Friday, February 16, 2007

We're On Our Way to a New House!

Here we go... we are underway ... the house is started! Willie called us Valentine's Day to tell us that the corners were set, and footings would be dug the next morning at 9 a.m.! And they were dug yesterday, just as scheduled. Concrete was to be poured in the footings today at noon. A "pumper truck" was ordered from Little Rock to expedite getting the concrete to the footings and across the lot. We think the truck driver said the pumper weighed 60,000 lbs.!

The driver/operator maneuvered the gigantic armature via a wireless remote control panel, so that he was standing on-site. Casey Stone maneuvered the actual hose, so that the concrete was directed down the center of the footings. Willie and Hurshel spread the concrete, following behind Casey. It was really interesting.

It was a very cold day...25 degrees shortly before noon, and windy. Everyone was dressed warmly, and Hurshel built a fire out of scrap timber and logs. Most of the day it was sunny and beautiful; however, late afternoon brought clouds and more wind, and it got pretty chilly!

Getting the pumper truck back out of the lot was quite an adventure. I'll let the pictures tell the whole story. FYI... click on any photo to enlarge it for viewing and reading the caption!

Blocks come next... stay tuned!!!