Fletcher's Growing Up

Fletcher turned a year old last month. He took his first steps on his birthday. Now he is walking all over the farm chasing chickens and pulling laundry off the line.  He is learning lots these days.  Now he knows where his head, belly, shoes and Mommas teeth are.  Today he picked up his hammer when Ashley asked for his hammer and then picked up his saw when she asked for the saw.  Things sure happen fast at this age!

We began setting the roof trusses with the construction fork lift until we got on uneven ground and almost flipped it.  Then we decided to take a little break to regroup and replan... just happy no one got hurt, the only casualty was a broken rafter which we were able to get a replacement from Rudd with Push Hard Lumber.

So we hired a crane for a day to finish raising the roof.

The crane made everything feel much more safe but either way, working with tools up at the peak of the roof is no easy task.

Danny and Walter bracing off a truss up in the sky!

Setting the kitchen roof.

After two full weeks of erecting the frame we finally secured the last piece.  We celebrated with chips, champagne, and doughnuts!

On our lunch break we watched two lizards dual over mating grounds.

Now you can go up stairs without a ladder!  The next step is getting the tongue and groove on the ceiling, then the insulated panels and finally the metal roof.  Then we can rest assured that the frame is dry and protected.

Constructing the House Part 2

The sun finally came out which lifted spirits after so many days with frozen fingers.

Bringing up the rafters and collar ties for the roof.

We spent a day and a half to build the 15 roof trusses.

There are not many things more satisfying than standing back and looking at a days worth of work that hopefully will last for generations!

Danny hanging off of the corner drilling peg holes.

Danny Walter and Pat on watch.

The overhang.

Putting the last top plate on, almost ready for the roof!

The first truss took all morning to get set and braced off just right.    These things are very heavy and very high up!

So here we are two weeks in, we hope to complete the frame tomorrow if all goes well.  See you next time!!

Constructing the House

Logging and Milling the trees was a lot more work than expected!

Bill and Emily making sure the first corner is set correctly.

I guess this is what the ruins might look like in a couple thousand years.

We hauled a lot of rock and mixed a lot of mud to get here.

Getting started with the girters

The first floor joists are up!

Danny and Walter cutting the Locust posts that hold up the floor.

Fletcher and Ashley approve.

The first timber goes up Feb 26th 2013.

Heave!

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Drilling a hole for the pegs... only 399 more to go!

The crew.

We completed most of the back section in about four days then the weather got really cold and snowy... more to come next week.