Basement Studies in the Late Afternoon

The late sun made for some fun pictures this afternoon.

I can't wait to show you what I saw at the site today.

I know you've been wondering about the pools on the north lot.  Well, nothing's been going on there for a week.  It appears the plan for the grout pools is to have them disappear by evaporation.  And since Provo is in a desert, that's not a bad idea.  Another week should do it.

The south lot is definitely disappearing.  Evaporation had nothing to do with this, I'm sure.

Track hoes were working in the basement, even though I had arrived close to quitting time.
And I could see some pots in the southeast corner.  What are those?

I was still on University Avenue when I took this picture.  I wanted to get a good look inside the basement.

There are several things to see in this photo.  The framework around the basement is progressing, and there are those pots again.  Of course, there's always a track hoe or two.

I took this photo from the west side.  Not much was happening in the southeast corner.  It's deep, but dry.  

This is a view of the east end from the west.  I could see new framework there.  I'm not sure it goes completely around the basement yet.  I got distracted.

I watched Daddy Track Hoe approach the basement.  I wondered if he had to knock before he went in.  If we played Where's Waldo, you could look for me in this picture.

I'm in love with the track hoes, in case you haven't noticed.  This one was being so careful, slowly reaching in for a scoop of dirt, and then backing up into the south lot.  One scoop at a time.

Look how close he got to the piers.

Obviously the goal is to get the dirt, and nothing but the dirt.

There are several things to see in this picture, too.  Sometimes I don't see it all until I get home, but today, with the sun cooperating, I knew what I was aiming at -- like the trench.  Why is there a trench?  More framework along the basement edges.  There are two track hoes at work, and of course, there is always a red ladder somewhere in the basement.

This workman was scraping the floor, perhaps leveling it.  I could see a transit and had watched him use the shovel, too.  It was a cold day.  I had to wear my coat and I needed my gloves, except I didn't have them.

What's with the pots?  They are arranged nicely on the southwest corner.  I'm pretty sure they are filled with dirt, not cement.

These pots are along the north face -- I'm on the west side.

Two workmen placed these pots in the center of the north side.  Why isn't the framework in a straight line?

You are thinking, "Maybe she could ask her engineer husband what's going on."  Ya, I thought of that.  His suggestions weren't very helpful since I didn't see any cement-making machines in the basement.

And there are a lot more pots, too.

My best guess is that since spring is coming, these are flower pots.

And the trench will bring water for the flowers.

Although I don't think this is just one big greenhouse.

But it is big.

Digging To China

Did your grandfather ever tell you that if you dug deep enough in his backyard, you could dig to China?  No?  Maybe you were better behaved than I was.  But that's what I thought of when I saw the hole under the tabernacle today.   My grandfather was born 10 years before this tabernacle was dedicated, and he grew up to be a civil engineer.  I wish I could have chatted with him as I watched the work, especially the digging on the west side.

It's been a winter with a lot of snow and the water table is gushing.  The blue hose on the left is to drain this new pond.  Notice the red ladder in the center of this photograph, high and dry.

It was 32 degrees at the site this morning.  Workmen were walking through the water, placing hoses and staying busy.  I bet they will be thrilled for spring to come.

These two little track hoes worked on the northwest corner.  Baby Brother carefully excavated the dirt from between the piers, moving it within reach of Teenage Brother, who moved it closer to the center of the basement.

Ultimately the excavated dirt makes its way outside where Daddy Track Hoe and his friend Mr. Dump Truck remove it from the site. 

A test hole has been dug on the southeast corner, and it is filled with water.

This cable running into the tabernacle on the east side is likely an electrical line to run the pumps.

The rocket on the north lot is being installed.  I wonder if they noticed it's upside down.

Several pods have been placed, and the north lot is being turned into a facility to support the red rocket.

This structure east of the rocket is actually three pods around a new building.

I googled the words on the rocket.  Perhaps you have noticed that the tabernacle is in need of some serious foundation work, and it appears help is on the way. 

However, all winter a yellow rocket has been sitting quietly on the south lot.

Today I took a closer look.

This company  builds portable cement silos.  It looks like there's a solid plan for the foundation. 

I hope everyone knows what they are doing.

Snowy Day at the Temple

It was 18 degrees and snowing when I arrived at the site this morning.  It was easy to see from the northeast corner that the piers have now all been exposed.

I could see completely under the temple from the southeast corner.  

The machines were just waking up.  A little track hoe and front end loader were digging and moving dirt in the northeast corner.

A welder was working on the supports for the piers.  That might be a nice job on a day like today.

Work was just starting with the drill rig.  I will watch this -- I can't speculate yet.

A thick blanket of snow covered everything.