End of Day Shots: Day Twenty-Seven

The projects are all moving closer to completion, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to do around here.

In case you were wondering, here's what the concrete towers we poured ended up looking like.

I spent the week working on two projects, one being the water wheel, of course. We're fitting bottoms to the paddles for the water to collect and release as it spins.

The other project gaining speed is the water tower. Pete and Ben put the 3000 gallon tank together.

I've been helping Pete a bit handling this massive saw and cutting some 8x8 timbers to build the tower itself.

Hopefully in the upcoming week we can start putting some pieces together and I might get this water wheel done to a point that we can rig it to it's posts. Plenty of work.

Later

End of Day Shots: Day Twenty-One

Did a little work on the wheel, but the big story was the concrete pour up the hill for the wheel's posts. The concrete company was a little if-y about sending a truck up the thin road to the pour spot, so we improvised.

First, we pour the mud into buckets on the Takeuchi.

Next, Jim takes the buckets up the hill (I have seen him take much larger vehicles up the road, but I digress...)

Next, The buckets are loaded onto the big fork truck which we have the worker platform on.

We extend the forks...

...to the form...

...which is just out of reach. So we got this bearded guy, who should remember to lift with his legs more, to pass the buckets over to the column form.

Pour in the mud.

Vibrate it down, then repeat.

While we were at it, we poured the stairs at the beginning of the yard wall. Remember those?

We were all gearing up for the pour so it didn't end up being too bad. Teamwork really saved us on this one. Thanks to Jon and Carol for the documentation.

Later

Cast of Characters

Before I post the big team concrete pour, I thought it would be a good idea to list the players.

Les, Carpenter

Pete, Carpenter

Left: Ben, Carpenter

Right: Jon, Boss

Jim, Operator

Mike, Painter

Llamas, Troublemakers

Goats, Loyal Followers

Guineas, Noisemakers

That Guy, Stuff Doer

End of Day Shots: Day Nineteen

It's a wheel! Now we just got to make the other three and we got a wagon.

We had a good system down and got this guy together pretty quickly.

It's been really hot out here, luckily Jon set up the fire truck in case the wheel burst into flames.

We're using a really strong glue on the seams that's great for water (made for boats) but it does take a couple days to cure, so we got time to work on other things.

Just a few pieces left on this guy, and we got to make a place to put it. It's all coming together.

Later.

End of Day Shots: Day Eighteen

Really good day. It always feels good to see stuff come together so well.

We took most the day centering our hub and lining everything up. And by the end we got to here, which is half the spokes.

In other news, the water tower's barrel is getting underway with a little staining.

And the mason is moving along, too.

Should have a complete water wheel before the end of the week and maybe even get pretty close to having a stand for it to go on.

End of Day Shots: Day Sixteen

Some visible progress is always good for the mind. After spending most of the day cleaning the wood and making it pretty, but still rough, we got to the next step.

Good coat of stain and things start looking more complete.

In the outside world, other projects have been popping up. A new gate arrive and was install for storybook gateway. The columns on either side will have lighting fixtures on top.

More stain tomorrow and perhaps some non-water wheel projects, but we still have a ways to go on this guy, yet.

Clear Days

So the weather has been amazing. I'm told we're getting back to normal climate now. Thought I'd share this picture. I was staring at this lake for a good while. Just takes all other thoughts away.

End of Day Shots: Day Fourteen

It's funny how projects have way of speeding up then slowing down sporadically. Such is the water wheel.

Wood always has a way of reminding you that it's a living thing. We found a lot of checks and joint gaps forming on the wheels.

What we decided to do was help out the weak spot with some cross cross-grain inserts. Jon wants this thing standing for 100 years, so anything for more strength is a good thing.

Meanwhile, back at the foundation spot, the form is starting to take a different form. Concrete pillars will help support what's going to be a massive water wheel.

We keep pushing forward. I'm kinda working on small details which kinda makes you lose sight of the big picture. But if theatre has taught me anything, it's to step back and look at your project with a fresh eye.

End of Day Shots: Day Eleven

No rain... sorta. It was sunny all day and the place was packed. A lot of stuff was getting done.

As for me, more digging. We finished up the day fitting a form into our hole.

If you were wondering how the wall I helped make was doing, they filled up most of the space behind it.

And in front, the mason's starting to line up his stones.

Hopefully it'll get a little warmer cause tomorrow might find us sealing the water wheel pieces. And after that, maybe assembly.

Later.

End of Day Shots: Day Nine

The waterwheel seems to be our main focus. Though the rain's still going, we're making definite progress.

Les set up a jig to cut the wheel out.

The cut was pretty clean. I had to come back and use theatre magic to make it look more rough cut.

12 feet in diameter. I'm told it's going to fit out the door...

The rest of the day was spent here. Digging out a place for the wheels foundation.

...and here is the view from where I was digging.

The rain is supposed to stop soon. We're also getting some pretty high winds, too. Might be able to hand glide back to the beach house.

Later

Llama Walking

So it dried up enough to take the Llamas for a walk. Just about everybody else came with us too.

The llamas actually behave better on a leash then a certain border collie in Pittsburgh, though the goats kept butting heads.

Churchill looks over his great country.

James is the old curmudgeon troublemaker... cute though.