4 years ago we started construction of our house.

Much has been accomplished over the intervening years, but there are still a few items on the to-do-list, including some kitchen cupboard doors and some kitchen cupboard uppers; front hall closet doors and gables; railings for upper stairs and rest of bookcase/barrier; railing for downstairs stairs; some baseboard trim; a bunch of built-in cabinetry for the master and guest bedrooms, and doors for the walk-in, laundry/pantry and master bedroom.  At some point I will need to build some cabinets for the roughed-in kitchen in the basement.  Outside, we need to finish the fence, build a gate, finish the terracing below the lawn, finish the river rock around the house, build and fill three large planters, reduce the pile of dirt and rock, place and fill 3 gabions, install a hot tub and deck/skirting (location tbd), build a few more rock walls, and finish the area behind the garage (once we decide what to do with it).

In short, four years after we started the house building it has transitioned from a project to a lifestyle!

Two motorbikes being stored for the winter in the new garden shed.

The new dog/deer fence on the left, and the new terrace on the right.  Lots of rock and loads of dirt delivered by Bobcat with some spread by M.  Still need a few more loads and some leveling before we plant more lavender.  Flags are to alert the deer to the new fence and will be removed in November.

Cleaning out some stumps that date back to the original site clearing (tossing them over the edge at the switchback).

Will be removing or burning or mulching the rest of the limbs and branches and then this area will be clear for the first time in more than 4 years. 

Plan on using this stump for another house number at the street.  Logs behind the stump will be made into benches and placed around the property.

Friend of mine was clearing out his garage and gave me this 6″ jointer and some bar clamps. Sweet! Same guy that sold me the table saw and dust collector.

These are a few of the matsutake mushrooms that our friend and neighborhood Japanese farmer picked on the weekend near Nakusp, in the West Kootenays. Delicious!