Dateline: 6 February 2017 a.d.

Construction on our dream home began in the spring of 1983. Once the frame was enclosed, I affixed a plaque, visible in the photo above, to a hemlock beam in our kitchen. I crafted the plaque myself using rub-on letters purchased from an art store. The inscription originates from Psalm 18, a psalm expressing praise and faith.

Over time, the plaque has accumulated wear, becoming speckled and faded, with rusty nails. Nevertheless, the verse has remained in its designated location for 34 years, serving as a testament to the unwavering beliefs Marlene and I held then and continue to hold today.

By the spring of 1985, having spent another winter residing with Marlene’s parents, we were eager to settle into our modest dwelling and create a home. Although unfinished both internally and externally, the house was sufficiently complete for occupancy.

Early in 1985, we installed a septic system and a well. The well was a rudimentary 10-foot-deep excavation created by a backhoe. A concrete tank with perforated sides was positioned within the hole before backfilling it with stone. Despite its simplicity, the well was affordable and served us adequately for the subsequent 18 years until we finally invested in a proper well in 2003.

I personally constructed the kitchen cabinets within the kitchen itself. Judging by the cornfield visible through the window (situated across the road), the image above likely captures the summer of 1984. Note the robust cross bracing employed between the 2x12 floor joists.

We finally took occupancy of the house in July 1985. The photo above depicts Marlene engrossed in sewing at the kitchen table, a piece we acquired from an auction. The kitchen cabinets lacked doors, and the kitchen ceiling remained unfinished. Our garden can be observed outside the window. A partially visible white refrigerator, dating back to the 1950s or early 1960s, was a gift.

The image above showcases the progress made. Doors have been installed on most of the cabinets, and a ceiling is now in place. However, window trim remains absent, highlighting the considerable work yet to be undertaken.

A few months after moving in, we encountered a puppy at our doorstep and decided to adopt him, naming him Pilgrim. This is the same dog I wrote about in “The Life and Death of a Good Dog,” a chapter featured in my book, Writings of a Deliberate Agrarian.

Marlene and I exchanged vows in November 1980. Our first child was not born until 1988. Until then, Pilgrim effectively filled the role of a surrogate child.

Constructing our dream home was an arduous endeavor at the time, but we possessed youthful vigor and enthusiasm. The years of our marriage leading up to parenthood could be characterized as the “Easy Years.” Both Marlene and I were employed, our combined income comfortably surpassed our modest needs, and our worries were few.

In the subsequent installment of this series, I will elaborate on the addition I constructed in the fall of 1990 during Marlene’s pregnancy with our second child, marking the end of the carefree “Easy Years.”

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