Block house party !

Thursday July 21 2011

After a morning planning session following the morning Devo revealed only 4 people going to build a block house, I knew they needed a hand so I went with them to Santa Ana to the house of Nadia (a Casa employee) to begin a cinder block house there just a short ways from Casa. After Josue showed us where to gather up the tools, we went down the road a few feet to the house site. We began carrying cinder blocks down the road as well, as the delivery truck was unable to back all the way down the hill to the site. Josue began measurements on the cement foundation that was already poured and began setting up trim lines to check the accuracy of the block placements as we put them on the walls. We then began the process of mixing mortar to hold the blocks in place once they were placed in position. Our team consisted of Elisabeth, Christina, Micheal, Benson, myself, Josue, and Nadia's brother. Christina comes from Freed Hardeman university (waves hi to Stan Mitchell :) )

Mixing mortar for the blocks is a very labor intensive process. First you must mix the sand and the cement together. then you add the water and mix some more. Very very heavy if you have never done it you must experience it at least once. Keep adding water until the desired consistency is reached. Then you place the mortar on the concrete footing after which you place the cinder blocks, paying close attention to the trim lines for accuracy. Fill in the blocks with gravel so as not to have to use as much mortar ! Repeat as many times as possible in the work day :)  with only 7 of us it didnt go as fast as I had hoped :)
 The highlight of the project was when Elisabeth and Christina were bringing down a wheelbarrow full of gravel to fill in the blocks, but it was a very old wheelbarrow, and not very maneuverable. Long story short, they lost control and they went towards the house while the wheelbarrow went the other direction. After checking to make sure they were all right (they were giggling so I assumed they were) I helped them to right the barrow and get as much gravel as I could off the ground. We all ended up with a good laugh over that one :)