The First I Beam

This steel I beam forms the bridge between
the guest house and the main living wing

Brad tries out the bridge, with
Travis holding the whole thing up

with his head :->

16" Little Beaver Hole Digger

Travis & Brad digging huge holes for the steel posts















Travis and Brad dig; Casey welds















Travis & Brad

Our New Gold, I Mean Steel, Posts and Beams

Skagit River Steel delivered our posts and I beams today for the guest house and main living space. The price for steel these days is shocking -- $2,000 -- for these two piles. I don't remember the exact figure, but my entire house in Seattle was originally built for about $6,000. Building these days is a little like burning money.

The Free Welder

Could Brad be happier? Here's the welder that was given to him because it needed a good home.

Under the Tarp

We've been very fortunate the last few weeks with little rain. With a little luck we would have managed to get the roof on the barn before resorting to the blue-tarp-look. Alas, no such luck! Sunday night it began to rain, along with a spectacular lightening show. Today, Tuesday, it is still raining so up go the tarps. Yesterday Brad and I were in Bellingham and spent many hours and many dollars purchasing new blades for sanding and grinding, as well as several new tools deemed necessary for getting the job done.

Try, Try Again!

Five workers (Brad, Ed, Chris, Laurie and Fred), and one photographer (Fran) got the job done today. A reworked pully system, with safety bracing, and up she goes.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Friday evening was the first attempt to put

up the second huge barn beam. The beam, heavy by itself

is attached to two steel posts, making it

even heavier. Brad purchased pullies and rope to rig up a system

for a mechanical advantage. The first beam,

which went up a couple of weeks ago, is in the foreground.

---

Ed, Brad and Chris lift the beam, then prop it up

and tie it off but abandon the project for the night as

it's looking too risky.