Time to Heal
Hej hej!
It happened, despite our best efforts ~ Summer ended and Winter keeps trying to push in. During this time of transition I have been working on the SIP Build stories (written and video), and with that comes a lot of stressful memories. I have found that these stories are a therapeutic way to face the trauma of a year that really started hitting us hard last October. While writing and editing, I find myself taking much longer than I would hope because sometimes I need a break and mental distance after ‘living’ back in the moments again. As I began to write this, the emotions were especially raw because it was unseasonably cold in mid-October and after a far too short few months, there was snow on the ground AGAIN. Don’t let anyone ever tell you you can’t build a cabin, but also know that it is not all fun and games.
But alas today the sun is out and at The Crash Pad the forecast is focused on sun and temperatures in the mid to upper 50s! We relish all the moments to create new happy and positive memories at the Crash Pad, like this view as I type.
Last October began our SIP build, and with that a rollercoaster that has thankfully slowed down and smoothed out more (but has not fully stopped). If you would like to journey back to the SIP Build with us, and learn more about what is involved in the process, you can watch and read our latest stories:
So, what is happening at the Crash Pad lately you might ask…
Well, first and foremost there is great comfort in knowing this year will be different than last, because the exterior of the Crash Pad is completed (except for final landscaping), and we have heat!
Last week the final excavation work was completed after months of delays due to unseasonably wet weather (our excavator is shown in the video talking to us on August 7th and we all thought the work would be done shortly thereafter). We are relieved to go into the winter with an extended and completed driveway that goes right to the front porch, proper grading that takes water away from the Crash Pad (instead of into it as was the case in many spots), and a muddy swamp that is now gone and no longer creating mosquito habitat for next Spring.
We have been building the framing for all the remaining (non-load bearing) interior walls all Summer, which needed to be done for the final electrical work to be completed. You can see us doing some wall building in the latest story intro.
Our electrical team was over again in September for a couple of days and made a lot of good progress. But we are still waiting for them to come over one more time to get the electrical completed so we can finally have our rough-in inspection. We still have only three working lightbulbs, two working outlets, and no exterior lighting.
Our original goal was to have electrical completed by the end of October 2023, get the rough-in inspection done, start closing up the walls, and to finally have full indoor and outdoor lighting for the winter. Deer hunting season has now come and gone, and the temperatures have chilled, so we hope this frees up schedules for our partners to stop by.
Rick, who did our siding, has agreed to do our bathroom for us over the winter. Although we love stopping by ROAM and are thankful for the generosity of their showers, we look forward to having our bathroom finally completed so we can have guests over!
We are picking out a shower head, light fixtures, a bathroom vanity, and also all interior wall and ceiling finish materials (which we will test out first in the office). We also have designed a closet system for the Primary Bedroom that will go up immediately after we get that elusive rough-in inspection done.
We have been enjoying the working wood stove, but have learned we went just a smidge too small (more on that later).
And lastly, we have had many many really good bike rides together. That was the dream, and that is now the reality. It felt like we were just getting going and then the seasons changed, but Kurt has been out riding in the cooler weather.
Looking back in time to when we released our last story in August, there are so many good moments! Thanks for sharing them with us. ~DeAnn & Kurt
In GenX News…
We really have not felt like ourselves since the SIP build last year, and both put on a lot more weight than we would have liked due to giving up far too many rides for the Crash Pad, and being in a state of constant mental stress. And my body has taken me on a wild ride which I have a lot to share about coming up.
Since we have been riding more, our waist circumferences have gone down, but we both will be doing a lot of work on our trainers this winter and hoping to shed a few more pounds. Losing weight in your 50s is not easy and requires an adjusted lifestyle and exercise routine, more of which we will be talking about in future GenX stories.
One new Crash Pad addition is a new style (to us) Wahoo trainer that Kurt put to good use on a solo trip up here for a week in October, and I tested out Thanksgiving morning. I had to invest in power meter pedals in order to do my virtual cycling classes, but it is already worth it. Although our time here over the winter will be shorter, because the cabin interior is still a glamping space, this investment is worth it.
In November showers have been in the sink since ROAM was closed all month, but they open back up in December AND sometime between now and April (knock on wood) a shower will exist at the Crash Pad! Definitely better shower days ahead.
Additionally, after over a year of a lot of new unanticipated physical challenges due to late perimenopause, I am most grateful to have educated myself, and because of that I have been able to find the right help and finally emerge from a double fog of a year. I am happily feeling MUCH more like myself again. You likely saw that I released my first GenX Notes story:
If not, I encourage you to, and to share it.
I also just published my second story:
*Reminder: You Can Customize your äventyr subscription!
I think it is good for ALL people to be educated on the subject of women’s health at all life stages. BUT, I didn’t realize when I hit publish on my first GenX Story in October that it would be sent to my entire mailing list. Sorry (but not sorry)!
When I started GenX Notes I did not realized you all would automatically be subscribed to this new section. Maybe you DO want to know every time I post on GenX Notes, but maybe you just want to hear about it in the newsletter. It’s YOUR subscription!
So, if you want to change your subscription (I won’t take it personally), I have made notes on how you can do that here.
Lastly, can you believe it has almost been ONE YEAR since I closed down äventyr the business?! Winter Solstice 2022 was the day. I actually thought it was two years ago until I was writing ‘Where Do I Start’ and remembering the photoshoot I did (pictured here) while listening to Hit Play Not Pause.
I miss äventyr the bag company, but I am okay with having let it go. And I am loving äventyr’s transformation as a place for me to write and stay connected with you. I hope you are enjoying it too. I welcome your comments and likes here and appreciate you being part of this new community.
Thanks for reading and watching äventyr.cc, and supporting my mental health and creativity! ~DeAnn