Starting to Take Shape

So I know I have been a bad blogger recently with no new posts. But that was mostly because we had been stalled on progress over the past few weeks. Between travelling, weekend errands and rainy weather, we hadn't done anything until last weekend.

Due to a minor brain fart when buying materials, we accidentally set 4x4's for the main swing posts when we actually needed 4x6's. So another trip to Home Depot was required to buy replacement posts, additional cement and the materials for the floor joists. With the additional cement and correct posts, we finally got all the structural posts set last weekend! The only remaining posts to be set are the masts that will be added before we get the floor installed.

Little Dude checking out some high quality dirt.

Leveling the new swing posts.

Cleaning up after helping exploring in the mud and dirt!



Then this past weekend we had a very ambitious goal: to attach of the main joists to the posts. Before that, Little Dude and I decided that we needed to finally get the extra dirt from the post-holes moved so we would have a (semi) flat surface to work from.

"But Dad, I am king of the mountain!"

"So the dirt goes in here?"

"Wheelbarrow's full, time to go dump it!"



Once we got all the dirt moved, it was time to clean up for dinner. Unfortunately, Little Dude did not want to wait for Daddy to help him! I was still down in the yard when I heard water running. I ran up to the house to see this!

"Look Dad, unlimited water supply!"

The next day Unc-da came up for the day to help attach the joists. First we had to make sure the first level was low enough to accomodate Little Dude's new slide. It definitely met his seal of approval, but he was not too happy to see it come down without him getting to slide on it!

"This looks just right!"

"I don't think it is steep enough to slide on, Dad!"

Drilling the holes to attach the main joists.

All the main joists are attached, it is a little easier to envision the two levels now (hopefully.)

 With most of our work done for the day, our foreman decided to show up and check out our work so far.

Looking for his tools.

"Alright you bums, hold one end of the tape so I can measure all of this out!"



I guess everything was satisfactory to Little Dude (that, or dinner was ready and he was ready to go eat!) That's all for now, next time we will cutting off the extra lengths on the posts, fastening the swing cross-post and fastening the deck cross-joists.

Until next time, Cheers!

TWB