Building Much More Than a House

This weekend was our first trip to the homestead in 3 weeks.  I had hoped to get up before the sun, load the truck and get there with the whole family before 8am.

That just was not in the cards this weekend.  I think we arrived closer to 11am and by that time I was more interested in lunch than building.  I tinkered with a project saw, tested my rehandled splitting maul and piddled around the build site a bit.  When lunch was served I ended up eating and then 'just resting my eyes for a minute' by the fire.  A few minutes after 2 I woke up, having accomplished more by sleeping than I could have done working.  There is just something inherently refreshing about being there, even as the list of tasks to complete grows longer.  The peacefulness of the trees, watching the kids run and explore, the sound and feel of the fire and now being able to look up and see our home rising from the ground...all of those factors conspired against me and before I knew it I had given up the plans to work and simply opted to soak it in for the day.  Within the hour we were hanging out under our tarp canopy listening to the rain.

If the weather (and what feels to be the flu's attempts to slow me down) cooperate I plan to camp Friday night and get a full 12 hours in this Saturday.  Here are the items I would like to tackle:

• Adding 8 more cement block supports.  These will not be fully anchored piers like the others were.  They are simply designed to keep things honest.  I'll add them at the half-way point between the 8 footers.  I've also got some braces to add to ensure the foundation is as solid as a man of my skill can hope for.
• Adding the remaining floor joists.  Three weeks ago we measured and marked 16" OC but only placed every other joist.  This week I hope to finish that.
• Subfloor decking.  If those first two steps are done I will add the T&G 3/4" Advantech subfloor.  This would mean we have completed the second major milestone of Phase 1.

I am thankful that my children are growing up like this.  Several times on Saturday I saw them there playing amongst the trees and I couldn't help but smile.  They think we are building a house.  What they don't realize is that the house in really just a byproduct.  My hearts desire is to build their character.  The lessons they learn as we labor together will last longer than any house as it ripples across the generations to my posterity, most of whom I will never meet.  To quote the Sara Groves song Generations: "To my great, great, great grandchildren, live in peace."

Here's to families and the lasting legacy we build together.