"As we grow older our bodies get shorter and our anecdotes longer." - Robert Quillen

Another quick and somewhat abbreviated post, this one without any pics. We've accomplished a lot, but the biggest news over the last 24 hours is
WE HAVE HOT WATER!!!

I'd learned from Jim, the next door neighbors ("next door" seems incorrect when you can't see their house) that Todd, 1/4 mile up the road, does grading work. I went up mid-morning to introduce myself and ask if he could come down sometime and give me his opinion on the creek and a couple of other areas. "I can come now if you want."

Note: his wife Renee is very friendly and gracious.

There isn't time for me to tell you about Todd, but he's incredible. He was the construction manager for Bi-Mart, a chain of NW grocery/sundry stores. If they built a new store he went to that location and stayed there for the three months it took to get it built. He left there a few years ago when they had a management shakeup and started his own business. Logging, grading, construction (he also has his residential license).... He's one of those guys who can fix anything and do anything. Jack of all trades and master of them, too.
Long story short, two hours later he'd pulled me out of a ditch (we'll leave it be for now), diagnosed, and then replaced the upper and lower elements in the water heater. He also took a tour of our place and gave me his most excellent wisdom on several things.
Incredibly nice guy, refused any compensation ("hey, we're neighbors"), and taught me a TON about logging, varieties of local flora, local politics....
Wonderful!

At our end we got the walls mudded, sanded, and ready for texture, prime, and paint. The floor is almost clear; a few areas still need tack strip and/or padding removed.

Meals on the deck overlooking the most beautiful scenery. Daily trips into Eugene to pick supplies.

In a few minutes we'll head off to Cascade Presbyterian Church for services, then a stop at Lumber Liquidators to pick up 600 sq. ft. of cheap discontinued laminate at .79 per sq. ft. I'll leave it in MoHo until we're back next month when I'll install it in the living room and hallway. Maybe lunch in town as long as we're all dressed up. Then home to finish the walls and the floor prep.

Whew! But the more time we spend there the more we love the setting and the 'hood.
I'll write more about the latter tomorrow or... With no cell coverage and no internet our virtual life is severely curtailed.