Walls Up!

 Day 9 finds a hive of activity!  The concrete crew worked most of the day putting up the wall forms, and the general contractor used a jackhammer to punch through the surprise 3+ foot thick wall of old concrete that was discovered around the existing house foundation.  Apparently that was a result of "how they did things back then"; instead of pouring concrete into molds made of forms, contractors would sometimes frame the interior walls and pour the concrete directly against the dirt for the exterior of the wall.  (I think I explained that correctly, but maybe not.  Much of this goes right over my head!)  The hole between the foundations is needed to run a water pipe and electric wires from one house to the other.

The arrow is pointing at the jackhammer; I didn't want to bother him while he was working, so I kind of snuck around to get this photo.

The white pipe marks the hole where utilities and water will eventually come through the foundation.

Day 10 was the completion of the wall forms.  The concrete truck was supposed to be on the site that afternoon, but that didn't happen in time, so work was halted for the weekend.  

This was also the day we made it official, and I purchased the property from my mother.  Once again, I'm a homeowner!  It was a bittersweet day for Mom, but in the end we agreed this was the best way to move forward.  She'll retain her home, and I'll be right there to take care of her when she needs it.  She's the most spry and active 70something year-old that I know, so I think it will be a long time before that happens.  

A side note...Friday the 13th is becoming "my date", apparently.  My big mule, Fargo, was born on a Friday the 13th, and now I've purchased my childhood home on a Friday the 13th.  Who says it's an unlucky day?  

Day 11 the concrete trucks - yes, plural! - arrived and the walls were poured.  It was a lot different from the last pour, when it was a pleasantly unseasonal 70*F.  This day was bitter cold, windy, and damp from downpours the night before.  It definitely felt like winter!

Mother inspects the pour.

Since the temperatures have dipped so drastically, I'm not sure if they'll have to let the concrete cure longer before they remove the forms.  Today is going to be in the upper 30s, and tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 20s with a bitter wind. I'm wondering if they'll wait and come back toward the end of the week, when it's supposed to be up into the 50s.  We shall see!