It has been 469 days since we lost our home, and we still have no move-in date in sight. Heck, we don’t even have a “start building” date.

At the end of last week, First Reader and I combed through our printouts and found a page with some helpful contact numbers. We called the one labeled as the state division of building codes for prefabricated homes. The voice message instructed us to email a specific person, so I did. The state didn’t have a clue, so our contact reached out to the factory on Monday. In the words of that great American sage, Gomer Pyle, “surprise, surprise, surprise.” Lo, and behold, the state NOW has our building plans in their hands. (Can I scream yet?) 😱

If we don’t hear anything by the end of this week, I’ll send out another email and ask how long we might have to wait. By then, it will be two weeks, and (hopefully) enough time for our contact to give us an idea of a timetable, at least. I, for one, am more than ready to get this show on the road. I can’t help but feel that once we get those plans in hand, the dam will burst, and we’ll be busier than one-armed wallpaper hangers.

Winter is definitely here. The 60*F days are long behind us, and the morning walks have been starting at a brisk 32*F or below. That means the ground will freeze, and digging will be more difficult. That means that any concrete work will have to wait for appropriate weather to properly cure. Hmm, it might be a while. 🤔

Even if the actual building can’t start until the winter clears, having our construction blueprints will get a couple of things moving along. First, the engineer will design our basement, and those plans will be sent off for approval. After that, we should start getting the ground and the rest of the utility hookups ready for the foundation.

I know our new home won’t begin to feel real until we have those ‘prints in our hot little hands. But just thinking about the process has me optimistic about the prospect of living back on the mountain. 😊