Summer labor hire

The job entails scraping out cracks, fitting foam rods into the cracks and then caulking over cracks--to prevent accidents and to keep water from seeping under the slabs causing damage.

On the first day we broke our backs bending over to do the caulking. Someone in the shop had received some dollies back from the elementary schools P.E. program because kids were rolling over their own hands--they are padded pieces of wood with 4 wheels attached at the corners. We may look a little silly caulking from these things, but it makes a world of difference taking the pressure off of the spine!

Caulk is "self levelling" which means it has a very soupy consistency. I got some duct tape and ta;ed cardboard pieces to the curbs to keep the caulk from seeping into the streets. Too bad the cardboard sticks to the caulk!!

It's either 10 or 12 weeks of caulking the concrete at all of the schools in the district. We are in week 2 and are at our 2nd school, almost ready to move on to the third. I don't know how many there are--I am counting down the weeks!

By Bye Birdie

First day at Ridgetop--I guess this guy didn't see the glass doors and windows at the entrance. I bagged it and put it in the freezer. I dunno - well, actually I have this idea to cast it in slip or something. I'm wondering what kind of bird this is. Must identify it.

Hooked on wood fire kiln

New Do

where there's smoke?--FIRE

Flames leak out from the edge of the lid

Ethereal smoke

Firebox at it's hottest

getting ready for firewatch and talking it over afterthe fire--buttoning things up to wait for the cooldown and the big reveal next Saturday!

chimney and firebox amp up