Rain delayed progress

So almost immediately after pouring the slab it rained, and rained, and rained for days. I know it is actually a good thing because it allows the concrete to cure slowly. A slow cure equals a stronger foundation.
After the rains stopped, a baby was born. Election day brought us a jersey bull calf that we named "Freedom".

It's hard to top that, so, yeah, I have nothing better to tell you, but I will go on.....

progress wasn't all lost, we shopped a lot for things that we needed to get started. I bought the strapping, tightener, and buckles that we will use to tie the bond beam to the foundation. The lumber that we will use to make the door and window bucks was also purchased. Some other items, including a bigger air compressor, huge tarp to cover the bales, nail gun (we lost the old one in the fire of 2015), and other items to hook up the air compressor etc. were picked up as well. We really have only a few more things to buy before we will have everything ready to build the shell.

Our trusses were delivered on Tuesday, I wasn't expecting them for another week and a half. Yesterday we went to look at the bales that we will use, it was about 45 minutes away, and today the bales were delivered, it was actually pretty amazing, I texted Daren in the morning and he was able to squeeze me in because he had just bailed yesterday for another customer who ended up canceling because their equipment was down. He had 424 and we wanted 400. Perfect! Below are pictures of trusses and bales.

The trusses have a 7:12 pitch

Daren the hay guy

400 wheat straw bales

 

 

The pallets we got from tractor supply today to set the bales on. They were free!

 

 

 

 I will try to update again soon. To tell you the truth, I am really proud of myself for getting this many posts in so far. Way to go me!

And a Foundation is Born!

Woke up at 6am this morning to get ready for the concrete trucks. I was so excited, it didn't even feel early.
Alex Castillo (ACC Builders) was already up at the gate waiting for his finishing guys when we drove up to open it up for the trucks. Two thumbs up for a great concrete/foundation installer. Below are the pictures from today's pour, everything went well with no hitches. Notice the rebar for the bales to sit on and the eye-bolts we will use to strap the bales to the foundation.