Jeff tried using plywood guides with plumb bobs again, in an attempt to get the rough opening as square as possible.

Both guides are in place, set a fraction of an inch wider to allow room for the chainsaw.

The guides proved to help cut a nice straight line vertical line.

The right edge looks good. All the full log pieces have been removed, except the next one up which has pins in it.

After cutting out this next piece, it remained suspended by three pins. When two of the three were cut through, Jeff secured it with a ratchet strap so it could be safely lowered down...

...and eventually sent down the outside of the house.

Next, the kerf cuts were made in the header log...

...then the chunks broken out to expose the three pins that needed to be cut back.

Then the pins were cut and ground down with the angle grinder and the log surface ground down with the chainsaw.

The opening is almost finished. Just the sill log to work on now.

All kerf cuts made...

...and chunks broken out.

This is where Jeff quit for the day. All that's left is to cut the sill pins down.

A look across the first floor at our dining room area.