hi everyone especially hikingonthru:
well this is a very ambitious undertaking, I suggest taking some of the advice above, but having said that, and looking at your first post I recognize a determination amongst you and your family.
Unless you have actually experienced the whole picture of preparing and raising your own frame without the use of many modern conveniences, be ready for a challenge, also having said that I think that you are upto the challenge, and have made some good first steps.
You seem to have the basic (main) tools, but what I worry about is how well you know how to use them (safely) especially the hewing axe, and adze!
Just to give you some idea of a time frame for the construction of a 1200 square foot timberframe structure with aloft area, doing everything with the above tools and I must say being familiar with the tools, and with the help of some muscular volunteers- at the very least 2 years of hard work--just to raise it you will need many helping hands or a (expensive)crane.
I have known people to do what you are doing and take maybe 5 years to complete, and it will be somewhere between these 2 dates. I am trying to be very truthful using my experience as my guide, others may say different but this is my guess. The guiding light usually is how badly you need a home, and the time frame you have to work with
You have the land , trees, some tools, vision, family go for it, you have nothing to loose and much to gain-plan carefully and work safely' good luck and keep in touch
NH
