Posts

Showing posts from March, 2017

Featured Post

October 2 - Meetings, Grading and Pews

Image
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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 25 - Ducts in a Row

Image
Floor grinding is complete for the time being.  After the interior painting is complete, the floor will get one more pass with the grinder, but for now it's done. This week, large diameter HVAC ducts sprouted out of the kitchen ceiling and spread out like very organized vines into neat rows that stretch across the ceiling into the cafeteria. Above the kitchen, there is a mechanical room that will be home for 5 forced air furnaces.  At some point in the near future, air conditioning units for these furnaces will be installed just outside the kitchen along the west wall.  Together, these 5 forced air systems will keep the western half of the church warm and cool, as appropriate. Sam Byman and Steve Wikman assemble a duct run on the floor. Brian Byykkonen cuts a hole for a branch line out of the main trunk. A couple Byman boys applying duct sealant to a joint. Sam is in the lift on the far end, while Steve and Daniel Hillukka are in the near lift. Same operation as above, ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 18 - The Daily Grind

Image
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they? Matthew 6:26 I stood in the church yard and watched the bald eagle circle low, just clearing the church roof, and then disappear to the north.  A loud chorus of sand hill cranes, recently returned from their winter residence in Texas or Florida., could be heard in that direction, too.  Perhaps they were reminiscing, possibly comparing notes about the long journey home, and happy to be back.  A few crows fussed over something amid the straw strewn in the church driveway.  Today was a new day for the birds and they were making the most of it. Like previous weeks, work this week focused on the concrete floor and installing exterior siding and trim. First, the floor.   Previously, we've seen pictures of various guys doing the slooooow walk behind the big floor grinder, back and forth, pass after pa...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 11 - Siding and Grinding Continue

Image
On the outside, the church walls are slowly dressed with siding and trim, while on the inside, the grinder reveals a beautiful floor. This week, crew #1 was on and the weather was brisk.  Thursday found Aare and Phil near the kitchen door. That same night floor grinding was, for the moment, on pause. At this point, most of the cafeteria floor was finished.  After admiring the floor, a few guys watch Mark balance a frozen spray bottle of water on a ladder in front of the heater to thaw out.  In the foreground, the grinding equipment waits. A glimpse of the business end of the grinder; you can see the abrasive pads that spin as the machine moves across the floor.  The cache of doors from last week's door scavenging expedition wait patiently in the kitchen area. On Saturday, the day was sunny and clear, and still fairly brisk.  By this time, siding activity has moved around to the front southwestern wall.  Bill and Ami nail on a piece of siding while around t...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 4 - Door Scavenging and Grinding Through the Siding

Image
Phil got a lead on some doors for the inside of the church.  There was a catch -- they were already installed in a business office somewhere and they were destined for the dumpster.  They had to be removed before the demolition team arrived, so Phil recruited a door-scavenging team of volunteers and off they went. Here, Ken removes door hardware before taking the door off its hinges. The scavengers with doors on the way to the truck:  Ryan, Mark, and Ken, with Phil the photographer. Throughout the week, crew 3 continued with siding the back side of the church.  By Saturday afternoon, the east gable end was covered - here, Brian Kallinen and Kevin Moll show us how it's done. While the boys worked high on the east gable, most of the others toiled out back on the north gable wall. A cheerful Markus loads nails in the siding nailer... ...and then nails on another batten, while Courtland assists. While siding work goes on outside, a few guys prepare for the concrete flo...
Post a Comment
Read more