My Darlin' Hubby

When I think of visiting a construction site after hours, scattered cigarette butts and empty beer cans usually come to mind.  When I visit our construction site after hours, this is what I find:  empty chocolate milk cups, and I can't help thinking, what a precious man God has blessed me with!

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26

Here Come the Chickens

Greg and Farmer Mike have generously donated their Sunday to building our chicken coop!  We are all very excited to soon be collecting and eating our own organic, farm-fresh eggs.  I have to start by bragging that Greg designed the coop himself and it was built using scrap/leftover material from all of the other construction going on - very talented resourceful.  Here are a few photos of the coop under construction:

Nesting boxes - This is where the chickens will lay their eggs.
A hinged door will be added so that we can easily collect the eggs.

Side view - The coop is portable, and the chickens will have
plenty of shade underneath the main body of the coop as well
as a fenced attachment to give them lots of room to explore. 

Another hinged door will be added to this side for easy cleaning of the coop
and a little ramp will be attached for the chickens to come and go.

The almost finished product (painted to match the yurt):

All that's left to do is hang the door and build the ramp.

The ladies are going to love their new home!  I will post an introduction as soon as they arrive.

*One last note, the coop was built under the new house so that the boys could work in the shade - this is not where it will stay!  As excited and grateful as I will be to those little ladies for their delicious eggs, they are still stinky and loud and will therefore live a good distance from us...

"So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according the their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind.  And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:21

Building the Big House Part III: Up to the Second Floor!

From a distance, there was not too much visible progress this week.  However, when you climb the ladder to the first floor, things are really starting to come together!  The framing is up for all of the walls, doors, windows, and ceiling/second story floor.  Here are some photos and a couple video tours:

In this photo you can see the beams for the 1st floor ceiling/2nd story floor

The stairs are framed so we can now walk up to the second story - the view is magnificent!  If there were no trees on the opposite side of the bridge, we would be able to see the ocean.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

Proverbs 3:5-8

Let the Gardening Begin!

Last weekend, Greg and Mike built our first little garden bed!  For more information on each of the plants Farmer Mike is growing, check out his organic gardening page.

"Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."

Hosea 10:12

Building the Big House Part II: The Floorplan

The down side to leaving for work before the sun rises and coming home after it sets is that some days I do not get a chance to see the progress made on the house.  This morning I woke up to an exciting surprise: three of our walls are up!

Here is the basic first floor plan from our DPP approved plans to give you a better idea of the layout:

The kitchen sink window and laundry room face the mountains and the
living room and bedroom doors open towards the date palm and river.

...and here is the house:

bathroom, closet, and bedroom with doors opening to the screen porch 

bedroom doors opening towards the date palm and river

living room doors, not completely framed out yet

living room windows looking to the south

Greg brought Doeks up to have a look.

View walking out of our front door - stunning!

Missy tried to follow them up the ladder

Daddy and Doeksie standing in our new bedroom

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Psalm 107:8-9

Phase II: Building the Big House (Part I)

DECEMBER 2011
Marking the outline of the house

Digging the footings

Installing the septic tank (my Christmas/anniversary present - Yay!) and laying the footings

JANUARY 2012
The first beams go up!

Montucky (our project manager), a friend, and Greg working very hard 

Farmer Mike, our South African house guest

Doeks and Miss love to hang out with the boys!

"How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you."
Psalm 31:19 (NIV)