Things are Getting Real

I mean really. School started, the house is framed up, and life is moving along. Since we are all in busy mode, I only have been writing one blog per month. The changes have been many, so this is a good update.

Photos of the house really say it all. We are behind our own schedule, but that was arbitrary anyway so we don't really care. Mark is happy with the progress, even though it is tough to keep working everyday of the week. He does occasionally take some time off. So fun to come home from school everyday to see so many changes! I wish that we had taken more photos as they were happening, but that is just not the way it went down.

Here is the house before the recent changes.

This photo is taken from the shop doorway. It was sprinkling when I took these photos, which is not the ideal time for photography but I had the time and I wanted to get this post written. There is one more roof that will continue across from the right hand side to cover the doorway. Timbers will support that portion, and it will offer protection from the wind/rain/snow when we enter the house.

 

This photo is of the loft through the floor joists. This is looking towards the front door. There is a large sheet of plywood leaning up and nailed securely in the stairway to protect Miss Fiona when she plays in the new house.

This is taken from the dock looking up at the house. Some of the windows/doors have plywood over parts to guard our little toddler so the look will change somewhat. The roofs are all ready for shingles, but before that happens Mark will be putting in a chimney through the middle roof.

This view is from the sauna looking at the bedroom windows. I tried to capture the soffit that has v-groove pine installed and looks great, but the photo doesn't do it justice. You can see that we have filled in the "moat" around the house. 

 

 We set a goal for ourselves this summer to take a trip into the BWCA, but had not done that by the middle of August. Time was running out. We made a reservation, and then got overwhelmed by the sheer task of packing. At the last minute, we decided to just do one overnight on Fall Lake, putting our canoe in at the campground and paddling to the best campsite we could find on the end of the lake. It was glorious and the right decision. Even just one night out in the stars with the water all around gave us memories forever.

We were shocked to find out that we have two rather mature young people in our family. This photo shows how fast life goes.

This photo shows a sandbar that extends way out into the lake, and was a fabulous wading/swimming spot. Selfie for the occasion.

Mark loves maps, and is planning a map room in the new house.

Fiona loved camping and cried when we packed up to leave. 

Over Labor Day weekend we spent time with friends at True North Basecamp which is on the edge of the Cuyuna Country mountain bike trails. Our friend Joe Schwinghamer organized the trip, and it was a wonderful experience. The trails vary from easy to exciting and difficult. Everyone got out on the trails except little Fifi who is a little young for mountain biking, but she enjoyed the playground in Crosby and riding the paved trails in her trailer.

Since school started, we have been busy with lots of activities, homework, and trying to keep family time. Cora was cast as Jane in the high school musical production of Mary Poppins and continues to dance. Raif placed first in two of his CC meets competing at the junior high level (6th-9th). He now will be racing JV/V races at the longer distance of 5K, and he is excited for that opportunity. Fiona is attending daycare at Wild Within, and most days she doesn't cry. She is really a mommy's girl right now, which is challenging when I am teaching, completing grad courses online, helping with CC practices, and doing choreography for the musical. Mark's days are spent thinking about the house, working on the house, and planning for the next steps on the house. He feels pretty balanced for all of that, and managed to get a day of fishing in on Big Moose Lake, catching his limit of walleye - yum!

First day of school 2016!

Dressed up for Homecoming Dance!

Fiona with her ladybug umbrella. That girl knows how to shop.

Cora loves to camp as well. Can't wait to go again!

There were a bunch of visitors again this past month...relatives from Scotland, Canada, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, friends from WI, and MN too. We have been missing our garden, but are so lucky to have Ann and David supplying us with the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor! Next year we hope to have some of our own produce but we try not to focus on what we don't have but what we do. 

I am learning about growth mindset and grit in my graduate program. I can honestly admit that this experience has been both humbling and a challenge, but I can tell that we are all growing from this. Part of the growth mindset is to persevere when faced with obstacles. I know that our struggles are minor in the face of what many people around the world deal with. That keeps our perspective healthy. We also try to take time to be present. Not an easy task, but a continual goal for us all.