It's A Dirty Job...

Well, that was unintentional. I did not mean to take an almost month long break. I have started writing this post so many times but something always seemed to come up. Occasionally, after we have a period of productiveness, progress comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes a tool breaks, sometimes we have to wait for an order to arrive. This time it came in the form of a stomach virus. Not fun! We have been so fortunate to avoid being sick while living in this trailer. Aside from the occasional cough or cold, we have been relatively healthy. One thing that I am very thankful for is that it didn't hit us all at once. Sometimes, it's nice to get it all over quickly but with nine of us living here and only one bathroom..... Needless to say, I am actually glad it took a couple of weeks to go through us all.

In the meantime, work carries on for those who were able. When the excavator becomes available, you stop whatever you're doing and work on the dirt. 

Digging up the driveway to get the water line to the well.

 It doesn't have to be wide but it does have to be deep.

Straddling the trench. I may or may not have had to look away a few times.

Not even going to lie, I had to go inside while they worked here. It doesn't really look that bad in this picture but the precarious angle the machine was working at made me very anxious.

Of course, this group had to come and see what was going on. They always have to see what's going on.

We won't be using this driveway for a while.

Thankfully, they were able to cut a new driveway in. Can you see it along the tree line?

Here's a better view.

It's fairly steep...

...and pretty rough but it does the job.

We did some more grading outside the front of the house. There are actually two levels of flat ground there but it's hard to tell from this picture.

The driveway will wind around here over to where we will park.

We also graded behind the house.

To make sure any rain water/melting snow flows away from the house.

This is the front field where we planted the fruit trees. Can you see them?

There's even a couple of cherries this year!

It's been a bit of a battle keeping the weeds down. We are not ready to think about outside work yet, that will hopefully be next year, but we need to be able to keep the weeds from taking over so we try to keep some smaller areas mowed to keep it from getting away from us completely.

So that there is lots of grass for these guys.

We seem to be having a fairly good success rate hatching eggs. We've been putting the goslings and the chicks together. They don't seem to mind.

Moving on to the house, lots of work happening here too. New steps to the front door.

Cutting trim isn't exactly a tidy job. It's pretty dusty too so it's best done outside.

Ben's pantograph router that he built is also set up outside. He's been practicing sign making. 

Window trim is on in the kitchen.

Knobs and drawer pulls have been installed.

The kitchen island.

This is as far as the fridge made it into the house. Still waiting for the material to install the stove so it has to wait too.

Phil is drawing up the plans for the material for the stove.

We need a stainless steel floor pan for it to sit on.

 Upstairs, the trim is finished in the library.

The window trim is finished in the master bedroom as well.

Looks good! Great job guys!

Originally, this was going to be a large storage area/closet but we decided to open it up. I like it much better this way.

 Trim on the bedroom doors.

We have been asked why we are using baseboard heaters in the bathrooms. It's just an extra precaution, really. We are using a heat pump and a woodstove to heat the house and we want to make sure that there is enough heat for the areas more prone to moisture.

Knobs are installed on the laundry room cupboards. Some of the doors still need adjusting though.

So that brings us up to date. The two biggest things we are waiting for now is for the water to be hooked up and for the kitchen to be finished. If you feel led, please pray for us. As we near the end of this project, there are so many details that need to be dealt with. To say it is stressful is an understatement. Each time we are tempted to doubt, when we can't see how it can possibly all be done, we are reminded of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to us. How He gives us strength when we are weary and provides for us in ways we could never imagine. He is good. And that is enough.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Matthew 14:28-31