Two by fours and celery sticks

The temporary header (new wood) will allow the stairs and the old studs to be removed, along with the main floor.

 I-35 South was a parking lot this morning, it was totally closed off at the Dundas exit, which is where Stan was going anyway, but this was ridiculous. Apparently ice on the road caused some major accident down by Faribault or something. So Stan was plenty grumpy by the time he finally showed up for work at Jennifer's house. By now, Jen was at her job so Stan was on his own.

This floor will go away. You're looking through a hole
to the basement floor, which is now supporting part of the
second floor. . . for the time being.

Today's assignment was a temporary header to carry the load from the second story down to the basement. This will make it possible to remove all the wall partitions and the main floor. This weekend trusses will be installed and a new floor laid. (God willing)
Despite the freezing weather, the work went well in the unheated project area. No wind, sunshine through the window and a double pair of jeans did the trick.
Kathleen had packed a lunch for her man to go with the hot coffee in the rugged Stanley thermos. The surprise brown bag highlight, in a humorous nod to nostalgia, was a bundle of individually wrapped celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter.
To make it really nostalgic, Kathleen had wound each one, around and around, in old-fashioned waxed paper.
The grumpy old workman couldn't help but laugh.