The morning began cool, and heavy dew drops clung to the grass. Thunder rumbled in the southwest as we checked for the final time the measurements on the post feet and the foundation stones. Would we get rained out on this long-anticipated day? I had been up since first light with my two young sons, doing final preparations before the crew arrived. After a year of studying timber framing, and consultation with other framers, a blueprint had been put together. Another six months were spent, off-and-on as farm work allowed, cutting the 98 white oak timbers that the plan required.