With the Frost Laws lifted, excavation equipment could move once again...
Ground breaking gave way to mass earth moving when Chris Luedtke and his crew began digging the hole that would be the future home of our lower level. Chris even gave me a "turn at the wheel" which was both scary and fun.
Over just a few days, enough sand/dirt was moved to create two enormous mountains of sand/dirt that almost obstructed the view, of what was becoming the house, from the road. Earth moving allowed the concrete forms to be set up and the concrete poured for the lower level where there will be a wine cellar, cedar closets, a vault, a tv room for the grandkids, an exercise room for the long winters and two mechanical rooms with storage.
The outline of the lower level became clear within a couple of days. This is a view of the lower level from the west side of the lot where the steps going to the lower level from the outside will be set.
This view, from the SW corner, gives a sense of the future front porch. The porch will be the home of two lovely concrete planters we purchased years ago from England and, possibly, a porch swing depending on room.
The concrete was poured into these forms and allowed to cure. The balance of the foundation, with its precision tolerances was to be set using concrete block.
As Dean and his sub-contractors moved through their steps, John and I were selecting appliances, wood beams, kitchen cabinets, tile and stone, lighting fixtures and, what seemed like, a thousand other items needed for the home that was to be.
