Week 2

Monday June 19, 2006

Hi, another exciting day! And Michael and I beat from the weekend in Calgary shopping(10 hours on Sat, only 6 on Sun).But we did have a couple of great meals with Dick, so that was a pleasure. Today was pour the foundation day. The truck arrived at 9- Michael pitched in helping with the basement and then Dave helped him with the greenhouse. We ended up with quite a few paving stones as there was too much cement. It set up fast and we barely had time to do any decorating. Our pour went well, but the basement sprung one of its ties that hold the boards together(I missed seeing it happen) so I guess there was a mad scramble to try and keep it from bowing too much. As seen in the 6th photo. the first picture is our hobbit door, which I will pass through without ducking. It goes to the basement. No, is not finished! Also, today, the West side post was put in from the outside. Mike unexpectedly was out logging this afternoon for trees suitable for the posts and beams we need that will show in the studio and tower. The man we hoped would supply them found out his logs are rotten. So Mike still has to do a little more in the morning and deliver them to the mill to be cut tomorrow. The forms to the concrete come off tomorrow and then the backfill will be on Thurs. I started painting the plywood which will be the walls for the mudroom, but the weather threatened rain, so I had to stop by 4. I did some cleaning up and then planted a few things in the garden and by then it was 7;30, time to cook. where's the pizza shop when you need it!!!??? But as you can see, the East side of the house is back to normal. Looks like they never touched a thing. Tomorrow they start at 7:00. Yikes, kinda early for me.

Off to bed. Hope I can sleep instead of thinking about building all night.

Love, Jane

Tues June 20, 2006 The Unveiling

Hi, everyday is busy, hey Clint, I thought you said construction teams quit early! They started at 7 and quit at 5. We started the day taking off the forms to reveal the concrete walls. I was still waking up while this was happening- I'm pretty useless with the heavy stuff. Then it was Michael's job to finish up the trees to get them ready for the mill to be cut into posts and beams. Greg gave Michael a wrong dimension yesterday, so Mike had to go through the trees that were stacked up on the road(from his logging of 2 weeks ago) and find a suitable substitute. Then at about noon he was off in Greg's truck to find someone to cut them. Meanwhile, the 2nd beam was put in(on the west side of the house) and the floor joists to the mudroom were made. I caulked and also painted some more plywood that will be the walls to the mudroom. I did more cleaning up around the yard, too, as it gets pretty messy. Michael showed up just in time at 5 with the cut logs, the guys got them off the truck and the day was pretty much over for work.

The house is a disaster, but at least we don't worry about it. The weather is slightly better, only a little sprinkle today and cool. Its Michael's birthday tomorrow, but we have to work as the backfill will be done on Thurs and we have some prep work to do. Certainly, we're busier than we thought we'd be. The big thing hanging over us tomorrow is "WHo Will paint the walls of the Basement with that horrible Black tar", Mike off the hook? I'm not about to volunteer.......there's Zapper......Dave......and I don't think Greg wants to do it!

Stay tuned. Work starts again at 7. Love, Jane

Week 2 Day 3 June 21, 2006 Michael's Birthday

Mike didn't get off easy today. But it was an interesting day. The floor to the mudroom went on, the door opened into the studio, and then, Zapper lost a filling and had to go to the dentist. So instead of Zapper painting tar, Mike and Jane got to do it. But it was a bit breezy and cool, so it was OK. Michael did a quick sanding of the posts and beams that were going up today. He also helped get them up, which I think he liked doing. They look great and will show when the renovation is finished. The West side of the house got finished, one of the posts in the living room beefed up...We also got the insulation in around the greenhouse foundation(using up all the scrap Styrofoam Mike has collected just for this occasion. I had to cook a birthday dinner, but luckily there was a frozen Saskatoon pie in the freezer which we will eat soon. And then off to bed! I'm tired!

Love, Jane

Thursday June 22, 2006 Time to Hoist

Hi, Our roof is straight! With the new beams and posts in place, Greg used our existing cables and a jack to get the roof up to where it was originally and suck in the walls at the same time. Most of the day was spent securing it. What a wonderful day! The back hoe we had hoped to get was unavailable, so we hired another for tomorrow morning. Zapper will help-he lives a few miles away, and Greg and Dave have the day off. So we're very happy to have an easy day tomorrow. There is a party tomorrow night and if we worked a full day, I know I wouldn't feel like going.

The roof gets opened on Monday and will be open for 3 days to get the tower in. We're all praying for good weather. They have lots of tarps, but.....glad they're starting on a Mon....which I'm sure is why they aren't working tomorrow.

We're pleased with the progress and couldn't be happier with the workmanship. And I have some lovely new posts and beams in my studio.

Love, Jane

Friday June 23, 2006 Did I say an easy day?

Hi, I slept in till 8....it was great. The back hoe arrived at 8:30. it left at about noon, shortly after Zapper left. Its a mess out there! Thankfully, it didn't rain today so we have some time(if the weather holds) to rake it smooth, which I spent hours doing today. And piles everywhere, with lots or rock in them. If we wait and get rain, it will harden up and we'll have to use a pick to move it.....So our work is cut out for us this weekend. It was also good the guys didn't work today, so they didn't trample it down. I remember having to do this 7 ?ears ago when we did the addition....I carefully raked the entire driveway.

We moved the larch tree which ended up with a small root ball so Michael severely pruned it. It will be a miracle if it survives.

Michael went off to the party alone. He plans to camp out so he can have lots of fun...its a bit of a drive. I pooped out. Its a beautiful quiet evening, just what I need.

Love, Jane

PS look at that straight roof ridge!