Trudy Elliott, left, does the “raise the wall” dance along with Lea Williams, center, and Heather Barker as they prepare to help lift a framed wall during Habitat for Humanity National Women Build Week in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

Sean Blankenship watched with anticipation as the exterior walls went up on his new Habitat for Humanity house Tuesday afternoon. The single dad hopes to move into the three-bedroom home in Coeur d’Alene this fall with his four school-aged children. “I love this neighborhood with the older-style homes,” Blankenship said. “There’s hardly any traffic, so I won’t have to worry about the kids riding their bikes.” He also had words of praise for the framing crew. “These ladies are really nice. They’re having fun, and I’m having fun,” Blankenship said. About 60 female volunteers will swing hammers, run saws and tote 2-by-4s on Blankenship’s future home as part of National Women Build Week. The event is sponsored by Lowe’s, which is contributing $5,000 toward construction costs/Becky Kramer, SR. More here.

Question: Do you know how to swing a hammer?