March Journal
03/01/07 - Thursday
Notes:
- There is no project task# for Being Sick! Cass was outside with site work and other chores yesterday for about 4 hours.... Maybe wasn't such a good idea. :-(
- Despite that above note... Cass was feeling a little better, and since sunny out, she got geared up and went outside. Hiked up and worked. Too Long tho! Way worse after work and hiking and all outdoor chores done! Got back into yurt in nick of time tho
213.04 attach decking
- even tho unsure of remaining boards, at least one row is ok, and so got that down. had to shim a few gaps between joists and beam. marked 7 boards for chris to cut tomorrow.
- Time: 2.25hrs
03/02/07 - Friday
Notes:
- The Snow Miser heaves another 8" at Oregon Mountain.
- Cass is not happy to be too sick to go work out in the cold
310.05 Shovel: Park Ave
310.06 Shovel: MLA to Driveway
310.04 Plow/Shovel Main Drive
- Chris gets plow stuck near LAfNP. Grrrr...
- time: 90 min
03/03/07 - Saturday
Notes:
- Bubba the Snowpile shows up at the MLA
288.08 Split and stack firewood
310.04 Plow/Shovel Main Drive
- Get unstuck: started digging out. Front end is resting on snow, front tires are not on ground. D'oh!
- time: 45 min
310.05 Shovel: Park Ave
310.01 Keep deck clear
- C&C have shovel races and keep the giant heart alive
- time: 2.5 hrs
300.45 Woodstove Maintenance
03/04/07 - Sunday
Notes:
- Chris decides that winter sucks.
- C&C have a tasty snack...a snack so tasty that, upon completing the snack, Chris declares he'll think instead of the snack whenever his thoughts drift to the depressing matter of the stuck Vermoose. That's one helluva tasty snack!
- C&C have first "on-site" lunch of the 2007 construction season.
310.04 Plow/Shovel Main Drive
- Chris attempts to get plow unstuck. Succeeds in getting plow further stuck. Front left wheel not rotating, rear left wheel digging a hole (now about 8" deep).
- Pray for no more snow.
- time: 1 hr
213.04 attach decking
- Chris cut more boards that Cassandra had marked earlier in the week
- Cass fit cut boards and marked more for cutting, which Chris did with a smile and some sawdust
- Chris managed to fall thru deck again by misstepping on a loose board. No ER trip, but a small chunk of leg skin is now a grody scab
- time: 3.25 hrs
310.01 Keep deck clear
- Chris knocks some snow off 20' yurt roof
- C&C finish yesterday's clearing effort, chipping crusty snow and ice from unfinished part of deck. Chris also stomped some snow between joists rather than shovel it out.
- time: 45 min
213.17 Construct walls 20'
- Chris laid out wall frame footprint to confirm blueprint measurements
- time: 2.5 hrs
310.01 keep deck clear
03/05/07 - Monday
Notes:
- Cass broke the shovel (only a little, still somewhat useable) while hacking away at the packed down snow in joist bays, in order to access bottom of beams and joists for clamping and ratchet strapping.
Brr. A very wintery day. Snowing throughout morning. Got very cold midday, freezing up all the wetness, making a slick deck and more work.
- Meadow vole! Rodent on the snowshoe trail, a rodent on the snowshoe trail, a groundhog is a rodent. (just like the... Meadow vole!)
213.04 attach decking
- continued closing the gap with more boards attached... Carefully, due to slippery icy conditions. Gloves that were wet in morning session, were frozen and stiff in afternoon.
- Time: 3.75 hrs
03/06/07 - Tuesday
Notes:
- An extremely windy and cold day. Windchill warnings, and supposed to be as much as -30F through tomorrow morning.
- Chris recommends Cass not do outdoor work, especially since she's wrapping up with the cold-virus.
- While out doing firewood and snow collection chores, Cass decides to at least get shoveling done.
310.01 Keep deck clear
- Amazingly, the wind did not blow off the snow! The shovel still works. Wind whipping up on front deck is Brrrrrrr!!
- Time: 1 hrs
03/07/07 - Wednesday
Notes:
- Yesterday the thermometer in Park Ave was 12 degrees higher than the Thermometer Tree temp... does that mean that this morning, instead of being 5F (per the PA thermometer) it is actually only -7F? Maybe. Sure feels like it!
- In afternoon, Thermometer Tree says it is all the way up to 10F. Cass still got very cold. Too cold. Should have taken warm up break sooner. But getting down hill, and up hill, snowshoes on and off and layers off and back on again... Takes so much time
- C+C are getting all discombobulated and tired due to Chris' schedule, being in different time zone, at lunchtimes (too cold for Cass to talk outside) and at nights.
213.04 attach decking
- Got a lot of boards down. Only two boards left until deck is completely walkable all way around on boards! There's basically two rows left, plus the area back between yurts. Couldn't keep going though :-( too cold.
- Time: 2.25 hrs
03/08/07 - Thursday
Notes:
- Very Windy and Very Cold again. Ugh. Cass going backwards.
03/09/07 - Friday
Notes:
- Lots less windy.
- C+C fix yurt side cover which had been open/gap for most of week during very windy cold.
213.04 attach decking
- measured and marked boards for cutting tomorrow.
- Time: 1 hr
275.04 materials transport
- moved dryish boards inside in case of precipitation tomorrow
- Time: included above
310.01 keep deck clear
- mallet to chip off ice buildup on boards
- Time: included above
310.05 Shovel: Park Ave
288.08 Split and stack firewood
03/10/07 - Saturday
Notes:
- The Katadyn hand pump filter gets changed by Chris.
- Was a nice sunny day at first.
- The first outside snack of the year was had by C+C. Snow shooting off the 30' yurt roof missed them, but not the heart.
310.01 Keep deck clear
- Chris chipped out some melting ice. C+C got remaining snow of yurt roofs.
- time: 0.5 hrs
213.45 Bracing: yurt platforms
- Worked on cross-brace placement. All 20' bracing placed and ready for bolting.
- time: 2.75 hrs
213.36 Site Cleanup
- Chris started cleaning up under 30' yurt in anticipation of Cass starting floor shimming
- time: 0.5 hrs
213.04 attach decking
- C-n-C marked, cut and fit more deck boards, and screwed in some loose ends (into blocking). Deck on south side of yurt connection is finished and lookin' fine. Cass screwed more boards down, including the board that makes the deck top all connected. Ca
- time: 5.25 hrs
305.04 diatomaceous earth
- Chris starts the anti-spider-crawly-bug-season off with a few blasts
- Time: 15 min
03/11/07 - Sunday
Notes:
- Not sunny. But at least not rainy. And, having warmer temps really really helped. Cass able to go work in one long session. No return to yurt for breaks.
- Yesterday it rained from around 4 until... Sometime late in night. Slick in morning. With today's Then above freezing temps, snow is all mushy/icy. Maybe C+C will have running water sometime soon...
213.04 attach decking
- kept smelling "Poocham" type smell while working up next to 30' yurt. Eww and gross and disconcerting. Cass also kept working despite stabbing liver pains. Ugh.
- All available boards are down! Marked 8 boards for cutting. Only 2 boards more to mark, but the ruler was dropped accidentally and is now deep in a snowpile under deck area. Cass was getting cold anyway, so quit for day.
- Time: 4.75 hrs
03/12/07 - Monday
Notes:
- Yes, Cassandra you should have stoked the fire last night. 'Twas MUCH colder overnight than night before when C+C were plenty -too- warm overnight due to relatively warmer temps. This morning, the INdoor temp: 44F. Brrr. On up side, there wasn't any sm
- When oh when will Cassandra stop believing the weather reports! Sun did come out for an hour or so before going behind ridge. Not exactly a super warm day either, as it had sounded on reports. Still no running water at Park Ave.
213.48 MLA flooring: shim
- shimming underneath sucks. Cass not happy. But perservered and got about 2/3 finished. On hold until Chris finishes cleaning out other 1/3, and need more thin shims too.
- Time: 4 hrs
213.04 attach decking
- dug out ruler. Measured and marked another board. Waiting til all other boards down to measure/mark the one remaining board
- Time: 0.5hrs
03/13/07 - Tuesday
Notes:
- Weather report wrong again, but in a good way. Sunshine for most of morning! Warm too.
- With the short weekend, C+C did not coordinate enough tasks for Cassandra to do alone during week. Hence, she's "taking it easy" and catching up on non-building things... but such a shame since the weather has finally been fairly warm, and not precipit
- Could hear water running (underneath all the snow) for first time in months. Maybe Park Ave will have water soon!
226.34 Reopen GIPPEE
- Cass got shovel and snowshoed down Woody Way, risked going on driveway - working near driveway. Has been 11 days since plowing, so hope OK (later found out not) Shoveled the very deep (and very heavy) snow and icy layer off the tent platform so that it
- Time: 1.25hrs
213.36 site cleanup
- organized in 20', in prep for wall work
- Time: 0.5hrs
03/14/07 - Wednesday
Notes:
- Cass takes Chris' advice and goes up top to just enjoy being outside in the warmth and sunny spells.
- She also looked at door and awnings to think about ideas for that, and used the Cedar Shim Of Death to kill a bunch of flies and spiders.
- Otherwise, a day of catching up on spreadsheets and non-building tasks.
- Lots o' rain in afternoon and throughout night. Ewww.
- Cass notices the sound of water trickling into the toilet tank. Chris gets out of bed @ 11:30 pm and verifies the sound. No gushing flow, but perhaps the sound of no more snowmelt showers? Cass is psyched.
03/15/07 - Thursday
Notes:
- C+C lost their Sunday, but Chris is home for today. Unfortunately, weather not cooperating; rainy wet and gross. C+C make best of situation: getting what water running again, cleaning up to switch back from snow melting and water filtering of the past
300.48 Get water flowing again
- Chris checks water, reservoir is totally filled. Uncovers utility shed pipes and no water there. After breakfast, gets drill pump out of shed, water at hose bib! C+C communicate via walkie-talkie, water flowing in Park Ave. Becomes very noisy and freak
- Water flowing again at Park Ave, at 12:00 noon on 3/15/07, one month and two days after it stopped.
- Time: 45 min
213.04 attach decking
- Chris cut more boards
- time: 30 min
300.45 Woodstove Maintenance
303.00 Erosion control
- Lots water (from melted area where snow collection had taken place) running down driveway. Not good. Chris made little channel for it to merely cross over, and not run down shoveled path. Cass dug out snow to find the ditches (which were ice filled and
- Time: 0.5 hrs
03/16/07 - Friday
Notes:
- Evening blizzard dumps 12" of snow on yurtling country
306.02 Test on safety: materials and tools
- cass' first trip into the 30' yurt since september, to expose to a bunch of stuff for safety testing - awning bags and parts, chris' mud boots, rigid vac + parts, leaf blower + batt, ...and other supplies
- time: 15 min
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- taking measurements per chris' instructions, written in pencil on a shim to take down to park ave yurt for write-up
- time: 45 min
275.04 Materials Trasport
- Awning frames for MLA carried up and opened
- time: 1 hr
213.36 Site Cleanup
- Harriott the generator fired up for the first time inorder to give Chris vacuuming power. With said power he cleaned floor of 20' yurt.
- Chris also removed a few lingering, unsafe yurt raising materials in prep for Cassandra accessing the 30'.
- time: 45 min
213.04 attach decking
- last set of boards test fitted. need trimming.
- time: 45 min
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- C&C review wall height, decide on 7'
- time: 15 min
310.04 Plow/Shovel Main Drive
- Blizzard @ nite means Chris had to shovel in order to get groceries up to Park Ave in the wheelbarrow
- time: 45 min
310.05 Shovel: Park Ave
03/17/07 - Saturday
310.05 Shovel: Park Ave
310.04 Plow/Shovel Main Drive
- Shoveled all the way to Oregon Falls Road, then from MLA to Park Ave
- time: 1.75 hr
310.01 Keep deck clear
- C&C worked on getting snow off MLA yurt roofs, then Cass started shoveling off deck. After lunch, Cass continued shoveling (carving out another snow heart) and was joined later by Chris. Together they did finish clearing.
- time: 3.75 hrs
275.04 Materials Transport
- Chris carried a post, two studs, a pack o' shims, and framing hardware up the snowy path from the Xterra @ Oregon Falls Road to the MLA. Cold and sweaty was he.
- time: 1 hr
310.06 Shovel: MLA to Driveway
- There is snow well under the yurt platforms.
- Time: 15 min
288.08 Split and stack firewood
03/18/07 - Sunday
Notes:
- Cass reinjures her side, probably shoveling yesterrday
- Cold again, more cold on the way
- Chris sketches out a poor mans mitre saw guide for Cass to construct from scrap if she runs out of work and wants to cut studs
- Word for the day: kerf (kûrf) n. A groove or notch made by a cutting tool, such as a saw or an ax. The width of a groove made by a cutting tool. [Middle English, from Old English cyrf, a cutting]"
288.08 Split and stack firewood
226.34 Reopen GIPPEE
- Chris shoveled new snow off platform
- time: 15 min
213.04 attach decking
- Chris made adjusting cuts
- time: 30 min
275.04 Materials Transport
- Chris moved 2*4 studs from 30' yurt to 20' yurt for wall framing
- time: 1.5 hrs
213.36 Site Cleanup
- Chris finished cleanup under 30' yurt so Cass could finish shimming floor
- Cass organized ropes & straps, then moved some boards out of the 20' to the 30'
- time: 2 hrs
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- C&C finalized design
- Chris marked and cut horizontal frame pieces for mudroom wall sections, and one piece for bedroom wall section
- time: 2.25 hrs
306.03 Chris prep for Cass work
- getting ready to keep Cass busy this week
- time: 30 min
213.58 Install yurt window awnings
- C&C put a frame together so Cass could assemble the rest later this week
- time: 30 min
03/19/07 - Monday
Notes:
- One of yesterday's little mysteries may have been answered. Cass went downhill after going downhill to PA for lunch break. Didn't try to solve then, just took a shot and recovered and proceeded with day. This morning, Chris discovered snowmobile tracks
- According to the Xterra, it is 11F at YIPPEE at 5:30am.
- Poocham mold. Nasty, aggitating, horrible, terrible.... What the #*!$@! Gotta figure this out. Cass working near 30' and smelled it all during deck work, and very bad off. No Good. NO GOOD.
213.04 attach decking
- The last day of board finagling and aggravations. Only one board to go, and that requires C+C.
- Time: 2.75hrs
310.01 Keep deck clear
- encouraged snow off 20' dome -and then cleared fallen snow off deck- so that next time sun is out, it will be lighter and warmer for working in yurt.
- Time: 0.25hrs
03/20/07 - Tuesday
Notes:
- Very windy. Very cold wind. Was nicer inside yurt, esp with sun coming in top and warming.
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- removed hardware from xtra rafter supports, measured and marked boards per chris' list. Have a few ? for chris before proceeding.
- Time: 3.25hrs
310.01 Keep deck clear
- ice and snow from last night
- Time: 0.25hrs
213.58 Install yurt window awnings
- got one together solo - woohoo. not too bad once make sure have right peices. got another one half done. will go faster once get hang of it.
- Time: 0.5hrs
03/21/07 - Wednesday
Notes:
- First Full Day O' Spring. Cold but sunny. Was very cold overnight. Not good for sleeping. Because so cold overnight, MLA yurts not too warm today. But at least out of wind.
- Cass not feeling well at all.
213.58 Install yurt window awnings
- all frames assembled. Bottom hinges removed and ready for install (by chris, into drip edge). Placement marked on all windows.
- Time: 2.5hrs
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- finished measuring and marking boards.
- Time: 0.75hrs
213.56 Construct yurt entry awnings
- got 4*4 post out by door to ck out idea. Yup, will look ok. Don't have much room though... Got scrap boards and laid out possible size to show chris and discuss.
- Time: 0.25hrs
03/22/07 - Thursday
Notes:
- Lots o sun and fairly warm in sun. Woohoo.
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- gathered supplies and made the mitre. It works. Makes a square cut. Did cuts for a few shorter boards
- Time: 3hrs
03/23/07 - Friday
Notes:
- Last year's ditches are at work, gushing with snowmelt (under the snow!) How sweet the sound!
275.04 Materials Transport
- Chris transported stuff up the mountainside again
- time: 30 min
213.04 attach decking
- Chris trimmed the last deck board
- time: 37.38 seconds
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- Chris cut studs Cass had marked
- Cass used Mt YIPPEE Mitre to cut through remaining boards
- Time: 2.25 hrs
213.58 Install yurt window awnings
- A Topless Chris did install three sets of awning hinges to the 20' yurt so Cass could try putting frames on herself
- Stupid stupid design. Cassandra frustrated - and probably cursing more than usual due to darn vinyl yucky materials. But, one awning is up, and it is fairly reasonable to expect one person can do (part of reason she did solo today, to see if can be a t
- Time: 1.5 hrs
213.16 Connect the two yurts
- Chris cut one of two floor-arc templates at the Poocham house. The saw blade was cruddy and wouldn't cut through the denser wood of the secnd template.
- time: 15 min
03/24/07 - Saturday
Notes:
- Sunny and near 60F until mid afternoon clouds rolled in.
- Cass had laid out the footprint for 20' door awning frame, and Chris suggested they try accessing the yurt as if the awning structure was up - to see if the feng shui was right. For the most part they forgot to imagine this.
-
275.04 Materials Transport
- Chris transported more stuff up the soggy mountainside again
- time: 45 min
213.16 Connect the two yurts
- Chris cut the second floor-arc template
- time: 15 min
213.43 WC stairs: install sheet metal protectors
- Chris cut the metal angle to be used for this purpose. Need to drill holes and then Cass can install
- time: 15 min
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- Chris the master saw operator trimmed a top plate to length.
- C&C began marking sole and top plates for stud placement
- time: 1.25 hrs
213.45 Bracing: yurt platforms
- Chris started layout on the bracing for 30' yurt
- time: 30 min
213.04 attach decking
- The last deck board was attached somewhere between 12:09pm and 12:32pm.
- C&C marked the deck edges so Chris could trim. Interestingly, the only edge 100% acccurately lined up was the one Cass had measured. Chris feels he'd have done a much more accurate job if there weren't so many bugs trying to eat him during initial dec
- time: 2.75 hrs
673.23 Deck Stress Test
It...um...held up to rigorous testing ;-)
213.58 Install yurt window awnings
- C&C reviewed Cass' solo install of a yurt awning frame. Though the install was spot-on the design sucks. The C-s tried a few alterations, installing another frame on the 20' and one on the 30'. The design really sucks and C&C may come up with a hom
- time: 1.75 hrs
03/25/07 - Sunday
Notes:
- Snow, hopefully the last of it!
- The unnamed wheelbarrow is no more. 'Tis now a named wheelbarrow. New name is "Burly Bob", indirectly inspired by the song "Black Betty" from 70's one-hit wonder bad Ram-Jam.
310.01 Keep deck clear
- Chris shoveled the deck, with hopes it'd dry for deck trimming task
- Cass swept water from edges to aid drying process
- time: 1.5 hrs
306.03 Chris preparation for Cass work, tools/materials
- Cleaned a bunch of new bins and sealing tools
- time: 45 min
213.43 WC stairs: install sheet metal protectors
- Chris finished prepping these by drilling screw holes
- time: 30 min
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- Chris marked and cut a set of sole and top plates
- C&C planned out the bedroom door spacing
- Cass marked out stud spacing
- C&C built the first wall frame section together, with Chris showing Cass how to do the various steps and Cass doing most of the work in anticipation of doing more sections solo. Later, Cass worked on the second section with Chris helping only on setup
- time: 5 hrs
213.04 attach decking
- Chris chalk-lined the deck edges in preparation for trimming
- deck edges trimmed using corded saw and Harriott the Generator.
- some beams trimmed until sawzall batteries died
- time: 1.75 hrs
288.08 Split and stack firewood
306.01 Determine tasks Cass can do during week alone
321.01 Citriclean drip edge
- Take that nasty mold on 30' yurt drip edge
- time: 45 min
03/26/07 - Monday
Notes:
- Cass has an extremely terrible morning. The yurtlings did not stoke the fire last evening. Cass shaking for hours. The firewood is down to the crap quality-smoky-no catching kind, and after using up all kindling and smaller bit inside, using air filter
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- finished nailing sole plate, nailed double studs and fireblocks per instructions including measuring and cutting shorter sections
- Time: 2.75hrs
03/27/07 - Tuesday
Notes:
- Much warmer overnight. Turned off water-don't-freeze-pipe at Park Ave in morning. Not raining and warmer, but grey-darkish clouds and wet all day. Deck not dry yet.
213.04 attach decking
- Snowshoed around deck perimeter to pick up scraps from cutting edges. Gathered all scraps up front on drier area of deck and laid out to dry. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so hopefully deck edges will dry so can sand and (possibly if warm enough) se
- Time: 1.5hrs
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- Lifted completed section up against wall, laid out and completed one section, lifted that out of way, laid out and started the next section.
- Time: 3.25hrs
03/28/07 - Wednesday
Notes:
- Well, it is sunny and clear. Would be a fantastic day except it got colder overnight and was extremely windy all day. Cass very cold. Even in the sun. Supposed to be in low teens-20's so have to turn water trickle back on for tonight.
279.25 Stain and seal deck boards: perimeter cuts
- Not a very good day for this due to wind, but... sanded deck perimeter edges and swept sawdust. Whenever weather warm enough (maybe this wkend), can wipe off, stain and seal. Cass had a very bad reaction to the paint tray liners on Sunday, which are in
- Time: 4.5hrs
213.43 wc stairs sheet protectors
- Brought supplies downhill, drilled pilots. Discovered that no screwdriver bit is avail in drill. Gotta go get that in AM to finish.
- Time: 0.25hr
03/29/07 - Thursday
Notes:
- Still very windy, cold wind, and not too warm.
213.43 wc stairs sheet protectors
- hiked up and got bit, finished
- Time: 0.25hr
300.49 Hanging place on lightpost
- got supplies from uptop when went to get bit for above task, put something together. It ain't pretty or polished, but it functions.
- Time: 1.25hr
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- installed fireblocks in section from other day, got most of another section installed too.
- Time: 2hrs
-
03/30/07 - Friday
216.09 Create blueprints for 20' walls
- Chris realized the wall would probably be done before the blueprints was finished. there is enough info on the in-progress version to work from and make on site adjustments.
- this task is DONE!
- time: n/a
213.04 attach decking
- Chris finished trimming beam edges
- this task is DONE!
- time: 1.25 hrs
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- Chris started laying out next section
- time: 30 min
213.36 Site cleanup
- swept dried sawdust (clumpy from being wet when was cut, eww) off the dried scraps, and got all organized into bins with longer sections stacked in 30'. The pile o scraps in the 20' is no more.
- Time: 2.5hrs
300.45 Woodstove Maintenance
- ewwww. Ewww.
- time: 30 min
03/31/07 - Saturday
Notes:
275.04 Materials transport
- Chris brought up the first set of wall boards and some other misc stuff.
- time: 45 min
306.03 Chris preparation for Cass work, tools/materials
- Cleaned more new stuff
- time: 30 min
213.36 site cleanup
- Chris digs up an oil spot, created during generator prep, in driveway before it can soak too far into thawing gravel.
- C&C moved scrap bins into 30' yurt
- Cass does some misc cleanup
- Time: 45 min
213.48 MLA flooring: shim
- Chris takes over under 30'. Sees that Cass was pretty close to done. Finishes at end of day.
- This task is DONE!
- time: 90 min
213.17 Construct walls - 20' yurt
- C&C finish in-progress wall frames by completing toe-nailing. Discover that one section did not account for slope of roof near wall (way to go, Chris!) so a rework is undertaken. Eventually three sections of wall frame are raised and temporarily affi
- time: 5.25 hrs
305.04 diatomaceous earth
- Chris gives the crawlies under Park Ave yurt another dose of DE.
- Time: 15 min
213.16 Connect the two yurts
- Cass works on floor a bit
- time: 15 min
288.08 Split and stack firewood
- Chris attacks a downed tree with saw in hand
- time: 1 hr
Photos
