The form  and reinforcing for our hearth is all ready for concrete.  The metal flashing for the front edge should create a smooth surface. The inset at the bottom of the form is in place.  This “negative space” will create the illusion that the hearth is floating above the floor. Tim from Newport  Readymix showed up with a yard of concrete. (He backed up the entire length of our driveway).   It was sure nice not having to mix it ourselves.This is where Erik & Eric came in.  They shuttled the concrete into the house via wheelbarrows.  And we proceeded to fill up the form.  Thanks guys, we couldn’t have done it without your help.Some screeding and troweling and………….Voila!…..The pipe sticking out is to provide combustion air from the outside for the wood stove. The orange think sticking out of the concrete will leave a slot for Jeff’s fire poker.  After about seven hours of setting, we scrubbed off the top surface to create an exposed aggregate look,  and this is the result………

I can’t wait to remove the forms to see how the rest of the hearth looks.  But that will be some time yet.