Shop Almost Done...

Fiona's winter gear is a sharp contrast to the winter season .  She's snacking on a cracker and trying to flash a smile at her mom.  Raif and Cora had her outside today as the temp. rose to around freezing.  

The big news of the week is Raif turned 14 on Friday the 4th.!  Happy birthday Raif!  His maturity lends itself well to his father's aspirations to install a floor in his studio.  He's real handy with a tape measure and chop saw.   In this photo he and I just got in from a ski.  I found it annoying that as he went down each hill (well ahead of me)  he would look back to make sure I was still there or hadn't fallen off the track.   

Happy birthday Raif!  A potential ski bum?  so i hope.

The studio/shop is nearly complete.  Raif and I installed that last floor board this morning.  The flooring is 2 x6 tongue and groove spruce.  The next step is to paint the drywall, trim windows and install the little bit of siding.  Notice the distant wall with the 3 sistered windows, that cavity is a sliding 8' door.  

a reminder, cause I'm still writing 2015 on my checks.

 

More truss photos.  I am pleased with the results.

A view of the sliding door's exterior.  

Another view from inside the studio overlooking our bay on Fall Lake.  

We still have a good snow pack.  However, there is a warming trend in the weather pattern this week.  

We got 24 cord of 16' and 20' white pine saw logs delivered last week. The timber was harvested a few miles from Winton.  It's beautiful timber!  It will be used to build our house.  The timbers, the framing, siding, doors and some of the flooring will come from those logs. 

 Some of you might see piles of work and sore backs but I don't view that pile of logs that way.  I see potential and personal growth and opportunity.  I love processes.  I think when we combine passion, patience and natural elements like that pile of wood (for me) it really embodies the human experience.   For those of you who know me best I routinely talk about through participation in the cycle we respect the cycle and through that respect comes understanding.   And though I love to pitch a tent under a growth of tall, old, pine I also love a gorgeous slab of wood.  So when I saw into one of those logs with the sawmill I think about that cycle and I try my best to utilize that wood in a way that celebrates that tree and the forest and that gives me joy.    

Cheers!