RNVTNS VOL. 2, #4 Building a Good Foundation

Memories like birds, fleeting--one must grasp and hold in heart's hands.

This week has been exciting outside because they poured concrete for the footers for the extension of the building on the north side, eastward from the faculty room.  So in the photos today, you will get an idea of a of how this proceeded.
Here we see one of the last tasks.  Note the steel mesh in the foreground.  (NB: many terms will be lay-speak, not professional lingo!).

This photo gives you the bird's eye view of the path the footer will take.  Obviously, much work has already been done to prepare for the pouring of concrete.

Now with the stage set, the men wait for the arrival of the cement mixer.  While this may be daily routine for the workmen, blogger up in her 4th. fl. viewing stand is getting excited.

Cement Mixer, Do Your Thing

First, after the mixer arrives and is ready to deliver, the trough sections must be attached to the mouth of the mixer (remember, this is lay-speak).

Next comes the pouring and smoothing and checking depth.  Since this is one of 

blogger's favorites, she's left it larger.

The concrete rounds the bend and heads home, i.e. to its destination against the building.  We’re approximately outside the corner of rm. 111, Ms. Johnson’s room.  That means we’ve past the old lavatory, Dr. Koehl’s office, and Mr. Greife’s room, 112.  These three rooms will become one large room eventually.

After the concrete is poured and somewhat dried, the workmen are ready to mark it for the rods that must be inserted to hold the concrete blocks coming next.  They do it the tried and true way by snapping a chalked cord.  So in the photo above we see a man holding the east end of the cord, and in the photo to the left, a man holding the west end while a third worker reaches down to get the cord to snap it against the concrete.  Voila, a red chalk line on the drying footer. 

So, now you have it.  The last look we will take of the scene for today is at the footer with rods that were planted along the red line, before the concrete dried completely—a goodly crop.

You’re looking west in this photo, by the way.                               Are you exhausted yet?