Green Cabin Addition
These pics should give a little more 
dimension to the cabin and the addition. Please click on the picture to get a larger version. I thought about making a contest out of who could list the most junk on my porch! This may seem a little backwards, but yes, I am cutting my roof with a saw! I was getting ready to lay tin when I was informed I could vent out of the ridge cap even with a tin roof. So with my new venting materials purchased, I headed back on the roof to cut a one inch slice out of each side of the peak. Cutting into a nice sealed roof is pretty nerve wracking. You can see on the right side of this pic, I already cut the tin and insulation from the existing cabin. Sometimes you have to go backwards to make progress!
This is a view of the addition from the West. From this shot, you cannot see the Kitchen/Dining, or the new Bedroom areas. The windows in order from right to left are the laundry room, the bathroom, and the office. If you are coming to burgle me they are actually the trap door area, the video surveillance room, and the Pit-Bull nursery! Some of you are probably thinking my house wrap is on upside down. Well, the best I can tell, it only makes a difference if you are advertising house wrap. Besides, that’s just the end of the roll I started on!
As you can tell, I have gone green while building my house. I have to admit, it wasn’t all my choice. The lumber yard had green house wrap, but I did pick the green roof! With 6 inch walls and rafters, the insulation should make it pretty efficient. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention… Insulation party at my house next week!
Fair Weather
The temps are finally getting above freezing during the day. This is the first weekend in about 6 weeks that didn’t start with a big snow. The combination of these 2 events has me ready to get back on the roof today.
When last we checked in, the roof was incomplete. (my theory on salt creek elves has been debunked. I will have to do it myself!) The rafters, plywood, and felt are covering most of the addition. I have yet to cut into the existing cabin roof to join it all together. The thought of snow melting and water dripping down through the existing woodwork has been a good deterrent.
Before it thaws this morning, I am gonna pull my trailer alongside the addition. This gives me a sort of 3′ tall scaffold to lift materials from. The trick is going to be cutting the existing tin, building the rafters, covering with plywood and felt, and at least get the flashing on before the next precipitation.
Scout and I are heading out to move the trailer. He is gonna spot me and help me get close to the house. I don’t know if I should trust him. The last time he directed me, I backed over the dog pen. I think he did that on purpose!
Blustery Building
The storms have been pretty bad the last couple weeks. The cold has frozen cattle waterers, the snow and wind have blocked Honey Bunches’ access to civilization, and the cows are pushing the fences looking for wind breaks. The progress on the addition has slowed to a crawl.
Nature seems determined to show me a challenge! I took this picture a couple weeks ago. It shows the back of the addition. With snow in the forecast, I rushed to get the roof covered with felt. I was barely in time, but did get the plywood covered.
The snows just don’t seem to be backing off and the wind makes it pretty rough. Here are a couple pics to describe recent weather. One of the road
before
in the evening, one the next morning. I am a winter kind of guy. Skiing, hunting, snowman building, all favorites of mine, but this is getting frustrating. After a quick look at the weather this A.M. looks like snow showers today with the temps dropping to single digits tonight.
I need to get this house closed in. The addition roof still needs to be connected to the existing structure. Right now, snow and rain can still get in. 3 warmer days would be a great help. Come on Mother Nature, give me a break!
after
Stupid Weather!
Dang weather! The weather guy on our local station always seems to nail the bad stuff. If he calls for good weather though, watch out! Yesterday, nothing but rain. Today, all wind. Last night, both thrown together!
Our addition is progressing slowly but, yesterday’s torrent caused water to seep in from the construction zone to the main living area. By the time I arrived home, Scout “The wonder dog”, was adrift on his doggy bed/flotation device, using my binoculars to look for Somali pirates! After a search of the house I found no pirates. I believe this is partially due to the fact that we live 1000 miles from an ocean, and even more likely, pirates can’t stand puppy lickin! Good Job Scout!
Knowing “Honey Bunches” would be home soon, I sprung into action, sweeping water off the adjoining concrete and wet vacuuming the existing floor. I flung the furniture around trying to suck up all the water before she saw my mess. About this time I here “Honey Bunches” driving up the road. I try to straighten up the room but, it’s too late.
As she enters the house, she looks at me in my rubber boots, dog covered in mud and water, and the furniture rearranged. “What has happened to our house!?”, asks “Honey Bunches”. “Woof, Woof”, says Scout. “He’s right”, I say, “Pirates”!
The Salt Creek News 9/20/09.
We finally got a little rain around here overnight. It’s been a few weeks, and the dust was getting pretty thick. Everything is washed off now. Looks a lot better. It had gotten so dry, a neighbor accidentally caught some grass on fire near a dry cornfield. The fire department showed up and stopped the fire before any corn was popped.
2 city folks showed up at a local construction project at the wrong time today. 
At first locals thought they were poachers, as they kept saying, “Nothing runs like a deer”. Turns out they were just mowing yards in the area. One resident didn’t mind offering them a little extra work. (Hey, that guy on the ladder looks like me!) It was actually my Uncle Greg and Cousin Vance. That’s Greg backin’ me up. Vance was out of frame with a level and a plumb bob talkin’ something about measurements and accuracy.
Meanwhile, there was a close call in the area. A couple of residents, blinded by the flurry of activity at the construction site, swerved in to see what was going on. Luckily tragedy was averted, because witnesses report they were not wearing seat belts!
What to do next?
The crops are growing. The hay is in. Trees are planted. Let’s see… OH! Forgot to build house! I better get to work on that.
Actually I started working on an old shed 3 years ago. Transforming it from a falling down shack to a decent deer hunting cabin was my original goal. It wasn’t long before the log siding, railings, and my checkbook started getting hammered. It turned out pretty sharp. Custom metal work, stone walls, loft, fireplace, Woo Hoo, the perfect huntin cabin! For about a year anyway. Little did I know my bachelorhood was in danger!
When I met Honey Bunches, I knew I was in trouble. Her disarming smile and sense of humor were hard to ignore. Her father, a real estate mogul, was generous and welcoming. Her mother, a model and lawyer… OW! JUST KIDDIN’ SWEETIE! Humor aside, we made an excellent couple.
Soon I was sayin’; I will, I do, I promise… I will pay this note, I do have collateral, I promise not to default. Not that we haven’t done well in the original cabin, but a Honey Bunches wing is needed. I have table space, but not enough for sewing. I have a fridge, but not big enough for beer and food at the same time. The kitchen is too small, no closet space, you get the idea. The fact that it was a functioning house to start with has made the final plan a little strange. We might have the only 1 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 kitchen house in the county!
Here’s the addition update: Sewer lines are in place. Gravel spread and compacted. Holes drilled in existing foundation to connect rebar. I have my excavator reserved to dig the foundation. Rebar and lumber for building concrete forms are standing by. I will post updates as they occur.
