High tunnel construction, part 4

We had an all-day rain last Sunday, as I mentioned in my last post. We were lucky in that we only got 1.6” of rain out of it. Other places in our area got upwards of 4”. I went for a walk Monday. The creek had not flooded, but I heard the sound of rushing water from the path and bushwhacked my way to the creek to find this little waterfall over a downed tree.

Rushing water in the creek

It was too soggy to work on the high tunnel Monday. We waited until the dew was off the grass on Tuesday. While I was puttering in the kitchen, I saw two deer far out in the field. I’m not sure what spooked them, but if it was me reaching for my camera, they have exceptionally good vision. They took off, followed by two more deer for a total of 4. They were not kind enough to pose together for a photo.

One of four deer crossing the field Tuesday morning 

Our next step in high tunnel construction was, in Terry’s opinion, the most difficult. We had to put the header above the door. In the first step, we put in one post on each side, and Terry filled the hole with cement.

Putting in the first door post

On Thursday, after the cement had cured, we put up the other post and the header. We followed the same procedure for the side post, except that it was not cemented in yet. We needed to have that post mobile until the header was in. To keep the post from moving, we put in two “jigs” that Terry made from two 2x4s. He marked the exact width of the doorway on the jig. We lined up the jig with the new post, checked that the jig was level and the post was square, and Terry screwed it in place. He then measured up the same distance on both sides and made a mark.  

Measuring the distance from the jig to position the second jig

We put the second jig at the mark on both sides, made sure it was level, and the post was square.

The second jig, square and level

Terry measured again and put a bracket on the posts on both sides to hold the header.

Attaching a bracket to support the header

Now for the header. We put one end on a ladder on one side then lifted the other end to a ladder on the other side. We climbed up the ladders, trying not to bump our heads on the header (I was unsuccessful), and then, one side at a time, hoisted the beam on top of the bracket, where it was held in place by a clamp. Terry secured each side to the bracket.

Attaching the header to the bracket

And there we are!

Door frames finished on both sides

More flowers are blooming all the time. My great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is living up to its name.

Great white trillium

Wild geranium is getting started, as are shooting star (my fav!) Jacob’s ladder, and moss phlox. (The phlox I just got from Jane is fall phlox, which as the name suggests will not flower until late summer/early fall.)

Wild geranium

Shooting star

Jacob's ladder

Wood phlox

The grosbeaks (Mr. and Mrs.) have finally found our feeder.

Male and female rose-breasted grosbeaks

It’s hard to believe that May is almost over. The chicks will be coming soon. That’s always good for some excitement.