We are the crew

DW says that the original construction crew is done and won't be coming back. I wish I had known to say goodbye - they were all incredibly nice and hardworking. Towards the end, we increasingly broke DMD's rules and gave them coffees and cakes.

Now we are the crew. DW has been gathering hardware to build the arbor and finish the interior of the window. Nothing makes him happier than hardware. Yesterday I joined him on a field trip to the local contractors' supplier, and vicariously enjoyed his delight over 5/8ths threaded rods and nylon lock-washers. Best of all has been the special order of Flame Cut steel fittings for the arbor, which will anchor wood to stone. They weigh 16-25 pounds a piece, and they were HOT when he picked them up from Flame Cut! His son helped polish them, and today DR glued them into the parapet walls using a very impressive double-barrelled Hilti gun. I've promised to create a power rangers costume to match the gun for DW to wear next halloween.

DW also recruited our friend and neighbor PE to finish the interior of the window wall. Apparently, he contracted DMD's crew only to demolish the wall and install the window, but not to finish the interior. JG's assistant was sufficiently concerned about it's unfinished state to educate me about the need for weather-proofing last week. Now, it seems, there is a plan. DW ordered a new radiator which arrived within an hour!

Today I cleared all the old flowerpots out of sight. Nothing remains on the top roof. Two big plants that didn't fit in the new design (a deciduous holly and a mock orange) have new homes in front of the building - I even "built" a brick wall around them, using the huge pile of bricks left over from our former patio.

Now that the plants are in place, the neighbors across the street have suddenly appeared at their windows. Until now, we never saw their blinds drawn down. Now we see not only whole windows but people looking out all day long!