June 8th

We had great materials success FINALLY… we hope. We found a local product that seems like the ticket! Donna made a sample, and I used her leftovers to cover some of my rocks. It seems to respond similarly to our US product. We are very happy!

But the truck drivers and engineers looked at Donna’s HUGE foam and scratched their heads a lot. It is looking like they want a hole down through the center… YIKES! This would have been easier as she built it, but I am optimistic that we can lay the huge sculpture down and drill through it for a helecopter hook. We fashioned a pipe into a drill and had adequate success:

We had a lot of fun shopping! The carts here are made for narrow aisles! They have FOUR swiveling wheels. It is wierd at first, but once you get the idea, WHAT dexterity.

June 7th

Today started at 6:50. I set out all my needs for the move up the mountain. The truck arrive promptly at 7am. Lovely and crisp morning. a stunning drive back up the s curves to the site.

The loading and off loading were most professionally handeled.

I was again thoroughy thrilled with the site I had decided on. It has a long vista as one approaches, and a spectacular outline against the glaciated mountains beyond.

I had Jerome, one of the French fluent assistants, to help me and he was a great worker. We beat ourselves up diggeing in the tough soil. deep slots followed the contour of the piece.

Then we mixed cement to secure the piece as rain slipped over us. We caught the 12:30 lift down off the mountain and arrived to hot plates opf food saved for us. I still have several hard days getting the piece covered with cement and then stained. The site is steep and so I will need to spend a day building a scaffold so I can reach the higher places. I will catch a ride up the mountain on the lift and return similarly. The view and ride are exceptional. What a place to work!

Donna had a great day getting solutions to our materials dilema and doing the final shaping on the skirt ruffels, feet and lower areas. Now she will work her way up the shape cleaning up details as she awaits the new material.

June 5th & 6th

Sunday June 5th was a bit flat. We got to the tent early as usual (we generally start before 8, most others arrive by lunch...) We had a lovely dinner party at Maddy's the night before, and the key was not in place... Perhaps the mood made others a bit forgetful. Donna had work, but I mostly putzed about. After lunch the key showed and I got some work done. We had a hard pour midmorning, clouds the rest of the day, but both of us got work done.

Monday JUNE 6 was a serious work day. Donna cut out her monument's lovely feet and just as the day closed... popped out the sawzall and trimmed in the ruffel for the dress! So close -- so cool.

I played with my steel curlyques and the welder.

I built a base for it that will go into the ground to secure it in place:

The cement guys brought us the wrong materials completely. Even with good translation, it was frustrating. I finally went down to the factory to chat about acrylic additives and glass fiber with my laptop in hand. I don't know how it works, but when I google it comes back in English, but when they google on their computer it comes back in French!

Finally, one of our local helpers brought me to a stunning mountain ravine to gather saplings for our burning sculpture. The tree selection is less than premium. I got a small collection -- less than half I need, but I might have to make due...

We continue to eat like hogs. The food is basically home prepared for kings and served at a small pub directly across form our work tent. It is HARD not to eat too much.

On thing that continues to give us a chuckle is the "size" decision one is faced with daily when flushing:

June 4th

Today was a nice day. We both worked hard - but Donna worked harder!

She has attacked the legs.

I worked on ideas. First in foam...

Then in REAL rocks....

Then I started bending up for the new piece...

June 3rd

We had a great day today. Donna knawed on her piece with persistence, getting the left side to match all she did yesterday. I cranked on the wire tying and discovered I was hugely along. By midday I was DONE!

Now I need to arrange for a truck to drive the steel armature up the mountain so I can set it in place, dug a footer and cement it in place. Then I will spend two long days mixing cement and covering the structure with a thin layer making a strong but some what flexible piece.

Freed up for the afternoon I began a new idea...

A little rain fell in the afternoon, but it stopped in time for a world class hike! We went further up the mountain and saw a world we both are falling in love with.

June 2nd

The snow lingered today! But we had a good day of work in the tent. I am doing the chicken wire and it is tedious and meticulous work. Every layer needs to be securely tied to the steel structure so as to keep the overall thickness as minimal as possible. I expect to move up to the mountain next week and then secure the piece and cement it in place. It will be a great experience to be up above tree line for many days of hard work!

Donna keeps up the careful shaping that makes her piece a daily joy to observe.

June 1st SNOW!!

We woke up to 4" of snow today. The tent is drippy and chilly. This place is WILD!