In a hole
Chris has been digging holes for the last 3 days. It is a very strenuous job. The soil is rocky and he occasionally hits concrete that he has to break up with an iron rod. Every time he hits something hard he winces and tells me that he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to play the guitar again. We need 4 holes, dug 4 ½ feet deep for the sono-tubes. Then these will be filled with concrete for the footings for the front porch. When he gets discouraged with the slow progress I have to remind him how satisfied he will feel every time he walks up and down those new front steps.
I helped dig the first day, also getting down into the hole with a shovel. But by the next morning my back was hurting. So I went to the worksite, sat in my Adirondack chair and pouted. I hate to be sidelined but I've been rather reckless with my bad back. Thank goodness Mary-Helen has arrived from Chicago so I can take up my role as Cape Cod tour director. In the meantime, I will locate a massage therapist for Chris.
The framing is coming along fast and soon Chuck will be decking the porch. Chris and I had to decide what kind of wood we would like to use. Paul told us our options were fir, mahogany or Ipe. I suggested Brazilian Ash also called Garapa, I had seen it used in a house in New Hampshire and I liked its warm honey color. Paul called a specialty wood company in Brewster to inquire about it and check on prices. During the conversation he was told about a bundle of reclaimed Ipe from the Wychmere Harbor Club in Harwichport. We knew from our on line research that Ipe is the top of the line decking material. It is so dense that it is also referred to as ironwood. This timber is naturally resistant to insects and rot, will not check or splinter and will last up to 50 years without preservatives. We sensed this was an incredible opportunity. So we purchased the whole lot, two thousand linear feet for a very reasonable price. It will be enough to cover the porch, side steps and front porch with some left over for a dock. Reusing material that might otherwise go to the landfill is another way to protect our environment. As my kids often remind me Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. Besides we love the weathered silver color that seems to shimmer in the sun.
The whole house is sheathed in red and green. It sure looks better than the torn tarpaper and stained boards that we have been looking at since the shingles were removed. But we will only have a few days to admire it before it will be covered with rigid foam insulation. We’ve met Robbie who will roof and shingle the house. He has already dropped off his equipment at the site and he hopes to get working by the beginning of next week.
Everyone has been watching the ospreys. The 2 chicks are growing so quickly that it doesn’t look like there is enough room in the nest for the whole family. Chuck has positioned a spare transit in the second floor east window directly on the nest. And it is so much more powerful than our binoculars that we can actually see the mother tearing up fish and feeding it to the chicks. Last time I looked through the lens I saw one of the chicks jumping up and down and trying out his wings. He seemed to be experimenting but then I saw him peer over the nest and hesitate, not ready yet to take his first solo flight.
