The Life for Me

How dangerous could it really be? Being hoisted up in the air in the bucket of a bulldozer on a newly created sloping road base while holding a running chainsaw. I really need to start taking more pictures. Although photos my just provide ammunition for my daughter. "But Dad, remember when you did that stupid thing when you were younger?" Well the question for my last entry has been answered. Melvin (that's him on the backhoe) and I got to work on the road going up to our house site today. Very rocky and very dusty. The bank was cover with small cedars and pines. Melvin said,"They suck every last bit of moisture out of the soil." And he's right. The soil was very fine and a yellowish color, but as soon as we broke into the pasture the nice brown topsoil reappeared. After we reached the top of the hill with the crawler (bulldozer) Melvin thought it would be best to scalp the sod of the rest of the road with the motor grader. That brings me to todays next dang...

The debate continues as to where would be the best place to put the road. You would think that with a property this large it wouldn't be such an issue. I spent the morning removing more barbed wire fencing and metal posts. As a bonus I found a large wasp nest under one of the many plastic pallets that had been used to keep the large round hay bails off the ground. I decided that that meant it was time to quite for the day. We are getting a much needed rain today. The grass is coming along nicely in the newly cleared area behind the barns. Estimates continue to come in on the house. Design changes continue at a resonable rate. It looks like the copper roof and the in-floor radiant heat system will have to wait for the next house.

The nights are cooling down. The air is crisp. John and I, along with Melvin and his bulldozer, created a beautiful spot down near the creek. We have one or more Great Blue Herons that frequent the stream and Canadian geese have begun passing by. Estimates keep coming in for different parts of the house even though Leslie and I have decided to make a few changes. Move a bathroom here - add some space there... It is certainly a treat working from scratch rather than trying to figure out an old house, although I was scrolling through some photos of my last house just last night. I really can't believe that Leslie has stuck by me through all this. She must be a bit crazy. Anyway... The port-a-potty is in place. You can bath in the spring house. Bring plenty of chocolate, marshmallows, and gram crackers. Fall is just around the corner.

At least for me... I've finally jumped on the blog-wagon. I'm still working on my first cup of coffee so hold on to your spell checker. Leslie and I have been going over floor plans for our house. The idea of building something from scratch is really exciting and really scary at the same time. I'm hoping that I can use this to catalog our progress through this new adventure. I've already started receiving bids for things like windows, metal roof, foundation, framing, etc. It's amazing how much things cost, but it's even more amazing how much houses with little detail or character or truly custom features are selling for. We are still planning on buildign a guest cottage which is open to any and all seeking a little R & R in the mountains. We won't make it for this season, but if there are any skiers out there that are headed to Wintergreen -- keep us in mind! Thanks for all the support from everyone.