5 year anniversary

I can't believe this project is 5 years old. 4 that I've been living here. So far, zero exterior maintenance. Soon a front patio.

redesigned barn

This is the interior of the rebuilt barn @ dennistonhill.org. My house frame was from the original barn on that site.

I've been posting new projects more regularly on: watchthehillgrow.blogspot.com.

loft and details

the view from the main floor

connection detail of galvanized pipe (with fence) to spiral staircase handrail

the bridge from below

tropical holiday

This year's tree is the closest I could come to a palm tree. The place feels warmer already. Although it looks like it is resting on the stairs, it's actually hanging from the beam above, with a soup can nailed to the bottom of the trunk for water. Mele kalikimaka (or something like that)

snapping turtle nursery

Since I built the house there is a turtle who lays her eggs against the southwest wall. I'm guessing by the size of her that she's been doing this a lot longer than I've been here, so I work around her. The local indians here were the turtle clan of the Leni Lenape tribe. Snapping turtles are amazing creatures. Like dinosaurs. You can pick them up by the tail if necessary, but stay away from the business end.

steel ball sink strainer

I replaced my kitchen and bathroom sink stoppers/strainers with some old chinese balls I had laying around.

weathering rough cut barn siding

The siding has been on for almost 3 years now. It's not been treated and will weather naturally over the years with virtually zero maintenance. I'm guessing it will last around 50+ years? The house is beginning to disappear into it's surroundings. The Corten steel beams that support the raised porch have rusted up pretty evenly and will also be zero maintenance for the life of this structure and beyond.