I am glad to have those tear downs behind me, for now, too! We are one of the rare (I think) breed content to stay our little house in a funky rural area even as so many people we know have upgraded their homes (and mortgages) two or three times. It’s comforting to have reached that decision a few years ago, and to know that we won’t incur a new mortgage in this lifetime!

As to cleaning with vinegar, I have always had a gallon on hand for attacking the hard water deposits in the bathroom area, but was wowed to find this particular list: http://www.vinegartips.com.

Your metal roof sounds fantastic and I think it’s the perfect match with your cabin. We were on the fence and our reseach seemed to say that was the best way to go. But, when it was twice-the-price in all estimates we got, we talked ourselves out of it. I’d like to see the latest pictures of your work-in-progress.

Some friends of ours bought one of those civil war era cabins and had it disassembled and transported across 5 states, finally siting it on nearby Mingus Mountain. They originally thought they would rebuild it and finish the inside within a year, but it has become the project of a lifetime. They work on it whenever they can, and kind of camp out inside while it’s taking shape around them.

I did go with a metal roof, and although it did cost a bit of change, there’s nothing that makes me happier than sleeping on my make-shift bed on the weekends and listening to the rain on the roof (when nature decides to grace me with rain). It makes me hug myself and believe that all is right with the world.

And BTW, my mother would love your uses of vinegar. I think she believes we can not only clean windows with vinegar and newsprint, stave off colds with daily oral doses mixed with hot water and honey, but that we have a good chance of achieving world peace if only everyone used enough vinegar! She is constantly sending me little “vinegar” tips.