The Full Monty

 Well, it's that time again. It has been quite a slow fortnight as far as progress is concerned but, in other ways, it has also been a significant period. I have had my first guests, Janet and Stuart Doyle who came for Easter. They arrived bearing gifts of wine and a delicious home made Dundee cake and during their stay made up for my appalling lack of preparation by donating a much needed tea pot and coffee maker.

Stuart helped me by putting two coats of stain on all the shelves in the study and when Janet wasn't busy working in the kitchen she found time to help unpack all my books, dust them off and put them on the shelves. What a splendid job she did too. They are now far better organised than they have ever been. Stuart even made a step, so I will be able to reach the top shelf without standing on a chair.

If that wasn't enough, at the end of a long and tiring day Stuart helped me bring up the two, two seater sofas from the basement that I brought over from the UK. These are over thirty years old and are still in excellent condition, if in need of a little polish/nourishment.

Stuart and Janet left on Monday morning to visit their daughter Jeniffer in Banf for lunch on their 10 hour journey home to Whitecourt in northern Alberta. It was great to see them and I look forward to their next visit, which I hope won't involve any work at all. Thanks guys, you are the best.

I spent the rest of the time finishing off this side of the cabin, light work while my hands heal.

I put doors on the side board and some of the lower shelving in the study area and continued the exciting process of unpacking boxes that I packed up three years ago. I also put up a row of smaller shelves to house my CD music collect.

At this point the temptation to interrupt the work in the study in order to set up my stereo system was too great. After all, three years is a long time to go without quality music and part of the fantasy of building this cabin here was to look out of this window at the wonderful view of the lake and the Rockies accompanied by Motzart, Sibelius, Bach, Vivaldi, Mancini, Straus and co ……..

It has taken my appreciation of both this place and their music to a different level. Achieving it wasn't as straight forward as just setting up the stereo. I had to put in a 220 volt power supply which I floor mounted. Frankly, it was just too difficult to now put the socket in the logs.

So, to the accompaniment of genius beyond my comprehension, I set to work with renewed inspiration at chinking the rest of the logs in the dining area and hanging a few more pictures. The desk will probably move when I get around to making the dining room table but, it looks fine where it is for the time being between 'The Camp of the 4th Division' and 'Marlene Dietrich'.

Much time was then spent doing the finishing touches like staining the doors, putting an architrave above the book shelves and unpacking the rest of my boxes. The latter was a cross between Christmas and a trip down memory lane. Each book, photograph, plaque, decanter and ornament had a story to tell as it came out of the box and I found a place for it to go.

I must have moved everything at least three times and will probably rearrange it all again before it is finally done. But, the cabin is finally beginning to feel like home and …..

….. at last I have been able to start living in the rest of the house. For the past six months I have virtually been living in my bedroom but, now I can relax and enjoy other parts of the cabin.

I bought some rugs to make the place feel a little more comfortable and to protect the floor boards from excessive wear.

The final piece was getting my computer set up on the desk in the corner. The challenge here was to get an effective internet connection in an area of the cabin where the signal strength on my iPhone is only one bar. I had to install a booster system that involved external and internal antennae and seventy feet of co-axial cable.

The strongest signal in the house is in my bedroom and so I put the external antenna on the roof above it.

The internal one I put above the desk. I could probably have put it in a place where I would get a larger area coverage but, it would be more conspicuous and I also wanted the strongest signal directly over the desk area. Anyway, where I was getting one bar, I now have five bars. Well worth the money and effort.

The summer bird migration is well under way. Most of the birds have been back for about a month now, including the robins, but, 'mine' have not returned or at least are not nesting at the cabin yet. The geese are here, the same two pairs fighting over the best spots on the cliff facing the front of the cabin. The ospreys are already sitting on eggs in their large nests.

Last year the humming birds arrived exactly on queue on 1st May so, this year I had my humming bird feeder all cleaned and filled ready for them. Only, despite the temperature this week rising to 30c, they haven't arrived yet. Well it's ready for them when they get here and, as I have put it right outside one of my windows, I hope I will get plenty of opportunities to photograph them - wish I had a better camera.

As you all know I am partial, upon occasion, to a good old (out of fashion) English breakfast and that the proper ingredients are hard to come by over here. Well, I was wondering through my local supermarket, unusually taking my time to browse the shelves, when I happened across some back bacon and some good old fashioned pork bangers. The temptation was too great and so I went on to look for some tomatoes, mushrooms and eggs. The only thing I couldn't find was some black pudding (blood sausage for the un-initiated) and so went to a special meats seller in Cranbrook whom I thought might have some. Sadly, I was informed that since a law was introduced about two years ago, banning products made with blood, it is no longer available. The nanny state gone made - what would we do without them! Probably live happier lives.

The Full Monty. 
I know a breakfast like this every morning is probably not conducive to a long life but, at least I would die happy.

The pace of work this fortnight has remained slow, not helped by the fact that within two hours of having the stitches out last Saturday I managed to burst the wound open again. I resisted the temptation to go back and have it sown up again and resorted instead to my trusted roll of duct tape. The good news is that I don't think it will be long, about I week I hope, before I can get back on with the main bathroom.

Despite the slow pace this fortnight, I feel that another small milestone has been passed. All but four of my boxes are now unpacked. The last four contain only large glass Japanese fishing buoys that will decorate the bar or the deck, I haven't decided which yet. So, they can remain where they are for the time being. For all intents and purposes therefore, all my possessions are now out and available to me. This gives me a feeling that although the cabin is not yet finished, I have now completed my move. The journey, so to speak, is not yet over but, the transient nature of my life over the last few years feels like it is coming to an end. The uncomfortable period of limbo is fading.

Psychologically, this is an important milestone. As most readers of this blog are aware, this project has been part philosophy and part therapy. It has now mostly fulfilled its element of therapy. In all honesty, time has probably been the main healer but, the project has kept my mind and body occupied while time has healed the wounds. As I complete the work on the cabin (above the basement) over the next few weeks I will start to think about the future, travel and exploration.

The Last of the Summer Wine

I thought I would post slightly early this fortnight. I have Stuart and Janet Doyle visiting for Easter and I thought it would be a good idea to get this out of the way before they arrive later today (Friday).

I had to change my plans half way through the period. I started off resuming work on the main bathroom, while I waited for the quartz slabs for the kitchen counter tops to arrive from Calgary.

I ran all the wiring for the underfloor heating and then boxed in the bath and walls around it ready for tiling. I remembered to turn the water supply to the bath on just in time before sealing it in or I would have had to cut a hole in the fibre board, which I may do anyway.

That done I put the sink in. This is the same one as is in the two piece bathroom downstairs and it will match the colour scheme in here, which is going to be black and white.

I then cut and fitted the Schluter shower tray into the shower alcove and connected up the drain.

At this point Don, one of my neighbours, phoned to say that he was arriving a day early to install the slabs in the kitchen. I rose early the next day to move the car, ready for Don to back his truck up to the front door to make it easier to unload the slabs. While I was at it, I decided to take some rubbish down to the dump.

To cut a long story short, for a small price in bone, blood and flesh, I managed to retrieve this set of elk antlers from the bottom of the dumpster and they will go nicely on one of the walls of the cabin. Next time I tell this story I'll show the scars and will probably add a bit - like how I had to fight off a cougar and a bear to get them. I was never one to let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Anyway after a trip to the hospital to get patched up and sparing the Doctor in ER the truth about how I came about my injuries, I managed to get to the airport to pick up my neighbours, Luis and Nona, who had flown in from Mexico via Galgary and get back out to the cabin just in time to watch Don finish installing the slabs in the kitchen.

He did a splendid job, which is probably what you would expect from Don, who always aspires to the highest standards in whatever he does. 

I spent the next couple of days plumbing in the sink and the dishwasher, slowed down only a bit by bandages and splints. Bar the splash plate on the wall above the counters, the kitchen is now finished. The splash plate will have to wait until my hands are healed up.

To celebrate, I cooked myself my first proper meal in the kitchen, a stir fry - come on, what did you expect, a full roast!

I washed it down with the last of the summer wine.

Unable to resume work in the bathroom out of a need to keep my hands dry, I have started work on the 'home office' at the other end of the cabin. I have a few shelves built already and no doubt Stuart Doyle will help me stain them and fill them with books. I will probably build an angled desk in the corner.

Well that's it, the Doyle's will be here shortly. Until next time ….

The House of the Rising Sun

Since my last posting I have worked almost exclusively on the kitchen.

It took three days to make all the doors and draw fronts but, I have yet to decide how to finish them. I think I am going to follow the advice of a close friend and wait until the counter top is in and will live with them for a couple of weeks before deciding how they should be finished. The architrave on the top of the wall cabinets is in place as is the kick board under the base units. I have also finished the under counter lighting and the trim under the wall cabinets to hide the lights from direct view.

My neighbour, Don Burton, whom some will recall supplied and installed the quartz top for the en suite bathroom vanity, came over last weekend to measure up for the counter top. He made a template out of hard plastic sheets which he joined to together with masking tape and took away with him to Calgary to have the top cut out of the same quartz, which will be a good match for the island top.

I did have my heart set on a copper cowling for the hood fan but, after eight months of waiting for it from the supplier with no sign of them actually getting down to making it, I decided to go with a glass and stainless steel one from Ikea. It isn't as nice and doesn't really suit the rustic look I was trying to achieve but, as compromises go, I can't really complain. BC tradesmen and suppliers can be a bit like Caribbean islanders. It is often mañana, which really means maybe next year if I feel like doing anything, which is also probably unlikely.

In case you are wondering. I didn't want stone on the island, which doubles as a kitchen table. I wanted something softer for eating off and sitting at to be sociable. However, it does mean that I will have to provide some protection for the wood, especially either side of the gas hob (cooker) and ….

…. that is why I have put these grills in place. There will also be some cut offs from the quartz slab I have bought for the counter top and Don his having some chopping boards/protection plates made out of them. Bye the way, the blue saucepan was the first food to be cooked on the hob - you've guessed it - boiled eggs.

You have probably noticed the ironing board in the background of the previous picture and I bought this because I had to shorten some curtains for the internal windows in the bedrooms. With the days getting longer, guests due at Easter and the house facing the  "rising sun", I felt curtains were now needed. Off the shelf curtains here come in two sizes, 96 or 84 inches.

The 84s are just right for the long windows but, ….

…. far too long for the internal ones so they had to be shortened. Actually, I didn't sow them. I bought iron-on tape and did a much better job than if I had attempted it with a needle and thread. I can sow my own "blue jeans" but my needle work just isn't good enough for this type of work. 

Anyway, red for ….

…. bedroom number 2 and …..

…. chocolate brown for the master.

There is still quite a lot of work to do in the kitchen. I hope that the counter top will arrive next weekend and then I can get on with the back plate. The ceiling needs decorating, some panelling is still required and I want to put some small shelves on the wall cabinet ends either side of the window. The panelling however will have to wait because, would you believe it, I have run out of wood. I have some on order from Macdonald's Mill but, I don't know yet when this will be ready. I hope that I will be able to pick it up next week.

There have been two more sighting of the cougar. It is now confirmed that it is a female and that she has two cubs. I am concerned for her because the threat she posses to children and small domestic animals almost certainly means that she will be killed. I wish she would find another place to raise her family.

On a lighter note, I went to see a play last night - The Foreigner by Larry Shue. It was put on by the Cranbrook Community Theatre, a small amateur unit that works out of an old Masonic Temple building. The theatre, which is upstairs, seats 88 people and the stage is very small but, don't be deceived, the productions are very professional and this one was very entertaining. They have their own Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cranbrook-Community-Theatre/280798644410?fref=ts) which is worth a glance if you are interested. I will certainly be going to any future productions.

Coming together

PS. Older, 'Animals' fans, will understand the link between the title of this post and certain words in the text that are in between quotation marks. Younger readers might want to google "Animals - The House of the Rising Sun" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgTSfJEf_jM&list=RDMgTSfJEf_jM

Cooking on gas

It has been a mixed fortnight. Some good work achieved and some preparation in the form of planning and buying resources. There have also been a couple of distractions which have delayed me but, nothing serious.

I started off by finishing the floor on the ground level, which included sanding it all down and clear staining it. The same for the island top only I put a mahogany stain on before clear coating. I also made another four stools. I'll probably replace these later with something more elaborate but, they will do for now. At least I can now prepare and eat my food in the kitchen.

I also took the wraps off the Sofas that have been standing idle for several weeks and ……

….. pushed them into the middle of the room.

Having got the floor done, I then turned my attention to the kitchen and after a day or so of planning bought the cabinets (less doors which I will make myself) and went up to Ikea in Calgary to get the appliances. Nine hours driving there and back in a day and through all four seasons. People in shorts and T shirts in Calgary and snow in the mountain passes crossing the Rockies.

Fortunately, I had a hand with the appliances at both ends of the journey and now they are all sitting safely in the dining area waiting to be installed.

Bob, the gas man, came back and connected up the cook top and so now I am cooking on gas.

I have made a start putting the cabinets together and this evening I had friends around for drinks before going over to their place for dinner.

While in Ikea I spotted a grass rug and used a gift voucher they gave me to buy it and a couple of smaller ones for the bedrooms.

I also made a coffee table out of wood left over from the island and unpacked a couple of things to go on it. Actually, it is not a coffee table because I don't drink coffee. It is a foot table so you can put your feet up when sitting on the sofas and not be embarrassed because your feet don't touch the ground.

Trust me, I'm a doctor, these sofas are big

There are still a lot of animals around at the moment, deer, elk and mating eagles mostly. I was pointing out to a friend the tree on the hill behind the cabin where I watched a pair of eagles mating this time last year when, don't you know, probably the same pair appeared again and did the same thing. We were both dumb founded that I should be telling him the story when they came back. I don't know what it is about that tree, it must have some special meaning for them. The first grizzly is up, apparently, but I haven't seen him.

I have been busy socially as well, having friends around for drinks last weekend and this and have been in high demand for my wit and charm for diner parties. It has been nice, at last, to be able to return some of the warm hospitality that has been shown to me over the last couple of years, albeit only for drinks but, it won't be too long now however before I can invite people over for something to eat as well. OMG I'm going to have to sharpen up my culinary skills.

Living the Dream

I am pleased to report that the flooring of the main cabin ground level went very well. The start was delayed because I chose to wait until my friend, Ron Cavers, was available to help me and that gave me time to get all the wood prepared (squared off and best side selected). Ron is a professional floor installer and he very kindly offered to help me lay the floor. Being a professional, he has all the knowledge and specialist tools that I lack and therefore it all went pretty flawlessly (lol) and took much less time than it would have taken me to do it by myself.

I managed to get all the preparation stuff done before Ron arrived, so little time as wasted. We made a pretty slick team as I cut the lengths and handed them to Ron who nailed them to the floor. There were a few places where some jig-saw cuts were required, around the fire place and air vents etc, and this slowed things down a little but in the end it took us only three and a half days to actually lay the floor. The preparation took about the same time so all in all it took about a week worth's of work or 10 man days. I'm guessing but if I had had to do it all by myself I honestly believe it would have taken my at least four weeks. Thank you Ron.

The view of the Great Room from the landing.

Looking from the study area across the Great Room to the kitchen.

From the dining area to the Great Room ….

…. and back again.

From the prow into the kitchen.

And finally from the Bar into prow

I have already filled the small gaps that needed filling and tomorrow I plan to hire a floor sander to sand it all down and then I will clear stain it. I estimate that it will take me a week to get all that done.

I also finished constructing the Island top and cut out the opening for the gas (propane) cook top.

Note the prototype stool for the Island.

I am going to stain the top a mahogany colour to provide some contrast in the kitchen. If I don't like it, I can always darken it. 

I have trial fitted the cook top and it fits very snuggly into the hole. I'll get that connected up as soon as I have sanded, stained and finish coated the top

As concurrent activity I also managed it little more work in the main bathroom.

I have started work on constructing the vanity cabinet where the hand basin will be .…

and finished the ceiling, including …..

…. staining the beams, caulking the joints and installing the light/fan over the shower.

This weekend has been full of fun and games and it was our turn to have some flooding. Wednesday it decided to rain all day and all night when it was so heavy it woke me up and kept me awake for two hours. With the ground still frozen and snow still on the ground the water had nowhere to go but run off the mountain. It came down in cascades, flooded across the Development road in several places and onto some peoples' properties. Two owners had their basements flooded and two had their garages inundated. I had a tiny amount of water in my garage, which seeped under one of the doors but, I was able to sweep that out without difficulty. I also had to shovel some wet snow away from the garage apron and that stopped the water coming into the garage. I had more water in there from the snow on the quad tyres after bringing in another load of firewood.

I was very lucky but spent much of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday helping others and organising earth works to divert water away from peoples properties. We were very lucky to have Ryan Gillard, who ploughs our road on hand with his excavator to dig channels and build berms because without him others would have been flooded.

This is Lyle's front yard today. You can see the water mark on the trees that tells you the water level was more than a foot higher than it is here and flooded his basement and garage. Lyle was pretty philosophical about it and remarked 'so much for living the dream'.