bad news and apologies all around

Hey kids..
Well i guess i bit off more than i could chew..
I am officially unable to follow through on my plans due to unforeseen complications..My plan was to finish the cabin over the next five months as i was supposed to be receiving steady income over that time..that income has been lost now which means I've spent my life savings to put a deck in someone else's ground..I have no way to live in the rough shell while being presentable at a job and no job in the area exists to support my much more accelerated schedule and the added expenses of trying to finish this by myself..
Guess long story short is that i tried and had my ducks in a row..but then some duck hunters showed up and shot them all to smitherines..
Now i am basically homeless and broke with no job and am being forced to give up all my work and lumber..needless to say im a bit down about it..looking back i could have just bought a motorcycle and moved in with a buddy, but you know what they say about hindsight. For what i spent on land payments, lumber and tools i could have had a sweet chopper..
Anyways if anyone in Arkansas wants to buy some lumber i can make you a great deal..actually anything not concreted to the ground is up for grabs...
I also really want to apologise to anyone who might have been following this expecting to see me succeed..that's not really a precident I've been able to set so its not a shocker to me that i suck at life but if it caught any of you off guard i am truly sorry..Can't tell you how much it hurts especially when i was just trying to build some equity for my family..but best laid plans of mice and men huh?
I probably won't be updating anymore..mostly because im a bit too bummed out and also because my computer died so this is being written on my phone..
if a miracle happens ill let you know but i think its safe to chalk this one up in the failed category..
Thanks for following along..see you in the funny pages..

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A quick thank you..

To the more than 700 of you who have taken the time to check out my page! I never expected so many visitors and am really speechless..
So thanks for being here!!

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Finally!! The foundation and sub-floor is done!!!!

Hi kids, I realize that I haven't been updating as often as I should but I've been a little busy in the woods. I've also made some more decisions about where this project is heading and finally have the time to stop and take a breath.

My idea about staying off-grid has been thwarted by my lack of funds for an adequate solar system. Also, I have found that drills and saws are much more easy to use when they have a uninterrupted power source (thanks Al!) and with as much work as I have to do, it makes more sense to give myself at least a bit of a leg up. I already bought a temporary power pole so Ill drag that down next week and get with the power kids about setting up a play date. So, the ever changing scope of the project has shifted yet again to simply being a small home that I built myself to avoid the mortgage game, but I assure you the long term goal is still self-reliance in terms of food and power, just cant get there all at once.

In other news, the floor is done. I repeat the foundation and sub floor (deck) are finished. For those of you who don't understand the amount of work involved in this, I can only assure you that it is well beyond what I expected.  I also realize that I don't have any pictures of me actually building anything so many of you might think I'm fibbing about doing all this myself, but I really am. My buddy Al has given me tons of guidance and help but for the most part what you see here in the ground was built by yours truly with strings and levels and squares.

Sleeping someplace level is really really nice...


I didn't get that many pictures this time, mostly because I was exhausted and needed to get north to start gathering my windows and a front door. Anyone who can help in that regard please feel free to get in touch. I should be heading down again this week to start framing walls and a roof. I still don't really know what I'm doing so the learning curve is taking a bit but I'm hopeful I can finish the exterior and roof in the next 8 weeks or so. Maybe I'm dreaming but it's a goal at least. I think one of my buddies grabbed me three nice new and HUGE windows this morning off the CL and is obviously my hero. I need only 6-7 more windows and that will be a done deal. Thanks Chris!!

I also wanted to thank those of you who have sent me cards and fan mail to my po box. (Rani, I love you too!!) You have no idea how much it means to have encouragement when I'm out there sweating and dodging the ticks, major love to you!!!

Next step is to get back down and start framing the walls and then the roof, after a few days rest and gathering more supplies.. More updates to follow!!


 Until then, stay safe and keep it Ozark!!

Footings going in and related pictures

Dad, doin' work.

First post in the ground..

Makin' a path!

Coming along..

The work site.

Breakfast

I'm a cheater..

How I roll.

Coffee Do-er..

Broke my pick-ax.

Ordered an early birthday present..

It's propane powered and should handle all my tool loads for the build. I'll take better pictures when it gets here and update you with a review as time goes on.

 I'm pretty excited about the propane fuel source because that means I wont have yet another type of fuel to store on site. I'm trying to limit it to just the 2 stroke mix for the chainsaw and the propane for everything else. All the reviews of the ETQ's seem pretty solid and it has a year warranty, plus no carb to get dirty. ;) We shall see...

Doing some figuring..

Update and a list of the stuff I need...

Just in case anyone is looking and is feeling generous I thought I'd lay out my plans and the things I still need to bring them to fruition..

Next on the list for the home site is the falling (felling?) of two huge oaks. I had initially wanted to hold off on cutting them down but I've noticed some very big and storm-damaged limbs up above that would be deadly if they fell through the roof the cabin. The other is beautiful but it seems to be growing towards my building site and makes more sense to drop it now before it gets too big and more difficult to control.. So to do that I need some encouragement and some bravery...If anyone can send either of those things my way Ill be very appreciative..

Also on the list is the remainder of the gravel (roughly two tons) that needs to be spread out and for which I need a wheel barrow and a couple shovels, a rake and a hoe. Anyone who would like to donate a Lowe's card to those things would be beyond my best friend and earn themselves a place on my Christmas card list!!(My birthday is Thurs ;)) Anyone who wants to come help spread gravel will be even a step beyond that, and might end up god-parenting one of my kids someday...

After that, I'll be clearing all the scree and dead-fall from the building site and quarantining a burn pile for whatever I don't want to compost (I have 5 acres of compost right now lol).

Aside from those tasks, I need to finalize a floor plan so I can really figure out how to orientate my building. I've been holding off on this step because my friends keep sending me links to sick cabins that I want and it gets out of control with the "might as well do this" and the "as long as I'm doing that" syndromes. Trying to remain minimalist has it's own certain challenges..But this week I should have an idea what the finished project will look like..maybe..

I also need to dig and build an out house as well as a combo root cellar and storm shelter (in different places). Id like to keep my potatoes and wine safe from the tornadoes!!!

As far as other things I really need and cannot afford, they are things like:
A 16 foot ladder
A step ladder
A good generator
Some tarps
A couple good 18 volt drills
A Back Hoe..

Big time needs are a front door (steel or fiberglass) and windows (not necessarily new but should be fairly big and not damaged). I won't be able to frame any walls without these things already..These are a major cost factor for me and I really just cant spring for anything as nice as I'd like. Anyone with good ideas please relay them here..

Also, the chimney piping for my wood stove is beyond pricey and anyone who has some to donate might be keeping me from freezing to death, which would be a bonus. Plus, I need to build the heat shields and base for the floor and am not sure how that is going to work.

That's actually it for right now. Eventually, I'll be asking people to send interior supplies. As I'm going with no power initially, things like candles and LED lights (for the solar system) will be awesome. Also the majority of my appliances will be propane so any guidance or advise about installing a propane system will be well received.

Finally I need help figuring out a water system. I definitely cannot afford to drill a well or put in a septic system so both of these things need to be handled out side of the box. I can do rain water collection for all my non-potable water but the toilet waste and cooking water still need to be addressed..

As you can see, there is still plenty to do!!

Anyways any help or advice will be more than appreciated and until later...

Keep it Ozark kids!!!