The Wee {bit bigger} House

This week ushered in June 1^st.  It’s rainy and cold in the tip of the Mitten State.  Blackberry winter continues.

It’s been well over a month now since I moved into the “new place” - the Wee {bit bigger} House.   It is my new home – and it has been a long-awaited {and much desired} move. 

It’s taken many months (18+) to get to this point, but the day has come.  And surprisingly, I am getting fiercely attached to this circular building which is beginning to house my few-but-precious earthly treasures.  

In a nutshell, it began as a well house years ago, which was turned into our tiny Wee House.  

In an effort to bring about more living space, Russ built another circular building around the original Wee House, which we referred to as the “outer Wee” during the past year.  {See this post for more on this…}

There are the same cubbies and nooks and crannies that the original Wee House sported, but this is bigger, and has the feel of…well…, nothing I’ve ever been in before.  

As of this past week, it is sporting a new Forest green roof – installing is compliments of Russ and the quality metal was obtained/purchased at my Amish friend’s metal shop.  Never before have we been so “fancy” in building materials.  

Today it’s early morning and I’m sitting on a comfortable “Russ-made” wooden swing, looking out one of two big picture windows.  Directly across from me is a wall which holds a 9’ “Russ-made” sign saying “Thank You God”.  A good reminder as the day begins…  In addition, a thermos of hot, black coffee is at my feet, ready for retrieval.  Life is good.  

My view this morning is to the West, taking in a lush green field, bordered by deciduous mature trees in the distance.  Three (3) Bluebird houses skirt the west side of the Wee, and provide joy and awe in seeing their beautiful show of color, and dedication to their nesting sites.

As for the Wee {bit bigger} House…it’s like all our buildings.  It is done when the materials are available.  If they aren’t available, we wait.  Living mortgage free is important to us both. 

As for the main “ingredient”, the lumber is from our woods.  Russ cut the trees needed, planed the boards to specifications on his sawmill, and constructed the circular addition.  There are nearly a dozen different kinds of wood in this new addition {Ash, Basswood, Birch, Beech, Cherry, Soft Maple and Hard Maple, Red Pine and White Pine, Douglass Fir, Ironwood and Popple…}.  Windows and such are salvaged from discards from other folks.   All the furniture is also “Russ-made”, with the exception of an old Hickory Amish Rocker, obtained years ago.  

As I mentioned, the building sports two big windows facing every way but North.  Mornings have become even more of a blessing, as I sit and watch the world come alive.   Living in the woods, as I did in the main cabin, is quite different than having the sun slip in overhead through two tiny windows that face Northeast and flood the room with the morning sun.  I am loving this “open field” living.  I awake to the rising sun and song birds.  It feels heavenly.  As I am typing this, the sound of a light rain on our new metal roof adds to the melancholy whistle of the train that is passing through our small town, two miles from here.  Those are two sounds that I dearly love, especially when combined.

My bedroom yields a queen size bed, covered with two of my favorite quilts.  One  was lovingly made by my childhood close-as-a sister friend, and the other is an Amish-made quilt, stitched by a dear lady who I met nearly 30 years ago, Anna, mother of Levi. 

The kitchen area is perfect.  It reminds me of a trapper-cabin kitchen.  My favorite part is an old stainless steel table {another discard} that Russ built into the counter top.  That is where I make my morning coffee and toast.  Depending on which way you walk around in the circle layout, you will view a fireplace, which cozies up to the kitchen counter on the other end of the stainless steel counter.  

As for anything fancy – no running H20 in the sink yet, but it is accessed at a station within the Wee.  It is still a “haul and heat” situation for using water for dishes or bathing.  As of now, my “new” claw foot bathtub is still outside, waiting for a “new look” before being brought in.  In addition, outhouses still reign.  {We don’t make a big fuss about bathroom use in these parts.}  Russ is currently constructing a new outhouse that is circular and will match the Wee in its uniqueness.  I can’t wait to see it completed!  

I also look forward to learning to cook with even less “modern” appliances in the future.  As for now, we are in “camping mode” until everything is 100% completed.  I would say we are at 75% at this time.   Russ may say less… 

We do have electric here, although the use is minimal, with a bill to match - thank you very much.  Added lights will be gas/kerosene/solar, etc.  

Our original cabin is down the lane - 300 feet from where I reside.  I will have to do some math to figure out how many miles I walk each day as I forget something at the cabin or vice versa, or move things to the Wee.  Eventually, everything will be where it should be.  

Since Zip has passed on, petite-sled-dog Skunk has taken her place {almost}.  She spends most her nights with me, but then hangs out {loose} with the 3 boys in the dog yard during the day.  {Dawg/Malakai/Knik}  It’s like a big “play pen” for her.  The boys enjoy it, and it makes the dog yard more fun, having her in there.   Our two aged Siberians, 14-year old Doug and Libby, are in an adjoining large area that is also part of the dog yard.  They are enjoying the freedom of being together and romping about when the others play, mirroring their movements.

I have been very careful with this move to not bring in anything more than I need.  I love living a minimal lifestyle and it is showing.  All I need are my books/letter writing materials/this new-to-me laptop {albeit not connected to the Internet}/and basic kitchen and canning equipment.  My entire seasonal wardrobe fits in a Rubbermaid tote, or on a nail.  {I haven’t used hangers in years.}  My books and my letter ministry keep me very busy and fulfilled.  I don’t usually have a phone nearby.  Truth is…I abhor phones.  Never have liked using them.   ‘Nuff said on that subject.

So summer is upon us, and it will be exciting to see what it will bring.  We are living in some amazing times…seeing the Bible played out before our very eyes.  We need to be focused on God, and not be distracted by  “itching ears”.  As Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy, it applies today, perhaps even more so… :  “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:  Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears , they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  {Emphasis added by me.}  2 Timothy 4:1-5

If you don’t know Jesus…don’t delay.  Take a quiet moment to stop and think about what it will take to let Him into your life.  Have you heard Him knocking on your heart?  Don’t be distracted…focus and follow.  Your life depends on it.  We are but a vapor…but eternity lasts forever.  Do you wish to spend it with Him?  Take that step now…before it is too late...or the knocking ceases…  {If you wish to have assistance in this…leave a comment as to how I can connect with you.}

Grace be with you.  Amen.

Sherry

P.S.  More on living an obedient life soon.  

P.S.S.  Russ just arrived with a handful of purple lilacs in hand.  Oh how the beautiful aroma of this yearly gift fills the air.  Thank you God.  And Russ for taking the time to think of me, and knowing how much this would please me.