One More Picture...

that says it all... the teamwork... the cold... the AMOUNT OF WORK to be done! We must have been CRAZY! I wonder how we had such confidence that it would all work out when I look back at these pictures. We never blinked, never doubted ourselves. The kids must have had their moments, but they never let on. Thank goodness! If we had seen the reality of the situation instead of the dream, we might not have had the courage to pull it off.

From the Ground Up

I take you back now to the time when the foundation went in. We were fighting the coming of winter as it was to be poured just about Thanksgiving time, leaving us precious little time to cap the basement before the snow would fly. Thank goodness Pete had introduced us to the power of air guns! There were to be over 8,000 nails in the decking boards alone, a crazy job to do with a hand-held hammer. Larry Hallowell of Chester Rice Co. had done a great job with the excavating allowing us the largest possible basement despite hitting ledge; 8 foot on one end and 6 foot at the other. Randy McClintok followed right behind putting up the foundation forms and pouring the cement. What a thrill it was to see it go in. Then, it was time for Eric and I to swing into action and get the rear above ground basement wall up. The whole gang arrived soon after to help us get the floor joists and sill boards in place so the long and grueling task of getting the decking boards on could be accomplished. The snow had already begun, so each time we worked we spent half the time removing snow from the tarps which covered the joists and whatever had been laid of the floor. I remember more than once when the snow had mixed with rain and we were left with enormous chunks of ice which made the tarps sag between the joists and proved exhausting to get out. Naturally, the tarps did not completely prevent snow and ice from getting into the basement, so by spring we were left with a frozen skating pond in what would someday be Root Cellar Pub. Our hands would get so cold that we would use the exhaust of the generator to try to warm them.

The Whole Reason for Building...

... was to make sure there is always a place where the entire family can gather and just "BE TOGETHER". We do so love being together! Now there are two very important, ever-changing reasons to stay close. Their names are Alexa and Lawson. What fun it is to watch them, hold them, love them! We have a ways to go before the Lodge will be finished, but in the meantime it is sure fun to gather there as often as we can. Next time will be on Easter. Erica will be missing, but she will be home again soon. Meanwhile, the oaks of Oak Hill will be jealous as she stands amongst their mighty kin the Redwoods, and Lexi and Lawson will eagerly await her hugs!