Planning

This week marks a major milestone for the castle project. we received our building permit (authorizing us to build by the stream) and a variance, allowing us to put our crossing in the creek during spawning season. (There are no gamefish in our stream).
So things will start fast-tracking now. I start putting in the crossing today and have 72 hours to finish it. (shouldn’t be a problem).

Once that is in, the well driller can come drill our well, and the electric co can come activate our power. After those are done, we can start excavation for the foundation.

And so the snowball is at the edge ready to start down the hill.

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.

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.

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

A couple weeks ago I requested a permit to put a crossing in our stream for the construction equipment etc. The permit came today. One more piece of the puzzle falls into place.

Our local readymix plant of choice came through with a recomendation for two structural engineers in my local area. I emailed the one that wasn’t going to funnel the money out of the area to a major holding corporation. I received a response about 24 hours later and will plan to meet later in the week. I am guardedly optimistic.

well it was just another day at the office for me today before my second job started (building the castle).

I had to return a couple parts we didn’t need for our 200 amp service, and then I had to replace a hose that sprung a leak on the tractor. I managed to get the rest of the trench dug for the entrance cable. So next it is on to setting the power pedestal and then calling the power company to activate service. hoping to wrap that midday Friday.

Did I mention we really need a structural engineer