CHANGED BLOG SETTINGS!

Hey people... we changed the settings on our blog.. You can actually post to our blog now... I know, I know... it takes us a while to get on the program... But, we're there now!!!

Cheri

Clearing the Land

Today we ventured down to Manzanita with chainsaw in hand, work gloves and great expectations.  We started by clearing the brush for a trail down to the cabin site.  Then we took out our tape measure and laid out the location the cabin will sit on.  Once located, the trees were identified that needed to come down and we went all "Jason Meyers" on them.

Here's what we started with.

And here's what it looked like once the brush was cleared.

We then set to opening up the view by taking down a couple of the really big trees that were sitting right where the cabin will sit.

So, what did we finish with?  This!

There's a lot more to do next week, but we made a great start.  Thank you Cheri for helping.  I'm ready to buy you your own chainsaw and work boots.  Jim Streeter

WELCOMING PARTY

Here's the welcoming party at the cabin this afternoon... Actually, it was the "We're glad you're going home" party... As we were leaving, we saw groups, and groups, and groups of deer everywhere...  Jim turned off the car and we coasted right next to them.. they were like, "Um... what 'cha doin'?"

Very cool..

And P.S.:  I didn't cut off my leg today... didn't touch the chainsaw... I was good and just moved lots of limbs.  Cheri

CHAINSAW!

Jim and I are heading down to Bryan Head today to start clearing the land.  We had this little discussion yesterday about the chainsaw - or, to be more specific - ME using the chainsaw.  Jim thinks I'm too wimpy to use a chainsaw, and he designated me to remove cut limbs and make a huge pile with them...  I'm a little miffed with his assumption.... I can wear a hockey mask and play Jason with the best of them!

Actually, I have never picked up a chainsaw in my life, and I hope I don't cut my freakin' leg off during this process... 

Later!  Cheri

A Big Challenge

OK, this might just be the most difficult thing I have ever done.  Cheri and I have been discussing the next phase of the building project, digging out the lot, leveling it in the area where the cabin will sit and ultimately digging the trenches for the foundation.

So, after weeks of research and watching eBay along with a few other auction sites, I bid on and purchased a backhoe.  It is a Case 580B.

I used to operate my Dad's front end loader, so this should be the next step with a huge learning curve.

Basically we need to dig out the side of the mountain incline and push the dirt down to create a level area to build the house on, make a driveway and parking area, and prep an area for the septic system.

I hope to pick it up in New Mexico in time to try it out on the sandy soil on our lot before the snow comes.

And Cheri won't laugh at me as I'm learning to dig with this big boy toy.

I also bought the guy's trailer that he hauls it with.

Wish me luck!  Jim Streeter

We met with the Architect, Dave again last night.

We went over to the architect's house last night.  To give him some inspiration, we took three books, two on long cabin interior design and a book on hybrid log cabin design.  I have bought about a dozen books over the past year to get ideas from.  I hope he thumbs through them and gets an idea of what we have in mind.

I also took a short section of a log to show him what they will look like when installed in the cabin.

We had it in the back of our pick-up truck and Dave looked out his window to see it.  His first commet was "are they all that big? ? ?"  This one is about 16 inches in diameter and about 30 inches long.  It weighs about 150 pounds.  The longest ones are 27+ feet long.  Dave suggested we take it over to the structural engineer and consider having them graded.  But since these are not load bearing parts of the cabin, I don't think we care about grading them.  Only time will tell.  But it was exciting to see Dave get excited about the project.  There was a bit of a glint in his eye by the time we left and that was cool.  Jim Streeter

THIS IS GETTING SERIOUS!

Met with the architect again last night - had to give him some dimensions of windows so he can start with actually drawing the plans.

I am making a couple of panels of stained glass for the downstairs bathroom - sunflowers... These are really quite large panels (48" tall), but I really love the sunflowers.  I think it will make the bathroom look absolutely lovely.  I don't think he quite understands my thought process on this one... I drew him a picture and he then asked, "Is this near a bathtub?".... I'm like, "Ya, pretty much"...  I think a lot of the ideas that I have, my dear husband looks at me like I'm nuts... I'm getting used to it, tho.

Jim is looking to buy a backhoe.. at least, I think it's a backhoe...I don't know what the difference is... it's big, it's yellow and it digs dirt.. He loves the idea - It's one of those "big boys with big toys" kind of things...  I'm glad he's happy.

Cheri

Inspiration

I sent these two pictures to Cheri today to give her inspiration.

Cheri wants to make an outdoor shower and have the concrete retaining walls a mosaic tree.  I thought these would provide a good combination of ideas.  I love the tree!

Cheri told me today she thinks I need to buy a small track-hoe. This is why I love this woman! Toys for big boys.

Bye for now, Jim Streeter

ARCHITECT

We met with the architect again today....  Jim is a little intense, I am a little "I want it to look pretty", and the poor architect has to make us both happy and keep us within code.  He's really a cool guy - we're supposed to get the first set of plans in about 7 - 10 days, then we go in, tell him what we like and what we don't like, and we go for another round of drawing.

No, I'm not getting my breakfast nook... but, I settled for a bay window and window seat in the great room, and an herb garden window in the kitchen.  Just didn't look like there was any really smart place to put the breakfast nook - was really good in theory, but not in construction.

I did get my loft upstairs and bathroom.... has to be a bathroom in the loft... this chick is NOT hiking down the stairs to the main floor in the middle of the night... not a chance.

Most of the conversation went like this:

Jim - We'd like blah blah blah blah blah blah

Dave the Architect - That's great, but you have to take into account, wah wah wah dormers wah wah wah..

Jim - I think so, but won't that affect the blah blah blah blah pitch blah blah centers blah blah

Cheri - (Thinking to herself) - I wonder if I can plant lavender around this place... sure would look pretty...and would smell heavenly..... uhuh... gonna check this out when I get home....

Dave the Architect said that we were going to have a blast putting this together over the next couple of years...  I heard that, and I actually understand it and I like it....... sigh...

The adventure continues.

Cheri

Double Doors

We continue to purchase little bits and pieces for the cabin.  Our latest buy was the french doors for the front of the cabin.  I love french doors.  The only problem is - we are running out of space to store stuff!  Our next big project is to take everything out of the storage building now, and re-arrange so, as Jim says, it will be more efficient.  I never thought my life would be defined as "efficient" let along "more efficient".  I do not think that when people think of me, "efficient" is the first thought that pops into their heads.

I keep collecting little bits and pieces for my shower mosaic.  Starting to get quite an interesting collection.  I'm looking for different shapes and sizes and textures of ceramics in browns, yellows, greens and reds.  Jim can't quite wrap his head around this one, but, I am loving the creative part of this project.  I think it will be beautiful.

The adventure continues....

Cheri