Sauna is (almost) Done

The wonderful vacation is over and the diligent workers have all returned to their homes... Bruce and I are sitting in an empty house, somewhat bewildered by the emotional aftermath of having to, once again, say goodbyes to family. The house is still quite a mess from all the projects, but we don't even want to clean because that would feel like erasing all evidence that we ever had our loved once here.

The sauna has already been in use quite a bit! It is not 100% completed, but close enough to where we can use it already. There are many finishing touches that need to happen, and the adjacent shower area still needs quite a bit of work. I have been put on notice about starting any more projects.... I think I'm done for a while. Thankfully fall is clearly on its way, which means we will have plenty cold and wet days to be focused on the indoors instead of feeling pulled to be outside.

Here are a few pictures to show you the latest progress.

My dad is working on securing the glass block in its place.

The heater is connected and the rocks need to be piled on.

And here is the crew, enjoying the inaugural "löylyt"...

The cats aren't quite sure what to make of all of this yet.... I think come winter time, they will find the heat a welcome addition to the house.

Before my dad and brother left, we did finally manage a day where we didn't have critical work to be done and the weather was cooperative for us to go see the Glacier National park. No matter how many times I go in there, I never fail to be awed by the beauty.

It's a bitter sweet time, we finally have the sauna but we had to let our parents and my brother go home again. The laundry piles are falling on me, the house is a mess, I'm back at work, and, in the words of Charlotte Beck, everything is simply delicious. We are blessed beyond imagination.