Happy Thanksgiving!

The workers are rightfully taking time off from construction this week which also gives the concrete time to set before beginning the framing.  I pray this has been both a time of giving thanks to God for our many blessings, as well as a time of thanks-giving to others through radical hospitality and extravagant generosity.  May God continue to bless you to be a blessing as you show your love for God through your love of others!

WEEK 6: Concrete work is now done!

The warm dry weather came to an end and true November temperatures and precipitation settled in. The concrete guys were huddled around a camp stove when I arrived Friday at 1:00 pm and were cooking soup with a side order of spam for their lunch break. They were finally able to finish all the concrete work with the completion of the garage floor and the front porch. Everyone will take a week off for Thanksgiving with framing hopefully starting the first week of December.

Mark and I spent the afternoon walking the property with a landscaper who will begin clearing trees for the main trail leading people back to Eagle Creek and the site of our outdoor chapel and 1st cabin. The deer left us a nice primary path to follow, but there are places where we had to find creative ways of bypassing sink holes and water erosion. Our goal is also to make it as accessible as possible for people with mobility issues, so the trail has to be wide enough for an ATV. The good news is that we learned there are enough cedar trees on the property to just about pay for the land if we should choose to harvest them. We'll begin with some selective thinning of the cedars up close to the house for now so that the hard woods have room to grow and tackle the back ridge at a later time. Mark and I came home (as in back to the parsonage!) wonderfully tired from all the fresh air as well as exilerated by the progress of our long time dream. A walk in the woods always feeds my soul and refreshes my spirit! I can't wait until it is simply a matter of stepping out our front door!

WEEK 5: We have electricity!

There are not such obvious changes to the camera lens this week, but progress is well under way.  Our utility pole is in and the transformer in place so we are now electrified by our favorite utility, Owen Electric Cooperative!  The top soil has been graded over the septic system and the outside foundation walls have been back-filled.  The basement floor is covered with straw right now to protect it, but rumor has it that materials for framing will be here next week!

The utility guys removed several large slabs of rock when they were putting in the electricity.  The one on the left is approximately 2'x3' and the one on the right is an easy 4'x4'.  Each piece is approximately 5 to 6 inches thick all the way across.  Please help me brainstorm some ways to utilize these stones!  Right now, I'm thinking of making stone benches or table tops for down by the river frontage.

Eagle Creek crosses Fortner Ridge road just 0.3 miles from our driveway.   It then winds around to the east and south  so that our back property line nestles up against the creek for about 500 feet.  The drought has had a major impact on water levels in all the rivers and streams.  Most of the secondary streams are bone dry.    

For additional pictures, please feel free to take a look at our Picasa site: http://picasaweb.google.com/KY.anamcara/ANAMCARA#  

A green trinity knot now separates each week's photos.  Blessings!

WEEK 4: THE RUDIMENTS OF HEAT AND SEPTIC ARE IN

Considering the cooling temperatures and wetter weather, I've been amazed what the construction crew has been able to accomplish! The basement floor is now poured along with the geo-thermal system and the septic system is almost completed in the front yard.  They may be able to begin framing sometime next week!