Barn Raising
Best day yet! The work has been steady since spring, and the weather has been extremely accommodating, so I can't complain about the progress so far. But today I saw the first signs that I might someday actually have a house to call home!
This is the cottage. It will continue to be a step ahead of the house. First there was a basement, then a floor, then the walls were built horizontally on top of the floor.
And today was like a modern day version of a barn raising--making use of equipment and manpower. There was lifting, leveling, bracing, attaching--over and over*--amazing and impressive. They even blew away the sawdust beforehand, so there wouldn't be dirt in my walls.
The real milestone will be when the same happens with the house. But today was pretty great!
* A footnote to say I learned a lesson today--too late--since I don't expect to ever plan and build another house. As I've said, I naively began the planning process as a dive head-first into creative bliss--anything and everything I'd ever longed for and dreamed of was possible. I asked no questions, and it must have seemed like money was no object to me. But it is! Today I abruptly became aware that thick walls equate to two walls. Every wall on my cottage and house will have to be built twice--as in twice the lumber, twice the hours--and twice the cost! As they say, live and learn--and I do call this living!
This is the cottage. It will continue to be a step ahead of the house. First there was a basement, then a floor, then the walls were built horizontally on top of the floor.
And today was like a modern day version of a barn raising--making use of equipment and manpower. There was lifting, leveling, bracing, attaching--over and over*--amazing and impressive. They even blew away the sawdust beforehand, so there wouldn't be dirt in my walls.
The real milestone will be when the same happens with the house. But today was pretty great!
* A footnote to say I learned a lesson today--too late--since I don't expect to ever plan and build another house. As I've said, I naively began the planning process as a dive head-first into creative bliss--anything and everything I'd ever longed for and dreamed of was possible. I asked no questions, and it must have seemed like money was no object to me. But it is! Today I abruptly became aware that thick walls equate to two walls. Every wall on my cottage and house will have to be built twice--as in twice the lumber, twice the hours--and twice the cost! As they say, live and learn--and I do call this living!
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