Progress and Delays

Quite a bit has happened since my posting in May. I did get my permit pulled, excavation completed, and footings poured. Wow what fun to build square! Our 36x36 foundation calls for ARXX ICF blocks. I decided to do all the foundation work even though I vowed never to do another after my last ranch-style foundation. This little footprint seemed too easy to pass up plus working with Styrofoam? Lets do it! The ICF blocks were much easier than I thought. I didn't even have to cut one block as the foundation dimension allowed for a perfect fit! The 10.5 yards of concrete went in well with the exception of 2 corners that floated up about 1/2 inch...but hey, I'm working with logs! I decided to use a great suggestion of hanging the joists off the sill plate and my inspector recommended going with a "conditioned" crawl space so no venting was required. Wow this is getting easier by the day!

Soon after the foundation pour I called on my logs. Still not ready. How long do I need to wait..?? We're burnin' summer waiting for logs. So in the meantime I'm searching to see if I can afford a reachable forklift. I find one at a local auction thats work bidding on. I make the trip and take my KTM dirtbike in case the auction is a bust because there's some undiscovered trails near the auction site. Well the auction was a bust and equipment has over 7k hours and looks beat up. I bag the auction and head for the trails. All geared up I take off into Gods Country enjoying my discovery ride, taking side routes, looking at the map for other fun side trips. I call it a day and begin my ride back to truck. I'm about 25 miles in, making my way through a fun, twisty, Aspen filled forest trail when for no reason my right foot peg connects with a boulder hidden just off the trail. Before I can comprehend it I'm flying off the bike, land in a ditch and am in scary pain. What the heck happened? I figure I've been in the ditch for about 30 minutes trying to figure out if I'm dead or alive. Pain comes from my whole upper body, ribs and a burning feeling is in my right ankle. I finally get myself up, grab a tree thanks to dizziness and begin to get the bike up. Wow I'm in pain! Nobodys been seen all day nor are they rushing to my aid. After several attempts I get the bike upright, get my leg over it and begin to praise the fact the bike has electric start! I manage to get myself to the forest road and stop an ATV'er and ask for help. They get my cell phone from my backpack (couldn't get at it myself) and I call my son to come to the highway to get me. I ride about 11 miles out and ask the ATV to follow me in case I pass out. That was one long ride! My son meets me and deposits me at the ER where I find I have a broken right ankle, broken ribs and separated left shoulder. I wont bore you with the ongoing medical issues but to say the least, my summer has been changed!

My logger calls to say we have to talk. Uh oh. I've been waiting on you all summer! We drive to meet him and see what he's pulled for us thus far. Wow, are these Skip size logs or what! We pick out about 7 "templates" for him to use as guides and look forward to our first load delivered hopefully the end of August. Unfortunately his son needs open heart surgery the same time I go in for screws in the ankle. Geez, what am I learning from this lesson?? I know theres a reason for all of this though it'll be clear probably years down the road.