Little things

We have heat! On our second try (the first was too big) we have bought and installed a wall mounted propane heater (well, Mutt installed it), and it is wonderful! All we have to do is set it at 60, and let it work. The house stays warm all night, so I don't have to spend hours huddled by the woodstove in the morning, trying to get the fire going and the house warm. In the evenings, Mutt doesn't have to spend his few free hours hauling and chopping wood. Junebug doesn't have to stay bundled up all the time, which always made it so much harder for her to play (you try to hold a crayon while wearing mittens).  Every bit of progress here makes such a big difference.

It's funny, though - I have conflicting feelings. Some of our reasons for coming here were to reduce our bills, provide for our own needs, and wean off fossil fuels. Our new heater is lovely, but it sends us backwards on all three goals. Is the convenience worth the trade-off? The heater is in, so the choice has been made, but I'm still not sure.

Spring Awakening

Though you'd never guess based on our land, spring is just around the corner. With it comes the awakening of our all the flora and fauna that share our home. The ground is still covered with snow, and the nights are well below freezing, but our wild neighbors are stirring, preparing for their re-entry into the world. Another spring, another year of hard work.

Finishing the house will be our main project this year. The winter has been hard on us, with some cold nights and difficult hikes. We have learned what needs to be done before cold weather returns, and will be spending the summer doing it. Insulation, wiring, lights, flooring, walls, heat, driveway and road building, and kitchen installation are just a small part of our summer projects. It's going to be a busy year, and it will all end up here. Stay tuned for more photos than anyone really wants to look through.