Birdstump Barn

Ground breaking!

Well, it's been a long spring, making decisions, re-making decisions, and learning a lot!  But we have finally committed to a floorplan and building method, and we broke ground this morning.

We are building at the northwest corner of the property, rather than down by the old home site.  We'll be building a 24x34 gambrel-roof home,on a crawlspace foundation, using plans from www.barnplans.com .  We'll also be having an 8' shed roof addition on the north side, which will add some square footage for a huge pantry, a mudroom, space for the HVAC stuff, and a tiny little office for David. 

The excavator met us at our property at 8 a.m., and in just a few hours had a wonderful hole dug, all nice and beautifully level and graded.  We had hired a friend to do the foundation for us, but unfortunately he let us know yesterday that because of some personal issues going on, he would not have time to do this job.  We are very disappointed, but will push forward.  Our excavator had some references of other concrete contractors, and offered to check into their availability and get bids for us.  We've had a couple other local guys recommended as well, so we should have no problem finding someone to do the job; I'm just hoping that there won't be too big a delay.

The other big news is that, wonderous miracle, we're going to have a building crew to help us for the summer!  Building crew being my nephew, Jamie (age 21), and our old friend, Gabriel (age 20), from Olympia.(David was his Sunday school teacher back when he was 15. He's done several other work projects for/with us over the years, and we count him as a great friend.)  Both of these young men have offered to come out for the summer and help David with the framing, just in exchange for room and board...what an amazing blessing! 

Also today, at two o'clock, we're meeting a gentleman at our property who cleans out and inspects old wells.  We aren't expecting that ours will be usable for household use, but we are hoping that we will be able to at least use it for garden and livestock.  Can't wait to learn more about wells in this area!

And last but not least, today is a busy cookie day!  One of the ladies here has a tour group coming through, and contracted to do 100 boxed lunches, so she ordered 100 cookies from me.  So I made 3 batches of dough yesterday, one batch today, and I have the last of the 100 cookies baking right now.  So as soon as they are done, I'll deliver them, and then head over to meet David and the well guy.

Whee, we are busy!  And having a lot of fun...:-)

Untitled Comment

02:40, Thursday, May 31, 2007 .. Posted by HomesteadingCarnival

We are hosting the Carnival of Homesteading and we'd like to welcome you to stop by!

Thanks!
Amanda & Jocelyn

Congratulations!

08:56, Thursday, May 31, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Congratulations Carrie! I'm so tickled you've finally been able to break ground!
We've finally found property. We didn't get a chance to show Evelyn the papers while she was here. She was an absolute darling during the baby shower. You and David are doing a grand job raising your children!
Gramma Hart (hogs & kisses to Evelyn!)

YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!

09:53, Thursday, May 31, 2007 .. Posted by melm

I am so very excited for you guys!!! I was just thinking of you yesterday when I was reading the bonus (Summer07) issue from Mother Earth News, with an article talking about strawbale building and another talking about a barn converted to a house. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Congratulations on the groundbreaking and the blessings of the work crew and cookie orders. WOOHOO!
Hope E1 got home safely yesterday. Give her hugs from us too. :-)