motivation, vision and mutiny

Friday
Ever since we bought the cottage lot 2 1/2 years ago, we've been slowly picking up all the tools we figured we'd need to build the cottage. One such purchase was a large table saw. We figured it would get a bit of a beating on this project, so bought one of the bigger ones, a Delta, which we figured would be pretty sturdy. It's a heavy bugger, if that indicates sturdiness.

On Friday though, while cutting through a large 2 x 12 piece of lumber, something inside bound up and it blew the circuit. Looking underneath, we discovered that the trunnion, which is what holds the motor in place had literally snapped in two. We had just begun the day and had lots of cutting to do, so you can well imagine the choice words uttered (commonly referred to as Portugeuse now since our driving experiences in PT and SP). Luckily we also had the electric chop saw up there, so finished our cutting with it. On the large wood like the 2x12 it was not a neat cut as you had to flip it over and make 2 cuts that met in the middle, but it did the job.

It was a cloudy day, much cooler than last weekend and was actually pleasant to work with a slight breeze blowing. Late morning though a storm hit, complete with thunder and such. We quickly covered the piles of lumber and took refuge under the cottage where Bill used the time to begin taking the saw apart. We could smell skunk and looking around were relieved to not see him. However, he obviously comes around sometimes (the rain probably brought the smell out). We'll have to keep an eye open for him/her.

Our goal for the day was to get the 3rd wall done. Made a trip to the lumber store for wood, only to discover that it was closed for Canada Day (stupid of us not to remember really). By the time we went to get it up we were tired and it started slipping off the side. We set it back down, took a couple of deep breaths and tried again. It went up that time. Once it was tacked down, you could already feel how much sturdier everything is. I I no longer feel so anxious about everything tumbling down like a pile of matchsticks. Since we got put so far behind with the saw ordeal, we worked until after 7. By the time we got home at 9 pm, we were exhausted. It's a good thing we can envision what the cottage will be like once done. It keeps us motivated.

Saturday
We made 2 trips to the lumber store today to exchange and buy more. Each trip takes just short of an hour. While I was gone, Bill worked out the stud plan. The stud plan is always slow going. It is time consuming when you have windows and doors and this last wall is the one that faces the lake, so is almost all windows and doors. We saved it for last purposely. We did this wall in 2 sections. At first, I worked on one and Bill worked on the other. However, because it is the last wall, the fit is so tight that we couldn't maneuver, so we decided to do one section at a time. So we pulled back the 2nd section out of the way and went to it. Bill worked on the headers and I worked on the frame. By lunch time we had the first section frame done, minus windows. After our break we finished it up and put the 1st section up. The headers that you make for doors and windows make each section very heavy. We knew we'd have trouble getting the last section in. Not only is the fit is so tight, but there are 2 windows and a 6 foot sliding door, it's very heavy, so we decided to wait until Dave got here tomorrow to put it up. We were both quite tired by the time we got home. I can't wait until the day comes when I can sit on the deck with a cool drink and I have nothing to do but watch the birds, Lenny (the chipmunk) and Squiggy (the squirrel). I'm really, really, really looking forward to that.

Sunday
Up by 6. We're both still tired, our muscles are protesting. Loudly. We wanted to be able to do a few things before Dave got there, to use having a 3rd person to its full advantage. By the wedding in August, I'll be so muscled I should consider a tuxedo, not a dress. But right now, Bill expressed it correctly when he said "Right now, I feel like Gumby".

Dave arrived just before 9. Bill gave him a brief tour of the lot. While I did the customary run to the lumber store, Bill and Dave put up that last wall section. Next we squared everything, checking for level, etc. It is a time consuming process, but it went really well, so we nailed all the walls down tight. A fellow cottager stopped by to chat and by the time he left, it was lunchtime. After lunch, Bill and Dave put the top plates on all of the exterior walls while I built the only inner walls that is a supporting wall. Since Bill and Dave were using the scaffolding to work on the top plates, I had to put it together quite a distance away from where it would be placed. It is a 16 foot section, so was extemely heavy to get up and move into place, but we finally managed. It was 6:30 by the time we finished. We couldn't have done it without a 3rd person. THANK YOU DAVE!!!! I'll bet he has a few aching muscles in the morning. Hope it didn't affect his golf.

Monday
This was a 4 day weekend for us and we had hoped to take advantage of it and get lots and lots of work done. Unfortunately, our bodies were protesting furiously and threatening mutiny. Even on the way up, we felt more like we normally do at the end of a day, we were so tired. We're not used to this type of work, we have desk jobs!!! I don't care how many times you go to the gym. It does not prepare you for it.

I was so tired, that I fell asleep on the way up (its usually on the way back that I do that). No amount of coffee was doing the trick. But we have work to do, need to stay motivated, keep that vision. Bill was hoping that we'd get started on the floor joists for the 2nd floor, but I was skeptical. It is heavy work. Each 2x10 is 14 and 16 feet long. They're heavy and we're tired before we even started.

Bill decides he doesn't like the header on the inner wall that we put up yesterday, so he attacks that, putting in a few extra supports etc while I build one of the inner walls. Because it has no windows etc, it is quick and easy and we have it up in no time.

By the time we're done it is almost lunchtime, so we take a break. Neither of us wants to get up, afterwards and I suggest to Bill that we make it an early day. After a bit, we go back to work. Bill is still not satisfied with that door frame and begins to talk about taking it apart. I convince him that we need to be working on brainless tasks, that we're too tired for making big decisions. So we decide to work on the other inner walls. We count stud pieces on hand and realize that in order to finish them we need a couple of 10 footers and an 8 footer. With what we have we can only do one of them. So, we finish that wall, Bill takes apart the table saw and call it a day. An afternoon off is badly needed.

When your body decides to mutiny there is only so much that you can do.