Some day we'll teach at a small school and play and watch the snow fall...

Today we have a treat. The first snowfall like this in five years.

Naturally I was the favorite target.

Just a few snapshots from the iPod. The only sad part about it all; it's nowhere near Christmas.

In this post I exceed my skill set...again

I last posted what I had finished by Wednesday evening when after much trial, I got the first plank in place.

Well, Thursday I spent some time calling around for router bits. Luckily, or perhaps Providentially, Tannie Hessie was in Bloemfontein which was the only place that had them. So between cellphone pictures and conversations with the rep over Tannie's cellphone, I managed to get the bits that I needed. Thursday night is always mission prayer time (although this time we had a birthday party for Christelle Gault), so I did not work.

Friday, however, the good looks of the company I brought increased considerably (no offense to Steve Geise intended). Delani working on her pantry shelves.



And I could get back down to working on the plank flooring.



I only finished two more boards that night, and then we headed back. The next day, Saturday if you've been counting, I headed to town about 6:30 am to pick up my friend, Bokang, who I have hired to help. I should have taken a picture of the morning because it was absolutely breathtaking as the sun came up over the Maluti mountains in the distance.

I got to work on the plank flooring which I finished with very little delay thanks to the new bits. While I was busy with that, Bokang went and loaded up sand and bricks to wall in the fireplace.



And a close-up



It is far from a perfect fit. Some sections of the boards were walked over for the last century and in the process lost about a quarter inch or more. So, it will take a bit of planing and sanding, but it is in and nailed down so other work can continue. I will include a picture of the original boards that I used so you can get an idea of why it has taken me this long.

While I was busy with that, Bokang had finished gathering the bricks, and he and Steve were busy with final preparations on some of the walls. Getting these walls ready has been a full-time job and Steve has really done an amazing job.



After lunch, Bokang and I went to collect stones for the fireplace floor. My original thought had been to use three layers of smaller flat stones to build up the floor. After discussing it with Uncle Johan, we decided to use just one more layer of large, 30cm high stones. Well, Bokang and I got them loaded and that is about all. Weighing hundreds of pounds, there was no way we would be able to move them in and maneauver them in place, so we abandoned that idea.



Just for scale, the Geise boys on the pile of stones.



So we took them back and loaded up smaller flat, finish stones for the last layer. One of the beauties of this project, is stones that would cost a fortune in the U.S.. are laying everywhere on the farm.

Bokang and Isaac helping me with the second layer of stones.



After which I tried my hand at cutting stones. Getting them to break just right can be difficult, but God helped and I didn't make any huge mistakes.



Thanks to Bokang's concrete mixing skills, we were able to get a few of the stones in before it was completely dark.



Hopefully by next post I will have a finished floor to show you. It is really hectic keeping up with the understaffed school and doing a building project, but God is giving extra strength and help.

As always, stay tuned...

Work Continues...

Work continues on the house. I wish I could say that it is thanks to me, but the school keeps me too busy. Steve Geise has been helping me out tremendously. The brick walls look like a road atlas from years of settling and he has been diligently and patiently filling in all cracks and holes. He paints as he does many things, to perfection and so it has been such a privilege to have his help.

I mentioned that some of the floor was rotted. I tore out all of the rotted flooring and found several beams that were unuseable, so I purchased some wood and replaced the beams, but I still had a problem. Part of the floor was rotted as well and wood that is over half a century old is difficult to find a match for.

Johan van der Merwe gave me some of the Oregon Pine that laid in their house for a hundred years before being pulled out of one of the rooms. For a guy who loves history, it is hard to cut into a board that is at least around 110 years old, knowing that it is in every way, irreplaceable.

So, as I mentioned in the last post, the floor, or part of it was rotten.



So, I replaced the beams.



but first I had to go to Build It (Ladybrand's version of Lowe's) where the staff sectioned off the area, donned safety goggles, and with a power miter saw cut the precise lengths I asked for...well, not quite.



A couple days ago, before I started with the wood floor, or rather during the process of getting lumber, etc; I began on what will be the stone floor for the homemade wood stove I am going to make.




We are trying to save money where possible, so reusing the lumber, despite the extra work, is necessary. I started ripping the smaller planks out of the old boards.



Then I started using a router to cut the grooves into the planks



but that wasn't long lived. I think I got three and a half done when this happened



Somewhere in there was coffee break where I pondered my predicament. After all, I was about thirty minutes from a town where absolutely nothing is open and they don't sell the bits I need anyways.

So with a table saw, a leatherman, and a Craftsman scraper tool that my dad gave me, I managed to cut a "tongue" into one of the boards and get it in place. I couldn't leave without at least something to show for my effort.



Stay tuned...