Where Eagles Stare

The supervisor ascends the first floor.
The chimney chase rests waiting on its side.
and pine for the ceiling has dried in the basement,

Posts stand at attention, awaiting their loads.

Construction remains a subtractive business.
3D house printers were not yet perfected back in 2016.

Awaiting the big day, the footprint and mass is the same as what is no longer there.
But it will be oh-so-much better.

Wrong lens, poorly stabilized,
but you can make out the form of the eagle
weighing down a left reaching limb.
He has been hanging around throughout the project.
His presence is a good omen.

But we need another bird for this job.
The crane has arrived.

The chimney chase rises.
No reason to build it in place when you have the crane to help.

Up over the peak...

...and lowered into place.

A testament to good engineering,
the chase matched perfectly with the securing bolts
in the foundation.
A few nuts and additional screws later,
the chimney chase is secured where we expect it to stay for the rest of our lives.

The "scissors" trusses lie waiting by the chimney with care.
Well, not really near the chimney chase, but they're waiting.

But another of slightly different dimension is first.

The crew secures the straps for transport.

Maybe the longer straps are a better idea.

Up it goes!

Some buildings have flying buttresses.
We have flying trusses.

Up and over the chimney chase,
the truss flies toward the guest cottage.

Preparing for landing.

The crane operator and the crew work together
to coax the truss into position.

Nudge, nudge.
Coax, coax.

Long, hefty screws secure the pre-drilled ends.

On both ends.  Why not?

Climbing to secure the truss with a temporary cross piece
from existing structure to new truss.

The stylish supervisor captures the action.

Fixed in place, straps are removed.

Detail of truss support.
My father's father, the carpenter, would be pleased.

 While not remotely alike,
this visage is reminiscent of flag raising on Iwo Jima.
Good teamwork is always worth noting.

Step and repeat.

Same process, different location.

Dropped into place.

As an added benefit of running the crane,
the operator gets a hearty helping of diesel fumes.

Our on-site, neighborly inspector insures all is well done.

The rear truss is set in place.
I was happy they did this prior to boxing it in
under all the interior trusses.

The lawn is looking better than ever.

And our garden is flourishing. 

The floodgate at the dam open,
the water level is down for the winter.

Last truss set into place.
The place really begins to take shape.

Much more to do,
but a small amount of imagination conjures the new house.