The ridge pole and two sets of rafters went up Wednesday

August 14, 2019 - Wednesday evening

62 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It may not look like much, but that ridge pole, the long beam going across the top of the garden house, and those two sets of rafters took the majority of the day to construct and put in place.

The day started with all kinds of bells and whistles. Well, actually, it began with the fire alarm sounding.  I quit writing, jumped from my chair in the living room, and ran into a smoke filled kitchen accompanied by an acrid stench. Earlier, I'd mixed a pan of sugar water for hummingbird feed and left it to boil on the stove. Unfortunately, I forgot all about it.

Other than a lot of smoke, a ruined pan, and a house that smells like a candy shop, all we got was a scare and a quick lesson in how dangerous boiling a pan of water can be.

What dehydrated sugar water looks like

 The rest of the working day was spent sawing the last twelve rafters, laminating 2x4's to make a four by four beam, fourteen feet long, then wrestling it to the top of the garden house. For one person, it was a bit of a challenge.

I was thunked on the head once as the beam fell off a temporary support. Thankfully, the beam wasn't broken. After no small amount of muttering, it was fastened onto the supports at the right height and made ready for the rafters. 

The next challenge was attaching the end rafters. I needed another ladder or two along with a third hand. Four would have been even better.

Doing some aerial ballet, I managed to secure one side before quitting and driving to Iron Mountain to meet Sargie after work. We had a pleasant supper and rode home together. 

I'd tried earlier to roll up the left over pieces of rubber pond liner, but with their weight and bulk, was unable to do it by myself. With Sargie's help tonight, all the heavy pieces were rolled up and carried to the storage container using the tractor. The largest section had to weigh close to two hundred pounds and it was all Sargie and I could do to budge the thing.

Sargie helped this evening as I attached the last two end rafters. The other ten sets should go up tomorrow. 

I'll ride back to Iron Mountain with Sargie first thing Thursday morning. Since Friday is her last day at the Vision Center, this will be our final back and forth trip together before or after work. I got into the habit years ago of occasionally driving over and riding back with her so she'd have company on the long drive home. Thankfully, the days of her having a long commute will soon be over. 

It will be back to the garden house and rafters Thursday morning. Working alone, it's a slow go, but it's happening.

I plan to purchase the plywood and roofing this coming weekend and possibly the wall covering.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...