Teeny Tiny Living Room: Fireplace

Hubs and I knew after the first winter in our teeny tiny cabin that we wanted to put in a real, wood-burning fireplace. We had a hole in the wall with a chimney but no insert that would allow us to keep warm. We debated for a short time about installing an insert but not replacing the surround. That didn't last long, as we absolutely felt we couldn't trust the craftsmanship of the existing surround /firebox considering the mold problems which previously resided there and nearly killed me.

So, we saved some money and started the process of our second major home remodel! We selected the insert quite a while ago, when I was on the dig at Fort Yamhill. I really wanted the cast iron version since I was finding cast iron on the dig. The stuff lasts forever! Next we selected the stone for both the wall and the ledge and finally, we choose the mantle. Finally, it was time to get the professionals involved and OH LORD! Lack of communication, missed and unreturned phone calls, unreturned emails, wrong orders, overcharges, inspections, busy schedules, no shows...you name it, it happened on this project. Hubs calculated that he expended 6 work days for this small project alone. BUT here we are right before Thanksgiving and our fireplace is complete! Isn't it beautiful!!

We ended up choosing cultured stone because real

river stone was so ungodly expensive.

Before demolition

A whole new look with antique black flagstone with chipped edges

Now with the cast iron insert.

You can see the chipped edge a little better here.

Than Hubs installed the mantle

First day of rock install

Second day...completed!

Our mason did such an amazing job!

The grout is a little dark but will start to lighten as it cures.

Really looks like a cabin now!

Madam Vice President

A few months ago it came to our attention that the Friends of Historic Champoeg non-profit group was thinking about dissolving. With the dissolution would likely be the end of the Promise Program I had been teaching with. There was an emergency meeting where people from all over offered to help and contribute and thus created a new board of directors -- of which I was one. Last night we had our first board meeting with all the new board members and I was voted in as Vice President. So, in addition to being a teacher with the organization, I am also an executive officer. I am humbled, worried and excited about the year to come!

Friends of Historic Champoeg Job

A month ago I was presented with an amazing opportunity to work at Champoeg State Park with their Promise Program. The program works with school kids ranging from 1st grade through 8th and introduces them to the history, government and archaeology of the area. As a teacher, I dress in settler attire (or archaeology clothing) and take the kids through several stations, acting out a script that helps immerse the kids in the time period. The best part is that it is a part-time gig that still allows me to go on digs when available. The program only last another month or so, but it has been a very rewarding experience thus far!

Archaeology Job

The archaeology job lasted for a total of 8 days before we (myself and 2 other new hires) were informed that work has slowed down enough that we won't be needed again until about two weeks from now. This was honestly welcome news, I had developed an upper respiratory infection just a few days before the dig began and have been miserably sick and on antibiotics for most of the time. My body needs to recover both from the dig and from the illness.

We traveled to three different sites over the 8 days, 6 of those days were spent in Lake Oswego OR, 1 day in Vancouver WA and 1 day in Camas WA. All 3 sites were prehistoric in nature and all of them in urban, well developed areas. On the final day our supervisor took us around the block for lunch, wanting to show us the reason for all the slag we were finding in Lake Oswego. For those interested, here is information on the area and its history.

Willamette River

Spring is finally here and gosh is it beautiful!

George Rogers Park and the Iron Furnace

Archaeology Job

Back in November I interviewed with an archaeology firm up in the Portland area. It is a firm that Hubby's company uses from time to time and my connection to him and his job garnered me the opportunity to interview with them. The human resources director at first seemed skeptical, seeing as I had only broken my hand a few months prior. We both agreed to wait until the new year and allow my hand to make a good and complete recovery. He called the other day to line me up for a dig in about a week. I sense he is still wary of hiring me, now he claims that I might be "too tiny". I told him I felt confident I could do the work. We ladies sometimes have to fight to do jobs that have been male dominated for so long!

I know I would regret not grabbing this opportunity. In the end the worst that happens is that they aren't happy with my quality of work and don't call me back for another dig. The best thing that could happen is that I have a job from time to time that eventually might lead me into a permanent position in the field of study I went to college to do. Either way, I am going to learn some very valuable lessons in the coming month!

I won't be able to update the blog the way I did last summer because there is a confidentiality clause that prevents me from discussing the dig, who the client is who hired us and the location. No pictures or discussion is allowed until after the dig is complete. Sadly, if word got out via by mouth or over the internet about where and what we were discovering, there would be "pot-hunters" out there at night digging up the area before we had a chance. Hopefully I will be be able to regale you with some cool stories in April!

Job Hunting: Update

Good news since the last time I posted, I finally nailed down a seasonal job. Due to the "social networking clause" they made me sign I am not going to say where because I don't want to always have to put a disclaimer on my posts, but it is a basic retail job. I am already beginning to question the wisdom of a retail job during Christmas...

The better news, however, is that I am currently lining up to do some archaeology work in the Oregon and Washington areas. It will likely take place after the holidays and is not guaranteed to be very regular but just getting my foot in the door is a major accomplishment!