A miserable rainy day. Quick trip into Brandon at crack of dawn to visit one of the local gas stations to scrounge a gallon of black gold (i.e., used motor oil that we apply to the forms to keep the concrete from sticking – sort of like Pam, only messier). Fortunately it was a “light” rain so I could wear my sunglasses to drive. (Get it????) Josh showed up at 9:00, having been ill all night – said it was something he ate… he hopes. We got the first form assembled and were screwing it together when I realized we were just about out of the proper length screws. The 7-P Principle not in action! So, rather than take time away from the fun of working in the rain, we quickly put together the remaining three concrete column forms, holding them together with four screws each. Made an emergency run to Goodro Lumber for more screws at lunchtime, but saw on the way back that the rain was starting to really pour. So paid Josh for his time and took him home. An hour later the sun came out, so as soon as I finished updating the Fern Lake blog, went back to work. Took the tarp off the radial arm saw – it started to rain; put the tarp back on the saw – the sun came out. Repeated that cycle a few times until dawn came over Marblehead and started sawing things under the tarp… with no rain. By sunset, had all of the column forms completely assembled… a major milestone.
1 June 2010
A miserable rainy day. Quick trip into Brandon at crack of dawn to visit one of the local gas stations to scrounge a gallon of black gold (i.e., used motor oil that we apply to the forms to keep the concrete from sticking – sort of like Pam, only messier). Fortunately it was a “light” rain so I could wear my sunglasses to drive. (Get it????) Josh showed up at 9:00, having been ill all night – said it was something he ate… he hopes. We got the first form assembled and were screwing it together when I realized we were just about out of the proper length screws. The 7-P Principle not in action! So, rather than take time away from the fun of working in the rain, we quickly put together the remaining three concrete column forms, holding them together with four screws each. Made an emergency run to Goodro Lumber for more screws at lunchtime, but saw on the way back that the rain was starting to really pour. So paid Josh for his time and took him home. An hour later the sun came out, so as soon as I finished updating the Fern Lake blog, went back to work. Took the tarp off the radial arm saw – it started to rain; put the tarp back on the saw – the sun came out. Repeated that cycle a few times until dawn came over Marblehead and started sawing things under the tarp… with no rain. By sunset, had all of the column forms completely assembled… a major milestone.
