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October 2 - Meetings, Grading and Pews

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Another Status Meeting in the Church - A week ago Sunday the second status update meeting was held at the church. While there were some assembled pews, they were all in the sanctuary, and not in the dining hall where the meeting convened. So, everyone that wanted to sit had to bring their own chair. In the picture, Bob is standing but not because he failed to bring a chair. He wanted attention so he stood up in the front to give his status update. After Sam reported on the finances discussion ensued about whether or not to increase our self imposed debt ceiling. While the church could be 'completed' without the increase, some desired items like an epoxy sealed kitchen floor would have to be deferred. The congregation agreed to up the debt limit. Sam stated that the bank is fine with the new debt ceiling. Sam also said the projection stand in the picture is only temporary. With the current projected spending, we will still not have a completed kitchen so the eagle-eyed shoppers ...
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July 23 - The Pour Before it Poured

The footings got poured. And then the rain came. Fortunately, the rain came after all the concrete was in the forms and the spacer bars were removed. With the rain starting and the last truckload of cement maybe not quite hard enough, it was decided to put poly over the last truckload poured. Then the rain descended and the workmen scattered. But not before they removed the plastic tarp covering the break room and put it in the storeroom in order that it remain in the same county when the storm arrived.

The Pour - 

When the mud is coming down the chute, everyone is in action.

The concrete mix oozes into the forms. It made me think of lava flowing from a non-violent volcano but not quite as hot.


Sam directs the truck and controls the chute. The consolidators use shovels to work the mix to completely fill the form and not leave any voids. Screed operators then use a board across the top of the form to level it. The trowlers then smooth the top surface with trowels. 


Sam uses a wireless remote inside his glove to control the truck movements and rate of flow down the chute. A pointed finger moves the truck in the indicated direction, a closed fist stops the flow, an up pointing finger raises the chute and so forth. For the most part the remote works but occasionally requires facial gestures to keep it on track.

Bill Sturos uses a screed to
 level  the footing.
Wayne Randall and the Man in the Yellow Hat
(who is traveling incognito) use trowels to smooth
the top surface. Wayne's previous experience with
icing cakes in a bakery shows in his fine work. Bob
noted that it is very gratifying to be making
concrete progress.
And then it poured -




Later the sun came out, but not until the rain had left a moat in its wake.




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