Building our Cottage - Week 9 - 12

The weeks are flying by and my blog is being neglected, so I'm condensing a few weeks at a time.

A lost kitten cries for help two nights in a row and on the 3rd night we finally find it. Everyone falls in love with it, but no one wants the responsibility, so for one day we feed it and play with it and then leave it with the farmer who gives it to a willing family.

Our plywood house slowly gets dressed. The wrapping begins. It is becoming one big birthday present!

The 'wrappers' are happy to take a break. But, sadly, they do not know how to rap or break-dance.

Towards the end of the week Herb's daughter arrives with her new husband. The newlyweds get to sleep in the 'Prayer Loft' (our room with the cross) and we all think it is very romantic.

Our last supper this week consists of twelve of us--friends, relatives, and even strangers.

And, as always, the unseen guest...Jesus!

Week 8 - Installing the windows

Building our Cottage

Week 8

It is a week of celebrations....our anniversary (31), my birthday (nevermind), followed by Harry's birthday (57).

I buy an amazing cherry pitter at the local hardware store in Osoyoos and suddenly enjoy being

in the pits!

I also got a camera....which the boys try out below.

Our tradition is to have a family birthday party at my parents' cabin.

We are so fortunate to have both our precious moms with us.

Then its back to Osoyoos, for the work must go on!

The men work hard to put in the new windows.

Midweek is Harry's birthday so we celebrate at the local golf course restaurant.

Happy Birthday, Honey!!

A brief rain cloud leaves behind a beautiful rainbow.

We continue to see glimpses of the Cotter family, but they don't stay visible long.

Our cottage is starting to look dressed by the end of the week.

Beautiful though our homes may be, they are not as beautiful as the 'house of the Lord'.

"What kind of house will you build for me," says the Lord, "or what is the place of my rest?" (Acts 7:49)

The souls of those who know Jesus become God's resting place---his vacation home.

Building Our Cottage

Week 7

We returned to Osoyoos to find that 15 of the 16 quail eggs had hatched and all the babies had vanished! We cleaned up the 'Cotter' sign and sadly put the broken shells on display.

Our disappointment was replaced with another epiphany as we studied the window opening inside our 'church' loft. It looked distinctly like a cross.

For many years another cross had been lit up every night on the hill behind us. Below it was a rather tall telephone pole covered with ivy that made it look like a gigantic shepherd pointing to the cross as he looked across the lake at a stubby mountain called 'The Throne'. It always reminded me of the verse: "Who for the joy set before him, endured the cross despising its shame, and is set at the right hand of the Father."

Now, by a whimsical fluke, we had created another cross directly facing The Throne. I have always felt God's hand on my home as a place of ministry and here was another gentle reminder of God's greater purpose for our personal sanctuary.

A moment of reflection for Herb at the top of the 'church', before getting back to work on the roof.

Two little gables appear, causing our neighbor to christen our house, The Three Gables.

The men go for a swim-break during 33 degree weather.

They think they need to keep me busy---painting!

When friends arrive they get put to work, too.

Afterwards, Friedbert introduces us to the South American custom of drinking Terrera from a communal cup. The drink consists of a cool herbal tea.

Then it's supper time with our friends at our trailer homestead.

Just before heading home, I catch a glimpse of the baby 'Cotters'. I count 15 fluffballs as they bounce across the lane, which means all the hatched eggs made it!

Back at home we watch a few of Aaron's baseball games...

And see his team win the Youth Church League trophy!

BUILDING OUR COTTAGE

Week 6

This is the weekend for BOYS!

All three of our boys have the weekend off and are pumped about helping build the cottage.

Above and below: Ryan, Andrew, and Aaron helping their dad.

As they lift the first gable on the garage roof we have an epiphany...

We are building a church, not a cottage! Hmmmmm.... Even Uncle Abe (who lives in Penticton) calls my dad to give an update on the 'church'-building. My father, who has built several churches including Willingdon and Culloden, is secretly pleased.

Supper guests consist of the Harders, the Walls and their son James, and our three sons.

Below, Aaron (20) our engineer-in-training enjoys this new challenge to expand his knowledge .

Andrew (23) scampers around on the roof like his grandpa John used to.

Ryan (26) our eldest lends muscle power with ease.

Eventually, the weekend is over and its time to say goodbye. Andrew and Aaron drive home on bikes while Ryan leaves a day later for Calgary by plane.

A lot has been accomplished. The roof trusses are up and parts of the roof are already sheeted and no one was hurt! Thank you, Lord!

Building our Cottage

Week 5

My sister thought it unfair that her picture got posted on my blog and mine didn't, so here I am....writing my blog. Relaxing!

This is Elaine's favorite way of relaxing--in her kayak.

The framer, Herb, and his assistant Harry relaxing in their favorite way!

In spite of all the relaxing the second storey gets built.

To reward ourselves we go out with friends for an Osoyoos treat--ICE CREAM!

The Harders, the Walls, and the Schroeders.

While enjoying our ice cream, we spot a classic police car. It is an original police car from New Westminster and the driver is the Chief of Police!

It is a fitting ending to the week as we hurry home to pick up our very own police officer from the Abbotsford Airport---our son, Ryan!

Building our Cottage

Week 4

As we continue building our nest we discover someone else has built a home just outside our trailer. Under the kayaks that were leaning against this sign, we find a nest with 15 eggs.

We replace the kayaks with this log to hide the nest and give the mama quail whom we have christened Mrs. Cotter some privacy.

Meanwhile, the cottage receives a floor. First come the joists. For the uninit

iated (& uninterested?) these are I-shaped beams that are made up of sawdust an

d believe it or not--are stronger than a solid piece of wood.

Then comes the plywood sheeting on top of the joists. Voila! The joists are

holding!

The first wall goes up.

I check out the view from my new 'windows' on the first floor. Pretty sweet!

That's it for this week because we have to return home to celebrate Andrew's grad.

Here we are after watching him receive his Honors Bachelor Degree of Science from UFV.