Joists

Some might describe this project as...unique, extremely solid, unconventional, some have called it 'industrial...certainly engaging with lots of flavor. Needless to say, everyone is learning a lot on this project.

The joists represent the project poignantly.

Here are the joists, in green lumber.

 JL is sanding. That's all the treatment/finishing this wood beam will get.

We put the first one in by hand, since it was not as heavy as the rest. Hoisted up onto scaffolding, then lifted up and 'hung' between the cement wall and the one huge truss running through the middle of the 2nd floor.

 

These are hefty chunks of wood.

Then the remaining joists were put in place using the telehandler, in through the open roof. 

Notice the metal hangers holding joists on the right

 

And then a floor was placed on top of the joists.

The team finished the floor despite a downpour

Gotta get that roof on! (water dripping down through floor boards)

The floor is made of 2"x12" boards laid side-by-side. Each board was given a deep groove along its length. A strip of metal inserted in the grooves adjoins and aligns the boards.

Blessings, Again

With six years together in marriage and a roof over our heads, we are overwhelmingly wealthy.

To start off this 7th year,  we had the blessing of a reunion:

On our anniversary 2016, TK and SG prayed over us again...

Just as they did in our ceremony 2010,

 But with new words of truth and calling.

I suppose if we spent the next six years giving thanks, we might get caught up. 

Precious People

People are so precious. 

Our house is being built full of precious gems.

Hah- I never thought of this: could this be how tenderly God feels about us living stones being built into a spiritual house?

Blogger's Note:  

The photos you see here are only a few recent moments, recorded on 'film'. 

Lots of precious people in this process are not on camera.

Under Roof

Last night, we rang the bell!

Mom S gave us a 'doorbell' for our house. We ring it as we make milestones along the way...

Grubby, happy, and beyond bushed, Papa M and PD rolled in by 9:30pm last night and reported that the house is now under roof.

Ding Ding! That is a milestone to be celebrated. For the first time, work can continue in the rain!

Yeah, it's a steep one.

Stainless steel sheets still have to be processed by a company and screwed on top to finish the roof, but the structure and insulation is there. 

We used double steel-framed panels of foam by Thermasteel.

East side roof almost up

Looking west off the rooftop

 That's Mark with his head sticking out the chimney hole after a huge day.

We have PD, CM, JDC, GL and JL and JK to thank (an understatement) for the hard work, teamwork, and timely progress over this past week.
The best way we know to thank people is to feed them and have a good time together!

Host in the Lord with all your heart

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, a fleet of people made it possible for the blitz build to happen. We were replete with love and generosity:

B&B (Beds and Bathrooms)
"I'm coming to help you clean"- MC (Full basement ready for 5 guests + kitchen floor sparkling)

Childcare
"M can play at our house while you grocery shop for the crew" -HW
Little M came back effervescing from her day with cousins at Aunti M's. -MCK



Freezer filling + Cooking help
"I would love to spend a day helping you cook for the weekend" - LC
"Happy Mother's Day: you now have containers full of dahl ready to thaw for meals" - CS
"I am unloading stuff from my freezer- it's yours" - GR
"I have chili + cupcakes + bars ready for you in my freezer" - MC
"I'm bringing you brownies" -DG  (How could I have not thought of that?!)

Planning help
"I am happy to help think through meals/logistics/etc with you. Here are some hydration/cooling techniques I can offer..." CC
Expert meal plan consultation - CS
"Let's do something fun!" (which motivated me to get my ducks in a row) - AC





We made it! Everyone was well fed and slept, if not over-worked.
And the Paul-Bunyan-sized pizzas (purchased, and broader than a doorway) were, appropriately, a HUGE hit on Saturday night.

It does a lot for a project to have seasoned experts come boost the progress, navigate challenging terrain, and have good a good time doing it.

Truss in the Lord with all your heart...

With a blitz of carpenters last weekend,

The Truss went in...

Gable walls were built and placed...

And the first two roof panels went up before the crew drove 6 hours home...

360 Spin

Here- take a spin around the house!

North side

West Side. Bracings are taken down now that all the walls are poured full of concrete.

South Side. Note three round pillars/footers poured to support the balcony beams. Black u-shaped 'hangars' are sticking out of the walls where the balcony will come out of the 2nd floor.

East Side

Recent photo credits to my bro-in-law who has been helping us immensely...while he and his family are on vacation!

Recent photo credits to my bro-in-law who has been on site helping while he's on vacation!

Lumber School

Forgetful Squirrel

Acorn becomes sprout

Sprout becomes tree

200 years of sustenance

A grand White Oak finally dies

Tree is felled

Round trunk is sawn into lumber with right angles

Lumber goes to school and gets graded for its grain, strength, quality.

We are the wealthy recipients of the amazing and beautiful resources of a tree.

These are the thick boards and beams that will be used 'green' (not dried). The 1" boards are drying elsewhere.

The lumber was given excellent grades.

Grading requires a professional engineer and a square and a pencil: measuring wood grain-slopes, knots, dimensions, & tree type.  Thanks to JZ and his assistant.

Thanks to my sister-in-law, I got to be on the crew that day!

Stacking

Stacking

8 tons done

We have PD and LC to thank for all the progress this week