Another day, a new old tool, and another course of blocks...

The foundation is getting firmer and higher. Another layer of blocks has been added to fill in the empty space between the footings and the sill. It is looking good, and Mr is just damn amazing....and he has a good friend who is a big help to him. It is surprising how a new foundation can make a house look, feel and be a lot more solid. Makes sense, but in this looks is everything world the reality of it is a pleasant surprise. I thought it would just hold the house up, I wasn't really thinking it would make it feel better to live here. Stupid I guess. I will admit to being a card bearing member of the "looking good is a big improvement" club. I have been  bemoaning that complaint, of being the ugliest house in the neighborhood, since we moved into this old house, so anything that makes this place look better makes me happier. Nothing is going to make me happier than an exterior paint job, or new siding. That ain't happenin' anytime soon, that is for sure.

This is the job foreman, he doesn't do any work but he supervises everything. He is 19 years old, it is an effort just for him to get around.  Mr finds him good company and he thinks Mr is nuts. I think Mr is doing great things, and I don't care if he's nuts as long as he is getting something positive done!

A new old tool arrived here yesterday with much fanfare and planning. I'm gonna call it "Big Momma".  It is a huge old cement mixer. Some friends used it to build the foundation at their house, and it has been sitting in their yard since then. M used it to mix up all the mortar for their foundation. A tough job for a little lady, but she wanted a new house, so she was motivated!  After sitting in their yard for at least the past seven years Mr asked to borrow it and the little lady told him "I don't care if I ever see that thing again". Mr has taken to it like a new puppy. It has been washed, greased and its electric motor pampered. Then it was delicately moved in a pick up on a 45 minute trip to our place. It has a new home, if only for the time being. It seems to be as old as us, and that is pretty old. The motor worked on the first try, but some of the other parts needed some help. Mr and D have some big plans for this sucker. The foundation project seems to have become much bigger, and the mortar mixing much easier with the arrival of "Big Momma".