(Last updated: October 13, 2015)
Our mountain-top property. Click on the left-hand picture to see
our property lines and building site.
In the Spring of 2003, Russell, Gail, and our children Cameron (12) and Joss (10) purchased 50 acres of property on a mountain top in California's gold country. In the fulfillment of yet another crazy fantasy (i.e., mid-life crisis), we decided to build an entire house by ourselves -- without a General Contractor, and without any previous knowledge of house building. After two years of planning and waiting, we finally began construction in the Spring of 2005.
This Web site chronicles our ongoing adventures (and misadventures) as a family with no construction experience "learns by doing." We hope you have as much fun reading about our adventures as we had experiencing them.
You can send us a message at < email(at)worldtrippers(dot)com
>.
(NOTE: we have used a
*secret code* to prevent SPAM, but we bet you can figure it out!)
May 29, 2005: Temporary stairs
December 30, 2009: Permanent stairs
December 1, 2013: Finished stairs
(Click on any picture to see a larger version!)
After occupancy (March 2013 through present)
Nesting… and empty nesting (October 2011 through November 2012)
Interior finishing (December 2008 through September 2011)
Interior framing (June 2007 through November 2008)
Upstairs walls (June 2006 through May 2007)
Downstairs walls and roof (July 2005 through June 2006)
Foundation and skeleton (February 2005 through June 2005)
Planning and design (May 2003 through December 2004)