With the cement blocks neatly in place, all visitors to the construction site knew of the impending arrival of the 'hollow core slabs' that would ensure the covering of the first storey of the main section of the construction, an important step for our early summer plan.
The July 1 entourage had been given their perfunctory walkabout at a distance of course as no one was actually permitted on the job site without hard hats and steel toed construction boots. The layout was pointed out, the greenhouse location identified and views were approved of before the arrival of the slabs.
Earlier than expected at 7:00 a.m., on July 5 a very large flatbed transport rolled in having travelled from Montreal to greet this important day and make its noisy arrival on a quiet county road. On the trailer lay neatly 10 very large cement slabs weighing 5 tons each while the scheduled arrival of the local crane operator was due much later that morning. Quick call to the crane driver meant that the operation could begin in the early morning before the muggy heat of mid day, so slabs in place, men in position and so the 'slow motion men in boots and hats ballet' began. Each slab required positioning into the crane pulley while the architect and Jim awaited to embrace with strong arms the monolithic cement slab and delicately dance the slab into its alloted place.
Language and experience divided this motley crew as the hollow slab core truck driver spoke of the need to secure 'une matte' as the rest of the crew struggled to understand.
While all on the site pondered what this could be, Jim brought a heavy jackhammer to work an uncooperative slab. The short slab that neededed to be 'encouraged' into position required a heavy jackhammer to swing it into place and a crisis was averted.
After an hour and a half all the cement slabs lay in place and just as the ballet troupe was ready for its first bow, the purchased steel beam arrived offside at stage right to be placed into position aside the last slab with the assistance of the crane.
Later that week, Linda, her daughter Emilie and Bob shared the extraordinary panorama that unfolded before us. To the northeast, the gracious and unassuming view of the Mini-house, to the southeast a span of juniper forest with a maple grove in the distance, to the southwest a wider view of rugged junipers and peaceful deciduous forest. As we celebrated our view of surrounding nature with its rugged beauty, we knew it was our first view of what would be enjoyed for years to come.
During the last two
weeks of June, Frank the mason and his work crew progressed through sweltering hot days and alternately heavy rains to reach completion of the first storey of the main house. Work had been delayed at the start so we postponed the delivery of our second storey hollow core slab foundation that would mark completion of the first storey. With our goal almost in sight to add the hollow core slab onto the main first storey, Bob and Jim began to prepare the top blocks for the new scheduled arrival on July 5.