We have a finished roof

Yesterday we took a ride out to the farm to see our new roof. We chose the lightest shingles possible. The hope is to approach the efficiency of a white roof in reflecting summer heat.

And here's how it looks:

I hope you can see the detail in the roof. The shingles are a pretty gray.

This is the regular view from the East.

This is the house from the Northeast showing the summer kitchen and garage.
I really love the look f the roof angles.

I decided we should have a few photos of the interior. It looks very spacious right now and will be nice to have a reference as the interior walls are added.

The view out the front door from the entry area.

The view from the entry area of the living room and kitchen.
So when we step inside the front door this is what we see.
We are very happy with the ceiling vault created by the scissor trusses.

Looking the other direction (West) you see the space that will be our bedroom and bathroom.

 We are feeling very lucky. Every visit to the farm leaves us excited and energized. The house offsets any small set-backs. Yesterday, upon inspecting our trees, we discovered the little dogwood trees we planted last summer did not survive the winter. But the big oak trees, although late, are leafing out. So some of our efforts toward producing a forest on the north side of the house are paying off…we celebrate every step.

The roof is ready for shingles

While I was away at the alpaca workshop, Brent was keeping all the family stuff going. There were concerts, birthdays, and laundry - AND the farm house to show our visiting family.

Here are the regular photos that show the progress the rough-in crew made last week:

view from parking area

view from West - notice they opened up the front door

the Southwest corner - the windows in the master bedroom are now open

South side showing the sun angle
(the lower level will have an "eyebrow" providing the same shade for the lower windows)

Southeast corner

East side

Our guests parked in the driveway on the North side

Yesterday I had a chance to visit, too. The spaciousness of the living room and kitchen on the upper level was impressive - as was the view! I also had an opportunity to try out our new stairs - they are awesome. I think I walked up and down them about 4 or 5 times yesterday.

It's really starting to look like home!

CAMELIDynamics workshop

A few months ago, I read a book - a really good one - called The Camelid Companion by Mary McGee Bennett. And last weekend I actually met the author. I attended her CAMELIDynamics workshop in Defiance, Missouri.

Mary showing us the "bracelet" and using a "packed" catch pen

For anyone who has never handled alpacas before or even people who have but want to make things easier, this workshop is perfect. It provided ample opportunity to be around the animals and test the information Marty shared in lectures. Now I feel pretty confident that I'm not going to scare my lovely charges to death (nor will they scare me) while I do my best to care for them.

working with veterinarian Nancy on an ear infection

Defiance, Missouri, is beautiful!

It was perfect, weather and everything. If I could change one thing, it would be to have brought and applied sunscreen. I have a wicked sunburn :-)

Pineapple update

Remember when I was surprised by the appearance of a "flower" on my 2 or 3 year old pineapple plant?

It looked like this:

That was early February. Today that little bloom looks a lot more pineapple-ish. It's still pretty small, though.

It is enjoying it's first day this year outside. I am slowly moving most of the plants I've had indoors this winter out for the summer. Only a few will stay inside and, even those, will spend a little time outside to enjoy fresh air and a good shower. It's good for them.

It's good for me too :-)

Roof trusses are up

After one rain day last week the crew was able to install the roof trusses on Friday. I took the regular series of photos around the house to show the progress.

View from parking area

West side of the house

Southwest corner

South side

Southeast corner (Jeremy standing in window)

East side

Northeast corner

North side (now we have a garage)

Inside there are lots of braces and the sense of how big the room will be. 

Brent and Jeremy inside on our new stair landings!

We are thrilled with the shape of our home and the size of the rooms. We even climbed up to see the attic storage over the garage - and it was big!

The layout of the stairs was something we struggled with. But the landings feel spacious and Brent will NOT hit his head going downstairs. How awful would that have been - to duck every time he needed to do some laundry?

It was a happy day.

Garage, Summer Kitchen, and a flower with heritage

Kind of a strange list of subjects. But they were all part of our Earth Day this year.

Last year, a wonderful woman to whom I already owe much, gave me a gift. Margaret, the mother of my husband's late wife (and grandmother to 3 of our boys), thinned her iris bed. Those irises had come from her mother's home.

This year those beautiful flowers are blooming at our suburban Shawnee house. And next year, at least some of them, will make their home with us at Happy Apple's Farm.

Purple Iris - a gift from Margaret

I love knowing the history that connects me through the things around me to other people. That knowledge feels like respect, appreciation and love. Each bloom like this one is a reminder of the kindness and generosity that exists around me. This bloom has brought a smile to the faces of many. I feel that when I see it and I'm happy to add my smiling face to the list.

Smiling is something that Brent and I have been doing a lot lately. Every visit to the farm to see the progress leaves us incredibly happy. Our visit yesterday was no exception.

The north side of the house has been slow to see much development beyond the two slabs. That is, until yesterday… 

East side of the house - Summer Kitchen framing and garage walls

View of Northeast corner of house - Brent in the Summer Kitchen -
roof trusses for the kitchen and Summer Kitchen lying on ground to left

View from North showing garage walls

View from parking area.
The entry is beginning to take shape there behind the maple tree.

With the delivery of roof trusses on Monday, the crew is working hard to build the non-SIP-construction parts of the house. It shouldn't be long before the roof finishes the entire shape!
I hadn't thought of the need for a header on the front entry. But there is a roof over that area that will define the space and protect visitors waiting to enter.

We hope it will be a spot that draws people to our door :-)

Easter at the farm

Well, I finally got to see the serviceberry trees we planted bloom.

2 serviceberries blooming

This morning we decided to wake up our teenage boys and drive them out to the farm to see their new bedrooms. Yes, the walls in the lower level have been framed in. No pictures of those because it just looks like a bunch of 2X4's. But here are the boys (including Brent) walking up to the front door.

The boys at the farm

And, in celebration of Easter, we took our first family picture at the new house (minus only our eldest, Blaine).

Our first Easter at Happy Apple's Farm