On Hiatus

Hope this post finds you all well. I am officially taking a break from blogging until the spring. Be sure and check back in March for updates on the start of the cabin build!

More about Zombies

I stumbled across this article today. Enjoy some intellectual musings about one of my favorite topics. http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/pop-vox/2010/10/27/when-the-zombies-come-i-ll-be-ready.html

Winter Plans

Ray and Thor went up to Camp last weekend to take down Fort Awesome. The tent is packed away for the season and things are pretty well buttoned up there for winter. We would still like to put siding on the outhouse before the snow flies if the opportunity arises, but it can wait until spring if need be. It's weird to have so many things checked off the to-do list. It's a good feeling, I feel like we've accomplished a lot and deserve a break. Luckily, tv has cooperated and there is a new show I super excited about. Has anyone caught The Walking Dead on amc? It's a totally amazing new zombie drama. Ray and I are loving it and I highly recommend checking it out. Good writing, great characters and stomach turning zombie scenes. What more do you want on a Sunday night? We're getting tons of good survival tips but I think we already knew the most important one: when things go bad, GET OUT OF THE CITY! http://www.amctv.com/originals/The-Walking-Dead/

Bittersweet

It was a busy day at Camp Freedom last Friday. We were able to finish the chow house. It looks great and is going to make camping there so much more enjoyable! We installed a counter, bench and several shelves and hooks. We will be able to cook and clean up our meals out of the wind and weather, as well as have a place to store all our gear. After finishing up the work, we started to break down camp for the winter. It's frustrating to finally have everything set up just right and then have to pack up! The foundation is in and it looks great. I am so relieved we didn't try and do this part ourselves! The contractor installed about 20 concrete piers that will eventually support the cabin. He also laid down a thick plastic vapor barrier and covered it with several inches of gravel. Seeing the foundation made the whole cabin building project seem much more real. It was easier to visualize the size of the building and imagine what it will actually be like. While we were inspecting our progress, it was hard not to reminisce that only a year ago, the only thing on the property was a fire ring. In one year, we've put in the driveway, the outhouse, Fort Awesome and the Chow House. Unfortunately, we were forced to admit that the wetland walkway was a failure. With all the fall flooding we had, the whole thing was swamped. We did, however, make good use of all the lumber. It was reused as the siding for the Chow House making the total cost of that building about $50. We decided to put the dock project on the back burner and revisit it after the cabin is completed. Thinking about all we've accomplished this year makes me realize that it's good that we are forced by the climate to take a break. We need to rest and save our money - it's going to be a busy spring!

My Morning Has Taken an Interesting Turn

I was trolling the craigslist free postings this morning and came across an ad giving away free plywood, lumber and foam insulation. Ray called the guy this morning and apparently, it is a roofing company that has somehow accumulated all this material and needs to clear it out. Ray and I are hurriedly looking into renting a large truck to haul as much as we can carry from St. Paul to C.F. Luckily, we all have a four day weekend starting tomorrow (Minnesota Educator's Convention - no school) so we have some time to deal with it. We were planning on heading to Camp on Friday anyway to inspect the foundation that should be completed. The trip may be a bit more strenuous than I had originally anticipated. I'll keep you posted on this potential Craigslist score!

***Update - It's a no go :( Someone was able to get out there first and snatched it out from under us! Man, you have to be able to work fast to score the free stuff!

What Were You Doing At 10:10 on 10-10-10?

Hope you were having as much fun as us! Happy Birthday, Eric!

New Chow House is Nearing Completion

We got away last weekend with our good friends, the Schausts, for a glorious fall weekend. The leaves are a bit past peak at this point, but it was still beautiful. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed warm, sunny days and cool, star-filled nights. We went to the 40th Anniversary celebration of our favorite meat store in town. They had a big brat fest complete with a live polka band. It was nice, but we didn't stay too long. The dogs were panting in the car and we were anxious to get back to work on the Chow House. With Eric and Elena's help, we were able to make major progress. The roof is on and 2 of the 3 sides are completed. Ray is hoping to head out there Saturday to finish it up. He just needs to finish the back wall and install the countertop and shelves that will serve as a work surface and storage. The last photo shows how we close up the front side. We are hoping it will keep the interior somewhat dry between visits and over the winter.