A House Building Romance

This morning Sus & I visited the property where Tom & Blair have been cutting down timbers for our house. I finally glimpsed a bit of the romance that has drawn Tom to this craziness of building the house ourselves - starting with the standing trees.

We watched in awe as Joe worked with his team. Backing down over the bank, catching the log in the tongs, and bursting back up into view, the team's heavy breathing breaks the silence of their work. A word from their driver, a nudge of his knowing hand on the reins lead the team in its precise movements - a dance between the three.

The trees embrace us in silence. No engines roaring. No exhaust fumes. Just the horses, the chains, a random crackle of branches, then the smooth glide of the log up the trail and into its place.