8 July 2014

Ian and Perry finished the ceiling joist mid-span blocking.  Two Goodro Lumber trucks pulled in mid-morning (mightily impressing Chree with Troy and Brad’s driving expertise) with a load of roofing materials… the check for which will pay a semester’s tuition… at an Ivy League college.  The main structural components for the roof (18” LVL beams) are massive, which they have to be as just the hip rafters (spanning 40 feet) have to be capable of supporting over 14 tons of weight.  Sean arrived with a trailer- load of scaffolding, plus steel strapping and gusset plates that will contribute to keeping the house firmly attached to the concrete foundation in hurricane force winds.  After discussion, decided to have fire blocking installed between all the exterior wall studs… not to prevent the spread of fire, but to stiffen the studs so they can better support the 65 pounds/square foot design roof load. Ian and Perry got started on putting in the fire blocking while Chree and I headed for Middlebury.  The technician at Champlain Valley Equipment showed me where someone in the past had made a half-baked repair where the fuel line comes out of the fuel tank, which is where Mr. Jonsered now is leaking fuel.  Cost of repair was going to be more than the saw is worth, so there will be a quiet (immediate family only) funeral forthcoming.  Next stop was the Lincoln Peak winery, where we drowned our sorrow tasted their offerings… and didn’t buy any wine.  Then we went to Scrubs Villa, formerly a mansion in Salisbury that Perry recommended as worth touring, now a nursing home that no longer offers tours.  Mores the pity, as what little we saw of the building would have been well worth a more extensive exploration. Got back to Fern Lake mid afternoon.  Chree and I began putting on the gusset plates while Ian and Perry continued installing fire blocking.  Most of the bruising on Chree’s fingers should be gone in a week or two… a hammer not being one of her favorite tools.  Dinner with Lynne and Perry down at Marty and Merry’s… a delightful evening, as always.