Update

With the violence and all, we moved to Rogers Arkansas in October.

Now my Dad, and my brother David and I want to build a cabin in my dad's woods.
We are looking at stone and log cabins.

I need to post some links:
THE STONEBUILDER'S PRIMER
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/1981-11-01/Seven-Reasons-to-Prefer-Stone.aspx
http://www.hollowtop.com/cls_html/cls.html
http://www.loghomebuilders.org/
http://www.vernstreet.com/loghomepix1.htm

Another Day off

There is a joke here in Mexico that the patron saint of the albanil is
San Lunes "Saint Monday",. That explains why the albaniles don't
like to come to work on Monday. It is some sort of religious
consideration. Mayra took some pictures of the small nichos we put in
the walls. We are going to have to rework some of them when we are
done.

Walls are done

The walls are now done. Now I need to figure out what the maestros
did all day on Saturday. I don't really see that much difference.
Looks like they are nervous about doing the windows and the arches by
themselves...

Last work on the Walls 19th of September

Well, it looks like we are wrapping up the work on the walls.

Last Saturday, I took my oldest son to look at the work. He said
"Dad, I thought YOU were doing the building". I replied, "I am doing
it, but the maestros are helping a little bit". He figured out that
they were doing it all !!!

Heating this Vault

I figure that cooling is going to be a breeze!
But how to heat?

I just bought Ianto Evans book at rocketstoves.com

and I just remebered a link that Ernest Aragon gave me for instant happy heat from a Count Rumsford fireplace.

http://www.gobrick.com/pdfs/RumfordFireplace.pdf

So I am wondering. Do I just need the firebrick and the flue, then make the rest out of adobe? This is looking like it needs to be in the corner of the "office" at our house.

Adobe Diet and Fitness Plan

I have seen a ton of gimmicky diets over the years. Today as we were
hauling adobe, I realized a great one. Just eat a bowl of beans for
breakfast, then have 3 bean burritos for lunch, and a dinner of
cooked rice, vegetables and chile. Now you might ask, "How will I be
fit and trim on that?" The secret is: HAUL ABOUT 200-300 adobes a
day!!!!

We loaded and unloaded 440 8x16x3 inch adobes between three of us.
Then we went to a old building that the owner gave us permission to
tear down and took about 60 12x24x3 inch adobes. We had to throw down
about another 200 that broke. I am beat. That is harder than folding
baby clothes or typing computer programs.

There is the new Adobe diet and fitness plan. Take advantage of it
and watch the excess weight just melt away, while your building goes
up. If you want more details, or to buy the $10 ebook, please leave a
comment or contact me and I will send you a paypal link. ;)

The guys leveled the floor out so we can start working in there with
barrels. Hopefully tomorrow.

16 deSeptiembre

Today is Independence Day in Mexico. We covered our site to protect
it from the rain. The work is rolling along.