Meditation Station #2: Staring into the Sun

Friday morning.

This is what a gazebo looks like "Before".  Ugly, huh?

Then these guys, the "Gazebo Guys", get ready to go to work...

The Gazebo Guys:

Doug Franzoni, his wife Janice, and presenting the "Crew Boss"...

Jeremy!

Genesis...

The melodic murmur produced by the little creek that runs through the very middle of our property became the musical force for the idea of a second gazebo.  Requirement: must be located well out of sight of any civilization whatsoever.  The bad news:  we had to carry everything 125-150 meters through the forest, over un-even ground, over rocks, stumps, and all manner of vines that would snag anything but a que ball.  I have to admit, though, that after the eleventeenth trip to the small clearing by the creek... I was getting weary.

No matter the cost, things are always worth so much more when you invest:

"Sweat Equity"

This pic shows the concrete footings that have been dug and tamped into place for the four "floor" sections.   Things will start to go fast from here on out... 

IF... we can just keep the help out of the creek. 

"DON'T GET TOO CLOSE TO THE WATER!  YOU'LL SLIP ON THE ROCKS.  

STAY DRY!  DON'T GET WET!  DON'T MAKE ME TELL YOU TWICE!"  

Um... "Did you say something, Mom?"

The floors are in place, and leveled.

This next pic is some indication of the difference in my personal body temperature (99F and humid!) and the ambient temp (28F).  Man, I'm smokin'. 

The walls are coming up...

and it's starting to resemble a gazebo!

The "first floor" trusses ready to be lifted into place

It's looking even MORE like a gazebo...

If only it didn't leak so badly.  

I know!

Let's put on some...

Shingles!

Up come the trusses for the "second floor".

The "Second Floor" is now capped off, and it's time for...

"A well-deserved break"

Excuse... you wanna hand me up a cup of coffee?  Thanky!

Break time's over.  Let's get this thing finished up!

Ta-Dah!  It's a Gazebo!  (from the outside, anyway)

Gazebo

Gazebo

BUT... when you're on the inside looking out, it becomes...

Meditation Station #2

Meditation Station #2, staring into the Sun