September 17: Groundbreaking day. Bulldozers at work

Don and Jimmy discussing the excavation

Excavation of the south side walkout

This is as deep as the south side's excavation will need to go

Jimmy excavating

Jimmy

Masonry heater sketch, living room side *

Masonry heater sketch, kitchen side

What I'd like to do with the southern wall of that southeastern upper floor bedroom

A front porch design Dina really liked *

Same porch, side view

Masonry heater design we both really liked

The bake oven on the kitchen side of the masonry heater

A tile sample we both liked. Since the house will use passive solar design, we'll need some good thermal mass. Dark-colored tile works very well as thermal mass, and it's easy to maintain.

Approximation of view we'll have from our deck. This pic was taken from the big oak at southern ege of site 3, but view should be similar from site 2.5, which is where we plan to build.

Plat superimposed on topographic map

Topographic survey of the building site

Topographic site survey including access road areas

Plat showing the boundaries of our land

Kailyn with wildflowers on top of knoll, spring 2005 *

Connor with wildflowers, a couple minutes later