Phil was up long before me, moving blocks out of the concrete building. Two by two: pick up, carry up the steps, over the ramp, onto a pallet. When I left for my midwife appointment, he headed out to move cows. When I came back, the cows were in a new paddock, the calves were in a new paddock, and he was moving blocks, two by two.
It took all morning and early afternoon, but he was finally done. The interior space was about as empty as it would be.
The boys and I worked on our project of chipping away the excess mortar and grout from surfaces that need to be clean. I assigned the older boys to work, but when they were done, Abraham came out and volunteered. He did a great job with hammer and chisel: you can see the difference between the surface he has finished (in the background) and the pile of concrete to be removed (in the foreground). This will help our waterproofing membrane stick without tears.
The inside ledge will support the floor. It needed to be extra clean, so I worked on cleaning it up all the way around.
Phil then started interior work. He cut up the bituthene (waterproofing, appears black) and then cut and drilled rimboard, a fabricated board that will support the floor.
I am glad he's getting started on the rimboard. That was delivered right across the driveway near the construction site. The rimboard inhibits mobility. We have it covered well, and it looks like a good thing: the crazy amount of rain we've had lately has runoff in sheets and deposited clay and rocks over the plastic cover.
By the end of the day, Phil had finished about 1/3 of the rimboard, and was much encouraged. He's had some bituthene experience and he'e figured out how to install the rimboard. Such a fulfilling, productive day. First wood: in place!
I went to look at garlic harvesting. Only about ten plants have the bottom six leaves dessicated; with the intensely wet spring we've had, I suspect it will be some time yet before the garlic is ready to pull. While heading down, though, I was thrilled to see a calla lily I planted last year actually blooming. I had no blooms whatsoever last year, so I had written off those end of season plants. And I still think most died, but how delightful, to have such a lovely, rich bloom so unexpectedly!
As for animal life, a raccoon took out two chickens last night. Phil was almost beside himself: he was ready with gun and light, but when the coon took the bird, his spotlight died. Four spotlights in four years, and not a one of them worth the price paid. He recharged the light and was ready again, gun in hand. He sighted the coon but the light died then. Argh! When our chickens have all been taken out by predators—again—I think we will probably construct some kind of more permanent bed, or something.
In happier animal tales, we routinely come across toads. They are under boxes and buckets, hopping in front of footsteps at dusk. But though we often hear the tree frog song, I haven't ever seen one. Today that changed.
Isaiah found a tree frog: "It was crawling up the wall!" said Joe, clinging to the concrete. It also clung to the smooth side of the RV.
The amazing stickiness provided by the suction cups on the feet.
It was a fun little animal to carry around, to hold vertical.
Perhaps in an effort to be as amazing, Joe used the scaffolding as a jungle gym above standing water.
So did Abraham.
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