Adventures in alternative living

Not everyone is fulling willing to buy an old house and live in it while it's under construction. We have an economy bathroom, (super tiny), our bedroom is insulated with black plastic on the walls while we iron out all of our plumbing and electrical in the house and before we call the inspector so we can finish the walls. The upstairs is gutted. Up until just days ago we had a two burner electric cook top. My partner burned it out by accidentally leaving it on. Melted. It got so hot being left on it completely melted the components. Well, we've eaten tons of raw food the past few days, done carryout, cooked a pizza in the toaster oven, but today being Monday and having a huge work day ahead, I made a fire on the grill and boiled some potatoes and bok choy from the garden. It was super great gathering the kindling and burn material and then actually starting a fire to cook breakfast.

The garden is a jungle from all the rain we've had. Saw a monarch taking a leisurely flight through while I was watering earlier. As I'm researching stoves, Aaron is cutting a doorway to connect the upstairs and downstairs in the front room. We've employed a neighbor kid to pull all the nails out of a bunch of wood we salvaged. It's going to be for the greenhouse frame. Just about time to put more things in soil for the fall harvest. When I'm done online I will head upstairs wearing the respirator and continue to clean up plaster mess.

I do not feel that this is as hard as or strange as other lifestyles. I know this house was built in 1913. At one point in time it had gas lights. There are hearths where stoves used to be. Slowly but surely we are making it our own. It's a beautiful adventure for sure.

update Found there was a fire inside the wall where we cut out the doorway to upstairs. Looks to be the result of the old gas plumbing for the lights and some sort of spark from the knob and tube wiring perhaps. The hall to the library, formerly a closet is now opened up.