We are at the wood buying stage of the program. Yesterday, we started shoring up the cottage. Greg took some of the old studs and made them into supports for the big manufactured beam that "holds up" the second floor at the back of the house. The beam is almost 1/2" an inch off level and only had two 2 x 6" boards holding direct weight. Greg put in two more post and hammered them into the others and now, one end of the beam is perfectly supported. This will be important when we jack up the other end of the beam so that more load will be transferred. Before we do that though, we have to put in a proper support post underneath the house, directly under the wacky column that "supports" the manufactured beam. The existing column sits squarely on the floor board between two joists and has nothing underneath to support it, like a foundation wall. So, we bought a concrete pill which I dug into place and then tomorrow, I will cut the 6 x 6" support column and wack it into place. I think this should do wonders for the stability of the house.
Pictures of the work tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!