Then out spake brave Horatius, the Captain of the gate:

The industry show/exhibition in Fort McMurry (I was right) went remarkably well and my contractors landed a number of contracts for providing wood packages for people to have their houses built with. They travelled back on Sunday evening, an 11 hour drive, arriving back in Jaffray at about 0600 hrs on Monday morning. So I was alone at the property on Monday and because the forecast was for rain and grey skies all week, I thought that it was the last good opportunity I was going to get, before next winter, to burn some of the rotten wood that has been sitting idly by since I started to clear the land.

The threat of forest fires is a constant danger here and therefore burning has to be done under tight control. So I connected up one of the pipes I used last year for running water to the trailer and started by thoroughly soaking the ground around the wood piles. I then lit one end of the pile and used the hose to restrict the size of the burn and to control its spread through the pile. It worked remarkably well. Most of the wood was pretty wet anyway and I had no difficulty in controlling the fire. On more than one occasion I was nearly too zealous with the hose and was in danger of putting the fire out. Better to be on the safe side though.

Really, I don't know why I even bother to listen to the weather forecast because a forecast week of rain and grey skies blossomed into the best week so far this year. The temperatures rose to the mid 20s degrees C and the sun shone almost all day every day. It's amazing what a few days of good weather can do. The last of the ice has gone from the foundation holes for the decking; the ground is drying out and firming up; much more is achieved in work terms at the build, and; morale is improving correspondingly.

I started the fire at about 0830 hrs, controlling the burn with a water hose. 

By mid-day most of it was gone with only a few large tree stumps smouldering on. While I was standing guard over the fire a herd of about 20 deer wondered on to the property to graze the new green shoots appearing everywhere, seemingly oblivious to either me or the fire. One even came to within about 10 ft of me while I was sitting on a tree stump eating my lunch and didn't seem to notice me until I reached for my camera, at which point she took off. 

It was after 2100 hrs in the evening before I was happy to leave the last of the smouldering remains.

By the end of the week there was virtually nothing left and the drive onto the property looks much smarter now.

The rest of the week we put to good use continuing the process of putting the heavy rafters in place.

When we finished putting in all the 'common' rafters we started on the 'jacks' which go down to the valleys. Here on the front of the house where the garage roof meets the main cabin roof. Getting the angles right for these cuts was quite a challenge but I was very pleased with results - for these two anyway.

Next up were the 'jacks' for the 'Dodgy Valley' seen here from inside the bonus room above the garage. The more eagled eyed will have noticed that the 'jacks' sit up on the valleys. This is to ensure that SIP panels sit on the centre of the valleys, thus maintaining their angle and hence support.

We also put in place the 'lock' or 'key' block for ensuring the beam that goes out over the great room prow remains in place. I don't think there was much chance of it moving anyway because it has several large bolts and screws in it but, the 'key' block sure looks neat.

Finally, on Saturday, I put up the first of the internal stud walls up stairs. This is the wall at the south end of the landing with the master bedroom on the left and the 'en suite' on the right, on the far side.

From the other side. I'm waiting for the prow rafters to go in before I can put the wall in on the other (right) side of the beam.

Before I left the site yesterday I took this photo to show what the place now looks like from a distance. Again, the eagle eyed may have noticed that the two rafters closest to the gable on the south (right) end of the main cabin are no longer there. It was decided that these were not need and would be better used elsewhere.

We are still waiting for some heavy timbers from the Indian Reservation saw mill, to replace ones that we discovered had some dry rot in them. before we can complete the roof framing above the prow. This is the final bit of the roof framing to do before the roof is ready for the SIP panels. I have also started to clear out the garage in readiness for pouring concrete there shortly and I must start thinking about rendering the ICF blocks showing above ground level, before we start to put the framing for the decking in place.

On the G1 front, manpower resources are stretched. We have lost Mark (again), who has decided to do something else, I know not what. He will be sorely missed as he was a good worker but, he wasn't happy and so I wish him luck in his next endeavours. Kyle, however, finishes his carpentry course at the end of next week and so he may soon be back. Tex has been away too, for a few days helping out a friend in desperate need of assistance with a project but, he should be back by the end of the coming week. Byron is no longer with us and I don't think will be returning in the foreseeable future.

On the G4 front, I was hoping to be living in the cabin by now, or getting close to it at least but, I can't really do that until the cabin is finished to 'lock up' and there is water and electricity.  This is still some time away yet. I shall therefore be staying where I am in the cabin in Jaffray, where I have been all winter, until the work to 'lock up' is complete. I was also hoping to host my nephews here in June, when they break up for the summer holidays, from their school in Kansas. I am not going to be in a position to do this now and therefore I have reluctantly had to delay their visit and hope they will be able to come up in September time.

On the road into the development there is a cattle grid (Texas gate for my North American friends). Ever since I have been here there has been a chipmunk who, save when it has been seriously cold, greets me most mornings and ducks down below the grid as the jeeps goes over the top. I have come to see him as the gate guardian into the property and a while back gave him the name Janus, after the Roman god who was the guardian to the gates of heaven. Recently however, I have noticed that Janus is not alone and that he has two friends, a red squirrel and a grey and they each seem to take it turns to guard the entrance to the development. So, I have decided to name the three Horatius, Spurius Lartius and Herminius, who defended the bridge into Rome against the forces of Lars Porsena of Clusium. What else could I do?