We were very happy to have some newcomers today. Bob's wife, Yvonne, did a great job for her first time, picking up some tips from Bob.

Jillena sponging the first mortar joint, which has been curing for about an hour. That's Ryan working three rows below.

Yvonne working at floor level in the SW corner.

Jeff cleaning the upper logs from yesterday's chinking.

William and Keith worked right along like seasoned chinking veterans. Rumor has it that William wants a log home of his own some day.

Bob and William working side by side.

Keith using a trowel to push mortar into the lath.

Yvonne did some fantastic work. She must have had a good teacher.

Our fellow LHBA-er, Fletcher, came out in the afternoon and brought his wife, Marcy, and his daughter, Ella. Fletcher got in some good chinking experience and knows how the mortar works with lath, if he ends up using it on his own home.

Jillena working on finishing duty.

Ella loved working with the mortar and is looking forward to chinking her own house.

Marcy and Ella working together on the north wall.

Our finished west wall!

Later in the evening, Jeff and Jillena finished off the mortar joints on the north wall that Fletcher, Ella, and Marcy had worked on earlier. You can see what a difference wiping the joints with a wet sponge can make. The sponge smooths out all impressions left from fingers and knuckles, and also creates a nice feathered edge along the top and bottom.