I must have been tired this morning because the boys were up before I was. A bit cooler and cloudy. Jason and Sam went to work on setting the upstairs joists and deck.  Levi and I took a lumber inventory and made a lists of necessary lumber to finish up.  Levi and I decided to go cut a good path to the pond.  We decided to continue the little cut off road.  By 1 p.m., we had cleared a nice curved path from the road to the edge of the pond ravine.  Levi cleared trees and brush down the slop to open up the view.  The pond is really small now, but the view is nice.  Sort of a poor man's version of the Centaur Steps at Allerton Park. Cleared a nice flat circle area at the edge of the ravine for sitting. I will have to make a nice rustic bench.  After lunch Levi took a nap and Jason went into Grove Springs for smokes and I went back to finish widening the path.  By 4 p.m., the lumber from Sutherlands had NOT arrived.  Had Sam call and he reported back that they claim the delivery is for Friday.  Walked back to the house to call back and read them the Riot Act.  They promised delivery by 9 a.m. Friday.  That will be the last business I do with them.  I will definitely write a letter to complain.  The place is a joke.  Sam and Jason finished up the upper platform by supper.  Levi and I finished the pond path and took pictures.  If we work like fiends for the next 3 days, we should be okay.  Power framing tomorrow.  Quiet night of reading. 

THE HOMEOWNER WAITING PATIENTLY IN THE SHADE FOR THE LUMBER-TRUCK TO ARRIVE.  THERE WILL BE A DORMER WINDOW ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND A NICE TALL ROOF.  THAT'S THE  FRAME FOR THE SCREEN PORCH ON THE LEFT.  AIN'T IT GRAND??!!!

AUGUST 22,2003  FRIDAY

Cloudy and humid early in the morning, but we got right to work and, in one day, the house was transformed.  Sam and Jason framed the upstairs bedroom walls and the house became a little piece of Provence.  We had to cut down the corner post in the stair way as it was completely twisted, but it allowed me to frame the corner as a big bay of windows.  The Sutherland truck was here by 8:15, so we lost no time.  Early lunch and a quick trip to town to get joists for the loft room.  Jason and Sam got about half the joists set in the little loft before dark.  Should finish by lunch tomorrow with no trouble.  We also plan to set the porch beams and finish framing the last bits of the upstairs knee walls.  A pity I can't afford another 4 days to a week, as we could surely get the roof done as well.  I'm hopeful we can manage another week in early October.  Pork chops with apple glaze for supper and early to bed for all of us.

AUGUST 23,2003  SATURDAY

Last day with a full crew and a great deal to do.  Levi up bright and early so we shared coffee and an omelet waiting for the others to get up.  Told Levi about the beautiful moth that spent the night in my room.  When I went to bed it was decorating the lampshade like a big bow.  It was about as big as the palm of my hand with four big lobes.  It was several shades of velvety brown and beige like it was cut from fine veneer with a mossy green edge.  Each lobe had a white eye edged in black.  The body was like champagne gold fur with long horns and legs like a spider.  I put my finger out and it fluttered a bit and then sat on my finger and let me look it over closely.  It was just exquisite!  Like a piece of marquetry.  Set to work at 9 a.m.  Levi and I finished framing and enclosing the bay window on the stairs, installed the little window in my bedroom, and finished framing the big window.  Jason and Sam finished up the small loft bedroom and started hanging OSB on the second floor.  Paul stopped by and told us about the local swimming hole.  Its about 3 miles past Competition on Highway Z, at an old concrete bridge.  Jason and Levi think its the place they found late the other night while out driving.  Adrianna came over to see our progress and to say how good the place looks from the road.  Gratifying to hear.  Jon and Roger arrived about 3 p.m. while we were relaxing in the shade.  They were completely taken aback at how much we had finished and how good it looks.  Roger kept going on and on about all the changes, but its been more than a year since he was here.  All the interior finish and the new wing were new experiences for him.  We all walked out so Levi could show off all his work at the pond.  Jon really liked the view from the seating ring.  Sent Jon and Levi into town for supplies and dinner.  A simple meal of big sandwiches and veggies and fruit.  Jon and Jason put up the main beams on the corner screen porch, which really helps define the facade.  At dusk we put a lamp in the big bay window and went out to the road to admire the look of the house.  It finally looks the way I have seen it in my mind. Despite the heat, we lit a small fire in the fire ring under the arbor and just sat around talking and drinking and listening to Jason play and sing.  I just sat quietly and admired the look of the house with the lights glowing through the new windows.  The courtyard looks so serene and peaceful.  I came in early to write this by lamplight and enjoy the peace.  Jon, Levi, Roger, and Sam will leave tomorrow, but Jason and I will stay until Monday to finish up and close the house.

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