Ahhh - fall in Michigan

Leaves are falling and there is a chill in the air - WINTER IS COMING AND I GOT TO GET THE ROOF ON THIS THING!!!!

Oinkel Toad! aka my brother Todd

On Sunday we had the whole Heger clan there - my Dad drove the tractor and my little brother Todd came out to pound on the logs with us. Ol' Toad is an Engineer by trade but don't hold that against him. He did a pretty good job hitting the rebar - but did smack is ankle a good one.

If you see Toadly on the street today - don't wave to to him - his arms are going to be so sore that he won't be able to lift them up without whimpering......

Row 14 is up!

Row 14 went on this weekend - only 2 more to go. On row 15 I will place the second cross beam that the 3rd floor will rest upon.

It's not the fall that kills you...

it's the sudden stop!


Well it is now over 20 feet to ground on the inside side of the cabin and if I remember Myth Busters correctly - we are getting to the point where it could be a bit dicey if you fell.

I strung a rope 30 ft in the air (using my stable braid rigging line of course!) from one tree to another, intersecting the structure. Then I went to the local rock climbing store and got set up for safety! Now if you fall you ***should*** be fine. Let's hope we never find out! The picture shows the over head line with the two leads hanging down. I use my camera phone for the pictures so the quality isn't the best - but you get the idea.

An even dozen!

Yes sir, yes sir - it's an even dozen! As the rows get higher the work gets slloooowwwer - hauling the tools up, down and around just takes time. We need 16 rows so we are down to the final 4 rows..... I hope to have them in by next weekend. It might be sooner if I can russel up some help. After the rows are done it is RPSL's and the RP.

10 rows and time for scaffolding!

We are now on row 10 and it was time for scaffolding. It is over 16 feet down on to the inside of the cabin - far enough that it might leave a scratch if you fall.

The scaffolding was fairly cheap to rent - $675 a month - and makes my wife and mom very happy!

Southern Yellow Pine I Believe....

Here is a view of the ends of the 4x10's. Man are these joists a thing of beauty. I can't wait to get them in the cabin.

All the way from 'Bama!

Tuesday night I received a call from the trucker that he had my load of 2x6 tounge and groove and 4x10 joists..... he arrived around 7pm and we got the last load off just after dark.

Though he will never read this - thanks for your help and sharing your passion for Christ. It was good to meet you.

The North American Tufted Bobkeip.....

A few weeks ago a good buddy of mine stopped by to help out - Bob Kiep. Doesn't his name sound like some small woodland bird.... "and now you see the black tufted Bobkiep in its natural habitat..."

Anyway - he was a great help as usual! Remember to report any sightings of the black tufted Bobkiep to your local DNR office!

Enter the Gas Man!

No Art Primeau doesn't need Bean-0... he has extensive experience in the oil and gas biz and know's why gas goes up instantly when someone burbs in TX but takes weeks to pass through a 50% drop in oil prices.

Even with the lecture on gasconmics Art was able to master the telehandler and swinging the hammer. No sissy blisters for him like the book worm got a few days earlier....

Cousin Tommy to the rescue!

My cuz Tommy came by for the day and we worked him silly.

He's a young buck who swung the hammer with the best of them! He promises to be back - we shall see, we shall see.....

Book worms can swing hammers!

Yes friends - this is indeed Jerold R. Jenkins - book publishing mogal - pounding away today on row 8 of our cabin. Jerry's delicate hands haven't seen anything worse than a paper cut for years - but after today he has a couple of real-life blisters to show off to his fellow book nerds!!!

Thanks Jerry -you're welcome anytime - and I might even let you drive the telehandler next time!