We have windows and a front door!

Midsummer 2008

Help has arrived

Pelle, Johan, Jimmy, Tore and Tobias came over and helped Stefan with the house.
They installed windows and doors, built patios and did most of the electrical work.
Thanks to all of them for all the hard work, especially since it was so hot!

Camping on Colorado River

The Roof is Done

Stefan has finally got the roof on. It was a lot of hard work with the steep roof and all the dormers.

Ove and Håkan came down to help with the siding and the girls worked hard at the card game!

Spring is here

For Easter our friends came down and we had a wonderful time and the weather was lovely. The desert is full of flowers and it is absolutely beautiful.

The snow is melting

The snow didn't last very long and that's why we love California!

Winter Wonderland

On Valentines day we had a small snow storm that lasted all day. We were both in bed sick with the flu so it was kind of cozy to be snuggled up by the fireplace with the snow coming down outside.

Stefan's been sick for 2 weeks now and before then we were in Mexico for a short vacation. So, needless to say there hasn't been much done to the house for a while.

To add to the excuses our computer has been acting up so therefore no postings.

Winter

I got some plywood on the roof.
We a lot of rain and the mountain got some snow that we can view from the house

Dormers

The framing for the dormers in front are done, I have two more on the other side to build.

Fire uppdate

It looked like someone dropped a bomb, the hole mountain accross from us has been coverd with smoke. On thursday the fire came over the ridge to our side.
Today (sunday) they finally put a massive airsupport with super tankers and even a DC10.
By the end of the day it seems like they have most of it under control.

Fire Update

We have received a lot of e-mails and calls from friends that are concerned about us and we want you to know that we are ok.

We had a fire starting down at the intersection 79 and 371 on Sunday that spread very fast due to the high winds. It was burning on all three sides and came up about a mile from our house. We packed the necessary things and parked all our vehicles down on the graded part (future vineyard) that has no brush where they would be safe. The fire dept brought in 50+ engines and by Monday morning they had most of it under control. We were lucky that it started on Sunday because by Monday there were no resources left to fight new fires.

Today we woke up to a very dark day with fire clouds covering most of the sky. The fire closest to us is behind Palomar mountain that you can see from the sunset picture and that fire has spread increadibly over night. If the winds turn it could come down on our side of the mountain.

There are several fires burning in the Temecula area with the biggest one burning in Fallbrook about 15 miles south of my work. The whole city of Fallbrook has been evacuated and a lot of houses have burned down. The De Luz area which is the big hill behind my work has also been evacuated but I think they have most of those fires under control.

It is a terrible disaster for all of Southern California and my hart goes out to all the people that have lost their houses.

We have been very lucky so far and we thank you for your concerns.

Sunset

Sunset during the big fire on Palomar mountain.

Second Floor

Now we have all heavy beams and rafters in place, then we can start with the dormers.

Per is on top of the world.

Second Floor

Per, Lenas brother is here to help me with the second floor, today we got the first gable in place.

Logs Logs and Logs

The last log is in place, now I can start with interior walls.

Laborday weekend

We got a lot of help on laborday weekend

Swedish Craftmanship

Lenas dad came over to help us

It is growing

It is so exiting to see the walls take form.

Time for logs

The first logs are in place, it's a lot of drilling that has to be done before secure to the sill plate.