A few snaps from last winter.

Though no pictures to show, we enjoyed a spectacular show of fall color! followed by a delightfully frequent snows all winter...

Sisterly play took root this winter- a great gift!

With the build behind us, I finally flew to visit my western sisters, taking one daughter along for each trip.

Our home is full of experiements, play stations, music, and materials in use...

18 months and sturdy on her feet! Heads outside whenever she can.

This one builds houses all over,  for a pet fictional character

Daughters can paddle around w Papa now that we live where the projects are!

Sing

I've been singing this song since April 2015 after a major loss, and at the start of a huge uncharted journey. I'm singing it today with all the dynamics of real life, choosing Hope, Faith, and Love.

(song) Blessed are the ones...

Stream development- amazing therapy, gift, delight

May

May

Spring leaves me speechless every time. 

The thrill of the dearest wonder beneath tender 

greens I've never seen before breathes a hush into my soul. 

We can't think about it too much- the what if's...

what if the cosmic wonders ceased, the axel on the globe broke or the perfect spin ground to a halt. 

If Spring betrayed our vital trust all hope would implode!

Ah, but lest our lungs burn, we let the gasp of fear escape and sip 

another gift of 20.946 percent oxygen,  0.9340% argon, N2, CO2, trace gases, etcetera

and stride out into the bright sunlight.

Then sings my soul...!

Time Flies

Six months have tripped by since we moved into our homegrown abode with nary a post from me!

Life is finally finding a bit more rhythm and order, and so 

here, with our moved-in photo from October, is a advert that more photos will be forth-coming.

Button it up (posted out of order)

Well, here's a first: I found a draft from last winter that was never posted! So now just before we move in, here's a look back inside those walls...

***************
Wall-board and paint- what else could there yet to finish, right?! Well there remains plenty to button up this project- extensive trim, stair and loft railings, outlets, lights, counters, plumbing fixtures...and more! But I was encouraged by a friend yesterday: "You end up appreciating something more if you have to wait for it."  So we will!

Here's a peek at the progress. 

The batts of insulation...are wool!

Close-up

He knows it's his home.

this is a dynamic project with a wide variety of people involved- here a friend swapped lending us a hand for M helping put a hitch on their vehicle.

wall and ceiling board going up

This is a stack of wallboard made of magnesium oxide, a mineral. doesn't burn, doesn't rot. It's used as cement all over a huge asian nation. When we started exploring something other than gypsum (typical "drywall") 2 yrs ago, we could rustle up only 1 start-up distributor in this country. Now it's exploded here and marketed for exterior applications.

Last look at the insides of these walls and ceiling panels

Postures of Home

I have held many postures and pulled many non-ergonomical stunts and aerobics in this house-building project, during its nearly 4 years of active development.

• I have certainly stood uncertainly turning toward it
• my binoculars up scoping it out
• hands on hips
• hand in hand
• sleeves rolled up
• back aching
• held it at arms length
• treading water with nose barely above
• paddling hard
• bowed under a heavy load
• head cocked in surprise
• hands linked to others and staying afloat
• head up making a plan
• stumped
• sitting
• waiting
• wanting to throw in the towel...

...and then as I spent two recent days on the property...with wonder, I found myself in a new posture:

with open arms, ready to welcome this place as Home. I am surer than ever that we will actually live there (within 3 weeks!). And I want to live there- we will have lots of fun living there! And we will have so much to share there. M & I agreed: It might even pay off (Though we have definitely wondered!).

Here's to flexibility, aerobics, and new postures!

laundry racks!

Trying out the new (ancient) phone

attic stairs

A friend details windows!

Taking a break

Month 44

Reality

Wow- a clean kitchen :)

At long last, we have a working kitchen with sinks and counters!
...and the reality is, we're still in a construction zone. It can feel like no matter how much time, energy, money and flexibility we throw at this project, it never quite ties up...

So much effort has gone in...

and there's lots to go...

So we feel desperate, done, very tired, and overwhelmed most of the time. But we will keep going and this is a good gift we're working towards, a gift we plan to share. Meanwhile, many are forging on, every day with no promises, little hope, and much more suffering along the way.

We're looking forward to a cleaning day and a moving day, when friends can come and make things things suddenly come together...hopefully in Oct (if possible) or Nov (for sure).