Well, I will come up for air–although briefly–to type a few words. Most of you know the story of me building the cottage by if you don’t, here is the background to this story.

Many things have been stressful about building the cottage. Yes, I know it was my fault to venture out on such an undertaking, a single, weak, old man trying to do this alone. But this building has served me and my cancer well. Although the final name of the cottage will be, The Cottage at Loch Eyre (reflecting on the old Scottish stone cottage style I hope to mimic) I am giving it, for now, a more practical name of “The Good Medicine Cottage.”

The challenge, the planning, the work has all but pushed out thoughts of cancer and my sad state of health. I’ve never been busier than I have in the past 8 weeks. While before I had to discipline myself to exercise, now I work hard six hours per day and fall in bed exhausted. Every muscle and joint in my body hurts.

The intensity of my work had to multiply when I heard three weeks ago that my son had gathered a work team to put up the massive roof panels for last week. I had so much to do to get ready for them and I only had two weeks to do it. Now that the panels are on, I must work like a dog (my dog doesn’t work, ever) to get ready for a roofer, if I can ever find one.

But I will share these amazing photos of the roof in place. I am looking forward to having a final metal roof on so I can slow down and enjoy the more artsy part of cottage building. I’ve also been collecting stones from throughout the region (a lot come from a “Chuckanut Deposit” of sedimentary rocks on the flanks of Mount Baker).

Mike