Went for a two-day bike ride down through Washington State to Winthrop, a town that has embraced its western character. The main street is replete with facades that look like the ‘ol west of 150 years ago. Some really nice twisty roads as well.  700kms and lots of smiles.  Cheap local beer, friendly folks, nice vistas (mountains, trees, sagebrush and near desert), and plentiful servings of food.

A bit of East/West at the front of the house.  This area will become a japonesque jardin but the Chairs will likely move soon to a view point on the property.

After about 15 months, finally got this done. Coop and I placed the post and beam and it went very well. Much better than the 2×10 that held up the roof for so long (see last post).  Post is cedar, beam is spruce.  Will use similar material for the side porch roof in August.  Getting ready for Mom’s visit (arriving tomorrow).  After the lights are installed and the bench and stairs built, the entrance shall finally be finished.

We have been in the house for one year, and a few weeks.  We really like living here, and enjoy the progressive nature of the completion process.  It is a series of (hopefully not never-ending) delights to complete something, and then enjoy using it.  Have been focusing on the outside as the weather is great and we are trying to make the house look more like someone lives here than just a construction site.  This is a view of the front of the house, a view we have been “enjoying” for almost a year.  We have been busy moving dirt and rock, planting plants, forming for concrete (with the guidance and assistance of Coop), and building some temporary stairs (my mother is coming for a visit next week).  It all looks much better after a month of work.

Pouring the two slabs, about 550sq ft in total.  We did a 4″ slab with thickened edges, with grey and green colour added as a powder, and then stamped with a slate-like finish.  It was washed the next day and sealed a few days later (we also decided to seal the rock cocktail table, good choice).

And this is the finished product, being inspected by Hime. Next step is to erect the posts, beams and roof. Hopefully in August.

These are the temporary stairs I built in anticipation of my mothers’ visit. Also intended to be used to confirm/revise the stair design – the stairs will be 6×8 cedar timbers, with the upper deck parts made of cedar decking. The stairs will be encased on either side with large rocks, only some of which have yet moved into place. After the timber and decking is obtained, planed and stained, we will remove these temporary stairs and use them elsewhere on the property.