OK, this blogging thing is addicting, I suppose. I've started a new blog over here to document 100 species of plant and 100 species of animals that we find living on our 11 acres. We've been photographing lots of critters as we've been working on the land, and the boys are having such a great time learning about them that I thought we could make a "project" out of it, and share it with our droves...er, um, dozens, OK, OK...handful of readers. Stop on over and learn along with us!
Whose Woods These Are...and What Lives There
Stay tuned,
Kris
Friday, October 17, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Progress Report #16
Change of Plans...So, here we are facing the middle of October. We aren't really where we had hoped to be by now, although I don't know how we would've gotten any farther. We have worked VERY HARD during the past 10 weeks, and as I think back and revisit my earlier blog entries, I am truly pleased with our progress. However, we have become concerned that with colder weather coming soon, starting the building process right now might put us in a bad situation later if we are unable to get the heating systems in place. We really do not have "extra" money in the budget to pay others to do the work if we run short on time, so we have decided to delay construction until early spring. In addition to our concerns about cold weather, Hubby needs to have some minor surgery, which he can have done this winter, and be completely healed when we begin building.
The delay is actually giving us a chance to re-think a few things. Our original plan was to heat our home with a radiant-floor hydronic system, relying on an outdoor wood furnace for the heat source. We chose this system because we have a lifetime of free wood on our property, and it seemed silly not to utilize it. One of the drawbacks of this furnace, however, is that it has to be fed daily, so traveling for any length of time during the colder months presents a problem. This system also requires a heat-exchanger, where the water from the furnace transfers its heat to the water that circulates throughout the house. Not a huge drawback, but it adds an extra expense and there is a slight loss in efficiency.
Months ago I came across plans for a similar hydronic system using solar panels mounted to a garden shed to heat the water. We weren't thinking solar at the time, so I didn't pursue this option. However, I was recently researching another heating idea and came upon these plans again, and this time, it "clicked." It is a much simpler, do-it-yourself system, and although the cost to build probably won't be much less than the outdoor wood furnace, we would gain the freedom from having to load the furnace daily, and get a garden shed, too. (Something we were planning to build eventually.) Before we decide, we have some on-site evaluation to do, that will, Lord willing, prove this system a viable option.
The other aspect we are reconsidering is the placement of the fireplace. But, first, a bit of background information. When we first began thinking about building a new home, I started researching "alternative" building options. One process that really fascinates me is "slip-form" construction. It is possible, with this process, minimal skill and LOTS of time, to build gorgeous stone homes that are very energy-efficient and inexpensive. If we were 10-15 years younger, I think we might have considered it.
One of the resources I purchased in the beginning of my research phase to learn more about slipform construction was a book called "Living Homes," by Thomas J. Elpel. You can see it here: www.hopspress.com. The book is a fantastic resource for home-building in general, but its real value is the comprehensive knowledge the author possesses, and shares with his readers. This is where I first learned of a masonry stove, or Russian fireplace as they are also called.
Masonry stoves are designed with a lot of mass to absorb the heat from the fire. Then, instead of a straight flue, the exhaust flows through a snake-like flue that extracts more heat as the exhaust is vented to the outside. The masonry warms up slowly, then radiates the heat outwards for hours or days afterwards. Masonry stoves burn much hotter, resulting in very little creosote buildup, and less smoke, and these stoves can approach 90% efficiency.
Our house plans included a gas fireplace on the external great room wall, so we just decided to build the masonry stove there. But, it seems that moving the stove to a central location will maximize the radiant benefits, so we are looking at that possibility. I really don't think this is a do-it-yourself project, so our Amish builder has agreed to build it for us, but I think I'll try to find a local stone mason for an additional bid or two. Here is a beautiful example of a masonry stove.
So, our heating plan will consist of a masonry stove/Russian fireplace centrally located in the great room, with solar-heated hydronic radiant-floor throughout the house for the colder, "outer" areas of the house, with an option for electric back-up during cloudy periods when needed.
Even though we've postponed construction, I will continue to post updates, hopefully with pictures! I know...I know...you're missin' the wood photos, aren't you?
Stay tuned,
Kris
The delay is actually giving us a chance to re-think a few things. Our original plan was to heat our home with a radiant-floor hydronic system, relying on an outdoor wood furnace for the heat source. We chose this system because we have a lifetime of free wood on our property, and it seemed silly not to utilize it. One of the drawbacks of this furnace, however, is that it has to be fed daily, so traveling for any length of time during the colder months presents a problem. This system also requires a heat-exchanger, where the water from the furnace transfers its heat to the water that circulates throughout the house. Not a huge drawback, but it adds an extra expense and there is a slight loss in efficiency.
Months ago I came across plans for a similar hydronic system using solar panels mounted to a garden shed to heat the water. We weren't thinking solar at the time, so I didn't pursue this option. However, I was recently researching another heating idea and came upon these plans again, and this time, it "clicked." It is a much simpler, do-it-yourself system, and although the cost to build probably won't be much less than the outdoor wood furnace, we would gain the freedom from having to load the furnace daily, and get a garden shed, too. (Something we were planning to build eventually.) Before we decide, we have some on-site evaluation to do, that will, Lord willing, prove this system a viable option.
The other aspect we are reconsidering is the placement of the fireplace. But, first, a bit of background information. When we first began thinking about building a new home, I started researching "alternative" building options. One process that really fascinates me is "slip-form" construction. It is possible, with this process, minimal skill and LOTS of time, to build gorgeous stone homes that are very energy-efficient and inexpensive. If we were 10-15 years younger, I think we might have considered it.
One of the resources I purchased in the beginning of my research phase to learn more about slipform construction was a book called "Living Homes," by Thomas J. Elpel. You can see it here: www.hopspress.com. The book is a fantastic resource for home-building in general, but its real value is the comprehensive knowledge the author possesses, and shares with his readers. This is where I first learned of a masonry stove, or Russian fireplace as they are also called.
Masonry stoves are designed with a lot of mass to absorb the heat from the fire. Then, instead of a straight flue, the exhaust flows through a snake-like flue that extracts more heat as the exhaust is vented to the outside. The masonry warms up slowly, then radiates the heat outwards for hours or days afterwards. Masonry stoves burn much hotter, resulting in very little creosote buildup, and less smoke, and these stoves can approach 90% efficiency.
Our house plans included a gas fireplace on the external great room wall, so we just decided to build the masonry stove there. But, it seems that moving the stove to a central location will maximize the radiant benefits, so we are looking at that possibility. I really don't think this is a do-it-yourself project, so our Amish builder has agreed to build it for us, but I think I'll try to find a local stone mason for an additional bid or two. Here is a beautiful example of a masonry stove.
So, our heating plan will consist of a masonry stove/Russian fireplace centrally located in the great room, with solar-heated hydronic radiant-floor throughout the house for the colder, "outer" areas of the house, with an option for electric back-up during cloudy periods when needed.
Even though we've postponed construction, I will continue to post updates, hopefully with pictures! I know...I know...you're missin' the wood photos, aren't you?
Stay tuned,
Kris
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Progress Report #15
September 27, 2008...Our good friend, Jeff, showed up bright and early for a long day of back-breaking labor. We worked from morning until suppertime, cutting, stacking and burning...God granted us another safe and beautiful workday, with only a few mishaps. One thing we've learned is that there is never a "sure thing" when felling trees. Especially when you're working on an incline. Considering we (and by "we" I mean my hubby, of course) have very little experience doing this type of thing, we're so thankful that God has protected us and blessed our efforts.
Back to mishaps. Once in awhile, a tree just doesn't do what you think (or hope) it will do. Sometimes you think for sure it will fall in a certain direction, then it twists, or hops, or is weighted in a way that is hidden to the naked eye (and then there is the incline...) and it ends up somewhere else. Sometimes, the "somewhere else" is caught in another tree. While this can be annoying, it is these moments that I find exciting...when one must STOP...and rely on one's WIT, not BRAUN, to find a solution. (Although braun is usually employed at some point of the process!)
Below, in photo essay, is a chain of events that took about 45 minutes to free one such tree.
(Remember you can click on any photo for a full-screen view.)
You can see, after all this, the tree is still hung-up. At this point, the men just started cutting sections off the tree, until they couldn't reach up any higher. Hubby then decided to cut down the tree in which the first tree was stuck, and the problem was solved.
Thankfully, the second tree fell as desired.
Stay tuned,
Kris
Back to mishaps. Once in awhile, a tree just doesn't do what you think (or hope) it will do. Sometimes you think for sure it will fall in a certain direction, then it twists, or hops, or is weighted in a way that is hidden to the naked eye (and then there is the incline...) and it ends up somewhere else. Sometimes, the "somewhere else" is caught in another tree. While this can be annoying, it is these moments that I find exciting...when one must STOP...and rely on one's WIT, not BRAUN, to find a solution. (Although braun is usually employed at some point of the process!)
Below, in photo essay, is a chain of events that took about 45 minutes to free one such tree.
(Remember you can click on any photo for a full-screen view.)
You can see, after all this, the tree is still hung-up. At this point, the men just started cutting sections off the tree, until they couldn't reach up any higher. Hubby then decided to cut down the tree in which the first tree was stuck, and the problem was solved.
Thankfully, the second tree fell as desired.
Stay tuned,
Kris
Monday, September 29, 2008
Progress Report #14
September 25 & 26, 2008...Hubby took vacation days. We re-stacked some wood...
burned more brush...
and, (I know you'll all be shocked and amazed...), we CUT MORE WOOD!!! We found another wise old forest creature trapped in a log. This growth pattern must be more common than we thought.
Has me thinking...could this be something that would influence a pagan religious belief about animal spirits and such? If anyone knows the answer, please leave a comment. It would be an interesting topic for homeschooling discussion. If I find an answer, I'll write about it later.
Stay tuned,
Kris
burned more brush...
and, (I know you'll all be shocked and amazed...), we CUT MORE WOOD!!! We found another wise old forest creature trapped in a log. This growth pattern must be more common than we thought.
Has me thinking...could this be something that would influence a pagan religious belief about animal spirits and such? If anyone knows the answer, please leave a comment. It would be an interesting topic for homeschooling discussion. If I find an answer, I'll write about it later.Stay tuned,
Kris
Progress Report #13
September 25, 2008...Some time this week we got a street sign! (So much for anonymity).
I sure hope they don't send us a bill...
I sure hope they don't send us a bill...
Progress Report #12
September 13, 2008...(found some older photos on the thumb-drive)
Sung to the tune of "Singing in the Rain"
"We're working in the rain,
Just working in the rain...
What a laborious feeling,
Cutting wood again...
I'm laughing at clouds,
So dark up above...
The sun's in my heart,
And I'm ready for love... (click on photo for T-Bird's expression...hilarious!)
Let the stormy clouds chase
All the wimps from this place
Come on with the rain,
I've a smile on my face...
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just workin'...
Workin' in the rain!!!"
Stay tuned,
Kris
Sung to the tune of "Singing in the Rain"
"We're working in the rain,
Just working in the rain...
What a laborious feeling,
Cutting wood again...
I'm laughing at clouds,
So dark up above...
The sun's in my heart,
And I'm ready for love... (click on photo for T-Bird's expression...hilarious!)
Let the stormy clouds chase
All the wimps from this place
Come on with the rain,
I've a smile on my face...
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just workin'...
Workin' in the rain!!!"
Stay tuned,
Kris
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Progress Report #11
September 21, 2008...Worked on the land for a few hours today. Joe helped load HUGE logs into the bucket of the magnatrac that Hubby drove to the side of the property and dumped...hear me...DUMPED into a pile. Those buggers aren't getting stacked ANY TIME in the near future. Joe thought that a few of them weighed in at well over 100 pounds!
My brother, Bryan, and his fiance, Mindy, were visiting from Kentucky and left today. We don't see them very often (only once a year, or so), so it was sad to see them go. We said our good-byes at the property, as we had gone there after lunch to work, and they stopped on their way out of town. Next visit, Lord willing, we'll have A HOME to show them!!!
Hubby has taken this Thursday and Friday off work, and, along with the weekend, we hope to finally finish clearing the lot. We have Mr. W. lined up to remove stumps next week, and possibly dig the footers, so framing can hopefully begin by mid-October!
Maybe then I'll have pictures of something other than WOOD to post.
Stay tuned,
Kris
My brother, Bryan, and his fiance, Mindy, were visiting from Kentucky and left today. We don't see them very often (only once a year, or so), so it was sad to see them go. We said our good-byes at the property, as we had gone there after lunch to work, and they stopped on their way out of town. Next visit, Lord willing, we'll have A HOME to show them!!!
Hubby has taken this Thursday and Friday off work, and, along with the weekend, we hope to finally finish clearing the lot. We have Mr. W. lined up to remove stumps next week, and possibly dig the footers, so framing can hopefully begin by mid-October!
Maybe then I'll have pictures of something other than WOOD to post.
Stay tuned,
Kris
Friday, September 19, 2008
New Blog Features #1
September 19, 2008...I added a few new features to the blog.
First, check the sidebar on the bottom left for a list of blogs that I read on a regular basis. Maybe YOUR blog is there??? They cover a range of topics, from homeschooling to gardening to Christian living to "simple" living...I have learned something from each and every one of these authors. However, inclusion in this list does not imply that I agree with everything written on all sites. Worldviews vary. Please read with discernment.
Second, I have added a gadget for followers of THIS blog, also on the bottom left sidebar. Please sign up if you feel so inclined!
More photos coming soon...
Stay tuned,
Kris
First, check the sidebar on the bottom left for a list of blogs that I read on a regular basis. Maybe YOUR blog is there??? They cover a range of topics, from homeschooling to gardening to Christian living to "simple" living...I have learned something from each and every one of these authors. However, inclusion in this list does not imply that I agree with everything written on all sites. Worldviews vary. Please read with discernment.
Second, I have added a gadget for followers of THIS blog, also on the bottom left sidebar. Please sign up if you feel so inclined!
More photos coming soon...
Stay tuned,
Kris
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Progress Report #10
September 7, 2008...Had a lot of unexpected help today!!! What a blessing! (Photo quality is poor...we had the brush fire going and I was shooting through the smoke). Here's Bob's wife, Belinda, carrying logs. And, believe it or not, folks...she's done the "buy a chunk of land-cut down trees-build a house" thing before (with her husband, of course!)...AND lived to tell about it! I guess there's hope for us!
Left to right: Bob, Joe, and Rich in the background with the chainsaw...
The guys again with Luke, this time...back and forth to the fire...back and forth to the fire...back and forth to the fire...b a c k a n d f o r t h.... z z z z z z z z z z z z z.
Here's Joe, trying to decide where to fell his next victim:
Victim felled. On to dissection.
And, here goes another...watch the "skyline..."
A-H-H-H-H...the fruit of many hours of hard work. This wooded area is on the left as you turn right into our homesite. Our master bedroom will look out onto this small grouping of trees, and I have some ideas for landscaping this area, just below where the wood is stacked.
Looking up towards this area, you can see more of the trees in this photo. There is a "V" shape where the driveway turns to the right, and an old logging road continues up the mountain. It is in this "V"-shaped area that I intend to do some landscaping.
Perhaps we're not "getting" this whole wood-stacking thing...or maybe God just wants to keep us humble...but the pile below WAS neatly stacked...the night before I took this picture! Thankfully, it's in an out-of-the-way location...no need to re-stack it right now. (I might just save that for a "you boys are drivin' me crazy...GO STACK THAT WOOD!" type of day). (Not that I ever have any...really...I don't...but, just in case!)
And, honestly, folks...who WOULDN'T follow this guy into the woods? What a blessed gal I am!!!
Stay tuned,
Kris
Left to right: Bob, Joe, and Rich in the background with the chainsaw...
The guys again with Luke, this time...back and forth to the fire...back and forth to the fire...back and forth to the fire...b a c k a n d f o r t h.... z z z z z z z z z z z z z.
Here's Joe, trying to decide where to fell his next victim:
Victim felled. On to dissection.
And, here goes another...watch the "skyline..."
A-H-H-H-H...the fruit of many hours of hard work. This wooded area is on the left as you turn right into our homesite. Our master bedroom will look out onto this small grouping of trees, and I have some ideas for landscaping this area, just below where the wood is stacked.
Looking up towards this area, you can see more of the trees in this photo. There is a "V" shape where the driveway turns to the right, and an old logging road continues up the mountain. It is in this "V"-shaped area that I intend to do some landscaping.
Perhaps we're not "getting" this whole wood-stacking thing...or maybe God just wants to keep us humble...but the pile below WAS neatly stacked...the night before I took this picture! Thankfully, it's in an out-of-the-way location...no need to re-stack it right now. (I might just save that for a "you boys are drivin' me crazy...GO STACK THAT WOOD!" type of day). (Not that I ever have any...really...I don't...but, just in case!)
And, honestly, folks...who WOULDN'T follow this guy into the woods? What a blessed gal I am!!!
Stay tuned,
Kris
Great things about living in the woods #2
At first, I thought they were trying to break the tree...
So, I snuck over a little closer...camera in hand...
And just watched them working diligently...
Until I finally figured out what they were doing...
Making a SWING!!!
So, I snuck over a little closer...camera in hand...
And just watched them working diligently...
Until I finally figured out what they were doing...
Making a SWING!!!
Thought for the day
September 11, 2008...came across this quote in "Small Farmer's Journal."
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered."
G. K. Chesterton
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered."
G. K. Chesterton
I pray the Lord allows us to keep this perspective, even when things aren't following OUR plans!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Progress Report #9
September 6, 2008...Continuing to clear the homesite...are you bored yet? We are in that phase of pushing ourselves despite what we actually "want" to be doing...but I do believe the end is in sight. We have a definite "hole" now where the house will go, just need to remove several more trees, then call Mr. W. to remove the stumps.
Some photos from today:
It rained today. Did we quit? NO WAY!...Here's proof...the back of J-Bird's head, raindrops dripping from his hair. (He was actually quite miserable during this time, and suggested many times that we go home...but character is not built by "going home!") Later the sun came out and his spirits improved!
Lest you think we're working the boys too hard...proof that we do let them sit down once in awhile. J-Bird is looking towards the homesite...watching the brush burn.
Here's a shot looking down the driveway. The house will sit off to the left...the hemlock at the left of the photo will be where the drive makes a right turn towards the house.
One good thing about all this monotonous work is that we finally have a "rhythm." When we get to the property, all tools and necessary equipment (like food & drink, of course!) are loaded into the 4-wheeler cart. J-Bird drives the 4-wheeler up the driveway, while we "old folk" hoof it up on foot, stopping half way to catch our breath. Hubby starts the brush fire, then begins cutting up brush or felling trees, depending on what needs done. J-Bird and I (and I-Bird and T-Bird if they come along...they don't, always) begin hauling brush to feed the fire. Physical activity is always hardest at the beginning, I've found. After you've been working for 20-30 minutes, you find your rhythm, and then it becomes easier. Before you know it, hours have passed, and you really want to keep going. Maybe it's just me. Here's our bonfire today...remember it was rainy, so we had difficulty starting it, but J-Bird and I fed it all afternoon and it really burned nicely. The fire is approximately where the garage will be. This photo gives you a good idea of the slope of the land in this spot. There are steeper places and flatter places. This is about the average.
At the end of the day, we were tired and dirty. J-Bird with his man-sized feet!:
Hubby...equally dirty: (and quite handsome, I might add!...sorry...you can't see his head...just take my word for it!)
And, just in case you think I just stand around, supervise, and take photos, here are my boots...wet and dirty...and the rest of me wasn't much better!
We'll be back at it tomorrow, Lord willing! Stop by...and don't forget your chainsaw. We'll provide your lunch.
Stay tuned,
Kris
Some photos from today:
It rained today. Did we quit? NO WAY!...Here's proof...the back of J-Bird's head, raindrops dripping from his hair. (He was actually quite miserable during this time, and suggested many times that we go home...but character is not built by "going home!") Later the sun came out and his spirits improved!
Lest you think we're working the boys too hard...proof that we do let them sit down once in awhile. J-Bird is looking towards the homesite...watching the brush burn.
Here's a shot looking down the driveway. The house will sit off to the left...the hemlock at the left of the photo will be where the drive makes a right turn towards the house.
One good thing about all this monotonous work is that we finally have a "rhythm." When we get to the property, all tools and necessary equipment (like food & drink, of course!) are loaded into the 4-wheeler cart. J-Bird drives the 4-wheeler up the driveway, while we "old folk" hoof it up on foot, stopping half way to catch our breath. Hubby starts the brush fire, then begins cutting up brush or felling trees, depending on what needs done. J-Bird and I (and I-Bird and T-Bird if they come along...they don't, always) begin hauling brush to feed the fire. Physical activity is always hardest at the beginning, I've found. After you've been working for 20-30 minutes, you find your rhythm, and then it becomes easier. Before you know it, hours have passed, and you really want to keep going. Maybe it's just me. Here's our bonfire today...remember it was rainy, so we had difficulty starting it, but J-Bird and I fed it all afternoon and it really burned nicely. The fire is approximately where the garage will be. This photo gives you a good idea of the slope of the land in this spot. There are steeper places and flatter places. This is about the average.
At the end of the day, we were tired and dirty. J-Bird with his man-sized feet!:
Hubby...equally dirty: (and quite handsome, I might add!...sorry...you can't see his head...just take my word for it!)
And, just in case you think I just stand around, supervise, and take photos, here are my boots...wet and dirty...and the rest of me wasn't much better!
We'll be back at it tomorrow, Lord willing! Stop by...and don't forget your chainsaw. We'll provide your lunch.
Stay tuned,
Kris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)