October, 2004

The main body of the house will be timber frame construction. Since the roof will have a low pitch to minimize its exterior profile, the interior beams are simple arches rather than the typical triangular trusses. Here are a couple of the arches in preparation by Montana Idaho Log and Timber in Victor, Montana, near the Idaho panhandle. Apparently they are getting some rain there as well.

While walking to pick up the newspaper at the mailbox one morning, Gary was startled by a bear in the ditch. It took a few seconds to realize the bear was dead. Judging from the debris laying about, it had been hit by a car. Later that day, we saw a bear cub in the bushes above the driveway near the carcass and the next morning the newspaper delivery lady left a note that she had seen it. We deduced that the dead bear was the cub's mother and called Sam ("do not call 911") Sheppard of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He told us not to call 911 (of course!), and gave us his home phone number so we could call him with any updates on the cub. Unfortunately, no-one has seen the cub since.