Almost On Top

Got some things done today, new help was on the job and I was ready. Stood walls on the 2nd floor and we are now 22' off the ground at the highest point. The highest point in the house is about 30' off the ground. I quite sure I will have problems working that high, I am afraid of hieghts. But when it's gotta be done, I usually do it. What a week, the storms have been scary and our hearts go out to the hundreds of familys who have lost loved ones. We have escaped unscathed except for the daily dousing that swells wood and beams and sheathing. Oh well, this has been one of the worst times to build becouse of weather but you take it as it comes. It was only 60 deg. today so it was good working temp.  I think that Richard is going to work out good, he sure worked hard today. The wildflowers around our site are amazing, we dont have weeds, we have wildflowers. We even have an abundance of Mountain Azealia which I'm told is very rare. Soon it will be time to put on the roof and deck, and also begin building the massive scaffolding system inside the house. Maybe we will be dry for awhile and make good progress.

Slow Week

Been a slow week in the gorge, my daughter Whitney has been visiting and we have spent as much time as possible with her in this busy time. More rain is on the way and I'm going to try and finish the subfloor upstairs this morning to have all wood I joists covered. I have another carpenter lined up next week, so hopefully much progress will be made. I also built the stairs this week in addition to finishing the 2nd floor. I cant wait to start standing walls up there, it's the last step before putting on the roof. I still am debating differant ideas on an assortment of questions. My goal is to be dried -in in about 1 month, which is definately doable considering the progress made in less than a month with a ton of days missed becouse of rain . It will be so nice handing off to the plumber, electrician, and hvac guys. then it will be deck time. And I love building decks, 1700 sq.ft. of deck to be built way off the ground. It would be so nice to get in a short paddling session if the rains come, maybe I'll get lucky! The weather has been perfect, days in the 60s in late May. We really just have 3 months of summer here on the mountain, and snake time is upon us. Watch where your stepping.

Random Ramblings

It's been two weeks since we began framing and I am very pleased in both the amount of money spent and the progress of the job. The key is to continue to drive hard and dont let up. The goal for the next week is to complete the second floor framing, and to hang the first rafter. There are other items to complete also. Scaffolding needs to be set-up, and the piers for the mudroom need to be dug and poured. I dont have any help lined up for this week, so I am going to have to get-er-done myself. I do have a option of stealing someone from the store for a day or two, but well see how things go. The pressure of time is begining to show up. I need to have my influence in the store, but I had not been off of the mountain for 2 weeks until friday.  I was sick all of last week, and had no energy. So I am looking forward  to recovering and getting something done.  This is a crazy life, there are so many things to be passionate about. Focus is the buzzword, and I try to keep things at an even keel as much as I can. On sunday I plan to go into the gorge and cut down a couple of trees that are in the way of our view, we wil see if it makes a differance. Meanwhile, back at the ranch.  I am wrighting this and talking to Whitney and Robyn at the same time. Too many distractions, and not enough FOCUS . Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!

The Treehouse Emerges

Framing and Flowers

More Tall Walls

Lets try this again

Tall Walls