Transition

It's easy to crane my neck...
'lookin' around the bend' (a line from our new fav band) and longing for the promised improvements of the next season / location.  But this past season of 4 yrs has been full of stress and, not surprising, full of learning. I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be sage or trite- I don't feel like that. I'm just to write down reminders to myself as I head into the coming transition to our new home location.

Don't wish away the present.

Unstable housing consumes all extra energy- consider people in that super-stressful situation.

Robin's nest. They probably thought the sticks would leaf out! So I draped shade on top...

Things take time, especially good things.

8 years old

 Having to bear the process... makes the progress and rewards sweeter.

Final inspection celebration "out" to eat

Time is hard to estimate and we don't know the whole picture. Get busy relaxing in the saddle- you'll burn up if you're uptight constantly.

dance moves

can you canoe?

Arrival is a relative term.

we live with a lovely view. right where we are!

Families weather things together. 

on top of the ridge behind new house

Pictures serve as memory cues, but take no illusions of all happiness and fun from this blog. We're as real and imperfect as they come. Thanks for coming along.

Occupancy

On April 2016 we received our permit to build and Aug 2018 we received our permit to occupy!

Like a current of water that finally breaks up the log jam, suddenly, after pushing so long...we are moving... We may live in the house!

come on up!

M and our enduring friend/contractor

a view from the livingroom towards the kitchen

I belong here!

Inspector...moving on!

Looking out the south side. We swapped cabinet and wall space for windows :)

M's signature piece that finished the railings (not all oiled yet)

2nd floor den and that heirloom player piano- whose crazy idea was that?!

Fear not...the list of finishing and prep tasks is long, but now we're in a different gear. We're no longer building a house, but building our home...and we can stay. and host. and plant. and tend. and grow.

Lights...

Lighting the first fire, testing the chimney

Lights went on in our new house for the first time the other evening- at the flip of a switch! It was only a bathroom and bedroom, but that felt pretty excitingly real.

Last fall, we had relinquished the timeline of the build, but after taking stock this Spring, we have laid a plan to the finish. After Mark puts his vacation days into the house this summer, we will turn our efforts to re-locating our household through the Fall.

Like any plan, there are many  factors that could change the course, but hey, that means we can officially see lights not only in the bathroom...but at the end of the tunnel!