CONstruction not DEstruction

Finally! Building things other than pipes below ground gives us the feeling we're getting somewhere.
The most important step in building a deck is the ledger board - the first board. The ledger is bolted to the house and must be absolutely level and straight. Pick the best board you can find! Every bolt hole is predrilled and each joist location is marked before the ledger is installed. Once the ledger is up, only one side of every joist hanger is nailed using a 6 inch long joist scrap as a guide.
You can't see this from the street, but isn't it pretty?

Now I need to create a temporary structure to hold everything in place and allow access.

Now there's momentum! Because the joist hangers have been located and the temp frame is level, I literally connect only one end of the joist to the hanger and let the other end rest on the temp frame. The ends will be cut to length and receive the rim joist. The temp frame will come down after the beam and posts have been attached and the concrete is poured in the tubes.

Excellent progress being made.
The same day the temp frame was constructed, the forms for the footer were set. 

The next day, while I put up some of the joists, Chuck finished the footer by adding the rebar. Chuck is brilliant and patient.

All finished last Saturday, the footer inspection was yesterday and passed without a hitch. 
OF COURSE IT RAINED LAST NIGHT AND WE GOT 2 INCHES IN 20 MINUTES!!
Peacefully, concrete is being delivered today. Sweet.