STRAWBALE BUILDING DONE...

I thought I would have time to post every couple of days, but in the end I just didn't have the energy for it...so, this will be a bit long... but most of it pictures and videos, don't worry :-)
here's the last day picture with all who got involved... except for Xico and Nuno who left us before...and Carin, a french girl who also joined us during the week... oh, and I have no idea where Lyna was...probably puting Nolan to sleep :-)...

So, from the left to the right, there's Katharina (a traveling potter from Germany), Lua and her daughter Kiara who came to help in the kitchen (portuguese), Zven, a carpenter from Germany, Eddie in the back (also a carpenter from Germany), Chrissy, also german (a studying nurse, who was actually quite handy when I cut myself with a machetti), Jo , another carpenter from Germany (they were very handy as well), Marcia, who came from Lisbon to serve us once again, Lesley, who led the workshop, and me...
It was a really lovely time with everyone and I was pleased to meet Katharina, Chrissy, Carin, Xico and Nuno... the other ones are already family :-)...

It was amazing what we could all accomplish in one week... I still have the roof cover and the plaster to finish, but the building is up and safe already !!!

So, let me just put some videos and pictures for you to have a rough idea of how things developed ...

Here's the beginning of the 3rd day... the first layout of the bales...not much words...I was still shy to speak :-)


few steps forward... with more explanations of what we were doing :-)...


Eddie and Jo explaining how to break a strawbale in two... first part :-)


second part ... and more on the building...


Jo checking if the wall was going straight...


every one had their task at times... Eddie, Nuno and Lesley puting the steel bar at the corner, while Zven was checking the window frame...


Xico and Lesley putting a temporary board to hold the window frame...


sweet Kiara !!! always around ...


starting with the roof...


first "A" frame for the roof...the carpenters were on the case !!!


corner detail...


It was not always easy... :-) nice picture of Xico and Nuno...


make sure it would be straight... it's not easy to work with logs... even for professionals... I loved learning nice and simple techniques...


on place...


nice picture of Xico with his camera...


pealing the mimosas we would use to fix the broom on top of the tin roof...


Jo fixing the window...


the hardest work was about to start... Jo and Katharina helped us with their skills with clay to find good soil with enough clay for the plastering... I showed them a place where I want to have a pond in the future and they liked the soil there...very handy !!! now, the digging and carry part had to be done


taking as much stones as possible...


and now yes...the fun part of it !!!


everyone wanted to give it a go ...


Zven making the door... he likes to use the chain-saw for everything... even the more detailed things... amazing !!!


Lua was not only helping in the kitchen... I loved that she was with us... such a beautiful person...


in the last night we treated ourselves with a lovely dinner at a local restaurant... even though we came super late, they still managed to feed us :-)... it was nice to relax and enjoy each other's company...



last details before leaving... the door handle...beautiful and cute !!!


smiling Marcia... Thanks for all your help, for your presence, your friendship...for who you are... you are amazing !!!


and finally...a big clap to ALL who made this happen!!! Thanks...