Last week we were finally able to get the foundation drawings in hand. We had been trying to do other work and waiting on those until we started doing any digging. A difference of even six inches all the way around could mean days of work. We don’t want to be wasting any time or energy needlessly. So, with plans in hand the guys were finally able to stake out the foundation lines that needed to be dug.
I was out there late last week to see the process and I just spent time standing in the middle of what will eventually be rooms. Rooms that I’ve been designing and hashing through for about two years now. I know this space so intimately now that it’s like we’re best friends. Chris hasn’t been as much a part of the details, rather just giving his thoughts and feedback when needed. But me? I know what each room is supposed to measure at. I’d spent hours over the past two years pacing things out in our house to get a feel for spaces. To be able to stand in the middle of rooms and see that this was happening was so exciting.
Wednesday though, was more important.
It was more important to me because Wednesday morning the string marked lines started to become trenches. As I stood there on Wednesday afternoon watching two of the guys breaking away the packed earth things started to feel really real. This is happening. We’ve spent years just taking care of the property and now it’s happening. Instead of talking about loose plans and dreams we’re now talking about time lines and when certain things need to be done. Roof on by June. Solar system ordered this summer. Finishing. Moving. So many things. Wednesday morning we had a mini staff meeting and talked through loose time lines so we could all be pushing for the same thing. It felt so good.
This front corner is going to be the office on the main floor, and the master bedroom on the second floor. Back right corner is the kitchen, back left is the living room area. There’s a storage room between the office and kitchen. The lower left corner will be a small deck area on both floors. Between the office and deck are a storage room and small half bath.
I can’t wait to see things all dug up and for the foundation and blocks to go in.
Chris has been a bit twitchy lately because there are so many parts of the project starting and nothing is at the finishing stage. But that will change this week! Our first part of the building process will be finished on Friday when the septic system for the house gets covered back up. Evens has spent the last week laying and connecting the leach lines. On Wednesday he was laying plastic over the gravel bed and after that it’s time to cover it back up with dirt!
The form work for the top of the septic tank put in place a couple weeks ago.
The top is done, the lids are finished and ready to be moved into place, the leach lines are all connected and covered, and plastic going in place.
The work on the shop and filter production area is still moving ahead. To give you a little reminder of what it looked like a few weeks ago (taken Jan. 26)…
The last of the roof support posts was poured about a week ago. They’ve been compacting the earth in what will be the base for the work pad. That will be poured at a later date.
Look at those 6 pillars! Eventually the area underneath them will have a cement pad poured and a steel framed tin roof will be mounted on the posts.
On the left are the staff bathrooms and showers. The plumbing is all in place and ready to be connected when it’s time.
Chris spent some time helping to drill holes in the shop foundation to cement the re-bar into. They’re starting to cement the first rounds of block in this week.
It’s all really exciting to see!
~Leslie
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