It's Alive 2

More shots from last Friday.  First two are views from first the loft and from the main floor looking out to the lake.  Most of the windows are still covered with weather wrap.

This is a view of the screened-in porch looking through the door from the great room.  There's a sliding glass door from the master bedroom on the left.

This is a view of the loft area.  Most of the walls are now studded in.  It's pretty hard to capture in a picture anything but what appears to be random 2x4's.  Standing in the open loft area, full bath off to the left, large guest bedroom with several closets to the rear.

Here's a couple more exterior shots.  The first is of the "woods" side of the house.  Close corner is the master bath; master bedroom center two windows, and porch is the far corner.  Other shot is the front (Macy) / back (Jack) side of the house.

It's Alive!

We're on the road with Karyl & Doug in La Crosse, but we came here via Lac du Flambeau to check on progress.  The exterior walls are up as well as most of the interior studding.  It's an overwhelming sight/site.  Here's a few shots of the exterior, more to follow Monday night.

Lower Level Takes Shape

We were in DC this weekend, along with Beckett and Heather, visiting Renee and Scott.  So we didn't get to observe progress first hand.  Our builder sent us some pics of the progress this past week.  The exterior walls of the basement were installed and the floor for the first floor placed.  Can't wait to get back up there.

This shot looks toward the lake, two bedrooms will be off to the left out of the picture.

Here's a view from the lake side.  The main floor will have the same window/door appearance of the first.  Off to the right you can see one of the downstair's bedroom windows.  Above that will be the screened in porch that can be accessed via the great room or the master bedroom.

Here's the work on the main floor, floor...guess that makes sense?

1974

This is one of my favorite shots of my Dad.  All the things he loved: Up North, pipe, fishing, family.

This is an interesting shot because of the white birch, they dominate the landscape in 1974.  Things have totally changed.  The forest has gone through interesting phases...logging, then birch and poplar, then oak and pine.  Paper Birch has a lifespan of  30-40 years.  Today they are all on their last legs and have become a real problem around the buildings, branches falling constantly.  The woodpeckers love it, and it's the primary reason why the Pileated Woodpecker has become so common around the cottage, they love carpenter ants, who love rotting wood.

Solid Foundation

What a difference a week makes.  The foundation was poured, the forms came down, and the walls were back filled.  Huge sand piles from the week before were gone, and the basement has taken shape.  Tomorrow, Monday, the floor will be poured.  Tuesday the exterior walls will start to go up, they are pre-assembled at Cornerstone's (our builder) plant in Eagle River.  Next weekend we will be visiting Renee and Scott, so the next new shots after these should show a building emerging quite dramatically.

Here's a before and after on the sand piles.

Macy was clearly baffled!

The basement is huge, with 9 foot ceilings.  Maybe we should have gone the basketball court route.

Here's what the view will be from one of the downstair's bedrooms.



Here's a shot in the basement, before the floor is poured they place the drains.  The pipes are for the downstair's bathroom, floor drains, wash tub, etc.



Macy standing on, depending on your view, the front or back door...the one that faces the drive.

A shot from down below.



Driveway - 1974

The driveway path really hasn't varied much.  At this time it was a straight shot in, there was no loop.  And no garages either.

We used to go up once each winter, and until the last 5 years or so, didn't have the driveway plowed.  It was a long walk in, sometimes through 3+ feet of snow...with a large cooler.

Trailer Life

The new trailer is working out great. The site is in front of the far garage.  We have access to electricity so we can enjoy creature comforts.

The trailer has a queen sized bed, shower/bath, kitchen area, and a dining area (that converts to a double bed) with three windows which is great.  Had a fire on Saturday and made popcorn!  Umm, the cord on the bed is from the electric blanket.

Before and After

I took some shots in the fall of the cottage so we could do "before and after's" as the project moves along.  Here's an interim pair.

What Have We Done!

First reaction in pulling in the drive on Friday was the reality of what was happening.  Mixed emotions as we begin the construction.  The footings are in and they are ready to pour the foundation.

Macy wanted me to make a sand pile this year for Beckett to play in...mission accomplished!

I have a pile of my own, this is what will keep my weekends busy for a while; thankfully we have a log splitter.

We're Legal

We have to make everybody happy, the state, the county, the township, and the omnipresent Department of Natural Resources.

Beginings

The dream started in 1972 when the property was bought.  My parents had camped Up North, on a now long gone campground on Flambeau Lake, and loved the area.  The four acres were bought for $10,000 and the building began in the winter of 72-73.

Here's some shots of the cottage construction in the winter of 72-73

Deja vu, while the cottage is under construction my parents stayed in their camping trailer.

Here's a shot looking across the lagoon where the bridge now is.

Last Fire

Saturday night Macy and I built a fire and had dinner in the cottage.  This was the best fire place of all in my universe.  Cozy, warm, and always inviting.  It was the one feature of the cottage we really wanted to keep, but the remodelers we talked to just couldn't make it work.  I've got the slide projector set up and am going to start scanning slides this week for Up North shots through the years.  Look for those, I'm sure there will be lots of fireplace shots...and lots of memories.

Demo Begins

The spring load limits on the roads have been lifted, so heavy equipment can now be brought in.  Demo begins tomorrow, Monday, May 2.  One of the guys from the demo team asked if he could come and remove some things for himself ahead of time.  He's building a garage and could use about 150 cement blocks.  They also took some of the heat ducts, the copper pipe, the air conditioner, and the stove.  Macy observed if we had them get started a couple of weeks ago we wouldn't have had to pay for the demo.  Removing the blocks was all sledge hammer work, not for the faint of heart.

Here's a couple of "proof of concept" shots.  The new house will have a wall of windows on the lower level looking out to the lake.  Heather has always maintained we should have done this long ago with the cottage.  Add a window and put a bedroom downstairs.

We're headed back up next weekend, should be interesting.

More New Wheels

After looking at a lot of so called "UTV's" (Utility Terrain Vehicles I guess) the choice was very easy.  The John Deere Gator is the perfect workhorse for Up North, dump in the back and it pulls a trailer.  Bucket seats for comfy rides down to the beach.  I wonder if they have a "party wagon" option...ice maker would help too.