After returning to Fiji to regroup, replenish and work, we were now ready to move onto the next phase in the project.
Returning to Sicily in late February, the outside of the house looked gorgeous, the cornerstones enormous!
But John and I were heading inside, out of the chilly wind to finish up on staining some of the beams…
Slick, stained, protected and ready to go…
Then make temporary doors and windows with 2×2’s, plastic and screening.
That will keep those pesky pigeons out!!
Even the occasional fox, cats and bats!
Not to mention all those crazy sparrows and magpies!
John doing a little touch up staining, before the grouting begins.
The boys built the bases of each side of the arch, using huge stones and the rebar to fit into the small wall that will be above the arch to tie it all together.
The holes above will be for the floor beams for the upper bedroom loft (soppalco).
It’s starting to take shape…I can visualize better now!
This beautiful stone threshold inside the house, that has been here for hundreds of years, will now move out to the courtyard and be one of our steps.
First a rock base…this is the added on bathroom. The black mat is a moisture barrier around all the added on sections of the house.
Then the initial pour of cement so that we all have some solid footing as we work. This will be the base for the in-floor heating that will go in soon.
Cement for the kitchen!
Now with the cement floor in the boys could set up the scaffolding and start placing wiring and getting ready to grout (fuga).
Did you ever wonder how they get the wiring in the stone walls?
Cement on the back wall, which will get a colored stucco. This will be our office behind the arch.
Looks a lot different after the grouting happens!
Amazing to watch the wall come to life!
I think John was feeling a bit of construction overload…seeing so many things happen that were new to him. He is an expert with wood but all this stone was a bit foreign to him…not to mention the language!
Look at these beauties! All hand chisled…the sides slightly concave to hold cement.
About 26 inches x 10 inches and VERY heavy…the arch stones
It begins…
The frame for the arch is installed. This will hold everything till the cement all sets up!
Stone number one…made it inside the doorway! YEAH!
A bit of discussion on the fact that the stones were too heavy to pull up with just a simple pulley. John suggested (with sign language) a block and tackle. Off they went to find one!
Stone number one…seems like an awful small rope for such a heavy stone…here we go…deep breath, don’t panic!
A bit of discussion on the fact that the stones were too heavy to pull up with just a simple pulley and small rope. John suggested (with sign language) a chain block and tackle. Off they went to find one!
“While we wait for the block and tackle, let’s just toss this one up here!”
OK, That was tough…let’s just wait…
Stone number 1 has found it’s home.
Now the other end…
They still have to get all the stones through the house and over to the block and tackle!
I think they must have done this before…
There we go, now this should be much easier with the chain block and tackle!
Two on the right…
Three on the left…
Looking good!
Hard to believe all those heavy, heavy stones will just set there on their own soon!
While some of the boys work on the arch, there is a bit of grouting going on in the kitchen.
Plenty of jacks to hold the super heavy arch until all is dry.
Almost there!
The rebar will be incorporated into the small wall above the arch for strength.
Ready for the Key Stone!
The arch is complete and now for the little wall that will take it up to the level of the floor in the loft. This is so fun to see happen in our little Bella Stalla! I drove the camera shy Sicilian boys crazy at the beginning…but they finally got used to me!
Arch and wall all grouted and drying!
Finishing up the kitchen and pantry grout (fuga).
Kitchen table corner, complete with the original old donkey tie up stone, the stone shelf for a candle to light the room and the square stone cabinet.
Jacks and forms removed…the arch stands alone!
Now time for the floor beams for the bedroom.
A bit awkward…
But, with just a few scrapes…SUCCESS!
Grouting the rest of the big stones.
Just about ready to wrap things up for this trip…John is a happy camper, with thoughts already turning to the bedroom floor, which he and I will build next visit.
A good and productive trip, the house is hopefully going to be animal free while we are back in Fiji working…we will return soon. Have a well earned rest Bella Stalla!
