Nine Years on Flat Top

The bunkhouse as of Jan. 14. Yup, still under construction.

Yes, we’re alive. No, we haven’t fallen victim to wayward chainsaws, hungry bobcats or angry Trump supporters. Yet.

We’re still here in the woods, staring at the calendar in disbelief that it was nine years ago today that we pulled our U-Haul up to this pile of sticks and called it home. We reminisce about those early days often. Living with no running water. Chipping ice off the rain barrel so we could get enough water to flush the toilet. Sleeping in a winter cap. Choking on the fumes of the fire-trap woodstove.

We had some new Chattanooga friends come up the other day. I felt compelled to show them the “before” photos, so they could see how great this place really is, compared with what it was. After the years, I fear we’ve lost some perspective. It IS great, right? Because it looks a little rough around the edges again after nine years. 

I posted our biggest news of last year on Facebook, then never got around to posting it here: We’ve doubled our property from five to 10 acres. Neighbors put their 5 acres up for sale, and while we didn’t pine for a larger hunk of land, we didn’t want anyone else to move in so close to us.  And we love that this new land comes with a creek most months of the year, especially with the crazy amount of rain that’s been falling here. More than 66 inches last year!

The bunkhouse will have its own water supply, or at least 165 gallons.

The bunkhouse project has dragged into its second year. After the distractions of December, we’re back on the job. Mason got to wedge himself in the narrow crawlspace, installing all the drain piping, which now await the rental of some heavy machinery so we can finish digging the septic tank pit that I started by hand this summer. The past week Mason’s had more comfortable working conditions, manning the blow torch to run the copper water pipes. Yes, he’s heard of Pex, but he’s old-school.

Mason had to create a water system for the bunkhouse, and its first test this week found two leaks and the realization that the pressurization pump needs a check valve. Only two leaks? Not bad! Besides, he can fix it. Two steps forward, one step back.

As lead painter, I’ve been occupied slapping stain onto the bunkhouse’s cedar shakes. Boring, but at least the unusually warm winter weather has made the job more pleasant. Before staining, I was on rock duty. With Mason's help, we hauled a bunch up from the new property, and I spent a day lining them up  along the path to the bunkhouse.

Estimates for bunkhouse completion remain a little fuzzy. We’re thinking possibly by this summer, but it just depends on the bank account and our backs. Spring gets a bit busy around here, adding new plants, restarting the veggie garden and picking up shifts down at the garden nursery. But we’re hoping to at least have the bathroom operational by then; a second bathroom on the property will feel like progress. We set the bar low around here.

As for low bars, let’s see if I can do a bit better by this blog this year, because it appears a few people actually do look at it now and then.

We saw a dusting in December, but for the most part,
the temps have been unseasonably warm.