With all the rain (and corresponding mud!), the construction progressed much slower this week.

During one of the breaks in the rain at the beginning of the week, they removed all the supporting lumber from the main posts. The next step was getting all the posts cut to exactly the right height and fitting them with these metal brackets (braces?) that will hold the main beams on the roof part of the structure.

Another look at the brackets fitted to the posts.

Yep, that’s right. We have a crane!

I don’t know about you, but I think I would have wanted a bigger hard hat! All the same, just imagine how much work it would be to lift those beams in place rather than lower them with a crane.

Having the crane do the heavy lifting makes it easier to get the pieces fitted just right.

In a matter of a few hours, all the main beams were in place! The crew spent the rest of the afternoon getting all the bolts and screws in place so everything was secured rather than just sitting in the brackets. Today they have been putting metal peaks across the beams and started putting some of the slats in between the beams.