September 7th, 2017
We are on a roll now!
After removing the forms for the foundation, framing has started. We drive out every few days to see the progress and are impressed with the changes we see. This house is going to be a very well built home! Our builder, Anton Reichbach, owner of Richcreek Homes, states on his business card that he builds "fine Swiss quality" and it shows.
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| This is looking across the foundation of the house before the floor joists were installed. |
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| Installing the main floor beams. These babies are big timber! No squeaky floors in our house! |
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| These floor joists are resting on the large beams in the previous picture. You can see the smoke in the background from the beginning of our forest fires which are all around us now. |
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| We have power, water and internet! |
Other things happening with us.
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| Cathryn and I having dinner with friends Helen and Carol before going to a folk music concert in Glacier Park. |
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| I had quail because I had not had quail in many years. Very good! Also....very tiny! |
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| Cathryn's shrimp salad was larger than my quail! |
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| We had Helen over for dinner for her 92nd birthday and she brought the wine! She actually made this wine from a small grape arbor in her backyard. It was very good! |
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| We had a nice visit with Cathryn's cousin Jon and his son Colby from Dewitt, Iowa. |
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| A boy and his (our) dog.....very special and Annie was real happy to play with a kid! |
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| We were pleased to have a brief visit from two of our Canadian family members who were in the area attending a wedding. We were sure glad to see them and happy they they were able to stop by. Pictured above are Leslie and Rick from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Cathryn and Bart, Cathryn's son. |
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| We were invited to our friend's Gary and Carol's cabin on Flathead Lake. This picture was taken from their back deck. Very pretty! |
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| Our friends took us on a boat ride near their cabin. Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. It is 27 miles long and about 10 miles wide....very big lake! |
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| Homes on the shoreline range from mansions to cabins. There's even a 20 million dollar mansion on it's own island and another island called Wild Horse Island that actually has wild mustangs! |
The house goes up and up!
Back to the construction. Our house is a single story home but it has the appearance of a two story because of the high great room ceiling.
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| This view is from the back looking at what will be a large covered back porch. I will show you a picture of it in the next blog. |
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| This view is looking at the front where we will have a front covered porch. The round pillars are the supports for the porch beams. |
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| The large open areas will be glass so we can enjoy our expansive southeast views of the mountains and valley. |
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| Let it snow and blow. This house is not going anywhere! |
Other things going on in our part of Montana.....
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| Our resident hawk in flight. I am not sure yet what kind of hawk it is. |
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| We welcome input on what kind of hawk this is. He loves hunting the voles in our area! |
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| Annie at her happiest! She has gotten into great shape this summer swimming. |
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| This little sweetie is Phoebe, son Josh's best pal. She weighs a whole six pounds! Josh is almost 6'4"....go figure. He said she's a real "chick magnet"! |
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| #1 of two sons, Josh. We really enjoyed his visit! He just made it before the fires got crazy! |
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| Josh and I took a short hike up the Avalanche Trail in the park. |
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| Josh's hand is actually submerged in the water of Lake McDonald in the park. Crystal clear! |
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| We took Josh to Hops, a local favorite where he had a Yak Burger! |
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| I have been in this area for almost four years and only saw one bear on a hill far away. Josh comes and we see this 1000 pound grizzly bear along the road in Many Glacier! |
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| Josh taking pictures of the remaining glaciers while we were in Many Glacier on the east side of Glacier National Park. |
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| This is the Many Glacier Lodge....over 100 years old and beautiful! |
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| Josh at St. Mary's Lake in Glacier National Park looking at Goose Island in the distance. |
So we say adieu until next time with one more picture of what this area is all about......the mighty grizzly bear!
