Our First Summer in the Sierra

We're still in the thick of summer. It's been in the 90's all week, and we haven't had a drop of rain here since June. But even though the dry, dusty heat will still be around for a while, the fact that today is Labor Day makes me feel like our first summer on the land is coming to a close. I'm starting to think about what the trees will look like in the fall, and of course, what we will do in the winter...

This past week we reached two major milestones. On August 27th, a crew of PG&E electricians pulled the wire to our electrical panel that had been standing, ready and waiting, for a full month. Finally we are energy independent! From the neighbors that is... We are planning to build a passive solar home and have a few solar panels in the future, but at the moment, our connection to the grid is necessary, and a huge accomplishment.

We reached the second milestone this morning, when Scott turned on the water! He completed the truly monumental task of digging a trench for our water line from the street (where we are hooked in to city water) back to the home and barn site. That's roughly 600 feet of trenching that was done in 1 day with a rented chain trencher, and then took another 4 weeks of hand digging and chopping and cutting. Scott has worked harder than I've ever witnessed anyone work in my whole life. I mean, I know that people have done harder work and for longer time, but this is far beyond what any normal American man would do today... some might suggest it was stubborn pride or economic hardship that drove him do this work himself, instead of hiring a backhoe and driver to do it, quick and dirty... but I know it is because there was a sense of wanting to know our land... truly Know it... that kept him digging and learning. It also allowed him to install the water line with minimal damage to the surrounding trees by digging under or around many of the larger roots. I'm convinced that his efforts saved the lives of our beautiful madrone trees along the driveway, and will keep several of our towering pines from falling in a winter storm.

Other new developments to the homestead include the addition of my parent's camper! They left it here indefinitely before heading back to Germany, and we have been spoiled by the bigger bed, kitchen with an actual stove (something we didn't even have in Berkeley!!) and a shower. Don't get me wrong... its not luxurious. We live in single file and the shower's so small you can't bend over to wash your feet. But, hey, it's a lot more than we had before. We still live in the tent for all other purposes, drafting table, office, living room and play room. Also, it makes great guest quarters and has been employed for that use on many occasions this summer.

When we started planning this move, back at the beginning of the year, I think Scott and I both imagined that our first summer would be slow and long, and we would have completed our utilities, installed a septic system, and laid the foundation for the barn. We now have a more accurate understanding of the terrific amount of work that it takes, that each movement forward is built on weeks of labor... And of course, we are attempting to maintain jobs and raise an adorable little girl at the same time. With that in mind, I think we're moving along just fine. Besides, I take the perspective that we are here, doing what we dreamed of doing, and we have our whole lives to do it.