wanted to take her new baby for awhile and let her go soak in a tub and sleep....but I knew exactly how she felt.  I have been feeling that same way all week....and I'm not even sure why.  It's not like I have 3 kids at home like her, but I can't even get anything done because I have way too much to think about and can't even remember what I am headed off to do, as I am also thinking about the 10 other things I need to do, and what I all need to get them done.  My motto has always been "Plug away and things will get better". Truth is, there is always more to do, and you just end up half dead if you try to do it all. I know this...I've learned this lesson again and again the last 2 years...yet I still think I can do it all, and I try to...because I don't like the alternative of letting things fall apart a bit.  When you have some parts of you that like to fall apart no matter what you do, you try to be more in control of what you can.
All in all, I am happy- things are going great in all areas....but some things in my life need to start changing before I crash again. 
So, my thoughts are....
1.enjoy the new trail- take Arlo for more walks.  Spend more time with the puppy- getting exercise and training
2. get stove working and shower, walls done and then quit for awhile...take a real break.
3.take the time to read or do SOMETHING relaxing for half an hour each night.

Almost November!

 Well, seeing as it has been about 3 months, I thought I better post SOMETHING!  So much to say, so many pictures, and so little time, though.  My cabin has been coming a LONG ways!  It is completely sided now, stained (except one small piece), the electrical is complete, plumbing pipes are mostly in, soffit and vents are done, loft floor is in and polyurathaned, 2 shelves are built into non existent walls in loft, pellet stove is here, and the hole for the piping is put in, carsiding is more than half way up, sheetrock in one small part, linoleum in and we even have a few lights in and usable! Other than that, we had the well dug, which ran over 200 feet and cost about $4,000 more than I was expecting, and the septic tank is in (thanks to Jim).  We are moving ahead, and really hoping to get our occupancy permit soon (but we need to have all walls and ceiling complete first)...then we can move more stuff in and start some more serious plumbing.  We have a couch now, though, which has been wonderful, even if I hardly ever sit on it.I have for over an hour tonight, and it has been soooo long since I have had a couch!  It feels wonderful. Jim surprised me with having a couch moved in and 4 lights up when I came home last week. Other than building, which has been taking most of my free time, I am obviously back to school, and starting to get into the groove of the year.  A couple weeks ago we took a field trip tot he Pumpkin Patch which was a lot of fun.  I was moved out of the school this year, as they just ran out of space, and I am teaching with another teacher at "Children's Palace" where the school district is renting space for our classrooms.  Other than the fact that nobody has cleaned it yet this year other than me and the other teacher, things are going well over there.  We are really hoping to get a janitor soon though, as too much time is spent cleaning and I am feeling pretty behind on other things int he classroom that I would like to get done!

 Most important update of all.....we got a puppy!  Welcome Arlo to the family!  He is very sweet and cuddly, even if he is a puppy that chews on everything, including people. He is about 13 weeks old now, and can fetch and come very well....he is still working ont he sitting...he gets too excited.  Potty training has been going pretty well, except that he doesn't tell us when he needs to go out- but as long as he gets out occasionally, he does really well. Here is a picture of him all tired out from romping with Uncle Reily (who is very good with him).

 Hmm...we had to take one window out and replace it because it wasn't an "egress window" according to code.  Luckily we had a lot of help and it went in pretty quick.  One minor setback...there have been a few others, but things are moving along.

 mom and Christopher on a day that they came out to help me...and surprised me as I came home from work.  A nice surprise!  lots of insulation and soffit!  Thank you!!!!!

 An older picture of the cabin, but I don't have my memory card to upload more...now it has the stain on, and some really nice looking logs on the corners, that Jim bought for me =) They really do make the whole thing look really nice!

An idea of what color the cabin is.
well, it is late, and tomorrow is our Halloween party and then I need to get ready for conferences.....and there is no more hot water for showers- so I will have to wake up early enough to wash my hair in the sink. It is getting pretty cold to be taking outdoor showers anyhow! Last week we even had a couple mornings that were below freezing...the water was warm, but it can't hit all of you, and getting out felt pretty chilly!  Still, at least we have a shower!  I'll try to post more pictures when I have more time...though that might not be until Christmas the way things are looking now!  ha ha!

Another busy day!

Today was a pretty full day!  I woke up to gazing out my window and discovering that my moon flower had blossomed!  For those unfamiliar with these beautiful flowers, they have big white blossums that open up at night and are pollinated by moths...the flowers wither in just one day, but are amazing.  so, I had to get up and go weed my garden and enjoy it for awhile.
From there I cleaned out the cooler and headed into Melrose to buy refreshments for people coming to help put on my roof....but I only made it about 2 miles before my car died.  Fortunately I had grabbed my phone at the last minute and I called Jim who was at home and he drove the tractor out to tow me back home.  I then used his car to run into Melrose.  Jim's Dad, and Wayne came out to help with the roof, and our Moms came to watch and help out a bit, too.  My mom also finished weeding my garden which I have been wanting to get done =) We had purchased some roof jacks at Menards yesterday, and used those to run 2x10x12' boards along the roof.  I worked from a ladder or down below handing stuff up, Jim's dad belayed him around so he could do all the monkey work, and Wayne spent most of his time up on the top of a tall ladder screwing metal in from the bottom of the roof.  I guess I measured and marked things, helped carry things over and lift up onto the roof and tied things onto ropes so Jim could pull them up.....not my most involved part of the project, but I am not really big on being up on my 10/12 pitch roof.  I'm fine with being on the ladders at the edge though.
We worked until a little after 5, then cleaned up and headed into the River-view in for supper.  It is my neighbor, has great food and is looking right over the river.  The water is rushing by really quick after all the rain we had this week.  We had over 2 inches Thursday night and Friday morning....but I heard they had even more- up to 7 inches near Chippewa, so I can't complain.  My driveway is getting better as we keep working on it, and not being quite as big of a mud puddle at least.
After supper, Jim and I walked home and stopped to look at the waterfall that is on the northern part of my crick- a surprising waterfall for this area- at probably 15 feet and quite wide.  Sometimes I forget to stop and appreciate how pretty it is.
I'm feeling quite content and appreciative of all the good things I have today....a great family and friends who have helped me so much....beautiful land with lots of wildflowers and butterflies, my cabin is coming along great, and I am dating a really nice, sweet guy.  Life isn't perfect, but some days I really remember how lucky I am. Now, tomorrow I may feel differently as I sit in a hard chair for 8 hours listening to people try to teach me things without being very informative at all =) Oh, 3 days of conferences....I am filled with anticipation! =)

Another busy weekend

This weekend was another busy one.  On Saturday, Christopher came out, as did Jim's dad Clare, and we worked on getting the rakes made and setting up the studs against the 2 end trusses.  This proved to take a lot longer than anticipated, with double notchings on each stud to accomodate the trusses.  But, the window is now framed in, and we are now working on the roof! Today, Sunday, Christopher was out again by 9, and by 11 we were all exhausted from the heat and dripping sweat again- today was a hot one, with the temperature up to 91.  We got the rakes put in place, and 2 pieces of sheathing on the roof before heading to the Haake family picnic during the hottest hours of the day.  But, we were back at 3:30 and finishing up the sheathing on the southern side. The tractor was a huge help in getting the sheathing up! I will be so happy when the roof is finished and nobody is monkeying around on my steep roof anymore- it makes me a little nervous. But- I love seeing the progress! Everyday I am more excited about my cabin =)

Trusses are up!

On Thursday, the trusses went up on my cabin!  Jim, his Dad Clare, Christopher, Wayne and my Dad all came out and helped raise the roof =) I am now able to see where my loft will be, and it is really starting to feel like a house!  I am so excited!  The bugs were miserably bad, but we got them all set in place in about 2 1/2 hours! Thanks everyone!

Bye, bye Buckthorn, hello view!

On Tuesday, Dad and Christopher came over and helped me clear trees- white pine limbs that had fallen, an elm too close to the cabin, maple tree overhangs, and LOTs of buckthorn- a nasty invasive species that now gone, I have really noticed how much of my view it was taking!  I can now see from my backyard down into my beautiful ravine, and all the moss and beautiful plants down there.  I am loving it!  It also clears out the home of many mosquitos and gives me more of a yard! 

A busy Sunday!

Sunday we woke up and got quite a few things done...some things we weren't even counting on!  Here are some pictures of Jim's "dungeon" as I like to call it- the battery vault for the solar power.  These things have had quite the beating the last couple weeks, as this 1,000 gallon septic tank has aquired more than what we expected for water! With our unfilled trenches filling up with water and then making a waterfall into the tank, our batteries have seen better days.  We installed a sump pump, and then on Sunday Jim built up the walls so that now we are only getting rain water that falls in that area into the tank.  Tarring the tank was not the most fun, and I definiteley had the most tar on me after we finished.  Four days later, I am still picking tar out of my nails and off my leg.  But- for a water-proof tank, it is well worth it!  Here is a picture of what the tank looked like a couple weeks ago! Thank goodness the batteries are in casings and appear to be OK.

While I worked on finishing up the covering for our foam around the slab, Jim worked on getting air bubbles out of the solar hot water.  This turned out to be a much bigger project than anticipated with soldering required and spewing hot water everywhere. Not fun.  Besides handing him towels, there wasn't much for me to do, so I put my eyehooks on my kayak rack to tie down the yaks, and then finished up my slab covering.

Before...and after.

Our next project was getting one of the empty water tanks onto the truck, so Jim could take it into work and get us more water.  These tanks have been working out very well!  With a nice shower and brushing my teeth, I apparently use 4 gallons of water- so a 330 gallon tank lasts us quite while. While pulling back the cover off the tank we discovered this on top.....

As Jim pointed out, I had a moral dilema.  I don't want mice in my yard, but I can't kill babies.... I moved the nest nearby to an area on the ground where there squeaks can be heard by mama mouse and covered them with some tarp so they didn't get wet.  The next day the nest was there but the babies were gone...eaten or moved, I choose to believe the latter. I'm OK with my cat killing them when they are older, I just can't kill anything that defenseless....even something I don't want.
We then riggeed the pump up to the other tank with zip ties so it is now off the ground.

Our next project was sheathing the house.  I took a break when my friend Jill, an aid in my classroom showed up with her husband on motorcycle, but we otherwise just hit it and got it done fairly quick.  Jim cut out all but one window, which I took the sawzal to yesterday when my mom was visiting so we could sit inside and enjoy the view =)
Overall, I think we had a pretty productive day!

Framing the cabin!

Last Wednesday was a busy day, as Wayne, Matt, Christopher and Dad helped me put up all 4 walls on my cabin! Since then, Jim and I have sheathed it as well.  We picked up the trusses yesterday, and Thursday looks like the day for raising the roof!  It has been a lot of fun seeing things progress, and I am learning a lot!  Thanks to all that have helped me so far! I definitely would not be able to do it all on my own.  With 2 1/2 more weeks before work....crunch time has begun =)  Surprisingly, I am not stressed out by this. I am expecting to get quite a bit done this week, and I am hoping the temperatures drop so I can work outside longer.  Apparently it was 94 today, and even with a bit of wind, that is way too much for me.  I still put in an almost full day, but it definitely takes too much out of me....so Jim and I went to the movies and sat in air conditioning tonight....and now I am headed to bed with air conditioning.  So, to all of you that think I am roughing it out on my land....not really.  I am loving it out here!

Changes....

In the short 2 1/2 months that Jim and I have been dating, we have both made quite a few changes.  For him, he took down his wind mill out in Fremont MN due to issues with the county planning department and then moved his 6x10 house- first to the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair in mid June, and then to my land out in North Bend.  A week and a half ago we poured the piers for it to sit on, and put in a pole for the solar panels on my land.  Last week we set up his house, renting a big forklift as it was too heavy for his tractor, and within that same day we hooked up water from 2- 330 gallon water tanks and have pressurized water, and ran the wires to get solar power hooked up.  2 days later, Jim got up early and hooked up the solar hot water panels, so now we have hot water coming out of our shower head hose and can take wonderful showers!  We also have a mini fridge, air conditioner and internet here on my land!  The last picture shows the tent that my uncle gave me- a 16 foot army tent where we store many things and can have guests sleep =) Yesterday we spent the fourth of July hooking up 2 more solar panels to our pole, making an amplifier so we can have music inside (he taught me how to solder and I got to make most of it), and then taking the truck out to Fremont to get the outdoor shower, where we got stuck in the driveway and met some nice neighbors, Bob and Crystal who helped us out.
I now have my building permit, and the front end loader got fixed on the tractor today, so as soon as it is nice out, I will be renting an auger and starting the piers for my cabin =) My original plans of building a 24x28 foot cabin have been currently put on hold, and I will be building a smaller, 14x16 foot cabin this year.  In a  way, I guess it is my practice cabin, and may be my workshop or art studio later on.  But, it will give me time to figure out which direction my life is headed, and still give me a place to live and be on my land in the meantime.  I am pretty excited about it!  I was hoping to start sooner, but apparently permits and all that paper work were entirely under estimated.  It seems everything takes about 3 more steps and twice as long as anticipated, but I am still excited about all the progress out here.  I now have a small flower garden and have been planting a lot of wildflower seeds in one part of my yard I have decided to keep meadow. I have also planted 2 apple trees and 2 blueberry plants, thanks to my Mom.  Apparently, I also have TONS of raspberry and black raspberry plants also growing out on my land.  I am still hoping to plant pear, plum, and a few more apple and lilacs, but those might have to wait until next year.
The Midwest Renewable Energy Fair was a lot of fun!  Jim worked the whole time, but I went off and went to hear speakers about building green, building smart to save energy, composting, building with stone, biodiesel and grey water systems.  I came back with lots of ideas and a lot more knowledge about building.  I look forward to going again next year!
On Saturday, Jim and I celebrated his Mom's birthday by paddling the Black River.  We launched from my crick, and headed south for 22 miles.  The temperature was 89 degrees at 7:30 at night when we headed back, so I imagine it was well into the 90's while we were paddling.  Despite multiple re-applications of sunscreen we got a bit of sunburn which I still feel when I turn on my side to sleep.  It was a beautiful trip though, and I enjoyed seeing more of "my" river =) Today is another rainy day, so I am heading to the cabin to celebrate the 4th with family and eat a ton of food at dad's cabin.  I wish Katie a very happy birthday!!