Ahh Spring!

Hello all!

Sorry for the inactivity as of late. This update has been a few weeks in the making but I have finally sat and made some time to get a post in here.

First up: Cold, Rain...and our Unintended Pond.

Winter seemed to hold on forever this spring and has pushed back our work schedule quite a bit. Just one short year before we were already in shorts and sipping beers on patios daydreaming about our big plans. Now that our plans are in place to get rolling we get unseasonably cold weather and late snow as winter held on with its stubborn claws. We received record snowfall this winter and consequently that translated to a very high water table thus flooding under our cabin floor and putting the piers under a foot of water. Our first visit they were all holding strong and staying in place so we ordered all our supplies to get rolling and prepped for a May Long kick off to cabin framing. The Thursday before said long weekend we receive our supplies and notice our first big setback of the project...

SUNK!

Not good...

On the North side of the floor two of our piers sank. One about 6 inches and one 1.5. After some panic and cussing we calmed down and decided what we had to do to move forward.

Side Note: May Long Weekend....cruel mistress...vile temptress...we endure some cold harsh winters here in the prairies and May Long weekend is always that beacon...that light at the end of the long winter tunnel. And that light is not a beautiful sunny weekend that we all hope for every year, it is always a raining sopping mess! Every year it is a trap and every year I fall directly into it. This year would be no different...

Piers! Yes, they would need a better foundation around them to move forward so as the May Long rain clouds rolled in, I rolled out to the land for a day and a half of wheel barrow gravel moving. 60+ loads later we had the ground built up, braces built and shims in place.

She ain't pretty but she'll work.

Next up: Fun with Wood, Saws, Numbers and Shaun!

As the rain continued to pour late on Sunday and into Monday Shaun and I were actually able to get going on the framing process. A few more evenings of work, aided immensely by the steady math and framing skills I never knew Shaun possessed and we are ready for a roof. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Things coming together despite the weather

Soggy Shaun

Doors and windows framed!

Lastly: Work Relief  in the Form of Beer Holsters and Hammerschlagen!!

After all the hard work on the frame we had intentions of continuing to work until a generator malfunction halted progress but increased relaxation! Some friends of ours were out and one of them introduced us to all the glory that is Hammerschlagen! Thanks Ben!

Game of skill and grace...and Hammers!

Lap Dog Morgan

There are a few more pictures available here. We did eventually get back to work getting the ridge beam up that spans the cabin and cutting half the rafters, but unfortunately it was very late and very dark and no photo evidence was taken. I'll snap some pics and get em up asap!