Archive for April, 2010

I lay the first course of stone for the Carriage House — part of The Castle Project. For more info (more…)

So my decision to not “waste time looking for my safety goggles” didn’t result in the time saving outcome I had hoped.

I was cutting rebar this weekend with a grinder and a cut-off wheel, when a sliver of steel (or something) made it’s way into my eye. (perhaps embedding in my upper eyelid)

After a doctors app’t at my local clinic, with 4 xrays and 30 some hours of discomfort later and the xray is inconclusive.

I am on an antibiotic eyedrop regimen with a follow up in 2 days.

UPDATE: Yesterday I led a seminar on Social Media at the Greenbrier, and the pain level increased to 8-9 during the seminar. After finishing up the seminar, I looked in a mirror and could see the steel embedded in my eye. So I asked the Ophthalmologist if he could bump my appointment up to the same day. He agreed without a hesitation. The long story short is 4 minutes later after some pointy tweezers and a little work a mini-mag-lite-sized tool similar to a dremel, he had removed the shard, and dremel’d out the toxic rust ring that had formed in my cornea.

Here’s the “dremel” tool he used:

Note to self: Wear your freaking safety goggles next time!!!!!

We finished laying all of the stone and most of the #5 rebar this week. Lifting/bracing inserts are on order and should arrive on mon or tues, the we’re ready for concrete.

Into the home stretch on laying stone for the first real wall for the castle project. For what will ultimately be called “the carriage house.” (My shop for cabinetmaking etc during the build phase).

Today, I met with a structural engineer who specializes in concrete. He has over 30 years experience and was confident regarding our build.

He commented on how prime a building location it was. (down to the soil composition)

It’s nice to have that in the works.

We prep’ the “bed” for the first wall of the carriage house

“I’m ******* Luce and I’m building a castle — sir…”

While I was busy transplanting a ~15 YO volunteer pear tree (that sprouted right where our castle will be), my wife tackled cleaning the sand from the joints in the wall. You go hottie!!!

PS: she said she likes my wall!!!!!! Made my day.

The test wall is a resounding success

22 days ago I setup and poured a 5’X9 test wall. I stood that wall up today and here is the result: