Posted By FarmerJ on October 28, 2009

Well, okay, three trucks full.  We’re still making progress on getting Darling Husbie’s new shop built, though the challenges seem steadfast.  The biggest challenge?  My keeping my patience and grace throughout this process, hands down!  I’m so fortunate to have Husbie as my lead ~ and our work crew probably gives thanks they don’t have to deal with a little snapping Dachshund on a daily basis…well, the days they are here, that is.  I know the Lord is teaching me a lesson in all of this, but I’m not sure even He knew how full His hands would be!

Remember back on the 13th?  The crew poured the cement footings.  Well, then they disappeared.  For several days.  Yes, it rained.  We even had a few snow flurries and ice pellets in the mix.  I’m not a genius, but I have figured out that this is Nebraska and the later we progress into the year, the more likely we are to get snow and ice.  It behooves one to take real advantage of the nice sunny days.

The rain drops, snow crystals and ice pellets passed, the sun shone, the wind blew, and everything dried out.  The crew returned on the morning of the 20th, and thankfully, they had choreographed some cement trucks into the day’s events.  Oddly ~ or par for the course ~ the weather had returned, as well.  It was foggy, dreary and misting, and progressively worsening.

Now, I know part of the lesson I’m supposed to be learning is in here somewhere, but I haven’t quite passed the practice test at the end of the chapter.  I’m shown time and time again that when the work crew is here, a lot of work gets done.  Quickly.  But it’s those days and days that turn into weeks of waiting that still stump me.

Here’s the proof.  The crew had arrived shortly before 8:00 a.m.  Within a few minutes, the first cement truck was depositing its precious cargo and the five-member crew was moving in sync.  Yay!  The beginnings of a cement floor!  By the time the first truck was pulling out of the driveway, the second truck was making its way in, and the crew had just finished smoothing out the cement that was before them.  And, then they did it a third time!  Bravo!  Bravo!

Crew waiting for first truck to leave driveway so second truck can get in.

Second truck quickly begins dumping its precious cargo.

Third truck already here.  Building anchors being set in place (in the background). Alas, real progress!

All three truckloads had been dumped and set before the lunch whistle even blew.  Two of the three slabs were complete.  Visible progress.  I peeked out the window just in time to see the crew piling into their truck.  A quick scan of the area revealed a box of various trowels and multiple pairs of rubber boots that had been kicked off.  It must be lunch time.

An extended lunch.  They didn’t come back.  That crazy lady peering out the upstairs bedroom window was left calling “Encore!  Encore!”  But, the curtain never rose.

The rain did come again, however.  Even some more snow.  Great.  In the meantime, Husbie’s steel building was delivered.  Friday morning we awoke to the sound of a semi with a long flatbed in the driveway.  Peering out my bedroom window, I realize something familiar.  Hey, that’s our work crew offloading all that steel!  Hi, guys!

Husbie officially has his steel shop ~ it’s just still in piles in the yard.

No.  No more progress that day.  There was still too much mud.  Like a team of terminators, they told Husbie, “We’ll be back.”  And, off they went, their rubber boot wardrobes still lying in their original positions, completely dismissed.

So!  In the process of chatting with the building contractor while the steel was being offloaded, Darling Husbie ~ keen man that he is ~ verified that all the little details had been taken care of…you know, little things like permits and such.  Permits?  This is where I failed the practice test at the end of the chapter again, and the guys give thanks they get to deal with Husbie and not the crazy lady in the window upstairs.  Can I just say, “Ugh!”

Monday comes.  Monday goes.  Tuesday comes.  The phone rings.  Some minor issues ~ land surveys and such ~ need to be worked out.  If all goes well, work should presume tomorrow.  Tuesday goes.  Wednesday’s here…but not the work crew.  I have some more studying to do.

I also need to make an appointment with the dentist.  I think I’ve fractured at least three teeth as a result of all the unconscious clenching and grinding.

Categories: Shop Disastrophy & Recovery
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