THE SPEED OF A TURTLE

Progress is slow as we begin the work of getting everything ready for us to actually function on the property. Here it is a full month after the cabin was delivered and all I've got done is steps on the front, electric complete and the walls insulated.

INSULATION--it is recommended that you wear a mask when working with fiberglas insulation. It should be REQUIRED!! 

They need to make it in such a way that if you don't have a mask on, then the insulation will not cooperate. I have no idea how to do that, though. Also, I am generally opposed to all the rules we have just to protect us from ourselves.

The best teacher is experience and what we observe from that experience. So, go ahead and do like I did and decide that the mask is too much of a hassle. Hang the insulation without wearing a mask. You will only do that once or twice before you realize the foolishness of such an attitude.

The steps were a fun build. I tried to buy pre-cut stringers, but they weren't high enough, so I had to cut my own. I bought two 2x12x8 and cut the stringers from those. I used what lumber I had left from other projects to cut the steps.

The last step is just a little higher than the others, so everyone trips the first time going up. Since experience is the best teacher, they don't make that mistake a second time.

Wiring for electric has always been a problem for me. I can do the rough-in of drilling the holes and snaking the wire through to each of the outlets. I can connect the simple outlets of a plug-in and a light switch. However, when it gets beyond that, I'm lost.

Without my having to ask, my step-son came through for me and offered to do the connecting, which he did on a Saturday morning in less than three hours. It would have taken me a full day with trying to learn from Youtube or a book.

We've been adding things to our Amazon cart that we will need as we move forward. Right now the cart is at almost $2,000.

I've ordered a wood-fired cook stove that Gracie wants as our source of heat. We went through a lot of searching and reading reviews before we could find something that fit our desires and needs. I've ordered a Cabin Tender from an Amish dealer where it will be custom made for us.

We will have a propane cook stove also for use in the regular day-to-day activites and for the summer. The wood stove as a source for heat allows for putting on a large pot of water to have on hand throughout the day, as well as slow-cooking a soup or stew.

There is much more to come in this project about which we keep asking ourselves, "What are we doing?" We are in our mid-70's and striking out on a new adventure of subsistence living. What we have before us will take us longer than we probably have time left on earth--but, so what?!? We are having a ball making the attempt.