Üttingen – Day Four

Took it pretty easy today. Ingrid didn't have any big trips planned, it being Monday and all (most museums and whatnots are closed on Mondays in Germany, a fact we found out the last time we tried to see the Franconian Museum in Festung Marienberg). So instead I went and helped Jens with his house for a while. He and Martin are both finishing new houses for their new families (oddly enough, they are right next to each other, too). What I found really cool was that the construction process was kept all within the family, as in they actually built it themselves.

Freider originally was a stone-mason who then studied to be an architect, so he drafted the blueprints and oversaw the foundation and framing (keep in mind that most of the construction of German homes is done with stone/cement, not wood as it is in the US). Martin actually builds roofs for a living, so he was able to oversee the construction of all of the wood-work and the tile-work for the roofs (Germans don't use tar-based shingles like you see on most US houses, but rather clay shingles that will last through armageddon). The interior wooden stairs (and other wood-work) were built by one of Ingrid's brothers who happens to be a carpenter, and all of the bathroom work (including tiles covering all the walls, floor and ceiling) was done by Jens' father-in-law who happens to be a plumber. The only thing that they didn't do themselves was the electric wiring. But seriously, can you say "practical application of career choice"?

Oh, and I helped paint. And put in a door frame, but mostly I just held the level.

For dinner Ingrid organized a BBQ at Jens' current house (the new one isn't finished enough to move into yet), which, for the record, is also where her youngest brother lives with his family. I remember spending quite a bit of time playing over with his eldest sons, Lukas and Hanes, earlier on. The BBQ was well attended by about twenty or so people. It was a lot of fun. We set up a couple of the traditional German festival tables right out on the sidewalk (they have a wide sidewalk) and played tennis in the street (it isn't a very busy street). It made for a really great night with friends and family.

So with that said, "Maybe they will all come over and build me a house?".