June 1 of last year I moved into my retirement home. Had I known then what I know now, I may have waited for one more winter to pass.
But I survived and thoroughly enjoy each and every day. (http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z314/Bowferd/DSC02716.jpg)
How fortunate we are in this time and place we live, to be able to choose our own lifestyle and destiny.
Wanted to share a bit of this with all of my friends.
God Bless.
Fred
The first year with no indoor plumbing and 2 space heaters to keep me warm in the coldest winter in Nebraska for the past 25+ years.
You'll never guess what purpose this served. (http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z314/Bowferd/DSC02718.jpg)
OK, Half of you got it right. (http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z314/Bowferd/DSC02717.jpg)
I still haul water from town because the well isn't drilled yet, but the inside is becoming real comfortable. (http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z314/Bowferd/DSC02719-1.jpg)
Took a walk today down by the creek looking for sheds and did a bit of stumping. Killed a couple stumps, found no sheds. (http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z314/Bowferd/DSC02750.jpg)
With all the winter snow melt and over 2" of rain this past weekend, the beaver dam's got demolished, but those guys are busy rebuilding. (http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z314/Bowferd/DSC02749.jpg)
And now Spring is here. I love it. And by next year, I hope to have indoor plumbing.
Looks like your on your way to a great home.I spent 2 winters without heat.Its hard to turn in bed when you got like 10 blankets on top of you HA HA.I know that much.
Enjoy the warmer weather and your crib.Looks rustic and open inside.I like it
It looks like a great Cave Fred! Keep us posted on progress!
Great looking place-shaping up very nicely!
Looks like the little house with the fancy bench let in quite a breeze "Down South" :scared: :rolleyes:
Bet you didn't read too many TBM's while setting in there :wavey:
now thats what i call a man cave!! :campfire: :campfire:
Over here in OZ you would have a Bloody big Red Back spider under that seat LOL But It is to cold for our critters were you are. Looks like a great spot to enjoy the world.
Clint
Good stuff, no pleasure without sacrifice.
It is always a great pleasure for me, when I see people who keep up the spirit, even though they are in an unfortunate situation. I really, really mean that.
I'm jealous , your're living my dream .
Fred
Doesn't get any better than that. ;)
I like it. Looks like ya got a hunting buddy in the first pic.
It's good to be the king ! :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Clinglish:
Over here in OZ you would have a Bloody big Red Back spider under that seat LOL
Clint
Clint - it's gonna be difficult to get that thought out of my head!!!!!!
Great looking hangout.......wish I had one!
All of that is breaking you in for hunting camp! Keep us posted I would leave the Tyvec up it will keep the thieves away they will think you have nothing...LOL
Looks a lot like the cabin we lived in last year! We hauled water, too.
Its not a bad way to live. Simplicity has its perks.
Fred, What a great place!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
I would love to be on the adventure that you are on there. Your floors really look fantastic.
Any more pics??? Maybe a build along....
Way to go. I agree: what a great place we live in that we are free to make choices about where and how we live.
That will be a great place(HOME)!!!!!!!!!
MAY THE SPIRIT OF FRED BEAR GUIDE OUR ARROWS.
There is no place like home and especially if you built it :thumbsup: Keep us updated, got any turkeys running around there ?
A wonderful work in progress.
You have great character.
John
You are waayy tougher than I. Glad you made it through this winter!
Sir, that is one fancy outhouse! Our camp has a vintage 1968 outhouse, complete with cobbwebs and old 1970's hunting mags. I love a good outhouse, no one knocking, no plunger needed, and the cold breeze makes me appreciate the woodstove when I return to camp!
You have one nice home! And I didn't spot a phone(?), good for you!!!!
Hey you guys, Thanks for all of the great encouragement.
My 2 sons and son-in-law helped build this from the ground up, literally.
We dug the footings 3' deep and 15" wide originally but got flooded out before we could get them poured. So we redug the muck out after it settled and ended up with the same depth but 2' wide.
The footings were all insulated with 2" foam insulation. The floor was poured 6" thick with fiber reinforced concrete over a vapor barrier and 2" foam insulation.
The heating system will eventually be hydronic floor heat. 1/2 PEX pipe was tied to the rebar
on 12" centers and 4 seperate zones incorporated so that I can vary the temperature. 2 zones in the shop area and 2 zones in the living area.
Still a lot of work remaining but feel we did it right the first time.
The floor in the living area is 16" slate chosen for heat transfer.
A good area for deer and turkey on the property and watch them most every early morning thru the patio door.
Found my hunting partner in the pic the first week I moved in. He was just a little tike and had been abandoned. I didn't have any cat food so out came the tuna and milk.
I will admit that before I broke into my stash of white albacor, I was forced to go into town and purchase cat food.
I feed him once a day whether he needs it or not.
He has and will remain an outdoor companion. A ton of wild cats around and I run off all the rest.
Fred
Bud,
That is one sweet spread you have in progress... Sure looks like paradise to me..
Congratulations on Livin the Dream... Keep us posted..
:campfire: :campfire:
Fred,
Looks great. Will have to try to get together for some stumping one of these times.
Craig
As hard as some aspects of it may be... Im really jealous...Thats wat I want to do upon my retirement......
Good Luck Bud
D