When all else fails, add an extra Axel!

Always on the lookout for fallen logs to mill for lumber for the house Kevin found several down the road from us.  (Recently cut down by our local Asplundh crew on a mission to keep the power lines clear)

Between the back hoe, chain saw and a obviously too small homemade trailer, Kevin got as far as loading.

As we began the trek home with me as a precaution following him with my hazard lights on the left trailer tire hissed and blew.  So home we went to get an axel we’d acquired from the mobile home we scraped out earlier this month.

After lifting the trailer with the backhoe we positioned the new axel and Kevin chained it all together.

These logs are expected to go into rafters, floor joists, sub floor boards and roof sheathing.

~ Cheryl 

Aluminum Playday

Kevin (and Arthur and I, but mostly Kevin) have taken to scrapping old trailers.  Recently we took one down not far from the house.  Aluminum and steel are the main items for the Reclamation Centers (Recycling).  Copper wire is also something to keep an eye out for.

This melting expedition included aluminum from that scrapping job as well as our own private collection of candy wrappers (from Christmas) and assorted aluminum pieces saved from the trashcan in the kitchen.   The more we can return to nature, recycle or reuse the better.  

Kevin has played at melting down aluminum for a while now and the experiments have been simple, mainly seeking out suitable molding mediums.  He and I had spent hours designing lovely patterns in plaster of Paris only to find that the hot aluminum cracked them. So this time we played with both sand/dirt and concrete. 

As you can see from the collage, with our makeshift furnace and crucible we are very much novices. Our process is refined bit-by-bit, experiment-by-experiment. And it doesn’t hurt that Kevin likes playing with fire, and concrete and wood and, well the list goes on an on….

For me, I’d like to create aluminum focal points for the jewelry like sun catcher creations I build.  Ever the master fabricator, Kevin will design as well as see the project into production.

From these humble beginnings we have high aspirations. Exploring where our creativity motivations take us has become a major component in our lives.  The impulse to create is strong and we are delighted to answer the call.

~ Cheryl

Open Spaces

It’s a lovely mild winter day with a hint of rain this afternoon. The second floor is upon us, or rather Kevin is upon it, beginning work on the sub floor for Arthur’s loft, which is the ceiling of the laundry, master bath and bedroom.

We’ve all been doing our share of fantasizing about the size of our new rooms. We’ve spent the past 11 plus years in a singlewide trailer all I can think of is open space!

~Cheryl

Wall Jacks One and Two

Kevin, Arthur and their 2 new best friends Wall Jack 1 and 2 have been busy the past few weeks.  The new buddies are built from 2-inch & 1 1/2 pipe telescope style, one inside the other and boat trailer winches.  These incredible tools have played an important roll in raising the assembled skeleton walls, enabling one man to do the work of several. 

As each room came together and support beams were raised into place I marveled at how my house is coming together.  At the end of each day Kevin and I walked the floor plan deciding where the fireplace, the closets, the bookshelves and next years Christmas tree will go.

The wall in the picture above is for my future office.  I am already fantasizing myself there blogging away to my hearts content. 

It’s New Years Day 2011 and a marathon of Star Wars movies are on again. Kevin and Arthur are watching it again.  I am in my currently very tiny office blogging dreaming about my new office…….

Below are a ‘VERY’ short re-play of progress.

Above:  Moving one of the wall tie beams out the carport onto the sub-floor.  There are a total of four beams like this used on the house, all cut from the same Pine tree. (cut from 20 foot long chunks ranging from 14 to 16 inch diameter)  Chain sawed to size then cleaned up with a skill saw.  You can match up the knot holes at a glance. 

Arthur working Wall Jack 1 on his end, and Kevin on the other positioning one of the support beams,

The last exterior wall going up thanks to Wall Jacks 1 & 2.

Last exterior wall in place! (for the the main floor that is, Arthur's loft is next.........)

~Cheryl