A year in

We finished building the house a year ago this week. More accurately, we finished the house enough to roll our construction loan to a mortgage. I celebrated by taking my first shower in 3 weeks. It wasn’t pretty. I had been working 12-16 hours a day for the previous two months. I had covid in late October and early November. I never mentioned it. I just took steroids & worked.

Two days later found me back at the Alpine Luddites post office shop working 12 hours a day trying to “catch up”. That pace lasted until late April. A teaching trip to Wales reminded me there is more todo than work. I came home. planted my garden. I built a greenhouse. I am a slow learner.

It took 6 months for the electricians to return to run power to the barn/shop and put in an electric panel. I spent the summer slowly finishing the shop with a push to get it done in August to early October. It was a bigger project than it looked. Dealing with my neighbors trying to stop me moving in was fun. I enjoyed watching Aaron ,and his mom spend 100$’s per hour on a crazy attorney pulling false charges out of the air. Their attorney is a member of the Federalist Society. Need I say more?

I regretfully left the old Saint Johnsbury post office. I have grown very fond of Neko & Jeff and really like working in the same building. It is nice to be able to do my thing alongside other creative people, but still work alone. the space was open. Coco, the dog, visited me everyday. I held my first Repair Day with the help of friends.

I taught 21,22… students this past year. 8 were in my class in Wales, one of the most enjoyable teaching experiences I have had. Hoping to repeat the Welsh class in 2027…

I got to built so many cool projects, some of them pictred below, for customers. Perhaps my most productive year ever. I wrote and publish a catalog for Alpine Luddites. I worked in my orchard. spent as much time as I could outside. Spent more time with my family. Decided not to have paid sewing help this past year, might try again next year now that I am more stable. Got some projects on the back burner done: chalk bags, small camera cases, catalog, camera bag pack lid. I stopped taking deposits this year for custom packs and projects. It’s now just $100 to get on the waitlist.