Author: Daniel

Well, at least it’s not Albuquerque. What’s in Baltimore? I mean, besides all the things that belong in Baltimore? That parcel from Sketch-E-Commerce supposedly containing the hard-to-find vent kit for that furnace I wanted to use in the HomeBox. Why Baltimore? Blind Bambi! (No-eyed-deer). What I do know is my order clearly specified my correct … Continue reading Baltimore?

It’s still a few weeks ahead of construction season, but I’m getting ready! Next up in the design process is… figuring out where to put the furnace and laying out the kitchen. The tricky bit about the furnace is that it needs to be against an exterior wall, like the water heater, for the same … Continue reading Kitchen Sketch & Loft Partition

Every winter since I started this project, I say to myself — and others — that I’ll spend the winter designing and planning so I’m ready to just jump right into construction when the season opens again in the spring. There has been some of that, for sure, but mostly I’ve been spending the winter … Continue reading Agrigeekery

In case you missed it – this year, 2021, is the one where I finish the HomeBox, have it driven (no way this is going to be the first thing I ever tow!) to the homestead site, and actually live in it! Needless to say, there’s some work ahead! It’s not as much as you … Continue reading Home Stretch

When I had the HomeBox insulated with closed cell spray foam, the guys who did it said “this thing will be so cozy, you’ll be able to keep it warm with a birthday candle”. In the winter that followed, there was neither heat, a thermometer, nor a birthday candle in the place, so I had … Continue reading Birthday Candle

While taking a nice break from HomeBox design & construction, I’ve not been totally idle in terms of homestead-related activity. Most recently, I have just completed the design for the Haulable Horizontal Honeybee Hive House. What’s a Hive House? It’s a little house with bee hives in it. My 5H is was inspired by the … Continue reading 5H

Winter is fast upon us and I expect today to be the last workday on the HomeBox until spring of 2021. There will be plenty of thinking and designing and such between now and then, but probably no building. What about those drawers? They may just sit and wait. Maybe if there’s a day of … Continue reading End of Season 2020

Bonus mid-week update today! The varnish on the foot board for the tub was well enough set to move on with installation and the weather was cooperative (not cold and raw), so I went at that today after work. First things first: I need to know what the proper sized pilot holes for the hanger … Continue reading Bathtub Increments & The WOG

It is my pleasure to report today that I’ve received word that the “outhouse upgrade” concept previously discussed has been approved by the municipal authorities, thus crossing an important threshold for this project: all the regulatory issues have been resolved! All that remains is to follow through with the particulars, but the important bit — … Continue reading Green Light

There’s been a lot of action since the last update. The weather has warmed up a bit so I could get in some late-season work before winter really sets in. I thought we were there already, with temps in the 30s and slightly below just a week ago, but we had a bounce and who … Continue reading Pre Perc Prospecting, Plumbing, and Four Drawers