more cabin...

So while CJ was working on homeowner's policy, I began to cut all the deck boards. These are also Eastern Red Cedar (juniper virginia) which will eventually be a subfloor, but for now it's going to be our floor until we can afford some nice tongue and groove oak flooring.

homeowner's insurance the old fashioned way

The next morning, after breakfast Mom & I went to town. She needed some time to do her email and I had to get some supplies from the hardware store. While I was getting some screws, rebar, bolts and hardwood dowels CJ began work on our homeowner's insurance policy.

First it begins with a deep hole.



Next, there are pieces of rebar threaded through a 4"x 4" post.



Then, the post is buried and bolted into the frame. There are two of these on our little 10'x 12' cabin.

framing our home, day one

First we had the floor joists all set up (from last week) and pegged, then we took on side and joined & pegged it on top of the floor joists. We had to wench it together in order to get it to assemble properly.



Next, CJ would heft the side wall upwards while I guided the tennons into the mortises.



This is about the only time you will ever find me level headed :p



I'm not sure if you can see CJ beaming, but he sure earned it after hefting both those walls by himself!



Those little containers are holding the first of our future garden :)



To tie in the frame we had to get the top beam locked in. We only had one freestanding ladder and one leaning ladder, so what we decided to do was drive the tractor up to the frame and raise and lock the bucket. I climbed up the leaning ladder into the bucked and adjusted my side from there.



It worked!



It's hard to believe how much we got accomplished in just HALF a day.

This is our view of the setting sun from what will eventually be our front door and porch (later down the road).

I love using the Ryobi (Japanese pull saw) to trim up the pegs.



That was actually the easy part, day two was rough!

here begins a new journey

We're moving to embark or a new life. We're saying goodbye to the little river village that has been our home for so long. We are moving out onto the farm!

Using the tiny timberframe CJ built last fall, and a lease on our little city home we are taking the plunge. I have turned in my notice at work, my last day is going to be right around the 15th of May which is right around the corner!!!

We have purchased a year's supply of organic seeds. CJ and I began raising the frame he built this week. Here is where I am asking your help. All we have the frame, no doors, windows, roofing materials or siding. I am asking you; our friends and family, to help contribute to the cause if you are able. We anticipate the remaining costs to run right at about $900 (about $300 roof & roofing materials, $300 for the siding, and hopefully we can find some doors and windows for right around $300 as well). Of course there's plenty more that can be done, but this is a good estimate to get at least basic shelter. I will keep you updated as we make progress.

a dream of simplicity

Our dream is to live the simple life. To spend our time doing the basics. At the farm on the windy hill there are currently 9 longhorns. We hope to eventually add some bison, a nubian dairy goat, chickens, and either sheep or alpacas. I would love my days to be occupied by tending the garden, playing with our children, milking our goat, collecting eggs, caring for our animals, eating wholesome foods we grew with love and spinning yarn! :D

Are we going to be able to fullfill our dream?

Stay posted and you will see ;)

We're certainly not alone with our dream, looking for images of sheep I stumbled upon this Micro-Eco Farming Magazine looks like I have plenty of reading material for the rest of the evening :)

new beginings

Xochi really loves this black cow. So strange how she picked that one out out of all of them. Look at her look at "her" heffer adoringly!



Here is the begining of our new home!


This handsome bull is going to fetch a pretty something at market. Mmmm, makes me hungry for CJ's magic jalepeno burgers ;)



Here's the whole lot of them together.