2010: We Finally Moved to Sawbuck Acres

HEY...It took awhile but we finally made it to Sawbuck Acres!
(~1920 Dodge Touring Car found on property)

We spent the spring tying up loose ends in Missoula and packing the rest of our belongings and had to be content watching the property from our security camera.  Any movement was recorded and sent to us digitally and made for some interesting photos.  Birds, tree shadows, snow flakes, and an occasional ice chunks filled our frames and made our wait more tolerable.


Ice Thaw in April (taken by our security camera)

 Finally it was the end of May and time to make our move to Teton Valley and our home on Sawbuck Acres.  We arrive Memorial Day weekend with our 16' trailer loaded.  Cheryl had to report for a FEMA assignment the first week in June so it was hurry up, unload our stuff in the garage, then off she went to North Dakota.

Our Stuff

Ahhhh Retirement!

Not a lot of pictures were taken until Cheryl returned home in July but Jeff had been busy as was evident by all the changes.

Drying Racks for lumber....

Extra storage for the cabin...

A finished sauna.

Our focus turned toward covering our mill so in August we started building a timber frame mill cover.  Cutting trees, we hauled them to the mill, cut our beam and post parts, and Jeff started chiseling the mortise and tenons.

Jeff building a mortise.

The first bent was pretty easy.

24' tie beam for second bent.

King post.

Bent number 2 is up.

A thing of beauty!

It was about this point when Jeff and I realized we needed help finishing the mill cover and building our house.  Though our tractor "the blue hulk" was a mighty machine, Jeff and I just couldn't lift these beams safely and live to share the story.  We found a timber frame company in Driggs, and with the help of a professional tree faller from Boise, and a timber frame crew, September was a very productive month.  

Jeff and I carefully chose 48 trees for the timber frame structure of our home.  The trees were spread over the better part of our 40 acres, chosen for their diameter, and location to minimize the impact to our property. 

We liked his political affiliation!

Timber....

Our timber frame crew...

Almost done!

With our mill cover complete our focus turned to making beams for the lower level of our home.  Our goal was to complete the timber frame and enclose the lower level before winter.

Future post or beam...

Future basement timber frame!

We did take time for other projects such as.....

Building a woodshed...

Building a bird feeder....

AND Photographing October foliage!

Meanwhile, we had successfully cut all our timbers and delivered them to the timber frame shop in Driggs and they began work....it was the middle of November!  Would we beat the weather?

Drilling the peg holes.

Testing the fit.

Some of our beams and posts.

Knee brace for support post.

The date was set for our timber frame raising but weather set in and we would have to rebook.  We almost gave up, but Jeff and the "Blue Hulk" kept the driveway and 1 1/2 mile county road blown open just in case the stars aligned.  The first time he blew the road open it took him 5 hours.  He came back frozen and tired but successful.  It was easier after that, but still took 3 hours to make it to the bottom of the hill and back.  The bottom of the hill, 1 1/2 miles from our driveway, is where our mailbox is located and where the county winter road maintenance ends.

Jeff and Kilo blowing the driveway.

Blow that snow!

Then on December 7th we got our chance.  The weather would cooperate for at least 3 days.  And so the story goes.....

The timbers arrive...

Unloading...

The 1st of three bents...

Setting the knee brace...

What fun...

The 2nd bent...

Raising the 3rd bent...

Dubbed the Atlas post for its
structural importance...

One of my favorite photos....

The lower level timber frame!

After the timber frame was completed we started work on the floor and walls.  Our goal:  To get the lower level winter proofed.

2x8's made from our mill....

The floor....

The walls infill the frame.

The crew and the obligate fir bough crowning the frame.

I'd say "we are ready for winter" but I think winter is already here.  The weather held until the last day.  By 1:00 PM it was snowing pretty hard.  We could sit back, drink a beer and watch it snow with a content feeling of accomplishment.  We had finished what we set out to do early this summer.

At the close of 2010, we are living our dream......