Crazy making

Here is the Aune recipe for making people crazy.
1.  Have a changing timeline for projects
2.  Schedule the garage pour and then decide to build the base for the fireplace the day before the pour
3.  Buy 7 less bricks than actually needed and only notice this after the stores are closed for the day
4. Work until midnight, then get up at 7 and keep going in an attempt to meet the deadline for the pour
5. Put in the last piece of support structure for the fireplace slab as the guys pour in the concrete

I am happy to report that we did indeed make this tight deadline and are still talking to each other.

Here is the proof

The garage is ready for tubing

The geo guy came and put in the tubing yesterday.  Meanwhile, Len started on the tall tower of bricks which will support the fireplace.

The first row of bricks in place

Straight and level (of course!)

Mixing mortar the old fashioned way

After Cath was finished work for the day, she started as the mason's assistant

Using my medical gloves to put mortar on the brick faces

We used the scaffold as the bricks grew

This little silver spacer made it easier to stay level 

It was about 5:15 pm when Len did the math and figured out that we were short of bricks.  We continued until about 11 pm when we ran out of bricks.  Len continued to  take down lumber and prepare for the pour.  In the morning, Len was at the lumber yard at 7:30 and got the needed blocks.

Placing the last brick at the upper floor level

We then scurried around to get the plywood topper put in place as the pour was wrapping up in the garage.

Ready for the pour

Concrete ready to go

All poured,  being finished

Concrete on top of the brick tower.  The little piece of foam in the middle is blocking the hole where the ashes will drop and fresh air will be introduced

Whew!  After all was said and done,  we did it!