PB&J Twisp

 This morning Bill put turn-buckle devices at the end of 2x4s on three walls and tweeked them to make the walls as straight as could be. Then we put up strong-backs on the north and south gable ends to support the first and last truss that goes up. After that we offset 2x6 boards by 1-1/2" across the full width of the gable ends (and atop the top-plating) to nest the base of the first and last truss against and enable us to nail the bottom of the gable into that board. The last task before trusses is to get the beams in place on top of the porch posts. We'll need to rent a material hoist (in Wenatchee) for that which we did last year for the garage door beams.  We finished that activity by 11:30 and thought it a good day for me to go with Bill to Spokane so he can bring back Al's truck and get it out of his son's driveway. I got back to Twisp home at 8:06P and glad of it as it rained most of the way and continues to here on Rising Eagle. Bill will return in a couple of...

Porch posts trimmed to the right height, and beams stained. 

 Ten porch posts (5 on the east side and 5 on the west side) are now standing and braced awaiting the beams to go on top.  At end of day we attended a neighborhood get-together up the hill where 7 property owners (13 of us total) gathered for nibbles and conversation, the main topic being road maintenance. Since this isn't a strict, dues-collecting HOA, contributions to the road fund are made as-needed and cooperatively (so far).

 Back to Anacortes Friday thru Monday (clipped dogs, power-washed the deck, sorted recyclables), returning Tuesday. Installed windows in the garage; now we have more light in our tool shed and staging area. Bill asked the building supply company that supplies most of the building materials if they could come by with a forklift and relocate a few stacks of lumber. They arrived mid-day the same day and made the moves, allowing us access to begin placing the porch posts and clearing space for the truss truck which is scheduled for mid to late June.  I then put two coats of semi-transparent stain on the porch posts. Today was a long day in Omak getting Home Depot stuff (plumbing and electrical supplies and blinds for the garage windows) and groceries. Doesn't seem like much that would take 5 hours but an hour there and back and 3 hours dinky-doing around adds up. Porch posts ready to be set  

So why is the exterior aspect of a fireplace called a dog house? Maybe because it kind of looks like a dog house? Just guessing.  Anyway Bill finished it today while I started top-plating (nailing another layer of 2-by material on top of the walls that the trusses sit on).  The long hallway wall was not straight, so Bill spent a couple of hours fixing it. The house is ready for trusses which aren't due until the end of June, so it's a good time for a short break. Dog house exterior Dog house interior Top-plating, adding a second layer on the top of the walls Top-plating done

 Good day yesterday nailing everything down - base plates and wall joints.  Windy but sunny. Bill started the dog house for the fireplace. We took pizza to Gail's to help her figure out what to order for her two barn door installation for a closet and the bathroom. Her progress is steady. She got kitchen appliances yesterday, cabinets installed a few weeks ago, and quartzite counter tops coming soon.  Top-plating is on our agenda today. Hmmm, attempts of occupation above the living room window. Nailing down the baseboards.

 Sunday was a challenge; it rained all day. Bill cleaned and re-cleaned the garage and tidied up the tools. I sewed and read. Monday we were back at building interior walls. Tuesday we finished. Next is to go back and nail off all the intersections (we only tacked them in place initially to allow for plumbing as we went) and top plate (i.e add another layer of boards on top of the walls to secure the outside walls to the interior walls). Front door on the right; open area has kitchen area on the left and living room on the right.

 After a brief, drizzlie and chilly visit to the Saturday Farmers' Market in Twisp this morning, we got back to frame up the two bedroom walls on the east side.

 Because of changing the house floor level (after the garage was done) from the same level as the garage floor to a foot higher to give more crawl space access, the door openings to the maintenance and laundry rooms (which were framed in during the garage construction)  had to be frogged, i.e. ripped out and redone.  Not totally redone, but made a foot taller, so that's what Bill finished up today.  He also installed the doors and lock sets on those openings. That done, we got down to building interior walls for the maintenance/laundry room.   Bill routing out the door opening to the maintenance room; laundry room door is to the left End of day, doors installed with senior-friendly 5" steps😏 Interior walls and top-plating done for this area!

 After yesterday's all-day road trip to Colville and back to consult with an attorney to wrap up Al's estate issues, we had a very productive day today putting up the last two exterior walls. Interior walls next. We brought back the last window and doors from Anacortes on Monday, but we needed an extra body to help unload them.  As pump-out of the port-o-potty happened today, I enlisted the septic guy to help. Within a few minutes we had the dining room slider and the front door safely strapped to the wall in the garage, and he was on his way. From the front (east) side From the west (back) side of the house, the mechanical room/ laundry room will have shorter walls as you can see here and in the other photo.

 Fireplace arrived at the store in Kirkland so we zipped home Friday, had a nice Mother's Day with Tess' family Sunday, then returned Monday via Kirkland Fireplace Store and with the rest of the doors and windows from the garage.  During off-building times, I'm enjoying a different kind of construction activity: a 100 Blocks in 100 Days quilting challenge with sister Nan.  20 blocks down; 80 to go 😊

 Laid out wall 4 two days ago, put it up yesterday, and today we fine-tuned the fireplace framing. Bill also installed all the heavy duty steel hold down brackets at several locations on all the walls. We had a bit of redo (frogging, remember) at the fireplace flooring and doghouse area. Kirkland Fireplace Shop called and said the fireplace is in so we need to make another trip that way sooner than we expected, probably by the end of next week.  Good news is Hiway 20 may be open by then. Wall jacks and ladders in place during wall raising 4th wall in place, needing a bit more sheeting

Back to Anacortes for a neighborhood water association meeting, our second Covid booster shots, Costco shopping and other delays that kept us from returning for three days. The shots made us both feel punk for a couple of days, but we are back straightening walls and building the 4th.  Archie (sis' dog) returned with us so that Win could focus on the master gardener's plant fair this weekend.  Once again, it takes us a few days to get used to this over-active little mite, but he's learned how to be quiet (mostly) at bedtime which is quite helpful.  Half of my flower garden (surprised the deer haven't found it) Archie, construction dog for a few days