The Bionic Cabin: We can rebuild it. Make it stronger, warmer, sounder.

The renovation of the cabin continues and we’ve reached a fork in the road. Do we move in once the cabin is “livable” or do we wait until every last detail is complete? This is a harder question to answer than might seem as first read. The last detail that I am writing about is the re-cladding of the outside with the addition of much desired insulation.

The cabin is currently woefully under-insulated and much of the exterior wood is in bad shape. We are considering “furring” out the walls with some 2x4s, adding insulation and then re-cladding the outside with new wood. If we do undertake this project, it would behoove us to replace the windows as part of the project so that they could be more flush with the new exterior rather that with the old, so that there won’t be an odd lip at every one.

But if we do the windows at the same time as the cladding, we can’t really move in until then. The alternative of doing the windows now and the cladding later would allow us to move in, but then we have the lip problem.

In the meantime we are ready to start painting, putting in fixtures and sanding down the floors. Work work work. But it’s going to be very cute when it is done.

Update on the lawsuit.

One of the other clients of the thieving builder has asked to join us and make a mini class-action suit out of it and we are happy to do so. While it might mean that we won’t be able to collect as much (if anything) at least we can split costs and demonstrate a pattern to the arbitrator. And when I go to CID to file my complaint – something they won’t consider until after the civil case is resolved – it will have that much more weight.

I wonder if the fact that the other client is from out of state could allow us to call in the FBI? I will take any help I can get.

Riding Rabbit Ranch

Eventually the project will recommence in earnest on the 30-acres, but only after the lawsuit is settled, the house in Corrales is sold, and we have lived comfortably in the miners’ cabin in Madrid for some time. We need a break from the madness of doing too many things at a time and really need a more sensible routine. How long all this will take is anyone’s guess, but hopefully we will be in a position to make at least baby strides soon.

One of the baby strides happened this week. The 30-acre spread has been in need of a name other than “the land” or “the property.” It will need a name not only because we need to call it something, but also because we would like to put a sign at the end of the drive other than “305”.

And the name we’ve chosen is a perfect fit for the place. One of the more remarkable things about the wilderness out there is the population of extremely huge jackrabbits that inhabit the area. These rabbits are so very large that at first glance one might think that they are coyotes. Seriously, they are huge. I have been calling them “riding rabbits” since as far as I can tell it might be possible to saddle one and go for a spin…. Well, at least a child could go for a spin, not me.

So yesterday Susan came up with the name for the property: Riding Rabbit Ranch. It’s perfect.