The Cellar / ADK

**Posted by griff** 9/19/2024 7:02 am

Purpose is a big deal as we shift gears. We have started to become part of the community there. Our interests and the interests of different segments of the community there are pretty well aligned. Hiking, biking, skiing, and paddling are widely embraced across demographic lines.

We were invited to a free community meal at a local farm where the farmer is trying to build intentional community and address food insecurity. Every description sounded a little cultish but we ended up seated with an Episcopalian priest and listened as a Trumpist spoke emotionally about the need for community in divided times. Our neighbor does volunteer hours at the farm. We met a number of young people who are trying their hands at market gardening. It's interesting that they seem to be coming over from Vermont where second home driven real estate pricing has become even less manageable than NY.

The young man doing our site work has an environmental science degree which informs his approach to earth work. He's been accepted by the old-timers because his personality, skill, and work ethic are so good. Unlike NEPA, there seems to be a recognition that conservation can help support the economy. Like PA, Northern NY is struggling to maintain population and keep young people but unlike NEPA folks are working the problem trying to create things which appeal to the youth not just to retired suburbanites fleeing the Black people. That's a bit of a dark closing but on my way home from work from the NY border to home there are countless Trump signs and 0 Harris signs. We just got an email from Susco Democrats that they are moving this weekend's rally from the park to a different location where a concrete abutment can provide cover since they were refused access to other secure locations. I don't have a lot of hope for this area staging an economic revival any time soon.

**Posted by glatt** 9/20/2024 9:11 am

griff wrote:
Purpose is a big deal as we shift gears. We have started to become part of the community there. Our interests and the interests of different segments of the community there are pretty well aligned. Hiking, biking, skiing, and paddling are widely embraced across demographic lines.

We were invited to a free community meal at a local farm where the farmer is trying to build intentional community and address food insecurity. Every description sounded a little cultish but we ended up seated with an Episcopalian priest and listened as a Trumpist spoke emotionally about the need for community in divided times. Our neighbor does volunteer hours at the farm. We met a number of young people who are trying their hands at market gardening.

This is awesome. That farmer is my hero. I get the sense that there is a strong desire out there to put the division behind us and have a sense of community again. Of course there are still a lot of individuals left that took deep drinks of the coolaid and are still embracing the division, but I feel like most folks think this divisive path we have been on is not leading anywhere.

**Posted by griff** 9/20/2024 7:50 pm

My neighbor is a Russian emigre. He asked me today what I think is gonna happen as he’s been through one government collapse and really doesn’t want another. I suggested that if we all just get up and go to work the day after the election we’ll be ok. Normalcy has its own momentum.

**Posted by griff** 9/20/2024 7:55 pm

Good progress today.

**Posted by Diaphone Jim** 9/21/2024 10:50 am

I'm curious about the cellar door. I've never had one, so I don't know the advantage of that style.

**Posted by griff** 9/21/2024 6:43 pm

That’s a Bilco Door. It will give access to the basement for sports equipment like kayaks, utility stuff like water heaters and pressure tanks, and whatever shop stuff I put in. They are not the best looking but they are useful.

We met our goal for this summer by driving about 1500 nails this weekend.

**Posted by glatt** 9/23/2024 10:32 am

Outside stairs also take up less floorspace inside the house.

**Posted by xoxoxoBruce** 10/05/2024 7:15 pm

I guess those concrete piers are for the porch.
You know those falls you cut through back in post #58 looked solid enough for timber framing.
Does that thought give you a back ache. LoL

**Posted by griff** 10/06/2024 2:32 pm

Yeah, lol. Lots of little pieces instead.

**Posted by xoxoxoBruce** 12/01/2024 12:38 am

Sounds like a couple feet of snow up there now.

**Posted by griff** 12/01/2024 9:39 am

Not much there but the Tug Hill Plateau to the West is getting buried.

**Posted by griff** 2/12/2025 7:11 am

We went to the Binghamton Chapter - Adirondack Hiking Club meeting last night. It looks like a winter ascent of Marcy from Johns Brook Lodge is on the menu.

**Posted by griff** 4/24/2025 5:03 pm

So I blew out my calf skiing so that didn’t happen. Ha!

**Posted by glatt** 4/25/2025 9:34 am

nice basement steps! They look more regularly spaced than mine, which vary in the rise by plus or minus a quarter inch on each step.

Those walls are the insulated concrete forms, aren't they? can you fasten a handrail into the rigid insulation, or assuming you wanted to, would you need a long concrete fastener?

**Posted by Diaphone Jim** 4/25/2025 12:43 pm

Handrails yes.

**Posted by griff** 4/26/2025 7:14 am

There is a furring strip imbedded in the foam that we can screw to. I don't think we're putting them up because we want the full width available for hauling stuff. It's only 33" wide so you can press the sides or hold the top of the wall. I laid them out with a square and stair gauges so they're pretty even. I only laid it out wrong twice. lol You can see earlier marks on some treads.

**Posted by Diaphone Jim** 4/26/2025 12:05 pm

Old legs and arms (mine, e.g.) call for safety over width.

**Posted by glatt** 4/29/2025 2:34 pm

I hear you on the no obstructions. We have brooms and dustpans, and bags of empty bags and random yard work coats all hanging in our basement steps and it's infuriating carrying laundry baskets up and down, but we need the storage space.

**Posted by griff** 6/17/2025 7:16 pm

temporary image upload

Posting from a tent as we work on the cabin.

**Posted by griff** 6/17/2025 7:21 pm

Working on courses 10 and 11. I haven’t had much free time or WiFi 😂 Having a great time building in a beautiful place. Peace all. G

**Posted by monster** 6/17/2025 8:04 pm

You define "Living The Dream", Thanks for sharing.

**Posted by glatt** 6/18/2025 7:10 am

Making nice progress!

One of your helpers looks a little lazy.

**Posted by griff** 6/18/2025 7:06 pm

She likes the work but prefers ball.

**Posted by griff** 6/26/2025 7:33 pm

We’ve been here 3 weeks. Time for action shots…

The heat was brutal for a couple days but the river saved us.

**Posted by griff** 6/26/2025 7:51 pm

Pete is ignoring her rheumatologist’s weight limits…