What a weekend!

Ok, it's been a few days...again.  I'm tired...and what little energy I have is spent on either spreading mulch over the mud or painting or playing support crew.  On occasion I may even clean the kitchen enough to find enough counter space to make a sandwich or try to find the M&M's.  And if Gene's lucky, I may take a shower.

Enough of my whining...

The weekend was filled with mad framing.  On Satruday, Gene's nephew, Brad, and Chuck's nephew (Brad's cousin...are you confused yet?), Jarod came and led a framing frenzy.  The valley connecting the breezeway and garage was framed.  Well, first they set the end truss on the shop and sheeted it, so they could set the breezeway trusses...then they could frame the valley.  Boy, are we grateful for their help!  We'd still be their scratching out heads if it weren't for them!

Brad in orange, looking through the end truss with Jarod comfortably
standing on the 6" wide beam.  They're discussing the in's and out's of quantum mechanics.
Maybe it was their next hunting trips, I dunno.

Chuck and Jarod putting starting the second row of sheeting.
This is the 'sub-wall'.  Primed only to protect it from the coming rains.

Gene's directing the show.  Actually he's cutting and handing the sheets up.

How high can he reach?

Breezeway trusses are set!

YAY!

Sunday

Fast forward to today, Sunday.  Pretend that I actually took pictures of Jarod and Brad framing the valley yesterday.  Actually, there's no good angle to get a good shot.  So, use your imaginations and trust that it's there!

So, today, gawd, what did they do today...oh, yeh...Brad, again, kicked butt and with Gene and Chuck put up the 2x10x20' 'jack rafters' (a rafter between trusses that don't carry the roof, are merely a nailing surface for the roof sheeting.  This is because of the opening created by doubling up the next to last truss with the third to last to allow for the stairway) and floor joists.  It required some tricky climbing, cutting and...well, it was tricky.  It took Chuck, Dee and I to get one of the rafters through the window and up to Brad and Gene.  Ok, here's the pics....

Gene sitting up on the 'rat run' (connecting trusses).  With Brad back at the
double truss.  The peak of the truss, at Gene's head, is 12' off the top of the wall.
This is when they declined lunch because they were afraid they'd lose their breakfast!

Gene hanging on while nailing something. Oh, the ridge beam
which the jack rafter attaches to.  First things first.  Gene wanted down
but I told him, "He that designs it, nails it."

Brad's enjoying the view.

Ok, that's it for photos.  But, suffice it to say, the day had lots of rain and lots of progress!  They actually got one side of the breezeway sheeted with plywood.  Which, of course, required more blue tarp.  We're thinking of investing in a tarp factory.

Hopefully, by the end of the week, we'll have some roofing started....or more tarp.  This time on the shop.

As always, we are so grateful for all the help.  Brad, Jarod you rock.  Dee and Chuck, what can we say, you're a blessing.  Thank you!

Party on!