THE LAST STAGES OF THE STAGING ARE REMOVED

Once again the cantilevers of the house can be seen.

As the days get longer, and the sun travels northerly,

its rays now reach the north fins at sunset.

Meanwhile, the first occupants moved in: winter wrens built this

nest between two 1st Level joists, and hatched a brood...

...which one day all decamped for a branch up behind the house,

and then deeper into the woods for their first summer.

HERE COME THE SUB-CONTRACTORS!


With siding done, the carpenters "wood-shops" were cleared out and room was made for the PME sub-contractors to work.

First step was to sort out who was going to do what where and what order.

The mechanical space is limited. Black tape (blocking out large items, such as the refrigerator), cut sheets (describing items such as fans, washer/dryer) and paper cut-outs (locating items such as ducts and stove pipe) helped bring some order to the sandbox so the subs could play nice.


First on the scene was Steve, the ace plumber.

Running lines and leaving us to ponder what to do with exposed drains below the 2nd Level's metal deck.

Then David and Cory, the ace electricians, started runnng wires...

,,,and setting the many panels need for typical electrical uses, as well as photovoltaic and the elevator.

The last to have a turn was the HVAC team, who, on a day I was not there, came in, placed one of the heater-fan combos, and retreated waiting for instructions.

CLOUD HOUSE SIDING IS FINALLY DONE


Siding resumed after receipt of additional special order boards. Tho this day was nice, it was still winter and rains were in the forecast.


So the east end was tented.


Under the tent, 4" horizontal and multi-inch horizontal siding was installed on each side of where steps to the first level will be located.


Things got tricky where siding hits walls, beams, doors, etc..


With the east end done, the tent came down...


revealing places such as the low Cubby at the 2nd Level stair landing.


The last decision was how to terminate the bottom of the Core Wall siding. On left, the simple "siding ended" detail; on the right, the more formal "belly board" or "house skirt" solution.


The choice, "belly skirt" was made, and the siding project, ten months after starting, was completed.

PHOTOS FROM CHINA 2009

HANGZHOU:

Water taxi at south end of the Grand Canal

Dance class along the canal.

Restored merchant's mansion: the main entry courtyard.

Setting up for the solar eclipse.

Waiting for the clouds to go away.

Totality.

SICHUAN:

One VIP ("very important panda")

Sanxingdui museum of bronze era masks.

Remnent of old town near Leshan.

The Great Buddha of Leshan, keeping rivers from flooding.

Start of trail up Emei-shan, one of the major Buddhist mountains of China.

End of the trail, rain and fog limit customers for "have your photo taken here" photographers.

Lunch is served at a temple.

Shaanxi Guild Hall in Zigong.

Market in Zigong: selling hair.

The Sleeping Buddha at Dazu.

The Buddha's eye and a mourner.

Apprentice at Liu's workshop.

BEIJING:

Zhufeng's sister Zhuchun and her Buick.

Welcome to Beijing family dinner.

Panjiayuan Market

Palace Museum

National Theater for the Performing Arts.

Fondly known as "The Egg"

TONGZHOU:

The northern end of the Grand Canal.

Zhuchun, Zhuwen, Zhufeng, Zhuxian and friend.

GUBEIKOU:

A section of the Great Wall.