But the next day it started to melt. Then it started to rain. The combination of the two turned some of the skidder roads into swampy creeks.

It's been a very low snow winter so far. But we did get some snow on New Years Day.

Dan started sheeting the stairwell so he could build the stairs. The first row of plywood he could reach from the stairs below.

But for the rest of the month, we had mostly gorgeous days that were sunny and dry.

Because of the weeks of dry weather, the water in the rock pit pond drained out the bottom. Leaving the ice on the top to move downward and break on the rocks below.

The fire in the LA area caused our Son and Daughter-in-law to evacuate their home for about a week and a half. But this beautiful picture was taken here at home, fortunately just of an awesome sunset.

Once the stairwell was sheeted, he started installing the stringers he had cut.

Then he made a trap door that he could lower while working on the stairwell and put a ladder on.

Which made it possible for him to sheet the wall to the top.

He also installed the concrete board on the riser wall so I could start my rock project.

We managed to work the Genie Lift around the rocks and share the space.

The stringers are 20' long and do not make the turn to go into the stairwell area.

So, he loaded a skirt board and a few stringers onto the Genie Lift, and we lifted them up to the loft.

Then we lowered them down into the stairwell.

Once I had my pattern drawn onto the cement board and the chicken wire attached, I began putting up the rocks.

On this end we left it open. We can work the cabinet layout around it and I really like the look of this corner from the entry way.

Once the skirtboards and stringers were in place, the cleats added, and the metal bracing attached, it was ready for some temporary treads.

We decided to install temporary plywood treads so that during construction our Black walnut treads (which aren't made yet anyway) wouldn't get marred up.

Dan installed the skirt board, stringer, and temporary treads around the timbers.

We wanted as much of the timber as possible to show. Later we will add paneling to cover the plywood.

He framed in the brace area on this end because it is mostly covered on the stair side and will be covered on this side with cabinets.

February 1st it started to snow. Just lightly at first.

Dan extended the plug-ins out to the edge of the rock, and I am making progress up the wall.

I am starting to see the pattern take shape. I altered the pattern from my original plan a little because I thought I might not have enough of the brown rock, but have plenty of the gray beach stone.

The stairs turned out great, even with the temp treads and no risers yet. It is awesome not to have to climb the ladder to get to the loft anymore.

The dogs are really curious about what's up the stairs. We let them go up, one at a time, to check it out.

But, while we do have a temporary safety rail around the stairs, the loft edges are still open so no playing up there yet.

The rock riser walls are coming along, and I am making it to the top in several areas.

Beautiful days all the way through the last day of January.

She jumped down into the water and rescued the ball that floated next to the ice.

And it started getting cold. The creeks developed ice dams. Which was helpful for Remi, who likes to drop her ball in the creeks and chase them. The ice keeps the ball from getting away, but BRRR.

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But slowly the snow is adding up and we are starting to have some winter.

We love getting out and playing in the snow!

We come across all kinds of tracks. These belong to a bobcat that has been hanging around and doing a little timber rat hunting in an abandoned trailer on a neighboring property. And he is welcome to all he finds!

Abby doesn't like the log foot bridge when it snows.

She uses the log instead.

By mid-February, still not much snow but plenty of cold.

Dan built me a little jig to install rocks over the windows.

I can mortar the rock to the wall in a nice level line, then remove the jig after it is well set.

Then using foam insulation cut-offs I prop up rocks and mortar them to the top to the opening, having allowed room for them to be covered by the face of the wall.

Dan added temporary shop lights to the future kitchen area on the main floor.

And turned it into a functioning shop area. Right now our real shop is a materials storage area. It also doesn't have its loft built and nor is it insulated. So, a crowded, dark, cold shop is not going to get it done!

Dan got the cement backer board up on the north riser wall, then I drew the pattern, attached the wire, and started the rock on that side.

Playing with rocks is a good way to spend a cold winters day:)

By the first of March the snow was gone, and we were hiking in the sunshine.

And it was pleasant enough to sit outside and....

watch Christine paint a beautiful picture of the mountain!

Once I am to the top of the riser wall, I can cut and fit the flagstone pieces.

This is very messy. By the time I finish a session I am covered in the white stone residue, just like the top of my shoes. Dan calls me 'ol chalky face :)

But it is worth it for the finished look.

And besides for using the messy wet saw, I kinda like fitting all the pieces together like a puzzle.

And our dogs like to put their feet up on the window sill to look out. With stone windowsills I won't have to worry about damage from doggy feet (at least once the mortar cures).

Then we started the framing in the loft. We started with the bathroom because we wanted to finish the plumbing and venting systems.

And that's what they did next. With this in place we can finish out the master bathroom and have a potty and running water on the main floor.

Dan also got back to working the timbers, as we would need them before we can continue framing in the loft.

It's not the time of year to be sanding timbers outside and sanding inside would fill the dome with dust (we already have as much as we can deal with) so they started sealing off the guest bedroom for a sanding room.

And while Dan timber framed, Mike sanded.

We have a large woodpecker working on this dead tree. I have named him "Chainsaw" because it almost looks like chainsaw art. At first it was just a couple of little holes and I didn't know who the artist was, but then I saw him working!

Winter is not quite over. With a final hurrah at the end of March, we got a little more snow.

Now that's a cold drink of water!

By the beginning of April the timber pile was beginning to grow. As they were finished they were put on the Genie lift and moved to the loft.

With some of the timbers finished they started installing. The first one was a bit tricky. It had to be mitered to fit against the dome at just the right height.

It was a compound compound cut through the mortise and tenon joint.

But after some head scratchin' and figuring, and cutting some practice cuts on 2x4s they got it!

Now you may be wondering why we just didn't move it over away from the dome a bit. Well, we couldn't because of where the cupola stairs will land. We would either have to make the stairs steeper, which we didn't want to do, or have the last step stick out into the doorway. Which is not to code and would be a tripping hazard anyway. So, they figured out the cut and made it work.

Then it was time for the next doorway. It wasn't any easier because it had to be mitered also to accommodate the stairs from the main floor below.

The timber posts have a small tenon on the bottom to keep them in place.

With mortises in the sheathing the timbers drop into place.

Just have to get them to fit into the mortises and up against the dome at the same time.

Time consuming and not without some effort, but a job done beautifully!

Next, they added some support and covered the stairway with plywood. Then they framed the wall between the two timber doorways. 

Covering the stairway put the stairs out of commission for a while.

So it was back to ladders for a while.

They built a safety rail on the north side of the loft.

They added the framing above the doorways and sheeted the wall. The wall is left open on top to give the space openness and air flow. The sleeping areas are too small for bedrooms, but I wanted to build in more privacy than an open sleeping loft.

While they had the area cleared and the stairs covered, they used a plumb bob to mark the pentagon corners on the floor. We will need these marks to build the pentagon room beneath the cupola.

Then they opened the stairs back up.

They used our dog gate railing as a safety rail on the south side. This is the side we use the Genie lift to bring up materials, so we needed a rail that is more movable.

The great PNW! Springtime is green and lush!

The early flowers are blooming, the birds are singing.

The dogs are splashing, and the frogs are croaking.

When we drew the floor plan this was going to be a vacation cabin, and we decided not to have a master bath. But once we decided to live here, we wanted one. So, the shower in the main bath was moved, our bedroom closet was moved, and this closet became a small master bathroom. 

Because of the size of the room, the door can't open inward. And it can't open out either because it will conflict with the bedroom door.

So, we are using a pocket door. But there is not enough room on either side of the door for a full-size pocket. That leaves us with the option of two conjoining pocket doors.

Then they put down the flooring so they could install the toilet flanges in the loft bathroom and in the master bathroom.

Finding 20" doors that I liked proved a little difficult. Lots of 18" and 24" but little selection in 20". I found these in a kit and Dan and Mike put them together. They needed a lot of love and it might have been faster just to build them.

But while I was looking for doors they installed cedar on the other walls.

Once we had the doors, they built the pocket wall.

Then they installed the wiring and insulated.

Once the cedar walls and pine ceiling were all in, I put on a nice finish. As soon as it cures a bit, we can put the whole thing together.

The rock on all four of the lower sills is finished.

The stone in both the living room and dining room areas is complete, including the sealer.

With no sanding going on in the sanding room (guest room), I got the stone installed in that room.