Insulation, dry wall and mud

This has been a busy week with sub contractors and staff coming and going.



A view from the art porch towards the dining room -- lots of dry wall stacked up and ready to go.



All the insulation is in! A view from the 1st floor of the new Bugg House



Dry Wall in the upper bedroom.



The before of room 1 -- the fire code now requires us to remove the door to Hogo.



Mid-point for room 1.



Room 1 today -- same wall where door was.



Looking into the larger bathroom in the new Bugg House 1st floor.



The "mud."



The stilts really helped! There are at least 3 coats of mud on the dry wall now.



The little bathroom upstairs in the new wing.

Stepping Up

This past Monday and Tuesday were gorgeous as seen from this vantage point across Lea Pond. The fall weather called to us -- and we, as staff responded in a variety of ways. I took my camera and went for a walk with my dogs and cats around the pond and in the campground. Chris and Mike, youth directors, decided this was perfect weather to put in new steps leading down to the ACC from the sidewalk.



You can see the old steps in the foreground.



They worked at a good clip and even had time to vote!



If it didn't fit just right, Chris made it fit by using a chisel on the wood and her hands scraping dirt out of the way.



Finished product. Thanks Chris and Mike.

Solar Thermal panels are up!

On Monday, Sun Volt Inc began to install the 6 solar thermal panels.



Thank goodness, the rains held off.



The tank on the right is the new solar re-heater for our hot water.


The supports are in place now for maximum solar exposure.



They are almost ready to heat our hot water ... a few more pipes inside the building to connect it all -- that's for today, Wednesday.

Week 22 -- Insulation at last

Other work being done on the inside of the ACC stopped while the crew put the insulation in.



One of the rooms upstairs.



Another bedroom.



Several Friends continue to work on the benches for the deck. It's looking good.

Fall Work Weekend V

There were lots of smaller tasks besides siding, the ramp, painting the trim and the patio stones. Here are Kai and Claire working on benches for the deck.



Bob Lohaus lending his expertise electrically.




Jamie and Erick in a quiet moment. Our work weekends are multi-generational. There is something for everyone to do.



Here's Sam filling some potholes.



Some of the youth harvested autumn olives. They made great smoothies!



Oh, and the dishwasher needed repairs.



And the floor to the upper room needed to be nailed down. This could be called the attic!



The steps getting nailed down, too, thanks to Holden and Donald.



The multi-generational Wood family after the work weekend was over: Katherine, Aidan, Heather, David, Ellis, and Debby.

Fall Work Weekend IV - painting the outside trim

Tools of the trade.



There were painters working on the trim all weekend. Here's John Kane.



Margie Morgan-Davie (on the roof), Sarah Haga (on the ground) and David Gerhan (on the ladder) - all painting trim. Think of all those windows!



Sometimes it's easier to reach than move the ladder, right Jaime?



Heights don't seem to bother Caleb.



Ian and Caleb standing on sun porch roof to paint the 2nd floor trim.



Margie, Jaime, and Buffy.



The trees really showed their colors for us.



After most volunteers left Sunday afternoon, four of the staff kept going until all the trim was painted. Thanks Buffy and Liseli...



Thanks, Mike...




and Chris.



A weekend well spent.

Fall Work Weekend III - painting the siding and ...

One of the largest tasks of last weekend's work was the siding for the ACC. First, both the trim (see the next blog) had to be painted as well as the siding stained. It was only after that, that the siding started to go up on the building. It was a LENGTHY process. Thanks to all who worked on this project.



Before the weekend began, Buffy had to try out the stain and see how it would go on ... one or two coats. Notice the large pile behind the saw horses -- that's what needed to be stained.




Many F/friends came in shifts to stain for awhile. It was cold when that sun went behind a cloud or the wind blew. Here's Ellie (with her head down) and Heather Wood rolling away. Susan Stillman looks on.



Here's Shannon Young and Jeff Galusha





Isn't that a great system?




Notice the siding is going up!



Here's Erick Lawson and Jaime Mikle working on the siding.



The pile of stained siding is almost "red-y."



All the stainers lining up with the last board to stain.



Here they are, getting into the act for the camera.



Sarah Haga and David Gerhan putting the last board on this section of the Bugg House.



This is the view late Sunday afternoon when all F/friends had finished for the weekend.

Please note, we're looking for volunteers to come up and help finish siding the ACC. Call or e-mail Liseli Haines, our property manager liseli@powellhouse.org