The Sun is King

Building in temps nearing 100 F.

Bro's table saw, DK's custom soffits

We often smell smoke out here from neighbors and the property owner where we're building.  Troublesome for me to be around, sinus and migraine pain are my main symptoms of the deeper problem: my body's having a tough time breaking all this down.

I was tucked inside the limited, but precious safety of  our little house, when DK, high on the ladder, saw smoke in the property owners firepit.  Normally, we'd just pack up for the day. But we knew he was out of town, so DK investigated.  It seems the fire had been smoldering all night, from a fire the day before.  The hot sun, and carelessly abandoned embers came together powerfully, but DK saved the day.

We question the neccessity of such fires and are dismayed by the lack of respect for it's power and gifts. 

As always,  I am forever grateful to my amazing husband.

Soffits are almost done. Siding's next...

WWJD: What WOOD Jill Do by Anita Bretha Freshair

A pile of wood

Sits and waits

And Jill

She never hesitates

A campfire's all

She thinks about

Spring , winter and fall

And summer, no doubt

She lights up a fire

And the world disappears

She can't hear my cries

She won't feel my fears

I told her that it hurt my health

She said to "move away"

There's no way I can change her heart

And I'm nearing moving day

When you live in the city

You can't just burn some wood

But Jill thinks she's real pretty

So she thinks it's all good

It's really just sad

An apartment campfire

But along with a cocktail

It's her heart's true desire

I wore a mask to tell her

She was clouding up the air

She called me a freak 

And she said she didn't care

Then she bowed her head in prayer

Even the devil would know it's a sin

Burning fires and spreading carcinigens

Jill would have a lot in common with him

May my heart and hers, both find compassion.

(Names were not changed to reveal identities)

Oly Water

It may not look like much, but this place is a blessing beyond measure to us, and many, many others.  It is a magical free-flowing artesian well.  Glacial melt, in a pressurized space deep below the earth, flows out of  this copper pipe constantly.  Our well is a cherished and celebrated gift.   It will be our sole source of water in our tiny house.

Moving right along...

Soffits that fit

Today DK stands for detail king.  I am fortunate to have a husband who is patient and detail-oriented.  Great qualities all the way around.  And especially useful in building a tiny house for my special needs. 

Since we used an unconventional formeldehyde-free sheathing (Medex), we decided to build closed soffit boxes.

DK has been thinking this through for awhile and today, he solidified his plan.  Adding to the trickiness of closing up the soffits, we placed our tiny window pretty high to clear the mattress height inside.

So the soffit boxes will be fitted around the windows at each end of the house, with DK's deep kare.

Besides testing out our new camera :)

...I've been preparing our porch for assembly.

(Smiling with my eyes)

And Dyllan, Jozey and Lisa went blackberry picking.

Trim: update via upload

All 9 windows are framed!

We screwed this first corner peice together before screwing it to the house, placed furing strips around the window frames and started installing more on studs.  The furing allows for airflow behind the siding.  It helps to insulate and keep moisture out.  I treated all of our furing strips with a boric acid, vinegar, peroxide mix, to protect them from mold.  

Almost siding-ready...

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This is a rainbow cloud.  DK and I have seen 3 in the last month.  We had a string of 4 and 5 leaf clover finds too.  Super sweet Mother Nature.

All the little details

Silicone seal around window flashing.

Drip grooves accross bottoms of window frames, cut with table saw, then restained. Lucifer

Hairy Cat's Ear

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Furing strips, stained facia boards and trim

Staining almost done...

Done!

We started putting on window frames with an extra strip of flashing accross the top.  We had to screw in 2x4s under the windows on the inside tohave something super solid to secure the frames to, from the outside.  We got all the bottoms on, and it's looking gorgeous, but our camera broke.  It's 10 years old, so it's time to update.  Were hoping to get a new camera soon, so we don't miss documenting any steps.  And it's all about to come together!!