Patience is a Virtue

..... so I'm told and they have been tested during the last 7 days. Last week was busy backfilling the foundations and landscaping the terrain around the cabin.  It took longer than expected but I am pleased with the finished product. It would be remiss of me not to mention Mark, who did all the work single handedly. He worked tirelessly and set himself the highest standards to ensure a good job. Well done and thank you Mark.

A Bob Cat was brought in to do the work and we started with the garage ......

... building a ramp to get over the wall in order to fill and impact the inside ready for the concrete flooring.

With such a small piece of equipment, the process took three and bit days but the end product was well crafted and impacted.  It is just a shame that small parts of it will have to be dug up for the septic tank and piping system and the electrical and water pipes.

What it now looks like from the lake side,

the back of the garage,

the front of the garage and the house looking across what will eventually be the extension to the driveway .........

.... and the garage itself, cleaned up ready for final preparations for the concrete floor (steel bars etc). 

I also decided to put a cover over the stair well in a vain attempt to stop the rain from getting into the basement.  On Friday night there was a huge downpour and a little got in through the cracks between the floor boards but this will evaporate away quite quickly.  I am not too concerned but I would prefer snow now as this can be swept off the floor before it soaks into the boards.

The utility trailer which is serving as tool store and ......

......  garage for the quad ..... 

..... which I have been using for cleaning up the yard.

On the personal front I have closed the trailer (caravan) down for the winter and moved into a cabin provided gratis but my builder about 20 minutes away from the Ranch.  Thank you Owen, a very generous and kind gesture for which I am very grateful.  At least I will be able to have a warm shower at the end the day. In preparation for all the hard work that lies ahead next week I went for a soak in the hot springs at Fairmont and came back much refreshed.

By the time most of you read this posting I am 90% certain that we will have started to stack the logs.  Last Saturday we went down to Eureka in Montana to pick up the last bits and pieces we need to start; the bulk caulking gun (applicator) and the final installment of 2,250 12" special steel screws for locking the logs together along their length.

Next week is going to be busy and exciting and I'll take loads of photos to show you the process and progress as it develops and will post again next weekend.