Two Thirds of a Foundation Trilogy

Things at the camp are happening at breakneck pace!  Well, at least it's breakneck in Adirondack time.  That is one of the charms of the place...the hustle and bustle of the world seems to melt away when you're there, whether it's paddling, hanging out on the dock, dining, and I suppose building.  

I'd be calling the kettle black if I complain too much about our builder, Marc.  My unfinished garage has been in progress for about 12 years now.  My defense is that the Loonatic Crew and I only have about 30 total days of building in all those years, so I don't think it's all that bad.  And isn't that standard practice in construction?  Short bursts of activity and long periods of waiting?

I suppose that attitude is why Mary was so adamant about making sure that I didn't try to organize all this building activity myself.  And all my friends were on her side.  How can so many people be so deluded about my abilities?

You have to understand that this is a painful admission for a know-it-all, but I'm really learning a lot watching what Marc and his crew have been doing.  Not only that, I've allowed myself to become downright exited in anticipation of continued progress.  Where's that wood?  I must knock hard.

It's great watching a dream take shape.

Don't we have a lovely dirty mess?
I'm concerned that the weeds that were my lawn won't grow back properly.
Don't want any of that damn non-native grass...it grows too fast.

This is the new swimming pool.
Oh, wait a minute, no.
It's the foundation that defines the crawl space under the guest house.
This is where the bears will winter.
Or maybe it's a fallout shelter.
Or maybe it's where the bears winter nuclear winter.

I didn't get to drive it, but the power trowel did a nice job leveling the floor.

You may think this is the floor of the crawl space,
but it is actually art.
I'm calling it "Sleeping Armadillos."

You can tell these guys are professionals.
I never would have thought of finishing at the door.

The basement!  My basement!
Having shortened my lifespan by breathing the air under the previous camp
while dealing with one plumbing disaster after another,
I am ecstatic to have a wonderful mostly-below-ground building support structure.
The impeccable plumbing will come later.

The chimney support and the pads for the roof support.
When the climate becomes more like Florida,
and there is no longer any need for heat,
we can remodel it into a nice little wine cellar.
Then again, with enough wine, will we need heat?

No, the roof is not on yet, but that is the color.
If you think the whole thing looks too high, wait a little while.
The backfilling will bring grade back to where it was prior to construction.
The deck will be very close to the same level as the original.

What light through yonder decking breaks?
Though the deck will be above, some light will filter in
through the windows that will fill these openings.

This is where the bowling alley goes.
Anyone have experience with pinsetting?

This is a really beautiful rock,
But what's that bit of concrete in the ground to the right?
What is that rock doing on top of my septic tank!?!
Not sure that my demolition man understood why I marked off the area.

The garage balcony provides a panoramic view.

Knocking off on Friday, the crew is on the way to the cooler to grab a few fine white cans with a red Genesee label.  I asked...that's their preference.  I plan to make sure that next time, they'll enjoy their favorite frothy foam fresh from the facility at High Falls.

Great Expectations

Also titled, "We Have Concrete Plans To Fill A Hole."  A hole or two, really.

Here is another installment in the continuing saga of rebuilding our camp.  I wish I was being paid by the word, like Charles Dickens was for his serial stories.  Thankfully, you don't need to worry about me padding the plot to string out the profits.  Quite the contrary.  Even so, I fear this story is unlikely to be much shorter, and I dread it will have just as many plot twists.

Regardless, in response to popular demand, here are last week's pictures of our hole in the ground.

We weren't there for this first part, but you knew we would only hire a cell-cam-enabled contractor, right?

Now that's the way to squirt concrete!

Like frosting a cake.

Just about done with the pour for the footings.
If I didn't know that was a cement truck,
I'd expect a human cannonball to be fired into the lake.

We arrived a few days later, as they readied the footings for the wall forms.  

The view from the garage balcony.
You'll note that I have not needed to mow recently.

They're cutting the plates for attaching the forms.

Forms await next to the pad that will support the part of the roof extending over the deck.
There are two pads at each end of the great room for the extended roof.

The footing forms fail to flee the foundation
since they are are also configured with slots so that they function as drains.
Great idea!

Our neighbor, Pete, provides stellar everyday on-site supervision.

The bumpout is where the chimney goes.

The crew is working feverishly.

"And over yonder is where the bears live."
No, Pete, this is where the crawl space for the guest house is going.
On second thought, maybe that is where the bears will live.

We have a fine and varied selection of dirt.

Pete's wife Mary came over to find him a few days ago.  She looked this way and that, and eventually discovered him atop the big pile, happy as a little boy to be sitting in the dirt and watching the commotion.  

That's the essence of Pete we all know and love.

We have a good rock selection as well.

Just one of many.

What do you think, a new Stonehenge?  Seems like something needs to be done with all these magnificent rocks, but I'm not sure I want to call in the Druids.  We could have a rock garden, but I don't think we need to grow any more.  Should I start sculpting?  I must ponder the fate of the rocks.  Perhaps you have the perfect idea.  Let me know!

Elegance amid chaos.

Ginger has already taken up residence below the spot
where the living room couch will be, someday.
"Get off the couch, Ginger!"

Gotta love the "super robust" anti-pollution fence.
It's a requirement when building near water.

The lake is still there,
although we haven't been, very much.

It has been a lost summer.  Hottest on record, no less.  However, I'm choosing the high road this time. The result of being unable to enjoy the place much this year is that we've been home much more than usual.  And since we've spent much more time in Rochester, I've probably been seeing my Mom more than at any time since I was a child.

And the signs we see at the nursing home indicate that our timing has been very good.

Mom has always loved the hummingbirds.
I hope they'll forgive me for not feeding them this year.

No Pains In Gainesville

Scott returned to the land of Spanish Moss...

...with his trusty companion, Servo.

He met up with some old friends.

And relived old times.

And, of course, Scott took the time to enjoy the beauty of Florida.

But there was one important thing to be done at the local University.

GRADUATE!!!

Scott is in the hood!

And the lovely ladies were there to see it happen!

A well deserved handshake.

Scott with his advisor, who is apparently thinking great thoughts as he shakes.

With the proud wife...

...and the proud Mom.

Congratulations!