Day 2 of the Re-Set

The log structure is done and the dream another step closer to reality!

Yesterday's work started at 7.15 am, with the placement of platforms and scaffolding to enable working on the logs on the upper part of the house. 

Very quickly, the remaining log truck from Friday was emptied; the window frames for the great room and the dormer for the upstairs bedroom were in place.

Rocky and Neal install great room window frames

Dormer

While more scaffolding was assembled for the next step, Spousal Unit and I took a walk down to the lake.  He snuck a picture of me!!!  We love the open aspect of this part of our lot, and have many plans for a fire pit near this spot.

Looking from lake back toward the house

By then, the next (and last) truck had arrived.

As you can see in the picture below, one log had to be cut with six notches to fit over the beams that form the ceiling of the master bedroom.  As with every other  log, all of these cuts were done by hand!

Peak above kitchen; through lower kitchen window the

arch in the loft can be seen

During the lunch break, we took a few shots from inside the house.  Way back when (November), we took a lot of time with the  surveyors on the placement of the house, and now that it is here, we can feel that we chose wisely.

View from loft through kitchen and out large window

View from "bed" in master

through door onto deck

As we sat in the back of the house (trying to stay in the shade - the day got really warm in the sun), we shared our plans for the natural looking gardens that we want to have around the house.  (This basically involves planning by me and sweat equity from  Spousal Unit.)  We have a lot of work to do when we get back from our upcoming trip to the UK, but it will be fun work.

We have a lot of naturally occurring plants, shrubs and trees that we can build upon for the gardens.

After lunch, the truss was moved from its storage location in the garage into its rightful place over the front porch.  During measurements, Odin was heard to say "It's off by an eighth of an inch", so of course it had to be adjusted!  As I have already said, the precision is incredible. 

Five logs later

Last porch log in place

Ben added the pine branch!

Pretty soon it was easy to see where the last few logs needed to go.  I think it was at this point that Rocky turned off the crane and said that he had run out of gas.  I must have had a shocked look on my face, because he smiled and turned the engine back on without saying another word.

Rocky in his 'office'

Last peak log goes into place

Our neighbors Ryan and Holly came by with several of their kids, and the timing was perfect to see the (nearly) finished house.  We were thrilled to walk them around and share our dream with them.  Rocky moved the crane out to the road and we were able to capture the first shot of the front of the house without anything blocking the view.  Jokingly, we told Neal that we had decided the house should move 15 degrees to the right!

So, at the end of the day, we all commented on how smoothly it had gone.  The worst thing that happened?  Sometime during the day, Spousal Unit ripped the seat of his shorts, and was wearing his long-sleeve shirt over them to protect the innocent.  On the way to our hotel that night, he took off the shirt and completely forgot about the massive hole in his shorts.  He checked us in while I started to unload the car.  When he returned to the car and leaned into the back to pull out a suitcase, I had to point out to him that he was showing underwear and more to the world.  And, of course, there was a guy in line behind him to check in!  We had a good chuckle over it, and hope that is the worst we encounter with the house build!