around the bend

Ries Builders Solle House Moab, Utah

Lots of plaster work going on at the house.  BC has been running with a fantastic plaster crew (BC can't say enough nice things about them!) for a couple of days to get the outside and inside plastering done.  Not to mention all the finishing work needed to get to that point . Plus floors, bathroom tiling, and kitchen cabinets.

It's not been easy running a job this far from home chronically short on labor, huge mileages expense & time to fetch materials most of the which BC takes out of his own earnings to keep the job moving along. His short visits home are spent rounding up materials or doing small jobs in the shop to take back to Moab with him. BC is old school that way. 

He is honest to a fault and still believes in the value of a handshake.  His company has donated a couple grand of materials to the project because that is how BC rolls. His company has also financed expenses including wages to the subcontractors and materials until the owners bank catches up on paying out line items. 

In the final long push to finish on time BC's dad has now joined the crew.  That is 3 Ries boys on the job. BC, his brother Rob, and their father Don. Sadly, one of BC's regular carpenters who has been working with BC on and off in Moab his wife finally pulled the plug on working out of town. I can't blame her, this is so hard! 

We knew going in his working wage would be about half his normal but the gracious chance offered by the owners to have him build a straw bale for them was worth the loss in income to our family. In fact the loss of money was the least of the sacrifices. 

The loss of BC for a year from our lives was miserable. It's time we can't get back. He practically missed all of Beach being 11 years old.  He started the job right as she turned 11. By the time he returns she will be 12.

The owners and BC all knew this would be a long haul and there would be sacrifices on both sides to keep the job on budget. BC has certainly done his part.  And the owners have had to make a lot of tough choices based on using recyclable and sustainable materials. They are doing a wonderful job staying true to the spirit of building green! 

I know they are anxious to have BC finish and move into their new beautiful home; we all are. Living and breathing construction is so HARD on the soul!  

(Have I mentioned how hard this is on everyone?)

Last night over the line BC sounded the happiest I have heard him in months.  He said, "You know 'm going to finish this..." what I heard was, "I'm coming home."