Paula....Is this your doing? :O)

I was all set to post some serious pictures of the heavy equipment making more progress moving land, burying tree stumps and leveling out the barn site (all sort of boring). But as I got to the bottom of the driveway with my newly captured photos, my little pumpkin perched on the boulder at the entrance was discovered newly dressed with Halloween gala garb. I'm suspicious Paula did this decoration while out on her morning perambulations. Paula???

Razing Trees So We Can Raise a Barn

A pretty site to the west of the driveway was identified as the best spot for a barn. A few trees had to be removed to make room for its construction.

Building a Foundation

This week the foundation walls were poured.

Set In Stone

Actually, set in concrete. The footings for the house were poured on Friday. There's no changing the house dimensions now.

Bare feet

Thanks to our friend Pat Reed for documenting the bear track spotted up around the housing site. Maybe the creature was hoping the cellar hole would be a good place to spend the winter?

Bottoming out

Last week's blast made a deep cellar hole, full of dirt and rocks. The challenge now is to clear out the rubble and get to solid ground so that a foundation can be poured.

It Was a Blast!

We got some bang for our buck this afternoon. A big hole was blasted into the ledge where the cellar of the house will be. The rock and dirt coming out of the hole will be used for the driveway and grading.

251

We don't have a house yet...but we have an address.

LOGS INTO LUMBER

Many of the higher quality logs taken down for the house site are now being turned into usable beams and siding. Although not of high enough quality to actually be used in the house, they will make a pretty darn nice chicken coop and sugar house.

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

A Zoning Permit was posted at the end of the driveway. Small print informs folks if they object to our building a house, barn, and garage,to do so within 15 days of posting. Hopefully no one objects!

Cracked Up

It's not just planning for the new home. The work also involves patching driveways, replacing tired carpet, and painting walls, to get 12 Butler Drive ready to put on the market.

House Plans and Budgets

It took many attempts, but we've finally matched a house plan to a budget. Once the appraisal is done and accepted by the bank, building should begin in earnest. We will build a one-story house with a walk-out basement that sits on top of the knoll, backing up to the woods, and facing southeast into the meadow.

MOOSE!

A young bull moose appeared out of the sapling stand in the middle of the land this evening while Don was doing a little brush-hogging to open a path around the property, He stayed for sometime, tearing down the little trees to eat. Eventually a deer came out to join him, then wandered off into the woods.

ALL CLEAR!

Don finally got the last tree down on the house site. He was out there cutting down trees in last week's 90 degree heat. Under all those roots was lots of ledge. Stay tuned for announcement of a blasting party later this summer!

The Work Begins

John Scott and his crew have begun the excavating work, beginning with fixing up the driveway. Look at the great new entrance!