Day 135

It might be not too late, if we spread grass seeds now. If we get grass growing now, it help ground not to wash away. If it is too late, still it's ok. We can have on Spring.

今ならまだ遅くはないかもと早速芝生の種まきをした。もし芽が出てくれれば、少しでも土が流れてしまうのをさけれる。だめでも来年の春には草が出る。
This couple of days, I was so struggle with this bath tub wall. It look simple and easy. Well, that's what I thought. But I needed to make this wall thin to fit under the edge. Then it gets wobbly. And I needed toe nail most of them. I was so proud when I finished it. Also this is the other side of bathroom wall. We have pipe go through there from second floor bathroom. So we needed to make this wall thicker. I ripped 2x4 to half. And nailed them to each studs. This is actually guest room closet wall.

ここ何日かこのバスタブの壁に苦戦も大苦戦。これは簡単やろと思った方、私もそう思っていたのも束の間、始めて見ると、全然思ってたようにいかない。バスタブの枠の下に設置するとなると２x４を横向きにしか使えず、トウネイルで固定するほかないので、ぐらぐらしてしまう。完成したときは小さい仕事ながらなかなかの達成感。また、下の写真の壁はお風呂場の裏の壁。ゲストルームのクローゼットの中にあたる。二階のお風呂場からの下水管がここに通るのでこの壁を分厚くしなければいけない。２x４を真ん中できって２x２にし、それぞれの木材につけていった。

"All Steamed Up" show

I am in this show "All Steamed Up" at Cinema Gallery, IL. I was late to post this here, so the opening was last Saturday. But it is on going till January 21.

I sent a teapot I really like. It's one of my first experiment piece with clay and metal. I decided to let it go, because our building house project is getting closer to the stage that we can move in. And I can start working on my art again soon. Until we make actual studio building, I will set my studio space in basement temporally. Still have a lot to do, but at least electricity plug is ready for a kiln. I can't wait t o touch clay again!! You will see, 2012 will be a productive year!

If you have a chance, please check it out. You also be able to see from this web site

http://www.cinemagallery.cc/Teapots.htm

"All Steamed Up"

Invitational Teapot Show

December 3, 2011-January 21, 2012

120 West Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801

10am-5pm Wed-Sat

(217)367-3711

Day 134

Last time when we had a big rain, the water came into our basement from north east corner. We had professional did foundation tile for us. They put tube with lots of holes, and grabble over it along the outside of basement floor. The water supposed to drain...... I can't believe it's already over the capacity!!?? We built a porch on north east. So the ground wasn't settle there compare to other place. When we had the rain, lots of water run into that soft ground. Maybe... If we need to fix the tile, it would be a big big big headache.

So the way we can think of to prevent water not to run into there is to do the final back fill. The plan is to fill the ground along the house where it's settled down after months. Also make a nice slope from northeast to southwest, and from house to the yard. we made the ground leveled where the studio would be, too. Well this was the easy part for us. We were just watching.

先日久しぶりの大雨が降ったとき、地下室の北西の角あたりから水があがってきた。基礎の周りの排水管工事はプロに頼んだのに。彼らはちゃんと穴開きのパイプの上に砂利を敷き詰めてたし、水は通るはずなんやけどな〜。もう既にキャパ越え？！！北西にはポーチを作ったので、雨が直接降らないため、ほかと比べると地面はしまってない。大雨が降ったときにスカスカの地面の方に水が流れ込んでしまったのか。。。どうなのか。もし、このタイルを直すとなると、えらいことになる。

ということで、今できる、そして冬がくる前にしてしまいたいこととして、最後の埋め戻し作業を頼んでいた。一回目に埋め戻しをした後、雨などで地面が沈んだところにもう一度土をつめる。北東の角から南西の角に向けて水がはけるように坂を作る。家から周りに向けて水がはけるように坂を作る。そして、作業場を作るあたりを水平に整えてもらった。と、ここまではまあ楽チンな作業。なんといっても私たちは見ているだけでよかった。

When the time comes to under the porch...... we had to move dirt by our hand. And this is the place we are worried the most. So we want to make sure it have a nice slope. It was a lot of work.... We need to keep bending our back while we do this physical work doesn't sounds fun at all.

そして、ポーチの下に来ると、機械では届かないので、私たちが自力で埋め戻しをする。しかもここが一番心配なところ、どこよりも高くして、水が流れ込まないようにしなければ。ポーチの下なので、ずっと腰を曲げるか、ひざまずくかの体勢で、シャベルを使って土を動かす。何とも大変なマッチョ作業。
We had two big mountain in front and back. He use the one in front to shape the ground. The one in the back was the rich surface dirt. In the end, he covered all up with nice dirt.

今まで家の前と後ろに二つ大きな山があった。表にあった土をすべて土地の形を整えるのに使ってしまい、裏にあった工事を始める前は表面にあった豊かな土を最後に上に散らしてもらい、完成。
Wow, it covered all tar work we did for the basement wall. Now this house looks normal, not like long neck house.

わーコンクリートの壁にはみ出していたタールの後も全部埋まってしまった。これでやっと首長の家ではなくて、普通の家に見える。

Day 133

Today, we actually start putting insulation in this high ceiling. We started from center, laying ladder on collar tie one next from the one we work on. I was on second floor hall way on small scaffolding. We found out this is not so difficult. We were be able to reach almost all of the part by Bob standing on ladder and me standing on scaffolding. Also when the ladder is on edge of collar tie, he can staple 2/3 top of angle insulation. Look at this!! We did it! Also after we worked on this house for few month, we are not chicken anymore. It was long time ago when we scared this height.

今日はこの高い吹き抜けの天井に断熱材を入れていく恐ろしい作業を始める。まず真ん中から始める。実際に断熱材をつけるのの隣のカラータイにハシゴを立てかける。初めて見ると思ってたより何の問題もなくこなせる。私が二階の廊下ぎりぎりに置いた足場に立ち、ボブがはしごに上るとほとんど全体に手が届く。しかもハシゴを東側ぎりぎりまで寄せると斜めの屋根部分の上２／３まで手が届く。これみたことか！何とも美しい。この家でを自分たちで立て始めて数ヶ月、私たち、もうチキンではありません。この高さにビビってたのはいつのことやら。

We reached lower part with yellow ladder. Don't forget this triangle wall too. Impress!

下の部分は黄色のハシゴで手が届く。この小さい屋根裏を遮る三角壁も忘れずに。あっぱれ！

Day 132

Today is the day... We are going to try this dining room ceiling, and see what we can do without scaffolding. First of all, before we put up air channel, we need to drill holes on blocking we did there. Before the OSB on the roof, the rafter was too flexible. To keep the rafter in position, we nailed this wood blocks in between each rafters about in center height of collar tie and wall. However it also block the air to go up. We thought this is the easiest part, but unfortunately it took forever. Working on this awkward position in lots of saw dust shooting his eyes made him cry. After the drill, we put up the air channel, and tried staple the insulation, too. This didn't go well. From this position, he won't reach to the top. Need to think better way. At least we did air channel.

いよいよ今日はこの吹き抜けにチャレンジ。ハシゴだけでどこまでできるか、とりあえず試してみる。まず一番最初にすることは穴開け作業。屋根に合板を貼る前、垂木をまっすぐに固定してしっかりさせるため、斜めの屋根部分のだいたい真ん中らへんに支えの木を入れていった。この一つ一つに、空気が流れるようにいくつかの穴をあけていく。これが一番簡単な作業と思ってたのに、この不安定なハシゴの上で大量のおがくずと戦い、ボブ泣かせの作業となった。ようやくすべてに穴が開いた後は、ピンクの空気路をつけていく。ついでに断熱材もつけてみるが、この位置からではあまり上まで届かないし、どうもうまくいかない。別の手を考えなければ。最悪空気路はつけれた。

While he is working on dining room, I was in a safe position. Sorry. I did entertainment room walls.

ボブがハシゴの上で苦しんでいるときに、私は安全なところでの作業。エンターテイメントルームの壁に断熱材をつけていった。
This is our first floor, basement gas furnace.

一階と地下室用のガス暖房。

Day 131

Since we insulated knee wall, upstairs behind of knee wall are considered as a outside. So we need to insulate parts of ceiling in kitchen, mud room, and library. Also put small insulation on each end of the insulation on ceiling. So the cold air doesn't move in.

２階の内壁に断熱材を入れるので、内壁より外側は外とほぼ同じ環境になる。ということで、そこに接するキッチン、裏口、リビングの天井の一部にも断熱材を入れる。その端に短くきった断熱材をふたをするように入れる。これで冷たい空気は流れ込まないはず。

We won't finish this basement for a while, so we decided to use shop light for now. It's nice and bright, but at the same time it shows how dirty this basement is. This will be my studio for a while. So I need to clean soon.

地下室はしばらくは手を付けないのでコンセントでつなぐ蛍光灯を照明に使う。知ってはいたけど、明るくなって初めてどれほど汚いかがわかる。しばらくはここが作業場になるので近々片付けなくては。

Day 131: Septic tank

While we were working inside, there was a big change in outside. Finally we got septic system! They dig a big hole yesterday. And today in the morning, they brought this big concrete box. I remember when I was kid, I went to a big sewage disposal plant for the field trip. I had never dreamed I will have my personal sewage disposal plant.

私たちが室内で作業をしている間、外は大きく変わっていた。ついに汚水浄化槽を設置してもらった！昨日来て、庭にでっかい穴を掘り、今日は朝一でこの大きなコンクリートの箱を運んできた。子供のときに工場見学で下水処理場に行ったのを思い出す。あの頃は庭に自分専用の下水処理場を持つとは思っても見なかった。

It's a heavy concrete box. However it will float, if it gets heavy rain. So we filled water. This is the first time we get running water in this house!

この重いコンクリートの箱も、いっぱい雨が降ると浮かび上がってしまう。なので早速水を満たしておく。今日がこの家で初めて水を使った日。