Well this year certainly has been less stressful. Looking back at last year I must have been crazy!
This year the plan is to install doors/windows and finish the exterior of the cabin. I have built doors and procured most of the windows from ReStore. Restore is a building material resourcing store that raises money for Habitat for Humanity. A great resource if you have some flexibility on window sizes as much of the donated material is brand new. In addition I restored an antique parlor stove plus made stairs and railings for the loft.
The building materials are set up for on site delivery, some small supplies are being shipped in advance, the doors and windows are organized in the garage and my tools are packed. This year like last year we will be hauling everything out in a U-Haul trailer pulled with the Jeep.
My Dad and brother-in-law (Rick) are driving out with me this year and spending a few days on the mountain. Looking forward to showing them around the area and for my Dad to see the cabin. Sherry and the kids are actually leaving for Seattle to visit family in advance of us and will fly into Bozeman the day my Dad flies out. But to add to the required level of preparedness, with less than a week remaining before we drive out, I need to go to Germany again on business. I will be back only one day, Sherry and the kids will already be gone, I will need to get the U-Haul packed, the house/dog ready for the time away and then off we go!
The remaining questions are less this year but still include:
* will the Icelandic volcano erupt again and delay my return to the US
* will the Jeep be out of the shop and ready for the trip
* will the stair's runners fit in the U-Haul
* will all of the supplies fit in the U-Haul
* will I still be on German time for the whole drive out
* will the raging Prickly Pear recede enough to allow passage
* will Dad get eaten by a bear when nature calls during the middle of the night
All in all the family is excited and looking forward to this year's forced labor vacation. The number of tasks are still high but the risk/stress level much lower. We hope to have more time to hike / explore and with any luck a chance to try out the new fly rod!
I hope to have plenty of pictures again this year to post and an equal amount of progress to report when we return. Until then ...
