Mudboarding

Our 'mudboarding' party was a busy one. There was way more food and beer than necessary, but we're doing a fine job of using it up before it goes bad. And who can stop the karate chop? Look out.

I was pretty scatter-brained over the weekend. It had been a long week of putting up insulation and making other preparations. I usually underestimate the time it takes to get things done, but with insulation I was exceptionally optimistic. Anyway thanks to everyone for coming and helping turn this place into a fine place to live.

Hauling in nearly 200 sheets of drywall was a feat in itself.



















So far we have sheetrock hung in a bedroom and a half, as well as in the mud room. Sheetrock is one of those brand names, like band-aid, that sometimes does a nicer job of describing the thing than the generic term.













This week is focused on outside work, though. We're preparing a place for my sister's wedding reception and since we're renting a mini-excavator to take out stumps for that there are a bunch of other things to do while it's here. I worked with it today. It's not cheap but worth a lot more than what you pay if you think of how hard it is to dig out a stump by hand or dig a ditch.

Insulation period

It's been a busy week leading up to this drywall party. We've had a lot of help, which keeps things light. The other day, when there were half a dozen people putting up insulation, Seamus asked his mother, "So, is this a insulation party?"


There is still a lot of insulation to put up, but the downstairs is pretty much ready for drywall. And upstairs a lot of the fussy parts are done, so I think we may get that done today.


I finally got the materials estimated on Wednesday and ordered them Thursday morning. We're expecting a truck Saturday morning around 9:00 I think, and it needs to be hand-loaded as I couldn't get a forklift truck at such late notice. So if you're coming Saturday and can make it there early-ish it would be appreciated.




Thanks Jim for the drywall hoist. I've never had the pleasure of using one of these, but so far I really like it.














The weather is supposed to be warm this weekend. I made a little path down to a bathing pool in the creek just upstream from our place. It might not actually be on our property, but it's real close.






Summer evening tacos with the bride and groom after much fiberglass and a swim, and before a hike up Oakytop to see the Big Bay fireworks. The fireworks were pretty far away and had some stiff competition from the moon over misty green mountains.





Nora and Jared have been staying out here for most of the week, bringing a wave of fun and energy to the project.

Graduation of a building

Yesterday the building inspector and the plumbing/mechanical inspector gave their approval of our house's bones and guts, respectively. Yesssss.

This means the next thing to do is insulate the place. We're using fiberglass because it's cheap and durable. Perhaps its greatest downfall is its tendency to leave glass needles in your flesh, lungs, and eyeballs. So you have to wear a lot of clothing, glasses and a respirator to keep it happy. Let's all wish for a July cold snap, eh?

The drywall party next weekend is still on. If drywall is not your thing, there is an elliptical stage to build down by the creek, an arched ceiling that needs wood, possibly a well project to put together, and tent spots that need to be leveled, among other outdoor things. Speaking of tents, camping is encouraged, as the Big Bay road gets longer at night. And bring an instrument if you have one to play, acoustic or electric. So far quite a few musicians have shown interest, so it'll be fun to see what comes together.

More details about the party will come as we get them worked out.

On Sunday the 17th you may consider leaving the site to walk a while at the Eagle Rock site. There is a ceremonial walk then and there, not a protest, with the goal of acknowledging that this is a sacred site. If you haven't been there, you have my word that this is a powerful place. The building inspector who stopped by yesterday had just been up at the mine site there and remarked that level of safety and cleanliness up there was far beyond anything he'd seen in his 18 years as a building inspector. I heard another account like this at one of the informational meetings. I wonder if that powerful presence there, highlighted by the people who have been calling attention to It there, is affecting the builders and engineers, nourishing their respect for the earth and the lives of the people who work there.

Anyway the walking ceremony starts around 10:00 and continues until sunset, with the goal of walking around the site (4 miles) three times. This is a solemn walk from one drum site to the next. This link may or may not work to a facebook page about the event.
More information is available at standfortheland.com.

We're going to need help this weekend, too, order to get insulation installed. It's both fussy and uncomfortable, but also very satisfying.