7/8-10/03 I went up to the property for 3 days: Tuesday through Thursday.

I arrived at 1:30. It was hot and lots of mosquitos. After moving in and having lunch, I went to work insulating the last 6 seams on the outside of the building. Then I nailed two seams.

In the process, Dale Marine stopped by and asked if I had any work. I told him I might need some help installing windows in a few weeks. He is a carpenter who has experience with log houses and he is looking for work. I showed him the place and he was complimentary about some of the tricks I had done such as installing the anchor hooks and installing a ceiling board between each purlin and the rafters. He was well aware of the time those tricks save.

In the evening, I called Earl to see if he knew Dale. He didn't but he said he would call Gary Graham to see if he does. Earl called back a little while later and said Gary didn't know him either. I asked Earl for a recommendation for help with the windows and he said I should call Gary Graham.

On Wednesday morning, I called the building department and left a message for them to call me. Then, I nailed the rest of the seams on the building. It's gratifying to come to the end of a phase of the work, particularly when the phase has gone on for more than a year. Now I just need to chink those six seams and all the outside chinking will be done.

During lunch, the building department called and I learned that because of a rule change since I originally got my permit, the picture window at the foot of the loft stairs will have to be tempered. I called Marson and Marson and placed an order for all the windows changing the one picture window to tempered glass. I decided on Milgard white vinyl windows. White because it will match nicely with the white chinking, and vinyl because it is a little less than half the price of wood. I think the vinyl might even be a little more durable. Bobbie, the salesperson, said she would send me an installation instruction booklet along with the invoice. The delivery date was set for July 24.

After lunch, I pruned the lower branches from three trees to make a space to store the windows when I take delivery. I also moved some logs out of that area and I spread a big mound of chips out onto the driveway to make room for the windows. I was working in a cloud of mosquitos doing that, so I whacked down a bunch of ferns in the hopes that it might reduce the number of mosquitos. Faint hope.

When I finished down below, I went up and chinked 1 and 1/2 seams. In the evening, I talked to Gary Graham about helping me and he said he is booked up solid for two years and can't help. He reminded me that he had visited my place several years ago and then I remembered his visit.

On Thursday morning, I chinked 2 seams which leaves just 3 seams to go to finish the outside chinking. The end is in sight. A chipmunk came up on the scaffold at one point to get a peanut treat. His access into the building is closing off fast. Earl called and asked how it went with Gary. When I told him Gary was unavailable, he suggested I contact Dave Leonard or Darrel Barker to see if they are available.

When I went to turn off the water heater to get ready to go home, there were two little tree frogs hanging on to the side of the trailer just above the access door. I had to coax them off in order to turn off the heater. They should be in frog heaven now with all the mosquitos around for them to eat. I left for home at about 2:10.