Free

     Seems not much done this week, look back realize: big week!  Busy, track down free stuff last few days barely think time.  Course wise friend says, all weeks big weeks.
     Bath construct jack house load bearing wall.  Floor joists rotten at ends below roof bearing east/west Swett Lodge walls, lift floor would raise floor only, not walls/roof.  Swett Lodge raise beam will go under new wall below joists hopefully raise floor/walls/roof: tons.  Note: 4x4 even load distribute top stringer (header), full length stud conserve married studs next strong vertical walls. 

Middle bedroom similar treatment.  Circle saw cut studs same length, 2x6 pound some into place, nail stay others: floor/ceiling BOTH undulate.  (Hall into middle bedroom)

Kate's old deck going to good use.  Now boards nail free - compliments yours truly -  KT imagineers picnic table build: post Swett Lodge maybe!  (Middle bedroom toward front)

Front bedroom same deal.  Creatively married stud below 4x4 header joint may not fly (perhaps none will fly: groan): attempt, see. 

Temporary wall runs just inside front window, obscure outside.  Sub floor planks rough sawn old growth fir 1x10: full one plus inch thick, straight tight grain almost today's 2x10 strong (stronger?).  Joists run east/west, sub floor north/south: front/back walls have only (mostly rotten) perimeter joist below.  Expect beam/jack under sub floor planks under end walls while jack side walls: even raise house.

End wall beams, temporary support piers, figure scrap wood easier dice than pallets: more wood.
     Answer free Craigslist construction site clean up ad, rev old pick up, couple hours 'organize' commercial construction site exterior, net pile usable (w/nails) lumber,

front porch circle sawn off pickup's tailgate firewood bunch,

pretty good condition plastic corner shower stall (bottom pan leaning against two wall panels here) - when/where (house? garage?) use TBD (To Be Determined).  Sweet!

Press truck unload: free ad stated 15' 4x12 available.  Spot near mall hike path hustle, collect behemoth triple 2x12, double 2x4 capped 15 foot long beam - too under house heavy, certainly find home replacing joist or ???

     Day's work done, beer in hand, front west window view reminds .... near expired permit lower left.
 
     Others enjoy spirits: assume bean field disruption bike rider, basket ball player caused, further inspection find drunk reveler's abandoned cap atop human shape 'crop circle'.

     Truck preoccupied, hi ho Gertie prompt answer nearby free dresser ad, previous mother/daughter arrivals discuss taking for friend/young mom who has nothing, couple stuck drawers, worm damaged top they wisely decide against: load Gertie up.

      New day, new free ad: guy has 4x4, dimensional lumber.  Old Chev over; await prior arriver guy/gal choose few cedar items they want; help 'em load; back truck down hillside lot's curve drive; clean out Marvin, helping grand daughter Emma's wood; truck home; front porch back up; sort load: off truck porch dice firewood,

'lumberyard' bound pile grows (note fine cedar paneling atop pile: more later).     

Finally firewood diced - kinda hate twice pass circle saw (one side, other: that thick!) chunk monstrous nearly 3x7s front door side stacked: need 8 inch joist replacement stock -

truck empty.

Denail (yes, no - not denial), stack more 2x6 (toward back), plenty 4x4, some 4x6 (including long one ends lower right: end wall jack beam),

short 2x6, long cedar 12" bevel siding boards enduring reinforced door/window frame 'shelves' stacked atop back porch flooring.  Small beveled siding pieces: excellent varying width rough cut joist/beam shims.  Plenty wood - jack beam ahead.

     Cinderfella warm afternoon, shovel out firebox, yellow magnet denail two hoppers stove ash, between garden row spread: want not five pound garden nails.

      Shim, screw couple freebie dresser drawer tracks: couple more to fix.  Curious, chisel worm hole dresser top, locate live (LIVE: shudder!) wood bug.  Backyard hasten dresser, behead (OK...betop?), dice top, Earth stove charge.  Fortunately nice prefinished bug discouraging beveled cedar dresser top replacement boards available compliments Swett Lodge 'lumberyard', cut to fit, box nail, file edges smooth, repair couple final drawer tracks: decent dresser (near certain inch thick finished top bugs come from factory {!!!} hadn't migrated elsewhere; won't load right away: look for sawdust?!?).  Swett Lodge decor: knotty pine/cedar accent.      
     Though summer's hottest eve to date, fire stove, incinerate unwanted beings: 'no more bugs, please'.

If that, dear reader, renders uncomfortable consider: while you sleep Hubbard squash rehearse world dominance.

Peace.  Enjoy.

River keeps a talkin' ...

    
     Know good reader seen one rectified under house pillar seen 'em all, spare raise house half inch by half inch pictorial trial.  Difficult imagine what prompted builders install 3 2x10 wood center beam post two foot square approaching 45 degree angle slab edge, no wonder second cockeyed slab/post necessary couple feet over - wouldn't mind smoking their stuff.  Swett Lodge acts as unit: jack one point; go next, jack - half inch gain seems 'bout max then creaks/snaps/pops, difficulty pumping jack: move next raise point.  Plan to raise one Swett Lodge side independently, repair, raise other side; now think both sides and middle most likely have to raise together, maintain structural integrity: see how it goes.  Two afternoons under house stretch straightness guiding line - like straight string illuminates crooked guitar neck - beam vertical mid point end to end; appropriate jack; attain straight, original height plus maybe half inch center beam.

Bulge, shatter, split cement over lath wall treatment above kitchen door,

front door,

beside Earth stove center wall;

above foundation compression bulge, rot (lower east {right} front) limn tremendous strain raise Swett Lodge incurs.  Close look Swett Lodge front reveals section door west (left, lamp) front wall high point: door runs down east, picture window runs down west: only front wall section perimeter joist not rotten.  

Stainless kitchen sink donater, ex vo-tech construction teacher calculates extra Swett Lodge roof layers add couple Buicks worth weight.

     Center beam raise takes weight off prophylactic repair/support 4x12 beam east wall parallel.  Jiggle beam make sure still weight free: bottom one joist literally falls away, red saw dust/rot pours out - cartoon like!  Least one joist completely rotten - shell only remains - many still solid two plus inch thick by 10 inch, straight grain old growth fir: very strong.  Tub siphon/drain water heater, disconnect, remove to 'lumberyard': Kate's ex deck materials jack support stud wall prepare - need work space, not full water heater's 400 plus pounds.

     Gateway mall hike beautiful Wednesday $1.25 movie day, find no movie feel worth two life hours - yeah including 'Thor', Sizzler dine, hike home - enjoy good stretch, cross train, beautiful views, 'bout ten mile RT hike.  BIG SWETT LODGE NEWS: Danny's new squeeze.  Peeled eye spots Craigslist Yamaha FG75 red label guitar ad.  Pounce, bring home 1972 lightly played, well kept Yamaha classic Martin 00 turn of last century parlor guitar copy - sure made 'em sweet (solid spruce top {oops - my bad: ply top w/great sound}, ivory bridge) - for c note; setup, worth two; sounds like two k.  Small 'parlor' guitar body armchair doodle excellent.  Special acoustic guitar string bike trip, spend $8 - seems high, soap/water/scrub brush thorough clean guitar, shave bridge - lower action, string, find heavier gauge bronze acoustic strings unbalance guitar tone/feel.  Extra light electric guitar - same strings as my electrics, .009~.042 - restring: like just off 1935 shelf, parlor guitar's heyday.  Probably didn't even make bronze acoustic strings back then.  May erode Swett Lodge time, none the less: super sweet! - haven't had a guitar make me wanna play so for awhile.  Of course take craft custom, expensive guitar stand time - knock off does original proud!

     Some ways rebuild/refine past?: '78 Toyota wagon; '72 Yamaha guitar; look for cast iron (big) rutabaga,

turnip

stew appropriate stove top dutch oven; answer Craigslist Kirby ad.  Told Buffet's boys when they came by would buy Kirby again in heartbeat - for $20, not $2500 current model asking price - come home with guy's granny's years stored Tradition only (no attachments) nearly identical to one Mil & I bought new, Skye/Tia sprouts.  Difference: bag converted - would've preferred bagless.  Sucks good like Kirby should. 

     Learn main Swett Lodge sewer line from back alley indeed recently (within 5 years) redone.  City only enforces homeowner (at his/her expense) repair leaky smoke tested sewer to home's foundation - inside house up to homeowner: consequently interior Swett Lodge plumbing remains original.
     Fit garage stockpiled free back storm door, ascertain need latch, closing hardware: thrift store eyes open.
     Install all six garden 0-360 degree adjustable sprinkler heads, entire garden sprinkle adjust, not on grass - grows 'nuff as 'tis, Earth stove warm soaked hypothermic bod.  Course it's been cool, damp.  Eaten garden cucumber, raw beet; green beans come good; Hubbard squash taking over the world.  Beet, turnip supplement gallon kale steamed by finished cooking/melding rice/lentils/jalapenos/garlic, evening's repast.  Of course garden graze beans, peas, greens too: wonderful time of year. 

     Couple late notes. (a) cylindrical beet, turnip (photos above) salt, steam: yum! (b) how many times dug front porch adjacent garden soil?  Spy crusty pliers - workable still - atop soil, midst plants!

 
     River, guitar, travel - no Gertie road trip, plane to Chicago 8/15~9/15 - render Swett Lodge quiet: rest assured will catalog progress.  Be well.  Enjoy - season's motto!  Peace.
 

Summertime

     Plan mere guideline warm weather here (different from year's balance, right?!).  July Fourth opens summer.  Wednesday Fourth prior Chicago sis Laurel successfully Eugene airport retrieve; check out SwettLodge's, Kate's layouts.  Kate lake bound loads her Suby - including rack mounted futon mattress, frame inside - with Laurel, her stuff; me, my stuff - yeah guitar too; on way out of town hike Spencer Butte high point south Eugene; Lakeside roll.  Friday prep, evening folks descend.  Sordid details discussed not here - what goes down Lakeside stays down Lakeside: allow imagination conjure twenty five people, three days, 200 beers, half dozen water craft, lake, sunny weather, fishing gear,

Lakeside municipal fireworks, mega home fireworks display/neighbor joust, tents, eagles, ospreys, king fishers, dogs, one child, fifteen pounds ribs, quantities other victuals/spirits/inebriants, guitars, new shore side campfire, no cop visits - whew - results!  Kate's largest Lakeside Fourth gathering yet.  Good times!
     SwettLodge.blogspot.com following may be spottier coming up: plan Chicago August road trip visit daughters at parents Labor day, mom's ninetieth Galena IL celebration week after; Wisconsin friends.  Gettin' Gertie ready: brakes gone through, tires new, tuned up - '78 Toyota 2TC semi hemi's 'bout ready for a run. 
     Jack garage side back porch roof, unearth pad originally poured to support back porch corner, porch corner post support repurposed, for fifth Swett Lodge center beam support pillar.

Couple cement drain pipe sections replace - not pretty: temporarily adequate.

Materials at hand - sepia tone photo eery, somehow apocryphal;

get house under; walk slab, blocks, tools, lamp house front; level pad; double twenty ton jack house lift off meager rotted beam end vertical treated 4x4, cement brick previous prophylactic support treatment; install cement block, cement brick pillar couple feet inside front wall.  Right feels right.  Center beam now entirely on good pillar supports, can begin slow raise.  (Main house steel water supply pipe below beam.)

 
     Buttttt ..... it's summer, myriad details call.  BIG DEAL: absentee timed garden watering system - better refine so soon good to go.  Vice grips open old valve - it works! - activate four eventually found sprinklers garden front center.

Fourth sprinkler's front zone end (pulled mostly inedible radishes - 'cept fer greens! - surround),

exhume garden back end center sprinkler (note dry soil),

sprinkler next center of garden confirms three back sprinklers front sprinklers separate.

Find back zone's supply pipe by garage; amazed: successfully remove rusted tee - intend supply garden sprinklers here.

Plastic fitting garden hose/steel pipe confirm back sprinkler function; cap rear most out of garden sprinkler; ten foot plastic pipe join front/back garden zones;  plastic capped risers replace old brass sprinklers, pressurize system (read: turn water on) - no leaks, plastic fitting not long term use durable, brass garden hose/steel pipe fitting replace.  Attached, buried hose emerges by garage,

runs up to old back porch laundry supply line.

Drill small sprinkler holes near tops six newly installed risers: uncontrollable.

Another - plastic pipe, fittings; brass hose/steel pipe fitting; more plastic pipe fittings, plastic pipe - box store bike trip: sprinkler heads.  Find front sprinkler supply more pressure than back porch laundry supply: will accommodate timer, rework supply line; fully adjustable sprinkler head replace some sprinklers.  Way everything's growing could harvest travel prior - good thing plan large late July fall crop planting.

     Answer Craigslist free gas stove ad out side town; pick up retrieve; two gas tanks, gas can in truck all empty run out edge of town returning.  Kate gracefully rescues.  Nice Magic Chef range turns out non natural gas to LP gas convertible - plan crawl space small LP tank stove supply - couple days later hand over to scrapper.  More thorough next time!
     Kitty corner bike shop put out large free pile one morn.  Feel like a meth head - in LA they're always bike tweaking seems - rummage pile; find aluminum seat post, old Sting Ray semi high rise handlebars: maybe improve Schwinn's ridability?  Drive longer slightly larger aluminum seat post into frame, won't go far enough, extract, hacksaw shorten, file, reinsert: works.  Sweet: needed 'bout half inch extra height to hyper extend legs.  Take a shot at handlebars: too small for Schwinn's carrier.  Talk to bike shop boys, suggest shim.  Cut small piece copper pipe, hacksaw split, plier wrap round too small handlebars: charm!  Remove kickstand, drill hole, install kickstand stop screw, reinstall kickstand: bike now stands alone.  'Tweaks' render old Schwinn more responsive, powerful, enjoyable ride.  
     Free pile salvage small workbench vise; fixed blade Stanley utility knife; hacksaw blade; 30 inch across nail loaded fir round, ax split, wheelbarrow home: warming wood always welcome. 

     St. Vinnie's comfortable chair spend actual money ($30).

     Friday Kate Lakeside; launder, good clean shower, shave, remove pound or so bushy thick hair: self inflict ear lowering (remember that's a mirror image!) her place.  One day Swett Lodge will be more accommodating......

     Hone sprinklers; legalize OR residency, Gertie's ownership; mind oral health: major road trip prior foci.  Comfortable chair, warm sun, cool open house breeze days sap ambition - fortunate Swett Lodge reasonably structurally stable: no reconstruction rush.  Work accomplished, sundry events cataloged here.  Peace.