On the Edge of "Easy Living"

There have been some changes to the landscape at the old Draper 

Homestead.  First, we had major excavation work done by 

Northern Dirtworks.  My earlier photos show the extent of earth-moving.

Now, it's time to build the garage-woodshed -- before the snow flies.

Most of the work has been done by our friend Bill, who milled all the lumber ...

 

...and arrived last Tuesday to begin the back wall with oak posts.  He notched the nailers on the sole plate.

  

 

By Wednesday we had the back wall sheathed with slabwood.  We moved on to three of the four posts and beams with "Y" braces. It is amazing what gets done with good planning and good contractors.

 

Wednesday was rainy and cool. We managed to finish the " Y" Braces and put up 8 floor joists.  We even began running the bottom rafters in the rain.  Gretchen fed us vegetable soup, soda bread and lots of hot coffee.

Thursday was bright and sunny but very chilly (first killing frost). We put up half the back rafters, put down the flooring over the joists and began running the upper rafters. 

 

It's starting to look like my first drawing (see previous blog)!

 

 

Bill and I put in just over a half day on Saturday and here is where we stand. Incredible for less than "four days" work!

 

I'm really excited about more storage space, a woodshed that is "on the level" and one vehicle kept out of the weather.

I had a nice surprise while taking down the pre-existing soffit. A little Brown Bat has taken up housing there.

 

Then, he crawled into a crack that was less than 1/4 inch wide.

He's literally "flatter than a pancake".  Ever wonder where those bats live??  Now I know.  We've watched them swoop over the field all summer and cheered every mosquito eaten.  Time to figure out how to accommodate this little guy in this new building.

...More to come...