4/18/19
Building Summary: Today began with a bit of planning in regard to soffit. I had to measure out its exact dimensions (133″ long, 9 ½” at the west end, 10 1/8” at the east end) and then determine what materials to use. The original intent was to use 2x4s for the entire frame, but after discovering we only had one 8-footer, Padre helped me rip a 16′ 2×6 in half. This provided me with more than enough material for the soffit’s front bracing, and to hold it all together, I used ~ 3′ of the 2×4 as supports every four feet*. At the end of the morning, I had a sturdy frame ready, and Padre helped me insert it into the space between the cupboard tops and the container’s ceiling.
Commentary: The morning at Jacobhouse started off a tad cool and then commenced to slowly warm up till it became quite toasty. This is a portrayal of a fine spring day, but it is also a description that makes me wonder. Or rather, it makes me wonder if the readers have yet wondered; “Why do so many Jacobhouse Blog commentaries begin with mention of the weather?“
My answer is that there are multiple reasons. Firstly, weather descriptions seem to be an effective way to set a mood—as effectual in writing as it is in the real living world. On what sort of day is a person to be more inclined toward happiness? A cold, rainy dawn with dun grey light or a bright sunny day with a cool, refreshing breeze? Secondly – I say ‘secondly’, but this is really a continuation of the ‘firstly’ – when a morning does not have any content of extraordinary interest**, weather still draws me (and hopefully my readers) into the writing. Everyone can relate to the weather, and for that reason, many authors use the topic as a universally appreciated bridge between paper and mind.
On that note, Henry David Thoreau recorded weather patterns in his book Walden, but in doing so, he also unwittingly provided another reason for such analogs: for future readings. An example of this, is how environmental researchers have used Henry’s ice records – extensive notes detailing how quickly or slowly the pond melted in spring – to compare them against today’s melting rates and measure the weather’s rate of change from then (the mid 1800’s) to now***.
Final Note: Tomorrow, I will be fastening the soffit in place. This will be accomplished by attaching it to the ceiling via 4 self-tapping screws, and then it shall be straightened as I attach the base to the cupboards via deck screws (drilled up through the cabinets’ tops/spacer boards). Any remaining time will probably be spent on fabricating a decorative board to fit in around the ovenhood.
*This 4′ measurement was chosen in the case that I ended up using ¼” plywood as frontage. (Update: I’ve since discovered that Charlie – the fellow who welded the frame onto the front of Jacobhouse in the container home’s dawning days – has pieces of 1/16” metal that are 4′ wide. Thus, the 4′ increments will work quite well.
** This may sound derogatory in regard to today, but it is not in the slightest. If every day was especially interesting, we wouldn’t need the word ‘interesting‘ to describe it.
***If Henry wasn’t so Thoreau at keeping such annotations, those climate scientists would not have had near as much information to work with. I’ll see myself out. Also, here’s an article about those notes.