February 19, 2020
3 minute read
500 words
19 photos
1 video
January, etc. at Struan…
I was starting to get a little lot worried about finding a wood stove in time. Buying used meant we could get great quality within our budget. It also meant we might need to order some parts to get it working perfectly.
And I didn’t know how long that would take.
I told Robert I was checking Craigslist three times a day and trying not to feel anxious. It seemed like all the good ones had come and gone before we were ready to get one.
“It’s okay. We can buy a new one if we have to. Something for the short-term.”
Later that evening I realized it might help to widen the search radius a little. All the way to 150 miles, and then I started plugging in different local cities to make sure I covered as much ground as possible. Apparently Facebook Marketplace thinks Louisiana is 150 miles from Waco. Suddenly I had more stoves to choose from than we had hours left in the day.
I scrolled right past it at first. The photo showed the stove installed in a living room, with more living room in the frame than stove; I thought I was seeing an ad for a rental property. And it was four hours away. But it was a pretty stove, standing out like Cinderella in blue. So I went back and clicked.
A 1979 Vermont Castings RESOLUTE.
A great brand, and the right price.
I called Robert.
“How would you feel about taking a road trip?”
That Friday saw us driving practically to Louisiana to bring home our beautiful blue Resolute, “Little Rezi” for short.
On the way back we had a picnic on a battlefield. It was totally safe—the battle ended 157 years ago.
46 against 5000, guess who won?
January, etc. Highlights…
Trenched and laid pipe for water line (2000 feet!).
Built a deck for temporary floor.
Raised the Tenthouse at Struan.
Laid cork flooring (a Craigslist Liaslist deal!).
Installed tankless hot water heater.
Installed custom built shower. 😉
Installed toilet.
Constructed custom cherry wood kitchen counter (all reclaimed & free!).
1/2 mile hole 
how did that get in there?
carpenters stan & micah 
:circus music playing: 
the Tenthouse 
flooring pros joshua & chris 
“like a dance studio floor!” 
cutman joe 
carpenter nathan 
NASA approved shower capsule 
woodworker extraordinaire 
cherry (hard!) wood counter 
daniel: a precision instrument…
Over the next few weeks…
Rejuvenation for Little Rezi (cleaning, gaskets, paint).
Construct heat shield and room partitions.
Install battery bank & inverter charger.
Install kitchen sink.
Run electrical.
Get married.
A toast to you, and yours…
May joy sparkle like new snow
And contentment warm your smile
Wherever you go.
EXTRA special thanks this month to these delighfulest folks…
Mama Tiffany, Mama & Daddy Brace, Joshua James, Robert’s sisters and Ransom, Brother Sean, Alex & Amelia Lerma, Micah Webster, Nathan Malone, Joe Melton, Jordan Malone, Benny Pauls, Daniel James, Spencer & Mareli Ripple, Ana Lerma, Jeff & Carolyn Levy, Mr. & Mrs. Guzman, Rebagirl, and you-who-shall-not-be-named, you know who you are.
Thanks for being here.
See you out there…
R+L
