Present and Future Kingdom

A week on the road visiting family in three states, delivering merchandise from folks back home. Finally, we reach our destination in mid May. And what do we hope to see? Our dome under construction; workers with their sleeves rolled up, happily going about their jobs in the warm breeze; the sun shining just right to properly cure the concrete, birds singing, flowers about to bloom, asparagus sticking its shoots up...you know, mid-May, spring time...

So, what was our welcoming party? Snow falling from a cloudy, dreary sky; cold wind blowing in from the western plain; workers bundled up like hunters in December; and our consultant ready to head back south! But, the project continues and I can see that there is a dome taking shape on the side of the hill.

Pictures will be posted as I get them.

Finally, our dome!  

Hmmm. Doesn't look right!

Maybe you should take a prezi stroll to see what's really happening. (It was very windy today, and so we have a lot of construction debris floating all over.)

Enjoy, but don't look for a cupola, it will be built this week, weather permitting.

Finished!

Finished-and I won't get to see it until next summer *sigh*



Steve smoothened the floor on the inside and the aprons on the outside, and then took these pictures. The first is looking out the east, overhead door; the other is looking through the building from the west (notice the big sliding door)...

Finally, a picture of the east wall with the overhead door still open.

Now that I have a big, new machine shed, I should have a new machine or so to put in it. Right?

Day 9

Day 9

All the steel is on; all that's left is some trim, two pieces of the ridge vent, and the two big doors. Unfortunately, I need to leave-I have just enough time to get home, hug my wife, and head off to CMI/A 2010 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Days 7 and 8

Day 7

The windows and walk-in door are installed and the building is now ready for steel.

Somehow, even with a steel door and high-security lock, I don't believe it's time to store anything of value in the here.

Day 8

The roof is covered and the north wall is almost finished.

Days 5 and 6

Day 5:

More framing, though progress is not too noticeable; overhang is almost finished. All posts are in and some of the door and window work is done.

Day 6:

Time for steel. The soffit steel is fastened on under the overhang on the ends and under the eaves.

Storms

An ominous-looking sky above the western horizon. Minnesota had more tornadoes touch down that day than in any other day in recorded history. The high school in Wadena, (a town in central Minnesota) took a direct hit. Fortunately, it came after school let out for the summer and before the school reunion activities had begun. I don't believe anyone was hurt.

The gas station/convience store in Mentor, a town along US Highway 2 in the north-west part of the state, was also hit and totally destroyed. The owner threw himself on top of his daughter and and an employee, protecting them from the freezer that was knocked over. The daughter suffered minor cuts; the employee was taken to the hospital in serious condition; the owner, unfortunately, died from his injuries. The Dairy Queen across the street received no damage, not even a scratch.

Days 3 and 4

Day 3, Wednesday. With the rafters in place, the posts for the east wall are now dug in.
The ruts got deeper and the rain that night filled them again.




Day 4, Thursday. All the main posts are in position and most of the wall girts are fastened on. Also, the purlins are on the roof, extending beyond the building to allow for the overhang that is to come.
The water-filled ruts became deeper and that night, even more rain fell, filling them once again. To allow for the site to dry out, no further work was done until the following Monday.