2019
1-1-19
For Dan's Christmas/Birthday I commissioned a wood carving by Robert at "Knot Just A Bear" of a bullfrog that says "Welcome to the Timber Dome Lily Pad". He was carved from a Western Red Cedar burl and he weighs 200+ pounds.
The Lily Pad Theory
When we first bought the property where the dome is now I assumed we would immediately sell the other cabin (seemed logical right?). Then Dan explained the lily pad theory to me. He said it's like you're a bullfrog sitting on a lily pad in a pond, you don't want to just jump into the pond until you have another lily pad to jump to. He elaborated this theory and would tell his theory to anyone asking if we were now selling the old cabin. (I think he was just making sure he always has an elk camp). This year we will hopefully be switching lily pads.
Right now he sits on our deck at home. He needs to dry out, get a final sand, and get some finish on before moving to the dome.
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Dan named the bullfrog "Jeremiah", but I just call him "Froggy" because so far he hasn't shared his wine, although I hear he always has some mighty fine wine.
We lost Mongo on the 30th of January.
Rest In Peace our beautiful, big, sweet dog.
It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are. -Anonymous-
2-13-19
Dan purchased this stationary mortiser today.
He has been looking for this model for some time. They discontinued it about five years ago. This one is brand new. The previous owner only drilled a couple of test holes with it. Dan will use it to make timber frame style furniture and our front door.
2-14-19
The next day I found a pre-electricity ice box. I've been looking for just the right one for awhile (not too big, not too small, and not too expensive). I want to include it in my antique timber frame kitchen as a liquor cabinet.
2-17-19 The dome through the trees.
3-3-19
View from the cupola window.
We've had as much as ten feet of snow this year!
3-10-19
Bruce trying to keep up with Mother Nature.
3-18-19
The sun is shining and the snow is starting to melt.
4-20-19
No big plans for the 1st weekend after tax season. We hauled a load of lumber for the generator shed and did some pruning.
Bruce cleared the pile of old logs by the gate.
Then we went to Maui with some friends (no not the birds, actual friends).
While in Maui we island hopped to the big island and met up with a fellow dome dweller, Karen. Jerome (our dome roofer) was also her dome roofer 19 years ago and they have remained friends. She had contacted us for some expansion ideas and we took the opportunity to go meet her and see her dome.
She has a beautiful dome on the side of a mountain about 3000 feet up. Her dome has many windows and skylights and feels very open. She says she feels like she is in a tree house with all the views through her windows. I have to agree, it is a wonderful space.
5-27-19
Back home and with a lack of tropical weather, we started on the generator shed. Bruce and Dan built walls on the carport floor.
Then Bruce moved them into place with his tractor.
6-1-19
Today they started the rafters. I took this picture through the guest bedroom window.
Making progress.
I'm so tired of mice I decided to get a cat.
OK, so not really, this is photoshopped.
6-9-19
But this is not. This cougar visited our neighbors place one morning.
6-15-19
Saturday morning we had to turn around and take the Suburban home. The test results say it needs a heart transplant (new engine).
Bruce came by our house during the week and towed our loaded trailer to the dome for us.
6-22-19
Then on the weekend Bruce used his tractor (that tractor has a thousand uses) to help Dan unload our new woodstove into the basement and our 10K generator into our new shed.
Details, Details,Details
Cutting and fitting bird blocks (blocking to keep the birds and everything from coming in between the rafters).
Trimming and sanding the timber pegs in the bedroom frame.
We've decided to do some regrading of the driveway. This plan will allow enough room to still swing around while towing the trailer, even after building steps off the front of the entry deck.
Drone Pictures!
I have a drone that can take pictures from above the dome. But.... so far all I've learned to do is to crash. So these awesome pictures are from Doug's drone.
7-5-19
Concrete forms ready to be filled. Dan built jigs to hold bolts in the right place while they pour the concrete.
This will be the pad for the propane tank.
Mike, Bruce, and Dan mixed and poured concrete for both slabs.
The porch slab ready for its timber frame. (well, almost)
The other slab ready for its propane tank.
7-7-19
We had a party in the dome! Our Maui group, some Northwoods neighbors, dome neighbors, and Grandson all joined us for a Mountain top luau. (Unfortunately I didn't think to get a picture till half our party had left).
7-19-19
Dan and Bruce dug 170 feet of trench for propane lines.
Our propane tank was delivered the day before we dug the ditches, then on the 23rd they installed the gas lines in the ditches.
7-24-19
We got the Suburban back with a new engine and raring to go.
We now have propane lines into the house, into the shop, and into the utility shed.
Then they backfilled all the ditches.
And dug some new ditches. They moved the controller for the well pump into the utility shed and exposed the corner of the water cistern.
8-10-19
Using a core drill they drilled two holes in the end of the water cistern.
8-11-19
They moved the hydrant over and installed a valve box.
Buck helped me do a little landscaping.
Dan finished the trim on the bathroom dormer and started the trim on the riser walls.
Bruce sided, caulked, and painted both pellet stove chimney chases.
Dan learned to cut threads on pipe.
8-25-19
They installed propane gas piping for generators and a light.
Dan got to hear his 10K generator run for the first time.
One hole for the water fill pipe and one hole for the wiring for a float switch and level gauge.
8-31-19
Next came plumbing the pipe through the tank using a bulkhead fitting.
Which meant Dan had to go down into the tank.
Then all the ditches could be backfilled.
Meanwhile during the week, Bruce has been working on the deck. The steel deck joists didn't work out perfectly and Bruce is cutting off the joists that are out too far.
He is using a portaband (portable band saw) to make the cuts.
Then he is attaching pressure treated wood extensions and lining them up evenly.
Pressure treated boards are added for structure then later Trex facia trim boards will cover the pressure treated boards.
Ooops. Some of our measurements from the job site got washed at home...........
Trimming with Trex goes slow because every screw hole has to be pre-drilled.
9-21-19
Both North and South window arrays and riser walls are trimmed and we have a start on the siding for those areas.
The ground around the shed is all smoothed out. The roof has Grace on it and metal drip edge. The brown paint is complete with some green trim left to finish. The timber frame porch is still in progress in the shop.
The rock work in my driveway flower bed is complete. I will add more plants in the spring.
This little guy seems to like the bed so far.
9-14-19
At the end of the day we watched this owl hunt for it's evening meal on the south slope below our deck.
9-29-19
September snow.
Hauled insulation and furring strips to the dome. We decided we should get some materials on hand just incase we get real snow that sticks around for awhile.
10-2-19
Dan finished the timber frame surround for the french door.
10-5-19
Bruce adds flashing to the opening, Dan prepares the door for raising.
After raising the frame they used jacks to position the opening and add support framing. This support transfers weight in the opening to where it should be.
10-12-19
The wall is framed, sheathed, and the fiberglass french door is installed.
Because of a design change in the kitchen we had extra timbers. We are using some of them for the utility shed porch and three of them here.
Because the timbers we used were 8 x 8 they do not show on the outside of the wall, but that is ok because this side gets more extreme weather and they will be better protected inside.
10-26-19 Bruce finished all the prep work on the deck perimeter and He and Dan hung the facia boards. It now has a nice finished look.
Now onto a project I have been wanting to do for some time. Earlier this summer I had to have surgery on an injured finger, then I had a bad case of Vertigo for about five weeks.
So my project got delayed.
Woodstove area at end of rec room in basement.
The project includes: A brick hearth & apron, large arch over woodstove, small arch picture/candle shelf, wood storage, room for a preheat water tank, all in a stone surround.
Several years ago I began gathering rocks from a friends' property. There is no road access so I carried some out whenever I took a walk.
To keep track of how much rock I had gathered, I laid the rock onto a board that was one square yard, took a picture and marked it's number, then stacked it on a pallet.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
etc, etc.....
Because I dont always walk in the same area, and I knew I had lots of time, it took a couple years to reach my goal.
10-20-19
Dan & Bruce insulated the wood stove area and installed a fresh air intake vent for the woodstove.(code says all solid fuel burning stoves must have one)
Then they sheathed the walls with concrete board and built a hearth.
In the shop at home, Dan cut two ellipses in the plywood front and blocking to frame around the arches.
They attached the blocking to the front of the arch.
We have three vents at the top of the wall to allow warm air to escape from behind the arches.
After they completed the framing for both arches...
They hung more concrete board on the back of the arch wall.
And added the rest of the plywood sheathing to the front.
Then Dan built a shelf and enclosed the wood box.
I grouted the brick.
After cutting and glueing down the brick pavers...
11-8-19 Dan and Bruce installed the bender board.
While they were doing that, I laid out the arch wall.
My rock pile.
After all the substrate was built I used a crown stapler and finished attaching one inch mesh chicken wire.
11-8-19
Then I finally got the first rocks installed.
11-9-19
11-10-19
11-11-19
11-12-19
11-13-19
While I was working on my masonry project Dan and Bruce were working on insulating the exterior basement walls. They beveled and fit in rigid foam insulation.
Dan used a roto hammer to drill holes into the concrete walls.
Then using spring nails he attached horizontal cleats securing the insulation to the wall.
Using screws he attached vertical cleats. Thus making a void for wiring and gas lines and insulating with a material that won't grow mold and mildew.
11-16-19
Our grandson Austin got his first Buck.
Dan made electrical box extensions so the boxes would be even with the rock.
I got a start on the columns.
Past my candle shelves on the back wall.
Working on the wood box entrance. Making progress on the back wall and columns.
Concrete trumps gravity.
It's a balancing act.
To the top of the wall.
More gravity issues. Using insulation cutoffs, I prop the rocks into place.
We needed more timbers for the front door and window surround. Dan ordered these from a sawyer named "Sticks". They are 8 x 12's so they will protrude and be visible both inside and out.
12-6-19
I got the shelf brick pavers cut and mortared in.
Working my way up the arch is slow but awesome.
I was able to tie up some smaller rock on the backside. That should help speed things up a tiny bit.
Got all the pavers cut and glued up to the back of the picture shelf. Had to do this step twice. The first time the paver bond didn't stick (too cold I think) and all the bricks fell when the spacers were removed. Now there stuck on with Liquid Nails and aren't going anywhere. Just waiting to be grouted.
11-24-19 I was really moving right along. Feeling good about my progress. Finally back on a project. And then...................................
11-25-19
I slipped in the mud while out walking, fell into the ditch on some rocks and broke my arm in two places. Dang it.
Later that day our grandson also injured his wing at a wrestling meet. Everyone pitched in and we still had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
12-8-19
Since my masonry project is now on hold for 6 to 8 weeks we decided to install the stove. It's been about 46 in the basement. Not too bad to work in if you keep moving but a little heat would be nice.
o
Dan attached a cleat to the ceiling joists and lifted the stove free from the pallet and blocking and a little closer to the hearth.
After placing some plywood and supports under the stove he lowered it and moved the come-a-long to the other end of the cleat.
The second time it was raised it swung a little over the hearth and he was able to scootch it into place.
Then he measured up for the stove pipe. We will get that ordered and hopefully get it all hooked up next time up.
We spent our Anniversary in Leavenworth, WA
Hiked up Icicle Ridge.
Stayed at Cashmere B & B
And had a wonderful time.
A little here, a little there.
12-14-19
No snow until we got to the last hill. It was snowing a little at the dome, but nothing compared to the 5' we had last year at this time.
"Look Mom, snow. Let's play!"
Dan got our new stove pipe installed and we had our first fire in our woodstove.
AAHHH warmth....
Merry Christmas eveyone!
We had a wonderful Christmas celebration with all our kids and grandkids :)
I feel really good about all our progress at the dome this past year and I'm excited for the new year. I get my cast off January 6th and I can hardly wait.