This is what it's all about

Local eggs from Weathertop Farm

What a sight

Up in Smoke

After much anxiety, the wood stove is finally functional! After a delay of two months due to frequent inclement weather, wrong parts, and some procrastination we'll finally be able to heat the cabin with wood. What a relief to finally have that project completed. We performed a smoke test by burning some newspaper to check for leaks - it all looked good. Tonight we'll crank it up with firewood and see how well it performs. There are a couple of variables to consider: what will the comfort level be like given the size of the cabin, and will the chimney/roof interface leak due to rain/snow? We'll know the answer to both within the next 24 hours as we're expecting rain tomorrow.



Silicone flashing with what I hope is plenty of adhesive


The chicken ladder was much appreciated


Ain't she purty?


Roof support kit

Surviving Winter in a Half-Done House

Hi, it's Christy writing this time. I haven't written much on the blog until now, but my friend Lorrie inspired me with her creative and interesting blogging. It's been such an interesting journey building what will be a self-sufficient homestead. What it has NOT been is quick, or easy, or comfortable. And we are used to that which I am proud of. Like all creatures we adapt. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a tool shed, because that's what it looks like - the tools get more space than I do. When I get in bed at night the first thing I do is brush the sawdust and dirt off the sheets. The dust in here is like a selfish roommate, leaving its things all over the place. But it has to be this way when you're building it yourself and living in it while it's incomplete.

So for now I wash my hair in a bowl of warm water heated on the hot plate, because this isn't exactly the best weather to be installing a pressure tank in. We've got the plumbing, and we've got the water coming out of the well, but until they can get together we do it like the pioneers did I guess (I know, the pioneers didn't have internet...). Every little bit of progress is cause for great celebration! For example, Ricky has all the drywall done, and it looks beautiful in all its dustiness. We keep imagining warm Spring days on our porch, and I know we'll get there eventually. The list of things still to do is long, and we have to slow down in order to not get ahead of the money. But we're investing our time and our money in something real and special to us, and I love that.

Pipe Dreams

Well, here it is February 1st and the wood stove still hasn't been installed. I had hoped to punch through the roof by now but the weather hasn't been cooperative. In addition, I'm waiting for one more part - a silicone pipe flashing. So in the meantime I've been hanging sheet rock and last week installed the toilet. Christy was more than pleased with the latter. It meant no more trudging out to the the sawdust toilet which is now encased in snow.


Support box waiting for, dare I say, its mate


After this past weekend's storm