Which comes first the roof or the snow?

These last three days have been the nicest days we've seen since Labor Day. And boy, did we do our best to take advantage of the clear weather. Notice near the entryway that there are decorative support beams made from spruce poles. I'd like to say it was because we attempted to add a bit of class to the shabin, but really we were just being cheap about not wanting to buy to more conventional lumber than necessary.

The big question is whether or not the roof will be on before the first snow hits the ground. Our initial goal was to have the foundation in before snowfall, so by all accounts we are way ahead of schedule. Snowmachine season doesn't start until at least November, when the swamps freeze up. Even if there are a few inches of rain, we have a little bit of time.

For more pictures click on: http://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/Shabin

Making Progress

At 1:00 on Sunday afternoon, Bryant and I loaded up the truck and headed for the property. Between a gas and lumber yard stop, building didn't begin until 3:00 p.m., which was around the same time that the rain ended. A few hours later, we were feeling pretty good about what we accomplished. I'm learning through this process and I'm only the helpful assistant.


Next weekend, we plan to spend the weekend building, which is easier to commit to seeing as the boat is now in our backyard. Bryant drove down to Whittier on Friday night, derigged, and came home on Saturday. The parking lot attendant in Whittier said it has been raining steady and Bryant said there was even algae growing in the parking lot puddles. I think it is a good time to switch gears.

Building a Shabin

When Bryant told a friend of ours he planned on building a structure that is a cross between a shack and a cabin on our property near Big Lake, she off-handedly referred to it as a shabin. Now, each time we cut a few corners in the construction phase, we plan to remind ourselves that we are building a shabin.

Bryant brought a load of gravel out on Friday, laid out the corners, and leveled out the ground for the foundation. On Saturday, Bryant loaded the truck with power tools, the compressor, the generator, wood, and camping gear, while I loaded the Kia with boys, mine plus two other brothers. I wondered exactly how helpful I was actually going to be to Bryant. As it turned out, the boys were busy being boys and other than some sibling squabbles, they entertained themselves quite well. Not only was I able to set up camp and cook a few meals, I dug out the gray water system, assisted in the foundation preparation, and hauled and held boards in place for the floor joist. Most of this was done on Sunday, because after getting everything out to the property, the generator wouldn't stay running because it was low on oil. And of course, we didn't have oil. I drove back 15 minutes to the town of Big Lake to get oil. Right after I returned. Bryant realized that he needed something different for the foundation and he had to drive back to Wasilla to Lowes. Dark eventually set in, and we settled in to enjoy a meal and the campfire.

Bryant didn't waste anytime on Sunday morning and of course, I felt obliged to follow him out of bed at 7:10. By the time I had the coffee made, it was drizzling, which didn't sit too well with either of us. But as we all know, shabins don't build themselves, so we just dove in and completed the foundation, floor joist, and the floor itself, and during much of the day, the rain actually stopped. At some point, the boys woke up, ate breakfast and lunch, had mudball wars, played bigfoot, wrestled in the tent, burnt themselves with fire, and karate chopped half the 26 acres down; well maybe it was just the immediate 1/2 acre surrounding us. When it came time to pack it all up and head home, everyone was feeling ready to call it a day.

While building, Bryant and I talked again about how we are the first pioneers of this land, the only ones who have ever disturbed the soil. Until we obtained the land, only government entities owned the land and it remained undeveloped, other than the road that provides access through the right hand corner. We purchased the land from the Mat-Su Borough in 2004. The Mat-Su Borough had the land transferred to them when Alaska became a state in 1959, and the U.S. government received title to this land when Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867. So given that we are the first set of riff, raff to settle in, I guess it is alright to build a shabin.

Welcome to Butte, AK!

This is Butte taken from on top of "The Butte." Our house is cut off, but would be located on the right side mid-way up the picture. Technically, our community is called South Knik River, but both us and Butte have Palmer, AK postal addresses.

Each Wednesday, Wyatt, Gus, and I take turns picking an activity to do in the evening and everyone else has to do it. I picked hiking "the Butte," as everyone calls it. The elevation gain is about 800 feet and it can be done in about 2 hours, including the 10 minutes of car time travel. The kids half-heartedly joined in on my plan, but once on top discovered how much fun it is playing in the strong wind.

For more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/TheButte

Knik River - Fall Scenery

I couldn't resist stopping by the Knik River Public Use Area on the way home from work and snap a few photos.

For more fall photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/KnikRiverFallScenery

Things That Turn Red Overnight

For 3 months, us Alaskans watch in amazement as our world turns green. Because somewhere in the previous nine months of rain and snow, we forgot that the color green existed in the outside world. By mid-June, the leaves have reached their full summer bloom and the gaps between the neighbor's house and your own have finally filled in with green foliage, instead of the usual peak-a-boo views of blue tarps and junk cars. Even the stubborn brown grass from the long winter begins to show life by the end of June. Throughout July and August, the understory vegetation of willow, alder, devils club, cow parsnip, ferns, and a multitude of grasses and flowers seem to grow by inches each day. Trails and paths, which were walked on a week earlier, are now narrow green winding corridors.

Then suddenly it happens . . . . I am snapping pictures of "things that turn red overnight" . . . and I know the green season is gone.
















For more fall photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/jillcaho/FallPictures

Good Tuesday Morning . . . .

I raced back from the bus stop this morning so I could get this picture, which wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't uphill both ways, snowing, and only cardboard soles on my feet.