The Unturned Stone

We have been focusing our efforts on readying the sides of the cabin for the first sill plates. We want to install them so we can begin setting the rafters. We will build the back gable end of the cabin to the rafters already in place. Previously we had rigged a string, but the constant wind made it difficult to work to the line. The rafters are 4″ by 12″ (actual not nominal) and will not flutter in the breeze.

This is a Dark-eyed junco nest I found tucked in the grass alongside a path behind the cabin. Note the strand of a wind torn blue tarp that made it into the nest material.

We finished a small walkway leading up to a set of steps in Jann’s garden. These leaves are cut from scrap granite salvaged from a local company that makes countertops. This one is the ultimate generic leaf shape.

This is a pawpaw leaf, inspired by one of the trees growing in the garden. I hope to have better pictures of the overall walkway soon.

We are in the early stages of a major cicada hatch this year. We have been working in a yard near the Haw Creek neighborhood in Asheville that’s overrun with these cicadas. The one to the right is just emerging from his shell. I have been told that these are a 17 year cicada, but haven’t confirmed that yet.

We have been making good progress on the cabin lately, even though the recent weather at elevation hasn’t been quite as lovely as in the valleys. Today I wore long johns all day and was still pretty well wind swept by the end of the day. The above image shows the wall built to sill height. Early next week will we install the first sill plate, moving us far enough along to mount the first rafters, which will guide construction of the rear gable end of the cabin. The back wall is now ten feet tall or more and a very imposing structure.

To the right, another view of the back corner, showing how we have crossed back and forth in an effort to build a bomber corner. The chimney, visible to the back, will contain two flues, one for the fireplace and another for a wood stove should one be desired at a later date. The flue will be hidden inside, until such time it is needed.

This set of steps, recently completed, are the first part of what I hope will be an ongoing project. Next week I will pave a small section leading to the steps, weaving in cut granite leaves, as mentioned in a previous blog.

We completed this walkway in Flat Rock this week, replacing an uneven, rutted step-stone path with a finely fitted flagstone path. The image to the left shows before. Notice the huge joints, exposed gravel and the varying levels between stones and the ground. A loose style like this can be employed successfully in a meandering garden path, but even then, the stones should be spaced for a comfortable walking pace and have a relationship to each other. This is the main entrance to the house used by guests and warrants a more formal approach.

We used Tennessee flagging, dry set in a gravel and sand bed, with stone screenings packed into the joinery. The average joint is a half an inch wide.

A back view of the cabin, before adding lintels along this side. Fred is working a stone on the scaffolding inside the cabin. The cabin sits well into the mountain side; the wall is closer to six feet tall, though some of the exterior is hidden below grade.

Jody cuts the end off a lintel stone. This week we installed two more lintels using the gin pole.

The view of the gin pole rigged up, preparing to hoist a lintel stone into place. We have tried three different winch systems so far. Hand cranked winches weren’t powerful enough and didn’t allow the control needed to lower the stones safely into place. Electric winches smoked at the first sign of serious weight. The Griphoist® winches have been great. They are a bit bulky and awkward to work with in the space, but they are incredibly powerful for their size, have effective safety mechanisms and afford us the control to lower the stones into place carefully.

Jody rigged up this lintel stone to sit very close to the lifting shackle, to ensure we had the clearance needed to get the stone high enough to set. The nylon tail hanging free is our guy line, to allow us to control the load as it swings.

We have four of the six lintels in place along the sides of the cabin and have started building up and over them on the opposite corner. It’s hard to get a good picture of that, as there’s scaffolding hiding everything. The wall above the lintels shown here will be about 10 or so inches taller. Sill plates will rest on the top of the side walls.