The Home Stretch

Eight and a half months since we started building.  All things considered, that's probably not too bad.  Other blogs lead me to believe a year is average.  We're hoping to be done just ahead of that, but I've learned how the pressure of a goal date doesn't change the details that need tending to now.

DK has had his hand in each detail, and won't have it any other way.  He's meticulous about details.    If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.  Patience.  That's the key.

I believe he inherited this trait from his Grandmother, Mary Ouye.  He never got to meet her, but her spirit is alive in him nonetheless.  He had her portrait tattooed on his side recently by an amazing artist here in Olympia:  Brian Childs owner/tattooer  at Spidermonkey Tattoo.

One of his Aunties-Charlotte (also in photo) is in town with her husband.  DK is hoping to see her today, and I'll be there in spirit.  A family BBQ is just not healthful for this hopeful canary-not right now.

So, the sunny forecast has changed to include rain and clouds, as it does often here.  We've worked around it and done some indoor tasks, like sealing up minute cracks where boards meet,  from the inside with Meangreen.

 DK shortened the gable end eaves and we've cut all the window frames for the outside during breaks in the weather.  We may bring the frame peices to our current dwelling and stain them under the cover of our carport.

Plans are coming together on working out soffit boxes, and staying water tight.  We're also trying to envision our floorplan better. We bought plans for the Tarleton, but we're really switching it up by having a bathtub rather than a shower stall.

Another small yard sale is in the works.  We've got to load our cds onto a harddrive and unload them, along with our large dryer and other miscellaneous stuff.  I've been measuring everything, to try to imagine what will fit nicely into our space.

If it doesn't bring us joy, or have a very useful purpose, it's outta here.

Some keepsake type things will be photographed, kept digitally.  Having less makes what's left feel like more.  Hmmm.

We saw a deer at the beautiful place where we will move our house to upon completion.  She was peace, what I wish to be, and she looked right at me.  Trails indicate where they pass through.  How exciting!  We will keep this place natural for them.

There are human trails, too.  Theirs include firepits, trash, dog poop and ...a deer carcass.  We clean up on a regular basis and watched in sadness as the deer's discarded body decayed.


We believe it is good that we will be stewards, guardians of this place.

There is an owl in the area that we've heard on several occasions.  Frogs and snails and blackberry vines underfoot neccessitate a slow gait.  Stumps surrounded by 10 year old firs and cedars offer perfect seating areas throughout the 40 acres.  Tall trees protect the creek, which is salmon habitat, and encircle the land, ensuring that there is always clean, fresh air.  We are so lucky.  This place will heal me.  Maybe it has already begun.