Is It A Cabin Yet?

Well, no.  But things are definitely progressing since much earlier in the year when we were waiting for the robins to move out and while trying to decide if we had poison ivy or not.

Several weeks ago we finally posted our building permit, examined the property after the arborist came and felled dead trees, and staked out the cabin footprint for the backhoe to come and dig a hole.

We have had the permit for some time now, but because nothing had been started yet, we figured it would be better to keep it at home in a safe place rather than getting weathered out at the property nailed to a tree.  Here, the 'special moment' when work can officially begin, Mr. Confessions is putting up the permit.

We were at the lot the day after the arborist had come to take down our trees.  So sad.  But it had to be done.  Many of them were over 40 years old and dead or dying in the center, and several others were already dead. 

It looks like a giant tree graveyard, but thankfully we will be planting more once the ground has been re-levelled after the building is more complete.

In terms of a timeline, the trees were chopped down and the cabin staked out 4 weeks ago, the hole was dug for the footings 2 weeks ago, the cement was poured for the footings 1 week ago, and the ICF frames for the foundation were laid out yesterday.  However, we are uncertain of the day between when the cement was poured and when the ICF forms were delivered that we had a special visitor check out our new/their new digs...

It seems that our resident Mr. Fox decided he needed to be certain that Mr. Confessions and his crew were doing a good job.  The inspection circles the entire footprint of the cabin's footings and is right in the new cement.

At least Mr. Fox was kind enough to wait until the cement had hardened a bit before beginning his route (you can click the picture for a better view).  It would have been awful for the footings and the fox if the cement was fresh!  Our neighbours across the street have a clear view into our lot right now (no trees, no building does that), and they have told us many a time of the fox's adventures as he trots around our property, sleeps in the dirt pile, and wanders across the street to their place sniffing about and keeping his surroundings in check.

First robins, then skunks (yes, skunks, but thankfully they didn't end up staying at our place), and now a fox!  Too funny!  In the end though, with the fox's contribution to the cabin's quality control we have decided to name our home away from home "Fox Hollow".