WE'RE IN THE NEWSPAPER!!!

A couple of weeks ago, we were contacted by a reporter from the Provo Daily Herald - they had heard about our cabin building adventure, and wanted to interview us...

So, last Saturday, we met at a local restaurant and talked about our cabin... Here's the results!

The article is accurate, except for one little point... Anybody who knows me, knows that I have four brothers and no sisters - so, the part where it talks about my sister remodeling the basement of her house - not true!!!  It was my sister IN LAW, Carole!  Did an amazing job..!

https://www.heraldextra.com/news/community/charities/habitat-for-humanity-restores-help-build-home-made-cabin/article_69b6060a-d0f2-5eb0-aea5-720a310cb275.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

For the last six years, Jim and Cheri Streeter have visited Habitat for Humanity ReStores roughly every other week in order to build their dream cabin in the mountains.

ReStores are independently owned by Habitat for Humanity affiliates. These stores accept new and gently used appliances, furniture, home accessories and building materials as donations and sells these items to the community for reduced prices.

“We found them by accident,” Cheri said. “We were driving through Orem and saw a building being demolished with a rock facing I wanted. We pulled up and saw a sign that said everything was going to the ReStore.”

All ReStore donations are evaluated to make sure that they are in usable condition.

“There are a lot of contractors that are turning in unused items at the end of a job,” Jim said. “These are high quality materials that sometimes have never even been used.”

The Streeters have found all their windows, doors, light fixtures, electrical wiring, bathroom sinks and most of their furniture at ReStores. Their refrigerator is an industrial quality Kitchen Aid they found for a fraction of the retail price.

“Our stores provide affordable materials and helps people in the community to complete their home repairs or renovations without risking their financial security,” said ReStore manager Rachel Cantrell. “Our items can be 25-75 percent off retail prices, depending on the item and how long we’ve had it.”
For the Streeters, these prices mean that they are well underway with construction on a dream cabin without going into debt.

“We are making a dream come true and Habitat is really helping,” Cheri said.
Not only are prices low, but all proceeds from the ReStores go into furthering the mission of Habitat for Humanity. Proceeds are used to help build strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter in local communities and around the world.

“The fact that we are supporting them in their cause is incredible,” Jim said.

Besides a great cause and prices, the ReStores in Utah County keep waste out of landfills by promoting the reuse and recycling of unused building materials.

“When we started this project, we wanted to be as green as possible,” Jim said. “We wanted to reuse and recycle materials and the Restore has been an excellent resource.”

Cheri and Jim Streeter have been avid supporters of Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and they have converted their family to use them as well.

Their son recently had a toilet break in their home, and they convinced him to not use a plumber. Instead, he went to the local ReStore and bought a toilet. He was able to, with a little help, successfully install the toilet.

“One great thing about Habitat for Humanity is if you have a question, someone there will be able to help you answer it,” Jim said. “We are by no means experts, but we have been able to do what we have because people have been willing to help.

In addition to their son, Cheri’s sister, without any prior experience, decided to renovate her basement. It took a year longer than she intended, but she completed everything herself.
“When you get a taste that you can do home projects, that opens up a whole new world,” Cheri said.

ReStores provide the affordable materials and advice that can really help people attempting their own projects and repairs. They enable people to accomplish projects in their homes or small businesses that otherwise may have been too expensive or advanced.

Regardless of your experience, ReStores are the perfect place to start a planning your next renovation project, whether for your home or your small business.

“The donations are the driving force of Habitat for Humanity as a whole,” Cantrell said. “Without donations, we can’t sell or use donations, and that impacts our ability to build houses and carry out other programs.”

Just this year, ReStore donations will help build six homes and support at least a dozen critical home repair projects. More donations translate to more families served and more homes repaired.
The Orem ReStore is located at 340 S. Orem Boulevard and the Spanish Fork ReStore is located at 253 Arrowhead Trail.

To learn more about the local Utah Valley ReStores, hours, and locations, look online at http://www.habitatuc.org/restore.htm. To donate, volunteer, or for more information, visit http://www.habitatuc.org.

So, that's the news... giggle.

We were coming back from California on Monday, and took a little detour to the cabin - to drop off some stuff, and get a couple of measurements...   This is what we saw coming through Duck Creek..

The only way to describe this is, cold, cold and more cold...  The cabin didn't have the snow, but it was totally frosty...especially with me wearing shorts, a t shirt and sandals... I know...

Cheri's Heart was half way covered in snow... but, was still as lovely as ever.

The adventure continues...  Jim and Cheri

Imagine if you will....

Imagine if you will, (in my best Rod Serling voice), you are located on a remote mountain top, working on your cabin at 9:00 PM on a Saturday night.  The air is still, not a sign of human life for miles.  You are alone in your presence as well as your thoughts.  While working on installing electrical wiring you in inadvertently drill a hole cleanly down through the top of your index finger knuckle stopping just short of the bit exiting through the palm of your hand.  In a micro second you pull the drill back out and ask yourself "did I just drill through my hand or did it glance off to the side?"

You hold your hand up and notice a stream of blood exit the hole and fill the tightly held crack between your index finger and middle finger.  Yes you did it.  And the palm of your hand is turning purple as well.


Now what do you do?  Immediately turning all the lights off because you might not be coming back, you lock up the building and try not to panic as you start start your vehicle.  It's a 20 minute drive to the nearest hospital.  A short phone call to your spouse confirms the local hospital is "in plan".  Now all you have to do is avoid the deer on the road as you speed to your destination.

The paper towel you wrapped around your hand appears dark and feels wet in the darkness of the drivers seat.  You should have brought a second.

Adrenalin fills your blood stream, your heart rate increases, ever so slightly and your elevated blood pressure confirms the panic in your thoughts.  I hope I didn't just loose the use of my index finger.   OK, OK it wasn't that bad.  Yes I did drill a 3/16 inch hole right down through the center of my knuckle.  The emergency room folks X-rayed it and didn't find any particles in my hand.  The drill glanced off the bones and merely separated the bones as it made it's way down to the palm of my hand.  I was instructed to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to do a full investigation.  But my finger still works just fine.  It hurts, but it works.    Jim Streeter

Jim doesn't usually write these blogs, but his intro was so good, I couldn't resist!

The electrics that he was working on, looks perfect - and, we're one step closer to power - more than just temporary power.

With all his struggles and pain, Jim did an amazing job...

Flashback.... We have been plagued with fires in Utah this summer - mainly in southern Utah.. But, fires have come close to home this time.  The fire we are most concerned about isn't at the cabin, but in Spanish Fork Canyon, which is about 15 minutes from our home in Provo.  On his way to the cabin on Saturday morning, Jim took a couple of pictures...

As you can see, the mountains are completely covered with smoke.  Our air quality is not great - and it smells like the whole state is BBQing!  Hopefully, firefighters and emergency personnel can get these fires under control.

As usual, the mountain is full of deer, just waiting to show off..  This was the deer Jim saw at the neighbour's cabin...  So beautiful.  When Jim was coming back from the hospital on Saturday night, he said a deer stepped out in front of the truck, that had antlers about 2' above it's head... said he was magnificent.

Our plans with getting the plumbing installed got postponed, but we are ready for the plumber to show...Not what I imagined to be on my beautiful table, but it works!

And, my amazing purchase this week was a hall tree.  I have been looking for one for several years now - something not huge, but with a mirror, and hooks for jackets.  I found one!  And, I love it.  I think it will fit in perfectly with the other furniture.

Isn't it pretty?  I am really pleased with the find.

And, finally... no explanation needed...

Our amazing adventure continues...  Jim and Cheri

CHOO CHOO!!!!!!

This past weekend was a little interesting - but VERY fun.

As you know, I really hesitate to go to the cabin to spend the night, because there is no running water.. and the nearest bathroom is 20 minutes away.  Well, Jim booked a "hotel" room for us to spend the night in... turns out, it was a caboose hotel!  I absolutely loved it! The first train car (red, white and blue) is the caboose and is the one we stayed in!

Here's a couple of the other cars that were available.

They have all the conveniences of a regular hotel - bathroom, shower, little kitchen, tv, little livingroom...

This silver train car is amazing.  We were told that it actually was a sleeper car that was converted into a 2 bedroom, 2 bath "hotel room".  I told Jim that I think we should bring the family down for a weekend... The kids would love it!!

This red box car was a hotel room that was right next to ours!

Such a wonderful surprise.  Sure was fun!!!

Saturday night, we found a new restaurant to try - the Big Rock Grill & Smokehouse in Marysvale, Utah...  This is the same little town where the Caboose Hotel is in... Really was good...  What made it even more fun was these two guys that were singing...  Great harmonies, fun music..

These two guys had vintage guitars, and here's Jim, talking guitars with these guys...

We were driving towards the cabin, about 30 minutes away, and we start seeing all these signs saying that this area was settled by Mormons... and, there's a whole lot of Mormon history...  About 10 minutes later, we passed a restoration project by the State of Utah for the "Boyhood Home of Butch Cassidy".  And, I asked Jim about the coincidence of this... so, my question is:  If Mormons settled this area, and Butch Cassidy's boyhood home is here, is it safe to say that Butch Cassidy was Mormon?

Well, we're at the point of building the bridge over Galt's Gulch, and railings on the deck.  We have all the pieces and parts, and I thought I knew exactly what design I wanted... and, then... we started to play with the parts... and, now we don't know what we like.  So, if you are reading this, take a peek at the different designs, and let us know which one you like best. There's a couple that I think looks like either boobs or noses...  But... take a peek:

Or, if there is a design you want us to try, let us know...  If you look at the last picture, the piece on the far left is called a knuckle, beside it is a straight piece, and then an S...  We're open for all suggestions at this point.

While we were working on Saturday, Jim went out the front door and there was a mama deer standing across the road... just having a little snack...  We thought she would run away when we went outside, but after several trips back and forth to the truck, she was happy to just stand, eat and watch...  I think after she had her snack, she got bored, and then just walked away... but, she was in absolutely no hurry..

She's a little difficult to see in these two pictures - but, she's right in the middle of the shot!

We constantly get asked why we call this blog, "Me and Manzanita".  A lot of people have never heard of manzanita... Well, this is what manzanita is and looks like.

..it grows all over the place, and has a root system like no other... if you look at the pictures of the deer, that's stupid manzanita growing all over the place...  Jim loves it.. I truly hate it...

Anyways, here's my next stained glass project I'm about to start.  If you knew my father, you know exactly what this piece is...

Earlier in the week, I saw this piece and just had to buy it.  The only problem is - I'm not quite sure what it is.  I told Jim that I thought it was a bird bath, or a bird feeder... I guess it really doesn't matter, because it is so interesting...  The top part is a thick glass, and the bottom wrought iron.  Any ideas?

The other interesting thing I found was this little beverage cart.  When we were in California last week, it came up on a facebook feed, and thank goodness for paypal, I bought it!  I was thinking that I wanted to change the colour to black, but after seeing it in person, I think it will look amazing just as is.  Jim and I think she's going to look beautiful on the deck...

The mountain is alive with deer, deer and more deer.  When we were leaving, we saw this little goodbye party made up of 4 babies, and two mama's... Absolutely beautiful.

Here's the two mamas.... and, yep, they are standing in that stupid manzanita.  Jim loves the color, a deep shiny green leaf.

About 2 minutes after this picture was taken, we were fighting with a stupid fly in the cab of the truck, and, out from the motor compartment, from under the hood, emerged a little mouse... I guess he changed his mind about coming home with us.

We have big projects about to start this next week - the plumbing is going in, the deck and siding is being worked on, and the bridge over the Gulch is being started... Lots of change, and lots of excitement!

Another adventure.... another amazing adventure.

Jim and Cheri