18 Months of Sweat & Sweet

September 8. Exactly eighteen months ago today, we signed papers and took ownership of 11 acres of woods, trash, and dreams. There have been days of discouragement as it seems there is no end. But there has been joy and satisfaction as Noel has followed a dream he has had for years, building his own house. And he’s almost done it. The progress made is quite an accomplishment in only 18 months. I remember when we were first starting on this venture, we told someone we were building a shop and then living in it as we built a house. They laughed and said something like, “Do you know how many people I know who have done that, and they never get out of the shop?” I wanted to say, “You don’t know my husband,” but I let them have their chuckle. BTW, don’t give that opinion with anyone who might tell you of their dream!

Here is a look back through the last 18 months. To me, the most exciting part is that I am writing this blog in my new office in my new house, the first room that is ready for occupancy. It is missing a door to the closet and baseboard; someday I will have some sort of cart for my craft tools, but I think it is beautiful, card tables and all. I’m in love with my floor; not many people probably say that! Last night I had to come in and turn the lights on just to look at it one more time before heading to bed. My 8-year-old granddaughter, Ainsley, gets it. I turned on the lamp by the daybed, and it gave a cozy glow as we were Facetiming a couple nights ago. “Grandma! You need some hot chocolate and a book!”

This blog will be lots of pictures and 18 months in review.

We have named our little piece of heaven, “Sawmill Ridge.” This all started because Noel wanted a permanent home for his sawmill. It has found its home, but he’s had no time to touch it. Almost time though!

Our floor plan has not veered far from its origin; it’s a basic rectangle. I’m sitting in that top left room as I type this.

It’s appalling and hard to understand how people can do this to a property. This was our first view of the land. We asked ourselves multiple times if we were crazy. I really wanted to preserve that old building at the back of this picture, but if you know Noel, you know this is not something he would consider. Ok, maybe he was right; I’m not totally willing to admit it yet though.

March 8, the property was ours and the work began. How is this the only picture we have from the day! It was a fun, exciting, busy day – no time for pictures.

Water had to be first on the agenda so we didn’t burn down the whole ridge.

These had to be some of Noel’s best life days! Mini had come home; looking at this picture, I’m not sure which has aged more through this last year of incredibly hard work: Mini or Noel! The Kubota is mine, bought for my anniversary by a “romantic” husband who thought his wife surely couldn’t complain that he bought her such a thoughtful gift. I will admit to not being too happy about these purchases, but we could not have done this without them.

In less than a month, we had the trailer and main garbage gone. We will never have all of the garbage gone, I’m afraid. We have a refrigerator, several tv dishes, a dryer, and who knows what else people threw down that hill. We recently removed the washer, so sorry, we don’t have the complete set but if you’re looking for appliances, feel free to come haul them up the hill. You might get a couple critters as a side benefit!

We have dug up huge tree roots; this picture just does not do justice to how big that hole was! It was a pond for quite awhile. We finally filled it with rocks – lots of rocks. We grow rocks here! Oh my goodness do we have rocks!

A little over a month later, footings were poured for Noel’s woodshop, AKA, our home for about 15 months. The red on the May 1 picture is in-floor heating. We had some great friends help with this.

A week before move-in. The door is our “house” door right now. The area pictured with half the walls in place is the portion where we live right now. That was a crazy week! Finishing the shop so we could move in. Moving out of the house before closing. . .

When we moved in, we had no air conditioning – it was July in Arkansas. We had no plumbing – we had a toilet with a bucket to pour the water down. No shower. But we did have bats!

It has been cozy. Dusty but cozy.

September and October were spent finishing up things in the shop and preparing the land for the house.

Again, what were we thinking??!! These 2 bring great joy and headaches.

Finally at the beginning of November, the house was started. Again, in the middle of tasks like drywall it seems like it is taking forever. But we will be in our house in less than a year from staking it out. It won’t be complete, but it will be very livable. And this is one builder and good friends occasionally doing the work, not a whole construction crew. Just a week or so later and footings are being poured. If you look on the house foundation, furthest from the camera, you will see the foundation had to be built right over a big rock; that thing wasn’t budging so it became part of the house.

Break time for Thanksgiving! Two of our sons and their families came, and we had so much fun.

Back to work! Floor went on right before Christmas.

The walls started going up on December 23rd. Elvis and Damon helped. It was then that Noel discovered the lumber yard had accidentally given us 10′ 2×6’s instead of 9′. Still sounds fishy to me since Noel wanted 10′ ceilings! =)

The deck came next so that the roofers had somewhere to stand. Noel’s favorite Amish-Mennonite construction company did this for him; it’s about the only thing that Noel didn’t do or at least have a hand in doing. He hired someone to help with the foundation blocks but assisted him.

Love, love, love our siding!

The deck is equally amazing!

Break time again! We had a great time with our oldest grandson, Haddon, on a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. He bravely tried some exotic food, haggled for a better price – for a Packers football in Mexico, ate lots of ice cream, and I think had a great time. I know we did.

Drywall was definitely the longest, most drawn-out part of the process. Would it never end?! But it was getting exciting as it was looking like our house!

Somehow we didn’t get any pictures of the drywall when it was done. How is that possible?!

We were able to get a used hot tub that has been wonderful. You might think – you’ll never use that. Oh no! This is used nearly every day. It is a great help for sore muscles and aching backs. Jeremy’s family from California visited the day after it was installed, and it was definitely a hit. It was interesting getting it in place, however!

We got to all be together in Kansas City for a couple days. I can’t get my picture to work though!

Once he got the right sprayer, painting went quickly. The lights and ceiling fans are in. I don’t have a picture of it, but I love our living room ceiling fan!

And now every day just looks better & better! We should be moving in, in about 3 weeks.

Tomorrow is grouting for the guest shower that you see above. Next will be the master bathroom floor. For technical reasons, he will take a break from tiling and start laying part of the hardwood floor. He will then finish the master shower and the entry and 1/2 bath. After that comes the rest of the hardwood, sanding, finishing, and we move in. Hmm, that seems like a lot for 3 weeks.

Once we get moved out of the shop, he will build the lower kitchen cupboards, minus the island. He will build 2 bathroom vanities, and then we will get our countertop people to come in. Then it’s going to slow down for a bit because he needs to hook up the wood boiler, get his kiln set up, cut and dry some hickory to build the upper cabinets, island, cupboard doors, doors, and baseboard. By Christmas we won’t be done but will be looking good.

You might wonder how Noel is holding up. He’s tired. Very tired. He is having problems with arthritis in his hands, especially his thumbs. He has had no major injuries though. He had a bad bout of poison ivy last summer from cutting down trees; that sent him to the emergency room twice and included lots of medicines and lotions. He had Covid in early summer. His knuckles are in tough shape right now – skinned. But he sees the end a bit at least.

He is just looking forward to working in his shop and with his sawmill, doing projects he would like to do for fun. He plans to make a dining room table and chandelier as part of his “fun.”

Zeke continues to bring me turtles. He brings them from the woods and deposits them at my feet or nearby. I send him in and then take the poor little thing back to the woods. It is not the same turtle each time. Dink is obsessed with toads and never seems to understand that they make him sick and foamy-mouthed.

Noel is out enjoying the hot tub and I have spent hours literally, making this blog. I hope you enjoy the pictures. It’s about time for you to come for a visit – almost! Here’s a couple shots that are only here because they make me happy. =)