Saturday, October 25, 2014

Fins.
I primed the alley door and one window this evening.  As our days of fifty degrees or greater, get less and less possible, I am reprioritizing.  (Why did I not think of this earlier? I guess a person only 'gets there' when they get there...) Perhaps I should paint before glazing because putty can be applied in forty degree weather.

What else did I learn today? I discovered why it is not a wise practice to carry nails in the front pocket of ones jeans.

Wisdom comes as one learns about ones fins..... if one wishes to swim...

Thank you!

Love and Blessings
~stephanie

Friday, October 24, 2014
Nothing today, building-wise...except while picking sheet metal for a temporary fix, I saw...sheeted copper.
Have you ever been inspired by a sheet of beautiful copper? Metals...earthy in color, warm..
Sheet metal and looking at solar lights, solar panels. Is it possible I wonder to run heat tape for roof drain piping with solar power? Check the wattage, Steph. Check the voltage. Possible....
......
It is time, is it not?

Happy Weekend!
Thank you!
Love and Blessings,
~stephanie

Thursday, October 23, 2014.
Hello!  Signage, a beginning, my way!

Signage, my way..Just seeing the name together, physically, with the building structure itself, feels not quite like a step forward, but more a feeling of leaning forward.  (Leaning forward, while figuring what that next step will be).
Impact of the roof news?  Well the answer to that question is many fold.  For example, reality is that the wonderful wonderful news of the coming roof repairs (the materials have been ordered - can you believe it?!), come the necessary peripheral repairs.  I was prepared for most of them - the brickwork on the chimney (check - got it) and the interior rafters and carpentry work (check, check - got that one too)..... but then came the news (yep, you knew there would be one 'oh, oh') that the roof drains would need to be looked at.  And a reality check again because it is not like a person has a checklist.  This development resulted from the question, "I wonder about the roof drain pipes.... three roof drains, where are the pipes?"
Laugh.  Go ahead.  Shake your head in disbelief.  And a person has to laugh.  Albeit nervously, but there is no alternate to fixing it.  A person has to look at it only as another solution is needed.  My goal was the roof.  Roof it is.  Roof.
Anyway, tracing the pipes from the roof drains led to cracked pipe, another pipe behind a repaired brick wall section and last - this is the good one - the third pipe, or rather question of its condition resulted in the answer.." what pipe?"
Call a plumber.
Gulp.
Not that there is nothing wrong with plumbers, but I did not have this "solution" on my horizon.  He has been a godsend, to tell you the truth because he has called the city works department to find out where the water pipe, sewer, and runoff piping (? - storm sewer?) are located.
*sigh*
I call this a 'character building' or 'learning' opportunity.  I did not even swear.  Out loud.  What do you do?  Will it cost?  Yes, it will.  But my theory is this:  I can do this once, as best as I can.  I cannot afford to repair a roof, then ignore major problems, only to backtrack to do it all again.  Once.  As best as I can.
Talk about learning on the fly though!  I could be scared at the danger of it all because I get nervously close to disaster, but I am not.  I have great people working on these major parts of the building.  I am learning!
I am loving this time of the renovation!  What is the impact of the roof?  I find myself returning to the work of the business - at least in my head.  I have not even thought about any practical business matters since I have owned the building as the real preservation work involved in the phase agreement with the city took precedence.
Now I can dream of five year plans, business plans, taxes, designs, city codes, and above all.... what do I see, what do I really want..... five years down the road?  How do I get there?
And then, I write out, for the first time, his name on a sign....
Matthias.  The Lucky One.
Actually, I am the lucky one.  I do not know why I have been so blessed with such a journey, but I have.
Time to dream.

Thank you!
Love and Blessings.
~stephanie

Wednesday, October 22, 2014.
Glazing windows... Now, why is it, that I had planned on painting the door, never intending to do windows, but when I did....I think I am glazing pretty doggone good.  Seriously.  That makes me chipper.  Speaking of chipper though, I cracked another window.  So one step forward, one back.  Actually two back because I am going to order another pane for a scratched window which I know will drive me crazy every time I look at it if I do not replace it. 
The window work is incredibly satisfying, but I question if it is the windows now or the windows plus the fact that the roof is scheduled and the other fact that ahead of me lies a forecast of fifty and sixty degree temperatures.   Massive work to be done!
Glazing, caulking and painting.  Oh! And, patching concrete.  I mean, why not?
**********
 Whoa.  Tiredness just rolled over me. 
I wish I had pictures to share, but I do not.  (You would think I would learn   yesterday nine pictures.  I should spread them over a few days, but I get so excited to share them, I cannot coyly talk about the building, take photos, then not create.  Impossible.
Oh, I ache....
Perhaps I should...
Slumber...

Thank you.
Love and Blessings
~Stephanie

Tuesday, October 21, 2014.

I wondered, the past few days, if he were still alive, what my father would be thinking, if he knew I was repairing this building, the old vocational technical school.  Near the end, we would watch antique hunter type television shows and all those pawn shop type shows.  I bet now, he is just shaking his head.  On one hand, he would have tried to steer me away from doing it, wishing me not to get hurt (not physically, but internally.... you know, have my heart broken if it did not succeed or work out as planned.  He was the quintessential 'Plan B / take it light' guy).  Now though, knowing what he would be knowing?  No, he would still be cautioning me..... but then...I can picture him, his pointer figure to his lips in thought.  He would give me advice.  And it would be in the form of "Have you thought about what color door you're going to paint?". Or better yet (and I still have not solved this one):  "Flag pole.  An armory needs a flag pole.  Where is the flag?".
Yeah, Pop.  I know.
Then he would ask about the roof.  "Who's going to do it?  You are NOT going to do it yourself.". I would tell him, then he would have a story about the roofer's mom whom he probably had taught in school.  I would show him pictures from on top, denying the whole time I was up there so as not to worry him. Then we would laugh.  Yep, I think...I think he would be slyly proud.  And I would tell him my adventures...
It's funny though, life.  Had he been alive, I probably would not have done it, for a variety of reasons.  None of them valid.  The timing of life confounds me sometimes.  Its mystery awes me;  its grandeur is humbling.  All these thoughts tonight as I sanded the door...
The building and I?  We are going to make it.  The roof changes everything.
A miracle. An over-the-top and twice over-the-moon miracle.  I better start believing in them.  For some reason, I think the building is trying to tell me
"You ain't seen nothing yet.."
Now.
Now the business begins. 
A roof.  Changes everything.

Thank you.
Love and Blessings,
stephanie

Monday, October 20, 2014.
Whoa.  The past few days have my head spinning. Did I mention the craftsmen sent a drawing of the proposed carriage doors?  Yes!  Then, if that development was not enough, the roofer called!  I panic.  Perhaps he as changed his mind?  He does not want to do it? 
No. No, not at all.  We meet at the building.  Talk about the project.  Talk about the interior work needed on the rafters (is that what they are called?).  He tells me roofing stories.  And even though we both have signed a contract stating he will work on the Matthias building roof (I love calling it that!), I still do not bank on it happening.  Contracts are broken all the time.  Things change.  Maybe he changed his mind - after all, it is a huge roof needing a great deal of attention.  A mason needs to tuck point the big chimney before the roof is installed.  Carpenters need to work alongside the roofers to repair the interior rafters.  Did I mention there is no electricity?  All generator-power.  All.  It is not a straight shot job at all.
The good news is that there are no systems or interior to protect.  They can rip the existing roof off without worrying about interior damage. (Well, to a point, but you know what I mean).  Plus, as I have experienced quite a few times now, you cannot help but fall in love with the building.  Everyone wants to save it.  There is something about 'him'.
Additionally, I think, again to my surprise, that the challenge of working on a building like this one might be unique in itself.  A Matthias might come along only once in a lifetime!
(Now I am daydreaming - STOP!)
Back to the story.  We are on the roof, I am so excited about the possibility of the roof really happening, I cannot even think straight.  Seriously.  I know I am supposed to be all business-like, but really?  Internally, I am used to myself like this.  I know the business mind will kick in when it needs to.  And, as long as I do not sign anything, I am ok!  Beyond that though, I have to experience the excitement of it.  Why should I not?  Why should I not be so bleeping excited.....
<technical difficulties... Monday 10/20>
Added:  Tuesday, October 21.
The photos!!

Pumpkins ~ What is not to love?

Thanking God..

The roofer's mark ~ I knew it was a go!

Roof!

Roof!

On the roof!

Roof - the underbelly - Gorgeous! Why?  Because every stick of wood and every piece of metal is there for a reason..

On the way.... planking to the roof hatch..Look at the steel truss!!

Ladder... steel truss... It is all so beautiful... oops, handsome.

Thank you.
Love and Blessings.
~stephanie

Sunday October 19, 2014
Power outage! Blast it all! (I had much to share). Perhaps tonight the universe is telling me "Shhh. Just savor it. Quiet."
Rats!
Maybe it is a night to dream under starry skies (look for the Orionids)!
Thank you...
Love and Blessings!
(Hint: I made it! Matthias and I made it! Correction:  I believe that for some reason I am given a chance to continue this journey.)
I really believe...the journey actually is now beginning...
~stephanie