8/01/2009 - First cob on the foundation. It took 6 loads to do this first 7 feet at about a 4" depth. It wasn't made thin enough to pour from the concrete mixer, so it had to be pulled out with hands. This added time and effort. (It took about 1 1/2 hours to do this first section, including learning time.)
8/01/2009 - The remainder of the loads were made thinner so it would pour. It went faster, but it would only stand-up to a depth of about 3". We made it 1/2 way around by the time we knocked off for the day at 4:00pm after about 3 hours of work.
8/02/2009 - This is our secret mix. One bucket water, two buckets clay, one bucket sand and one bucket straw.
8/02/2009 - Forrest and I finished topping the rest of the foundation, and we mixed a couple loads to cure so it can be added in a couple days.
8/03/2009 - Tonight I was able to move the 2 pre-mixed loads up on the wall in about 10 minutes. I mixed up 3 more loads on the tarp and filled the pails for another load. All this in just under 2 hours after work.
8/04/2009 - Slow but steady progress now. Another 3 loads on the wall, and another 3 loads on the tarp to cure in just under 2 hours after work. It is going on pretty wet after curing only one day, but I'm putting it on only 2 or 3 inches at a time so far.
8/09/2009 - Progress continues to be slow, but steady. I made 2 loads with the tarp on Saturday, and Forrest helped me make 2 on Sunday. It took less water and was nicer to work with on the wall. But it sure makes the legs sore when out-of-shape.
8/09/2009
8/22/2009 - I used the hand saw to plumb up some of the wall edges.
8/22/2009 - Sondra mixed up a load of cob using the cob-dance method.
8/22/2009 - Emily and I made cob balls
8/22/2009 - Friend Veleda and John came over to help out and learn what cobbing is about.
8/22/2009 - Veleda, Emily, Sondra, and John in the back all stomp out the big chunks of clay.
8/22/2009 - Adding the cob to the wall.
9/11/2009 - Visible progress is more cob on the wall, and the underside of the dog-run roof.
9/11/2009 - The east side roof is all framed and ready for metal roofing/siding. The gravel has also been spread to level out the ground for the concrete dog runs.
9/15/2009 - The metal roof is up and the upper wall is 1/2 done.
9/20/2009 - The upper wall is done, along with the gutter on the east side. Some bracing was added and prep for gutters on the north and south sides.