Finished exteriors

We have finally gotten the siding installed on last years three kutis.

It is "board and bat" that I had cut at a local mill from local lodgepole pine.

The siding needs to dry thoroughly before we stain it a slightly darker color.

I am also having the "big house" ( where I live ) sided with the same material. I have

been wanting to cover up the salmon pink/peach paint ever since I moved in.

It's been a slow start.

The current economic down turn has taken its toll on OGM as well as the rest of the country.
We are slow getting started this year due mostly to funding. We have decided to finish some of the smaller projects we started last year as well as the VIP kuti.

Currently we have workmen putting up drywall, installing a shower, putting in kitchen counters and sinks. Within a week or ten days the cabin will be complete, finally.

Next we will put siding on the three small kutis and finish the interiors of the two that need it.
I plan on installing 15 amp electrical to the three small kutis along with running water.

Other projects that are scheduled for this year include a thousand feet of 6ft high fence to keep the deer out of the garden, orchard and general landscaped area. Painting or residing the "Big House" and replace old improper valves at the well head.

There are many other projects waiting that will just have to continue waiting. Another kuti, a new roof for the leaking barn/shop/central facility, road work to improve access and a number of rock walls for beauty and functionality.

I will post pictures in a few weeks when the VIP is complete.

We have lost one of our young yogis. Mischa is off in New Mexico checking out another retreat area. He may stay there or he may even return. We here at OGM wish him well and thank him for all of the work he put in here at the Hermitage helping us build and building his practice.

Also thanks to all of you who have helped us through the last several years. We are prospering slowly and look forward to many more yogis visiting us in the future.

OGM sponsored eight monks for two to three week visits this last winter season. Most recently was Ajaan Geep and Tan Isaac from Wat Metta Forest Monastery. They were here late May and early June. That will be it for the Monks until next winter as the Rains Retreat is beginning shortly and they will all have to stay at their Monastery.

I will travel south next September through November to visit Wat Metta and my meditation Ajaan, Thanissaro Bhikku, and then take some Monks to Mexico camping in the high mountains of Baha.

We've started working.

Well we have started the 2009 season.
Made a number of purchases for the VIP Kuti. Shower, hot water heater, vented propane heater and sinks. We have added to the wiring and will be installing cabinets and counters. This unit will be fully self-contained by mid summer.

I have been working on the garden for this year as well as putting in additional fruit trees and ornamentals. We are still getting frost at night and will continue to do so until early June but with care I will be able to get some things going early.

We had some excitement several days ago here at the Hermitage. The neighbor to the south of our forty acres was doing some burning and left the area unattended. The fire flared up and with a strong south wind was headed our way. It was several hours before the county fire people could respond as they were on another call. I used my tractor to cut fire lines between the fire and OGM property and several of my neighbors did the same. Special thanks to the three Yogis that are staying here as they came down to the scene with shovels and rakes and helped contain the fire until the fire people arrived. Special thanks to Mischa as he spotted several places where the fire had "jumped" onto OGM land and was actually starting to burn behind where we were focused. Mischa put those areas out himself and saved us a major problem. All in all about 4-5 acres was burnt, none on OGM, and about 50-60 trees.

Spring is very near.

The season is just beginning here at OGM.
It was a wonderful winter with nearly seven feet of snow, the average is four and one half feet, and we had temperatures down to minus twenty five degrees F.
We had six Monk visits this winter and still have our three resident Yogis from last year with us.
This year we plan on finishing all five cabins inside and out. I also hope to build one more towards the end of the season.
There will be many developments this year to include a completed website and a roof on the Central Facility which as been leaking since we arrived here nearly three years ago.
So.........watch the blog and then the new and improved website for updates.
OGM would like to say thank you to all of you who helped us financially this last year!

Monks visiting

OGM has had two Monks visiting since the 14th of January. Cold but no snow while they were here. Tan Peter and Tan Chris are from Wat Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego County California.

more winter pictures

a few more pictures

winter at OGM

Winter has descended on OGM. We got over 30 inches of snow in December when the average is 16 inches. It is snowing today and the forecast is for 5 inches today and more tonight.

Two of our resident yogis will be returning from a visit home and I will go pick them up in Spokane if I can get there tomorrow.

We have two more Monks scheduled to arrive on the 14th and stay through the 30th of this month.

Attached will be a few winter scene pictures from here at the Hermitage. All pictures are of OGM property or are looking off into the distance from the property.