Hello! Thank you all for the kind words of support after my grandmother’s passing. I was able to spend the weekend with my extended family on the East coast to celebrate her life, and especially to remember her legacy of four children and over 30 grand and great-grandchildren!
Upon our return we hit the ground running with the myriad building details for the “Summer Shanty” (or as a friend suggested, the Summer Cottage – sounds so New England!). The Shanty will be a 20 x 20 foot uninsulated wooden structure. Half the structure will be enclosed and screened for a sleeping and living space. The other half will remain open-sided and will function as an outdoor kitchen, storage and living space. (And when I say outdoor kitchen, I mean a very different thing than what the Sunset or Martha Stewart books mean when they talk about an Outdoor Kitchen! Imagine a wood-fired cookstove, rather than stainless steel!)
We had already spent some time removing trees, brush, and poison ivy from the Shanty site, and with a little help from a generous neighbor with a tractor, we were able to break ground! Nine post holes will contain 5 x 5 inch white oak posts, milled by the local Amish mill. And these posts will hold up the structure, or at least that’s how I understand it! To say that I am not the builder in our family would be an understatement!
The woodpile grows! Ev and I are sitting on the white oak posts, Ella is resting on the red oak beams and floor joists. Next step is to put these posts into the ground!
Photos don’t quite do the Shanty site justice, but it’s to the left of where I am standing in the photo above. The living space will extend into the forest a bit, and the outdoor kitchen space will nestle into the northern treeline.
While letting my mind wander yesterday, I was suddenly struck with a feeling of pure joy. Here we are, doing what we’ve dreamed about for so many years: building our own home (shanty) on our own land. We have so far to go, but it feels so exciting to be working hard to make this dream a reality.
It is a strangely dry winter for Missouri. Last year we barely got any snow, and this year is the same. But just a few years ago we had tons of snow, with ice storms and many days of school closures, etc. So perhaps next year will be different! I, for one, miss the snow.
It sure would be nice to have another few inches! I’d love to get out on my skis again!
The site is beautiful, and Missouri in February is lovely. Where is the snow? Why is the ground not frozen? Look at the blue sky and all that color! (Great down jacket, by the way!). So beautiful, looking forward to seeing the next steps.
Thanks Beth! Yes, it’s true, Missouri is truly beautiful in the winter! Although I do miss the green of Oregon, there is something so wonderfully stark about this winter landscape that I’m really enjoying. As for the lack of snow and frozen ground, I think this is a particularly dry and warm winter. Climate change?
Oh, to have the opportunity to feel pure joy is so very sweet. Enjoy!!!
I will enjoy it while I can!!
LOVELY, Teri!! Rock on! Proud of you! Ann XXXOOO
So exciting! And your site looks beautiful!
Thanks so much! I think it is a beautiful spot, and the view from the future house site is even better!
Hooray! So excited to see your “shanty” as it develops! To see our dreams take shape is the best feeling ever!
Thanks Lyssa! I might need a reminder in a few months when things get tough and time gets tight!!