movement

So much is going on that the days and weeks are just flying by. It is hard to believe that it is almost July! I am finishing up a small body of work before I focus on the house building. I am finally almost ready to fire, but it is hard to focus with so much else going on. Especially knowing that I may not be able to work in clay for a while after this. I am determined to see it through though.

The house is looking more and more like a house every day. Last week JW came and helped with foaming and cementing the foundation (a step I was not aware of). Tilt was super grateful for his work, the supplies and his know-how. We are very fortunate to have my Dad (who retired last December) on the job. This week, Tilt and Dad have been working daily to frame in the lowest level of the house. Looking out through the window openings that will be there for years to come is like looking out into the future. It is amazing for me to stop in and see the progression.

This week has had its ups and downs with the loss of Tilt's brother. It seems like working on the house has been a bit of a reprieve for Tilt and also for Ed who is at the job-site helping on a regular basis. In my short stop-by's I have observed the thoughtful movement of the job. There are periods of great focus when Tilt is measuring, checking, rechecking, thinking, rethinking, planning replanning followed by periods of construction. The inbetween times allow for reflection of the work or otherwise. Ed talks about the loss of his brother with a clarity of emotion that does not seem to need direct comforting. It is as if the words just need to be said, put out there across the landscape of green rolling hills.

Let the carpentry begin!!!

Early yesterday morning Tilt called me from his cell to tell me that he just saw a concrete truck go by and was pretty sure they were coming our way. I was in the middle of breakfast so I told him we would probably miss the concrete trucks, but would head over after we ate. I hung up the phone and K pushed his toast away with purpose and exclaimed "I want go see cocret truck!" So that is what we did. It is pretty fun to watch. They rushed while the trucks poured. Quickly they got it even and level. Then they washed things out because it sets fast. Then they left. quick quick quick!! A couple people came back later to smooth things out and then later again to seal it. We managed to just make it in time to get K's feet prints in the back corner before it fully dried. By the end of the day we check concrete off our list.

Tilt on the other hand was busy with getting the last of our beams milled and to the site. He helped with the milling for these last beams and borrowed a trailer and tractor to transport it all. He delivered the last beams needed for the timber frame in early afternoon. He is as excited about those beams as K is about the concrete trucks (tractors, dump trucks, excavators, pick-up trucks etc.).

I have been busy gathering up some perennial plants and shrubs. I am putting them in temporary beds for future landscaping. I have a few from the garden here and yesterday I got a bunch from the farmhouse (where Tilt grew up).

Framing comes next. Tilt has been working out the first big order list to have material delivered.

...love those feet

....Breathe

Plumbed Timber Heat

The plumbing has begun. Drains are set up to leave the house through the basement. We have fresh milled timbers and the heat piping is set up in the basement. The heat will run through the floor. Soon concrete will be poured on top. So much is happening that I have heard about, but I have never seen in process. Tilt is orchastrating all of the components with grace. I have been slack to report here because there is no big drama to see, but very important things are happening. Most of the beams were delivered, we are still waiting on the gerts and top plates (they are longer lengths and will be sawn elsewhere). Tilt is starting to spend his days at the site, setting up, making order lists, and cleaning up the shack (the beat up building that will be my clay studio). Oh, and mowing lawn to rest his brain!

Dowser-less

The well was drilled and some drains were put in around the house this week. Our water was found 745 feet down (130 to bedrock). That is pretty far. Maybe we should have used a dowser to pick our spot!! The excavator filled in a bit around the house when he put in the drains. It is really easy to walk right in now. SuperK prefers to climb 'his mountains' though!