November 23, 2022
Here in northeast Ohio, we get some fantastic sunsets in the autumn and early winter. My sister Mindy, loved them. She had many photos she had taken over the years in scrapbooks. Mindy has passed from this world, but every time I see a pretty sunset, I feel her in my heart.
That feeling fills my world for just a brief second, but resonates across my soul. Her birthday was yesterday. I captured these shots then. How fitting!
In other news, I have been busily working to get my younger sister Charlie’s house built. Getting materials and services has been a challenge, but things continue to move forward. We were able to finish the exterior siding Monday. The house is now closed in. What a relief. After a nine week lead time, we even got the garage door installed.
The back of the house.
The garage door, simple yet attractive.
The front porch, with vinyl stone entryway. It is a low maintenance option that won’t need paint and should last a lifetime.
The walkout deck and covered patio is taking shape. A few jobs, like pouring the patio and sidewalks, will wait until spring. My hope is to have her in soon with a few plans for next year once the weather breaks again.
This has been a big project. I am a jack of all trades, but master of none. I have been humbled several times, but I keep moving forward. We can now move to the inside where insulation and drywall are the next efforts. I am satisfied so far. We broke ground on July 5th. I’m pushing hard to be able to have her in by Christmas time.
Filed under: October 2015 | Tags: amazing, Craftsmanship, home building, imperfections, Joinery, Timber Framing, Trees
David and Margaret’s House going up
October 10,2015
Yesterday, I spent the day watching and helping, as my friend’s David and Margaret’s Timber Framed house was raised. I have seen many things in my life so far, but this experience was a stand out. It will remain in my memory forever. David is a timber framer. He finally got the time and “where-with-all”, to build his family’s home. He selected each tree and each branch, that would become his home.
David and Margaret purchased their land with the same goals in mind. They would become stewards of the forest and guardians of the trees. Yes, they would harvest them, but only when the trees are biologically mature. In other words, they would only harvest the dead and dying ones. Once those trees were selected, they would be utilized to the utmost. From lumber to firewood, the entire tree would be used.
David has been perfecting his craft for twenty years or so. He is an artist who can see great beauty in the standing tree or the fallen log. The wood almost speaks to him as he fashions mortise and tenon joints. The craftsmanship is remarkable. David selects crooked and curved logs that other’s would discard. In those misfits he finds beauty like no other. The character in those logs are like the inner beauty of a person, A person who has been beaten down, but survived life’s hard knocks and finds good, in every breath they take.
The curved wood, when cut into slabs of lumber reveal grain and color that is breathtaking. A curly cherry arch forms the doorway of the homes main entrance. The highlights of the home are curved cherry archways that hold the home’s ridge. They rise up in one area from the first floor, all the way to the second story ceiling. The beauty of the wood and the perfect joinery is a sight to behold. It is a classic case where form is functional. David’s workmanship is as fine as cabinetry, like the beauty found on old ships. His attention to detail is astounding.
beautiful
There were many pieces that had to be joined. Only a few were assembled in the shop before the build yesterday. I stood in amazement as each piece fit into place with it’s corresponding mate, one after the other. Each joint fit like a hand in a glove. I only saw two adjustments made, and those were made with a plane and a chisel. The small amount of wood removed were merely chips and sawdust. My hat is off to David Yasenchack and his family for a wonderful day of fun, food and amazement. You can see more pictures of David’s work by checking out his website. WWW.dytimberframing.com
Twelve hours of work.
The last touch is to nail a green tree branch to the top of the structure. It shows respect to the trees that made the whole work possible. I found it to be fitting touch to end an awesome day.
RicelandMeadows 