Well, it’s possible, and that’s the best I can say about the experience.

I’m beginning to understand why lumber is so expensive

I didn’t really think dragging this slab with a 25-yo Will It Start™️ riding mower was going to work! It was a question of wheel traction vs plywood friction on wet yard

I guess I’ve called my bluff, I have a feeling that may have been the easy part 😬

Weighed the slab, it’s about 110lbs – and half of that could be water, maybe more. It’s going to need to dry out quite a bit before it’s usable. #whoamongus

suspicions confirmed. sources say drying this could take up to [checks notes] two years?

I forgot to update this! Over the winter I drilled two ~parallel holes at ~right angles into the fireplace, discovering a brick structural layer behind the mortar, then glued 12" threaded lag bolts with the ends chopped off into the holes.

Then I drilled two ~matching holes at ~right angles into the slab and hoisted it up onto the bolts. Turned out that the holes were too ~, so I hoisted it back down to adjust the holes. Approximately 30 times.