Day 80 Saturday October 20, 2001

Hey there--Laurie here. Because of the events of today, or because of the visitors, or maybe just because he's tired of writing, I am your guest writer. This morning we were up early to the usual breakfast of champions (POPTARTS) and immediately went to work. After all, company was coming and we had to prepare for additional workers and lots of kids.

So Billy and Darrin finished up the wall that wasn't finished, and I marked off where the rafters would go. Things went smoothly. THEN THE POSTS ARRIVED! Darren & Shelly & Becca & Zak & Timmy & Denise & Lil' Timmy & Danielle & Pat & Sarah & Aaron...yes. All of them in their glory carrying tools and toys and implements of destruction. The foreman put everyone to work..Darren was cutting and routing the notches that I marked. Timmy was slicing up rafters. Denise was marking lines on the top of course 15 for Patrick to cut. Shelly...THANK GOD FOR SHELLY...was keeping the kids out of the way and under control. Little Timmy played with his Power Rangers. Then we had to put up the ridge beam. This is a 35 foot long beam (well, at first, it was 6 inches too short, but I try not to remind anyone of my latest measuring mistake) that is 3 inches wide that goes across the top of the house from gable end to gable end. It supports the rafters. Timmy on a ladder that Pat said would break. Darrin and Pat on the scaffolding way up in the sky. Billy next to Timmy on another ladder. Darren under the beam with a t-support to help hold up the beam. Denise and I were gophers…Denise on the first floor, me in the loft. "I need a hammer, I need a lag bolt, I need a come-along...".Lift on 3. Wait. On 3 or after 3? Are we close enough to the wall? The ladder won't hold you AND the beam, Timmy!! Darren, get under there. Laurie, I need a shim. Are we ready? Wait! How are we gonna lift? Who goes first? Pat and Darrin will lift and put it in THEIR notch, then Timmy and Billy. Ok, are we ready? 1,2,3---EASY...into the notch. Timmy, is the ladder gonna hold? Of course. Billy puts in the support, Timmy lays the beam in. PHEW!! Little Timmy plays with his power rangers. Break time!

Shelly and Denise took all 6 kids to look for some Halloween costumes and get some ice cream. Mr. Goetz DID return with a truck filled with water and Timmy spent some time giving him some gentle persuasion. We got back to work and the guys put up 4 rafters. What a sight!! Then some campfire chat, roasted marshmellows and the Posts were on the road. A most productive day. The mountain was quiet again and Darrin and Billy were asleep by 9:30. Thanks, guys, for all the help.

Billy here. My brother-in-law Pat is crazy. He knows I want the wall plumb, so he hops on top of a three inch wide beam 25 feet above the hard rock ground to adjust the wall. Bless him.