Ariel designs, cutting and labeling each board to assemble a custom kit for the latest structure.
Tim joins, assembling pieces and raising walls.
Over the mud, under the tarp, the building grows from the ground. Rushing methodically in a race against rain, wind, and snow.
The two-story tower is dried-enough in just in time for Christmas break. The frenzy of activity stalls and is replaced by warm laughter in a warm house filled with family. The project can stand alone for a few days rest and celebration.
The crowd of family thins and construction resumes, now with added hands. Tim and Alice wrap the house with Tyvek, Joy and Rich start on the roof.
Rich, still in recovery from his health, shows no signs of slowing down with a hammer in one hand and nail-gun in the other. Together, the roof takes shape.
A porch is coming together, the next stage is a staging area for the roof and second story. Joy and Rich show a glimpse into the Childers' future as they too work together into the night, being a second set of hands for each other for over 30 years of projects.
Ariel and Tim remember all this work is for fun and for our future. It might not always be cheaper, faster, or better to do things ourselves but we always learn more.
With extra hands we have extra teams to get the project over the hump of 'overwhelming' to the land of 'nearly there'.
Tim and Alice-Mom lay out the porch, Ariel and Joy-Mom dig and level pier blocks for the stairs.
Tim tacks the windows in to place,
Ariel screws the door into place,
Tilly watches us all as we work through the cold and early nights.
With walls, roof, windows and doors, the well-house is done-enough on the outside and ready for some interior work.
We bleached the well, wired the hot water heater, and switched on our first hot shower on our own property. After our year of hard work, out land was giving back to us in a tangible way as we stood on the pallet floor in the great outdoors surrounded by steam and trees.
