Well, the nights are getting colder, reminding us that we have to keep plugging away at wrapping this house up for winter. But the days are still warm...so we're thankful for that.

Here are some pictures of our muddin' crews from last weekend:

On Saturday, Wayne Appleyard came and helped...

Linda was eager to help wash the mud off of Fred's face...

And even Jerry had mud on his hands...

On Sunday, some of the St. John family was back...with a little different configuration...

Pictured below, from youngest to oldest, is Maeve, Jenna, Megan, Kate, their Dad, Jason and Grandma Karen.

As for what's new on the farm...There's the good news and what Don calls 'challlenges and opportunities'. Pictured below is the other part of the roof that has been completed (note the two solar tubes that have been installed). But there was a 'challenge' installing the roof vent so we're now awaiting parts for that...

The electrician Dave has been wiring like crazy and the plumber Bill has been there too, installing shower pans, gas lines, and the new water heater...pictured below is an electrical box fastened to a Dracula stake (courtesy of Jerry) and pounded into the strawbale wall.

You remember Frank and his son Eric, who installed the garage doors. Well, they came back and installed the garage door opener, the attic step ladder (giving us access to the storage above the garage), and the whole house fan! And good news, our doors have arrived and are ready for pick-up!

We are still mudding the outside walls. The 'challenge' there was too much mud, too fast...so we've had to slow that operation down, applying it slower, and allowing the mud to set-up a bit before adding more...

We will be working both days this weekend...if you're in the neighborhood...stop by and get your hands dirty. No promises, but I'm thinking about mixing up a batch of corn chowder for supper...

First, we want to show some pictures of our volunteers that we missed last Friday...

Below is Sarah, Karen, Marty, and Blue St. John...Blue didn't help much but he didn't get into too much trouble either...

Below is Judy and Richard Parker...

And our Labor Day crew of Fred, Shelly, Eric, Emma and Megan(who mostly played vidio games)...

And here is our new septic system going in...

It looks complicated...doesn't it?

On Sunday, Don III and Fred started the second coat on the outside...

While a new volunteer, Janet Kiley, who wants to build her own strawbale house...took a turn at stuffing inside...unfortunately, she ran off before we could get a picture...but she's a very interesting woman and I hope she comes back. She makes her own bio-diesel fuel for her VW Diesel car out of old cooling oil! Now that's green!

Anyway, her work allowed me to start inside with the first coat...

And finally, the latest picture of the house and almost an entire new roof!

Sorry about there being no pictures...I'll add them when next I get my hands on the camera!

First I want to thank newbies Marty (Jeannie's brother)and Karen St. John and daughter Sarah, and Richard Parker for coming and plastering last Friday. Wife Judy (Jeannie's sister) and Jeannie, of course, were there to show them the ropes. The St. John's brought bagels and Judy brought some mmmmm,mmmmm, scrumptious cookies!

And then I want to thank Shelly (Don's daughter), Eric, Emma, Megan, Fred, and Lynda, for coming on the holiday. Emma made a really great fruit salad and Renae (from down the road) provided a yummy dessert she calls Blackberry Goodie...made from blackberries she collected from our bushes!

Between these two crews, the entire outside of the house and garage has been plastered with the first coat of plaster!

What made the weekend twice as sweet was the 44 to 3 victory of MSU over Montana State...wooh, hooh! We're hoping for the same sort of performance against CMU this weekend...

Well, I'm back to work 3 days a week (boo hoo)...but Don tells me that roofing crew has finished the south and west side, and moved to the north side of the house...the electrician has been hard at work, and the septic tanks have been installed...along with the donated freezer which is going to be used as a root cellar.

Welcome back Jerry. Jerry and Janice are back from visiting their grandbaby in Madison, Wisconsin...

And we will be hard at work on Sunday, if anyone feels like helping out. We might start the second coat on the outside (requires a different plaster mix)...or move inside to begin work on a bathroom...hope to see you on Sunday at Green and White Acres!

Go Green!

There are a lot of things to be thankful for this week...the wonderful crew who came out and plastered this weekend...with two new volunteers...got the first coat of plaster on the whole north side of the building...Yeah!

Pictured is new volunteer Judy Parker (Jeannie's sister) in her HASMAT suit...

And new volunteer Fran Pierce (she can't really believe she is doing this!)

And the entire crew...getting plastered...

Thanks to Curt and Kathy Hofer for the scrumptious chicken, and corn bread they brought for dinner. Thanks to Missy for her fruit surprise and thanks to Janice Reid for her yummy cake.

Thanks to Frank and his son Eric, who came and installed new doors, a large garage door on the East side, and a smaller tractor door on the West side.

And roofing arrived...

Thanks to the crew, who started to install the roof...see how nicely it matches the garage doors...

And, last, but not least....thank you Consumers Energy...we now have electricity!!!!! yeah!Yeah!YEAH!
Out of the dark ages....and into the light!

Now, if the smiles on that plaster crew have got you interested in getting plastered with us. We will be working Friday, Sunday, and Monday this Labor day weekend, finishing the first coat, and beginning the second coat. We hope you can join us...if not have a happy Labor Day weekend. Note: we won't be working on Saturday.