Part Two – the house
First floor framed up.
OK – since I have already taken the pictures for ‘Progress – part 3’ I better, as they say, Get ‘er Done with part 2. And as the photos will show the progress has been steady. This next phase of building was framing, basically giving the new house shape. We also moved utilities, and put in a new septic system. And one could have been a major hassle but thankfully went well project, moving of the kitchen. The kitchen was a new addition Dan built to our old cabin, and the one part that was left standing after the demolition. I love the kitchen, it has beautiful poured concrete counter-tops (which Dan just refinished) and a good design to work in. But moving it was certainly a big project. Heavy equipment was used, and despite a few moments basically everything went smoother then expected. As walls started being solid, stairs appeared, window frames were built, and the porch constructed, the house took real shape. Here is the progress in photos.
First floor framed up.
Basically the kitchen was forked to the new location on the back of the house.
Using a lift to get the roof done.
Putting in the new septic tank.
Like I said there was lots of heavy equipment around the Dew Claw work site during this stage of building. And sorry for the obvious sexist generalization, but… all the hard work aside guys sure do seem to have fun with big machines.
On the inside looking at the kitchen in it’s new location.
Wrapping the house to seal it, you can see the new front porch and covered entry.
Roofing
The weather really held out for us. (although as I keep saying musher Jodi and builder Jodi are sending the weather gods really mixed signals) And as luck would have it Dan and Dakota was finished putting the tin on the roof and 5 minutes later it started snowing.
Ordering Windows 101, or lessons I learned the hard way. I do not know why, but you can not get windows quickly, weather you buy local made or order a national brand, for reasons I do not completely understand, the process of ordering windows can not be quick or easy. Seriously. Not possible. So if you want to put windows into a structure by the end of Sept I suggest you order them in, ummm oh say June. OK maybe not that bad, but when you are waiting on windows to be able to heat your home and install the plumbing, it seems like it is. *Spoiler alert, no windows in part 2, but now I bet you can’t wait to read part 3 and see if we are showering yet.
Opal watching the progress with a keen eye.
In other Dew Claw news, Victoria and I have been getting the dogs out on some longer runs, and although there is still not enough snow for the sleds, the light dusting we do have has made things much more beautiful.
Running into the moon rise on a beautiful evening with Bug and Spitzer in lead.
We have also stored away the fish we will need for the dogs this winter. This year we were able to purchase fish already frozen, so the only needed to be stacked in the, still not working, walk-in freezer. In case you forgot my disagreement with the freezer unit last year you can read it here. And since the world is once again frozen, guess what? Yeah I win again!
Fish is a major part of the Dew Claws dogs diet.
Thanks again to all who are following along, and a special Thank You to our Amazing Sponsors. More fun news in the forthcoming Progress – part 3. To be (tentatively) done after a nice muti-run camping trip with the dogs Victoria and I have planned.
The journey continues, sometimes slower then I wish. But I am a distance musher, we can handle the long haul and enjoy the journey. Douglas Adams has captured some of thoughts on this process quite aptly. I leave you with his words.
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
? Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”
? Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt
