May 16th - Frustrations mount.... till we plan something fun

May 16th,

It has been an eventful weekend with other things occupying our time. Thoughts about the house have been on the full spectrum of stressful, to resigned, to pensive, to indifferent. We have been stuck in a weird go around regarding the replacement of the roof and the necessary repairs from the water damage. A true roof inspection can not be completed till the roof is pulled up for replacement. There are big concerns over the damage caused by a leaking skylight. While there for the inspection we noticed that the vaulted ceiling in the living room had a noticeable dip around the skylight. It wasn’t at the point of collapsing, but you could see it if you looked. (In fact it is hard to see on the pictures if you didn’t know to look for it)  

To change our frustration level we talked more about our plans to create a small cabin in the woods on the back acre. This would serve as potentially a spare sleeping space for visitors, but it’s main function would be as a writers retreat and hangout space for when friends visit. It’s been a fun little thought experiment to design a 8’ x 12’ cabin. We have to pick the right spot for it in the woods; do we put it next to the stream or along the bluff? Do we build in a deck, how many salvage windows can we find, and where can I find a sailboat stove for a touch of heat if we want it. The plan is to have it simple, rustic, yet comfortable. A lot like my cabin on the island - same size too! Candles in mason jars for lights, maybe an oil lamp if really needed. Extra mason jars for glasses for the drinks that will be consumed with favorite friends, and bins for storage of extra comfy blankets under the platform bed. A slanted roof, maybe overlaid with corrugated metal so you can listen to the rain.

With everything that is going on, it looks like the closing date must be pushed… and we are going to find ourselves in June before we get the keys. Hopefully before we leave for Europe. We talked with the current rental agency and asked about a 1 month extension, so we won’t be hard pressed to find ourselves rushing after getting back from Europe to work on the house AND move. Yet again, we are waiting to hear back from another person before we can set our own timeline.