Steph's Reality Blend

Andrew's 2nd Birthday Bash! His Aunt Ronda sent a balloon tied to a toy concrete  truck, as well as some spectator snacks. An experienced group of guys briefly convening before the concrete flows. The tripod is a laser level which was used with a "smart stick"  to level the concrete as it was put down. The blob of concrete on the RIGHT has been leveled  and is used in place of a form board. Randy and Chas screed the first section.  2nd concrete "form" is in place; filling in between and screeding. These guys were like a well-oiled machine. Everyone chose a part and knew it! Coming across the 2nd half, filling around putsy pipes. We had an extra YARD of concrete, so we expanded the apron in front of the doors on the east side of the pole barn, Randy's brother Ken and I built a 6x6' frame for a concrete pad, and then there was STILL more, so we had the rest poured over the side of the driveway that got washed out a bit...

Installing vertical 2" foam pieces around the perimeter, 16" deep Aug 14 It looks like Andrew did the roughed-in plumbing.  (We hired a friend) Aug 15 Here's the dividing wall between heated/insulated  shop/living-quarters and cold storage. Randy leveling/smoothing the sand-gravel and laying  that pile of 2" 4x8 under-slab insulating foam Aug 20 On a beautiful morning we all helped install PEX tubing for the in-floor heat! The gray pipes on the right are the entrances/exits for the PEX tubing. Aug 22 Here's our road map Randy and I drew up the night before.  3 loops of ~275' each. Each loop meanders throughout  the whole floor, and none of them can cross. It would have been a frustrating morning without the map. First "loop" is in!  Randy and Teddy installing the 3rd loop to fill in the gaps Bridget "overseeing" 3 loops in Next goes wire reinforcing mesh on top of the t...

We got about 6 inches of rain in 2 hours over the weekend,  and this is all we have to show for it! That's a very GOOD thing. July 1 Randy put up top rim boards by himself with some bungee cords. My Uncle Chris and Aunt Doris came from  Rochester for a couple days to help! Putting up wall purlins. July 16 We were short 2 trusses, so Chris and Doris  helped us build 2 trusses! (We knew we would be short.  No one walked off with 2 roof trusses.) Wall purlins up. July 17 Bob and his tractor, a pipe, and 2 pieces of bent rebar make a great crane! Setting trusses with Bob, Uncle Chris, Randy, and our friend Vlad. Vlad and Randy adding angle supports. Barn-raising work day! Adding roof purlins. July 21 Randy finished the last few purlins that evening.  The friends from whom we bought the land had some used windows they needed to unload, so  now we have nice big windows for the shop! Sta...

Here's some step-by-steps to enjoy! Teddy pulled that little tree out of the pole barn's way.  All by himself. Burning brush one Sunday evening, as well as priming the hand-pump (again). Good family time!  Official site preparation begins, May 21. Puchased used tin from brother's resort in the background.  It's all flat and sort of level!  Still Minnesota spring, so.... chilly!  Framing string outlines the pole barn walls  Bob and his tractor help Randy dig post holes! May 29  At the end of the day, Randy successfully  got the first pole in the ground!  The next day, we "all help" put up more poles! Teddy and Bridget (and Andrew, occasionally) helped backfill holes,  I helped level, poured a bag of quickcrete and tamped dirt,  Randy prepped holes, set and held poles level.  By the end of May 30, it's looking like Stonehenge! June 3, and we need to take...