The House
A few months after starting this blog, I wrote about The Cabin. I grew up in a cabin in the backwoods of Montana, with no electricity and no running water. I lived there for 16 years before moving to Oregon for my last two years of high school. As you can imagine, this makes for a good story now that I'm a programmer by trade.
Since I'm between clients right now, I decided to head back to the cabin to see my parents for a bit. My Dad retired in 2009 and my Mom in 2010. They started building their retirement home just up the hill from the cabin in 2004. My parents moved in two years ago and completed enough of it to show it off at a big party before Trish and my wedding last year.
The House is a majestic building, hand-built and beautifully crafted. Both the interior and exterior are amazing, with gorgeous trim and a wonderful attention to detail. The porch is possibly the best in the world, high and mighty with a great view of the cabin and garden below.
The interior is similar to the cabin I grew up in, but much more spacious. There's a wood cook stove, a heat stove on every floor and two indoor bathrooms. It was super nice to avoid walking to the outhouse in the sub-zero temperatures during my stay.
The main floor, pictured above, is warm and cozy this time of year. The upstairs, where the bedrooms are, is quite roomy and beautifully decorated. It's full of light and has a nice lanai deck facing west.
The power and water systems supplying the house are all on-demand. The Kohler generator fires up when the batteries need charging and the water pump turns on when the washing machine or dishwasher run. There's an on-demand water heater as well. Solar panel charge the batteries when the sun is shining. A good charge will power lights, internet and the TV for around 24 hours. The generator, and the backup generator, are all powered by propane.
My favorite thing about The House is everything from my childhood is still nearby. The sauna that was built in 1917, the cabin that was built the following year. There's the log barn my Dad built one winter when he couldn't find work and the Toyota Land Cruiser that we'd rooster tail down the snowy back road to get us home in the dead of winter.
My parents built a whole new house and it still feels like home. On today, their 42nd anniversary, I'd like to say Well Done! You created a wonderful paradise in the mountains of Montana. I'm extremely proud of you.