Construction Management-A Game of Pick-up-Sticks!

 

Having lit a few fires under people regarding lack of action and time running out on our Playhouse project, the last week has been a blur of deliveries, hammering and sawing and problem solving.

I already had a full and varied schedule planned out, then I took it upon myself to drop in on our builder and forcefully remind him that we only have a few weeks to complete our Dream House.

 Next thing I know, my schedule was like a handful of Pick-up-Sticks, which had been tossed skyward, mixed with someone else's Pick-up-Sticks bundle and blown around by a strong gust of wind prior to landing where it may. Cancel this, move that, check a measurement, try to earn a living....

 Suddenly things started to take shape.

 Not always the perfect shape! The blue prints were from an earlier phase and didn't reflect an important change, that had been discussed at group project-launching dinner meeting. Luckily, the project is taking shape right next to my office, in our warehouse. The Foreman had outlined the door, per the plans, prior to cutting out the opening.

 We grabbed some photos to show him what we wanted and he got it right away. He will also be making the front door for us, as the size and scale are not available off the shelf. He went home with his template today.

A house looks much happier with an opening that will become a doorway.

 We've drilled attachment holes in the reclaimed, antique roof-tiles we'll be using to clad the roof. I always wonder what the Artisans who hand shaped these tiles, a hundred or more years ago, would have thought of the journey they would be destined to take. Do you think they would have believed it, if someone told them?
Taken down in Provence to sail for a month over the ocean to California; nailed and hooked on, because of potential earthquakes and, in this case, turned into what used to be called a "Folly" in someone's garden.

One of our "Finishers" brought his plaster and color sample board by just now, for the exterior walls. It's darn near perfection. He was paying attention when we showed him what we wanted and he has the skills to reproduce that very nicely. I'm signing off on this from my point of view. The architect will be here on Monday and can speak her mind. I don't expect anything but a positive reaction.

As I'm writing this, the electrician is doing his part. He was a bit delayed and has a couple of hours of work still to complete. I cancelled my Friday evening riding lesson. This takes precedence, for now. I'm looking forward to riding on Sunday morning, possibly in the rain. The forecast is predicting some minute amounts of moisture and hail. We'll take whatever nature gives us. The hills are already turning from green to brown and there is no snow-pack waiting to melt and feed our reservoirs. I just suggested to my Landlord, who has promised us a back lawn, since before we moved in, a year ago, that Astra Turf is the more responsible choice at this time.