[poppycorn]

I am ecstatic! Here's the story: In spring of 2001, while in the midst of a nasty divorce, I bought a lot in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, an hour 45 minutes from my house. I didn't have much in the way of money and had no clue what my financial situation would be, but I did it anyway. Within a year, comparable lots were selling for 10 times what I paid. Having little cash to work with, and no experience doing anything of the sort, I asked a lot of questions and read a lot of books and designed and drew up plans for a cabin that would make the most of the steep lot. A contractor did the framing, rough plumbing, exterior siding and installed the main electrical panel. I've done everything else myself on weekends and vacations. Except the insulation. I hired that out (then had to reinstall each piece to make it right). Since I do so much of the work myself, again asking questions and reading books, it has been pretty affordable to build, buying supplies a little at a time out of the grocery money.

Well, this week I passed my sheetrock nailing inspection. There's only one inspection left, and that's the final. There is still a huge amount of work to be done to get it finaled, but this is major milestone in the project.

Here's some pictures. These are older photos, I don't get icicles anymore now that the insulation is in and of course the sheetrock is all up now. Gotta love that polka dot wallpaper! I'm going to use my tax return money to get someone else to do the mud & tape this spring, from the little bit I've done, I'm slow, incompetent and hate doing it. But I thoroughly enjoy doing the electrical and finish work.

We call it the Moose's Treehouse because of the view and my fondness for moose.