Fall has truly arrived, and the vibrant colors are on full display, as you'll see in the pictures below. I managed to snap a few shots on our way to town for errands, though capturing many was challenging due to the rain. More on that in a moment.
Sometimes we set our own goals, and other times, the weather dictates them for us. Knowing several days of rain were ahead, our priority became getting the cabin dried in. When you last saw photos, only the walls were up – no roof, and certainly no tarp large enough to cover it all. Our incredible friends, Michelle and Mariane, came over for several days to lend a much-needed hand.
It took some time to get all the rafters and blocking in place. My partner did an amazing job, and I primarily assisted by handing him materials as needed, while also tackling chores around the camper. Next came the toe-nailing, rafter ties, and strapping. I'm curious to know just how many nails and screws have gone into this build! We then installed the rim joists to determine the placement for the two bathroom piers. We dug them out, poured the concrete, and let it set.
The ladies joined us for OSB day. Our goal was to cover all the walls, excluding the future bathroom area. We had to rack one corner of a wall, but otherwise, the installation went quite smoothly. The door and one window opening were cut out. The following day, we tackled the roof OSB. Again, my partner was the hero. He was a bit apprehensive at first but quickly found his rhythm. Focusing on both avoiding dizziness and the task at hand can be quite challenging. The drip edge and felt were then applied to the roof, which he completed quickly. He then opened up the final two window openings. It's truly starting to resemble a home! It was later than we intended, but we absolutely had to get the house wrap on. The four of us managed it, despite a few challenges, especially with the roofline angles. We sent the ladies home, and we finished the last of the stapling just before we lost daylight. That was a close call! The rain was predicted for morning, but it arrived in the middle of the night, making our efforts even more worthwhile. Currently, it looks like a big white box.
While rain delays can be frustrating, they do offer a silver lining: much-needed downtime. This allows us to rest, tidy up the camper (which often gets neglected during intense work), and run essential errands like getting supplies, disposing of trash, and grocery shopping. It even provides an opportunity to help a neighbor.
The cold I thought I was developing never worsened. A few home remedies kept it at bay. One day, I hurt my ankle. It was quite painful, but I pushed through the work. I elevated it for the rest of the night and had a good sleep, and it was as good as new the next day. I kept it wrapped for two days, just in case.
So, there you have it, folks. Reading and writing this, it might seem like a small amount of work, but we truly busted our butts. We are proud to say that it took just two weeks and two days from breaking ground until the main part of the cabin was dried in. That's pretty good for a group of tired bodies coming together to make things happen!
What's next? If we get pockets of rain-free time, we'll install the door, allowing us to start on electrical and other interior tasks. We should be able to get back to building on Thursday, focusing on raising and drying in the bathroom. Rick's best friend, Tom, is arriving on Saturday. They will be tackling the metal roof, windows, and whatever else they can accomplish. If Theresa comes with him, we'll work on the food forest; I need to get all those plants in the ground, as our poor plants are waiting! If she doesn't, I'll still get as much done as I can. I also need to keep the men fed and well-hydrated.
Remember Small Steps Gets You Miles
Rick & Cat
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