Windows on our world

In three short weeks, Tanner and Kyle have worked tirelessly to transform the house with some really exciting progress.  Tanner was able to have a myriad of projects at the ready to keep him busy, regardless of what the spring weather could throw at him.  Three showstopping aspects were finished all at about the same time, which makes for a lengthier blog, but (hopefully) visually stimulating.

 While Tanner's parents visited in April, Bob helped Tanner build scissor trusses for the great room of the house.  Much deliberation was made over whether they would fit once put onto the ceiling.  Unfortunately, their visit came and went quickly, so the trusses didn't make it up during that time, leaving the chore for a later date.

After a quick field season in Greenland, Tanner returned in the beginning of June to complete the scissor trusses, with Kyle's help.

Initially, I was worried that the trusses would take up too much space in the atmosphere of our cozy great room, but once they were in place, my concerns dissipated.

Finished trusses

 With the trusses complete, the next chore was to get started on the decks to the east and south of the house.  The windows were scheduled to arrive and we needed to have the deck floor to get to the high windows on our south face.  Striving to be conscious consumers, we try to buy most of our lumber locally, and there are several saw mills in the area where we can get our supplies.  Tanner's favorite place is RBM Lumber in Columbia Falls.  They had a limited supply of the options we were looking for, so Tanner decided to go with a fir, that needed to be planed and sanded, before it could be stained, to then be made into a deck.  In the long run, we probably didn't save any money going this route, but we are learning as we go!

www.rbmlumber.com

the planer, ready to go

Tanner, planing deck boards

Moose loves the wood chips

Since all of this planing was causing a lot of wood chips, we decided to utilize their existence by laying them in pathways we use often around the property, both to protect the ground from erosion and to cut down on dust and dirt inside the yurt.  The dogs think that this is the greatest thing ever, and bask in it as though it is a big feather bed.  We'll do just about anything to make them happy, apparently.

Buddy, snuggling in the chips

Kyle, sanding boards

Me, taking a short shift of staining boards

Deck joists, ready for deck flooring

Deck joists in the front of the house

Kyle, fighting dehydration, staining joists

As I am now having the opportunity to write this, I realize we haven't taken the time to take photos of the finished deck, but, alas, it is finished.  It is in need of another coat of stain, and I feel like I might be the lucky one to apply it, but overall it is looking swell.

The windows are here!

The windows arrived on a gorgeous, blue bird day.  After many days of planing, sanding and staining deck boards, Tanner and Kyle decided to switch it up and install some windows for a fun change of pace.  We quickly discovered how much light our windows will give us in spaces which we've grown accustomed to being a bit darker from the translucent plastic which covered them.  


www.sierrapacificwindows.com

a perfect fit!

Kyle, prepping the window opening

Tanner and Kyle were able to install the first floor windows in a couple of hours.  A game plan was made for the second and third floor windows for the following day.  My dad came with ladders to help with the remainder of the windows, and they all went in without a hitch.  

Kyle and Dad, securing windows

If I were to name an emotion I feel about our new windows, it would be "thrilled".  They are beautiful, high-quality windows, and we couldn't be happier with our choices.  We were pleasantly surprised by finally seeing the view we will have from our dining room, our bedroom, the third floor loft...all breathtaking.  Seeing the light dance along the ceiling and through the scissor trusses, and looking from the outside in the dark with the work lights illuminating throughout the shell of the interior=wonderful.  We are overjoyed at having this milestone behind us in success.

Spring Has Sprung!

Well, spring has arrived in Northwest Montana.  Plants have been springing to life, and trees budding new leaves and needles.  The sun comes out of it's long vacation to more southern landscapes, and us northerners scramble to spend as much time as humanly possible, soaking up all of the vitamin D we've been missing for the past six months.  We have been lucky to have some warm, sunny days, in between lots of rainfall.

 

 

Buddy, Chilko, and Moose, resting in the shade on a sunny hike.

All of our grass and clover came through the soil from last years demolition of electric and phone lines quite nicely. 

In looking at this years disaster area from the septic drain field, we were initially tempted to see what might come up, naturally, on its own.

Some life popping through the ground in our drain field

While watching nature come to life this spring, I was armed to the teeth with an organic weed killing recipe and a new commercial sprayer.  I planned to attack all of the thistles that I battled last year, that were sure to come up with a vengeance this spring.

That being said, I feared that our new drain field would look much like the sides of our road, if left untreated.  I could just see this great expanse of dirt, filled with thistles and dandelions.  Since all of our work from last year is lush with clover, grass, and no weeds, I decided to seed the drain field.

a big ol' Canadian Thistle

Lush Clover, planted last summer

Dead Canadian Thistle, Success!

Organic Weed Killer:

1 Gallon Vinegar
1/2 Cup salt
1/2 Cup Dawn dish soap

Combine in a sprayer, and douse weeds generously on a warm sunny day.  Allow the sun to help the concoction work its magic.  Best results on thistles just emerging from soil.

Smaller recipe:  2 c. Vinegar, 1 T Salt, 1 T Dish soap

 While I was busy exterminating weeds, the Beargrass was planning it's grand entrance.   Found on mountain slopes between 3000 to 8000 feet in elevation, primarily west of the continental divide, in Central and Western Montana, it is a magical little plant.  The tufts of grass remain each year, ( if you dig into the snow, it'll still be green in the middle of winter) and erect stems in the spring standing 3 to 5 feet tall.  The blooms arrive in a white or cream colored explosion of tiny flower petals.  When walking through the woods while they are in bloom is like marching through a grand parade; Mother Nature awaiting your arrival.

It's a hearty little plant, with complex root systems, and has survived most of our construction.

A cluster of stems, about to bloom

In true Montana fashion, we were (blessed?) with a snowfall of about 4-6 wet inches of snow on May 23.  As a Montana Native, I've experienced a handful of snow storms in June, so this didn't come as a huge surprise to me, although I was a little bit nervous about all of the spring growth, and seeds waiting to sprout on our property.  Oh, the joys of landownership!

May 23 Snow Day Morning

All snuggled in front of the fire, once again.

Brought in all of the new plantings

"In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours"  -Mark Twain

May 24, 2013; Out comes the sun

 With that little practical joke out of the way, the sunshine decided to show its face the next day.  Just another spring in the mountains.
 

Clover seed sprouting in the drain field.

The green resumes, as does the rain, and I am so thankful to see the woods come to life once more.

"Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we will soon see the results of their love!"  -Sitting Bull