With cold snowy winters here in Eastern Washington, outdoor construction projects and building are typically active between March and October. Currently, we are seeing a lot of action in our subdivision lately, as well as in our neighborhood.
This home has been under construction since early 2021. The owners are building it all themselves. No wood, it is constructed out of metal with a metal roof and siding.
Tractors, trucks, and backhoes are rumbling around the street and properties as the company works to clear the weeds and level the dirt in preparation for more construction and septic system installation.
Personally, I kind of like all the hubbub.
If You Build It…
We’ve been alone on the block since we moved here in March 2021. One family moved in last September but abruptly moved 8 months later. Another family moved in February 2022 and is still here. The manufactured home company that owns and manages the subdivision installed three renovated homes that are still empty.
Finally, this spring, three new pole buildings/shops were installed (pole buildings, aka pole barns, are rural-speak for detached garages), next to the existing renovated homes. This one made for an intriguing photo last May.
Just days before, a rainbow appeared over the same structure.
“Beauty is where you find it.” ~ Madonna
When the crew leaves for the day, they leave the backhoe ready for tomorrow’s jobs. Behind it is the almost completed pole building, waiting for doors, of course.
The supply chain is still compromised, and it can take months for shop doors to be available. We cheer often as we travel down the roads and watch as, one by one, the doors “magically” appear on patiently-waiting pole buildings!
Not to be outdone, hubby has many (countless) projects. Fencing three-quarters of an acre to keep the dogs in and the wildlife out is time-consuming. But years of construction have taught him excellent skills and he enjoys doing the work.
He put in a 10-foot gate in case we want to drive into the south side of the property. We love how the redwood color posts pop against the blue of the house.
Our home has come a long way in almost two years! Still so much to do! The featured image at the beginning of the post shows our pole building/shop under construction in June 2021.
Random Construction from the Road
Years ago in Baja, Mexico, I laid eyes on this crazy vehicle dubbed “crazy carcancha.” The owner continually adds to it and changes out some features seasonally. Here it was decked out for Christmas and New Year’s.
Our same winter weather pattern occurs in North Idaho. Our May trip to the historical town of Wallace showed the enormity of the renovation of the Wallace Corner Hotel.
My foot “under construction” after foot surgery in 2019.
Word of the Year (WOTY): WALK
Construction seemed like an apt theme this month as I thought about my WOTY, walk. I like to play with acrostics and redefine the letters in the word.
- W = wanting
- A = attainable
- L = latent
- K = knotty
In summary, these days, I find myself “wanting”– lacking that which is probably “attainable.” Whatever is “latent” within me still needs developing or more construction, and the “knottiness” sanded down.
How’s that for deep? Still a work-in-progress… but, aren’t we all?
“Failure does not exist. One you hit the construction zone roadblocks, follow the detour signs to get back to your original path.” ~ Behdad Sami
So I continue to walk and hike almost every day. It’s good for me and good for the dogs.
“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the heck she is.”
― Ellen DeGeneres
Building Relationships
As I continue to work on myself, I find that the motivation to build relationships is essential as we age. This month, I did make a “new” (in real life) friend! Cheryl, blogger from Working on Exploring, and her husband, Steve, stopped over for two days as their travels took them into the Spokane and Coeur D’Alene area. Of course, we had to visit nearby Riverside Park’s Bowl and Pitcher nature area and hike the trails.
We had a blast with these two talented folks. We took a tour of their custom camper that Steve engineered and built. Please check out their blog!
“I saw two construction workers laughing together today. I know what they were really building … friendship.” ~unknown
Other Photo Challenges I Enjoy
- Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday
- Jo’s Monday Walk
- Marsha’s Writers Quotes Wednesday: Travel/Transportation
- WOTY Link Party via Donna at Retirement Reflections
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
Sunday Stills weekly challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
This Week’s Featured Bloggers
Sunday Stills is a dynamic community of creative bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared photos of things under construction. I add these all week as new links are posted. Huge thanks to all 26 of you who linked to last week’s post!
- YOUR BLOG’S NAME HERE!
- Always Write
- Bushboys World
- Cee’s Photo Challenges
- NEW Eaton’s Eager
- Graham’s Island
- LadyLeeManila
- Light Words
- Philosophy Through Photography
- Retirementally Challenged
- This is Another Story
- Wide Eyed Wonderings
- Woolly Muses
- Working On Exploring
Themes for September are ready to view on my Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Page. This page is updated monthly and I am open to YOUR theme ideas, too! I can’t wait to see what you find for the theme “under construction.” Then join me on the first Sunday of September(!) for the theme “Vacation or Staycation.”
© 2022-2031 Copyright — secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved
We really love Eastern Washington and take frequent trips to Idaho. I look forward to seeing a Sunday Stills post from you when you can!
Second Wind Leisure Perspectives 
What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.