To enable me to reach the gable ends (top parts) of my east and west walls, I have created a deck support that will allow me to put scaffolding on it,
so I can reach the second floor safely. With a ladder from even ground this was just too risky, especially with heavy loads.

So today the east deck support was finished and the holes for the 8 poles that help support it poured.

The east and west decks now looks like this (at sunrise this morning).

As you can see, it makes reaching the gable ends a lot easier and safer.

The decks rest on both a diagonal beam;

But for extra safety,  vertical posts are added also.

Sometimes hitting rock bottom can be fun; when it is intended to make holes for concrete piers.
That’s just what I did today; hacking away with a pick axe and a piece of rebar and a hammer to dig into the not so cooperative soil.
Or to be more accurate, pretty rock hard limestone filled with even harder rocks.

But I managed to dig in and all holes are dug and filled with concrete.

4 more bags 80 pounds and 4 bags 60 pounds more were needed, but now it is ready, drying in to receive a load tomorrow.

The main deck will rest on four cedar tree logs, resting on these rebar reinforced concrete piers

The east and west deck will be getting extra support from these little piers;

Okay, posting from a tent can be a bit error prone; I thought I had posted, but now find it was not posted yet.
So, yesterday, I finally brought my door home. Now there’s a sentence you don’t see every day…

The door has been in 3 different locations, but now finally is inches aways from it’s final destination.
All it needs is some Jambs, and heavy duty hinges, as the door is so heavy I can hardly lift it.
The color will match nicely; the wall you see below are unstained; they will be like the door is now.

Or to be more precise; can you be 720 pounds (326 kg for those of us on metric) more concrete? That’s the weight of the concrete that will be poured to support the decks, not including the water. 

The concrete will support 4 cedar tree logs that will be the front of the deck. The deck will be 24 x 10 ft (7,3 x 3 meter) and continue on the sides at a 4 ft width. Altogether that’s a truckload of wood;

Driving that in from Mc Coys was a careful ride; the total weight probably exceeded 1500 pounds, almost half the weight of the truck. I definitely felt it making turns and going uphill. Even though I stayed on the right lane and pulled over where I could, I still made some new ‘friends’ that thought I should drive the allowed 55 instead of 45 mph. I preferred to be safe. 

Today I drove the Truck from Houston to the log home. I was glad to find it in good shape, no bent pine second floor and perfectly dry inside. It does look a little bit like a lumberyard ;

Most of the wood is the siding; what will be on the gable end and extension walls. 

I pitched the tent again, not against the rain but to keep any bugs out whilst sleeping;

This time it’s more comfortable, with my Coleman cot and sleeping bag. 

I picked up some 2×6 treated pine to start work on the side decks tomorrow 

It’s weekend and I’m a Warrior, so what could be more appropriate than this;

Arrived but still waiting for my suitcase to make it here, which was taken off the plane as I was late due to understaffed check-in counters at United Airlines. So I might as well enjoy a beer. 

The home cooked meal was delicious;

Ever since I bought the lot, Texas weather seems to have more extremes, like 16″ downpours in a single day. So it’s good to have a roof. The good news is that I now do; the metal roof was put on last week.

Windows 6, doors 2. That’s the latest score on Ozuye Lodge. All windows and doors have now been cut. This makes it look so much more like a home. 

Although I’m no longer there, work continues. Today the first window was cut:

  
It’s a bit larger than it will be eventually, as two jambs on the side will support the cut logs. The rough opening will be 36×48″

Sitting down on the upper deck this will be the view.