It's a beautiful day.

Friday was a very gloomy day.  Probably the worst day we have seen in three weeks here.  It was windy and rainy and gloomy.  We also had the hand of Big Brother smack us up the backside.  The bureaucracy is probably what sends people back to Alberta, rather than the weather.  We found out we had to have a hazard assessment done on the house if it was built before 1990.  We had most of the gyproc out of the house and off to the dump, only a small amount left in the entryway to preserve some of the temperature in the house.  We now have to hold off any construction until that is professionally abated of a very minimal amount of the asbestos in the joint filler.  It is considered to be a high hazard job to take down the ceiling,  and will involve gas masks, hazmat suits and portable outside showers after two to three hours work.  We should be up and running again by Wednesday.

The appliances have been chosen and the windows have been ordered.
    

Destruction and construction are happening simultaneously and faster than I can flash the camera.

The bobcat was here this morning back filling the foundation posts.  Now it looks like this.

Before I knew it siding was flying off the side of the house.  Believe me that there is a very thin layer in between the inside and the outside. 

Today I went to do some more social networking.  Got the right place but on the wrong day.  Grrr.
That gives me something to look forward to next week. 

The weather today was sunny, cloudy and cool for here.  I heard on the radio of a snow warning for this evening, about 5 cm.  I think that after I heard that, I immediately started to feel cold and cranky.  I just went outside though and the weather hasn't really changed from the morning.  I took a closer look out in the back garden.  The snowdrops are beginning to bloom and there are some little blue flowers as well, I think maybe harebells.  Downtown the flower beds are full of daffodils in bloom.  I love picking up bunches of tulips from outside the grocery store, on the street.  Our neighbor has a cherry tree in bloom.  We have several flowering trees and shrubs, but I am not quite sure what they are or when they are in bloom.  I thought that the tree in the front yard was about to bloom as it was looking quite red.  Unfortunately it fell victim to the bobcat.  It was destined for removal in order that we can widen the driveway a bit.  From the picture above it looks like all driveway, but it is very narrow and a lot of fun for me to back out of it.

Almost forgot the weather picture

Posts and beams

Today's weather, started out glorious and sunny, still sunny but some clouds moving through.

We took a drive out into the country to pick up the posts and beams for the front decks.   We got lost and had a nice drive through the woodlands, seeing little communities and acreages.  Finally, getting in the right direction we loaded up and came away with this.

Which will go on top of these.

Meanwhile John continues with the framing in of the new walls upstairs.  Setting up the posts and beams will be a big step forward.  At the same time, parts of the backyard and patio are getting cleaned up and torn down.  We will start hacking away at the vegetation that is growing in close to the house and start to expose the bones of the terracing.  Our good helper Ronnie loves doing that sort of job as well.  This man is better than gold. 

Great step forward today.

The footings are now poured and should be ready to go in a couple of days.  Later this week we will get the douglas fir posts that will support the decks.  Hopefully framing of the front decks and roofs will start on Friday.  John is adding his professional touches here.

Nail pulling and plywood laying are continuing upstairs.  The screw gun should be operational shortly so dog and cat will be running for cover.

The weather report today, showeres on and off with wind (not Lethbridge wind)

Demolition derby

This

has become this

Resulting in this

The upstairs has been completely stripped.  We had such a mess in here on Friday.  The furnace has been turned off and we are relying on the gas fireplace downstairs for warmth.  We have electric baseboard heaters in the bedrooms.  We are amazed about how comfortable we actually are in our small space down here.  Housecleaning takes moments.  I have not been affected by dust down here and now that all the stuff is out of upstairs, less debris will be tracked into our suite. 

Approvals have been given on our earthquake footings, which look like this.

Weekend weather

Rain, rain go away

Today's weather

The weatherman has predicted showers and drizzle on and off for the next few days.  Also wind, which here means 50-70 k.

Work continues on the earthquake boxes.  I heard on the news this morning that two earthquakes were recorded west of Ucluelet, which is due west of us.  We may slide down to waterfront property before we know it.

We went out for our Valentine Dinner last night.  The restaurant was Greek and the best rated restaurant according to Trip Advisor.  The meal was excellent and the atmosphere lovely.   

A good day for this. 

Today's weather

Today John is struggling with building earthquake resistant footings for the decks which involves a lot of wood, rebar, tubing and cement.

I started my community networking today.  I went to the afternoon quilt guild meeting.  The meetings are held at a church quite close to us.   There was a wonderful array of slightly out of shape, grey haired ladies with a great deal of enthusiasm.  I made connections with the applique society lady and a lady that co-ordinates sattelite groups.  All of the groups are at capacity, but spaces should open up in September.  Applique is really strong here and there is an interest in embellishment of applique and quilts in general. 

Gophers?

One of th excavations for the footings.  It was quite difficult to dig these holes, unlike Alberta where it is dirt.  There are rocks consistently the size of bowling balls interspresed in the dirt.

We have entirely gutted the interior of the upstairs.  We did not intend to go this far but we realized that the insulation was really not up to standard plus we encountered several ant nests.  In the long run the walls will be more accessible to the electrician and plumber, which will reduce their time on the job.  Replacing insulation and not having to patch drywall will also be better in the long run.

We have to give a lot of credit for the progress of the renovation to Ronnie.  Ronnie is John's helper.  He was referred to us by a local builder who used to work in Lethbridge.  He has a learning disability of some sort, but he works like a machine.  He loves to work, he cleans up immaculately.  He cannot be counted on to measure anything and adamantly states that he wants no responsiblity, and knows his limits.  He comes here on the bus every morning and we make him lunch.  He is so keen, he feels guilty stopping for a cup of tea.  He admires John  because he keeps up the pace and is pretty energetic for an old guy.  He also gives John all sorts of advice on the proper management of the dumpsters.  We cannot throw just anything into the dumpster, construction materials and garbage must be kept separate.  He also tells John that he has to cover stuff up so the junk does not absorb wet from the rain, thus increasing the weight of the load.  He took awhile to come to us because he does not trust new people.  He has been stiffed on a day's pay a few times.  He is on a disability pension and can only earn a limited amount of money, and people have used that as a threat against him.

Today's weather

I should wait until later in the day.  Yesterday afternoon was gloriously sunny, we anticipate some sun this afternoon, and definitely a lot for tomorrow.

Today's view and weather.

There goes the driveway, prep now for the footings for the support posts for the decks.

In the pink.

View through the living room, stairwell, ensuite and master bedroom.

Soon this will be history.

The original owner loved roses.  She had rose decals everywhere, up the stairs, on the ceiling on the window sills. 



Needless to say we are making progress.  The weather and view today. 

Our thoughts for the month of February were to get organized, line up some help and start working on the exterior first. Unfortunately, the excavating crew seems slow to come, and we were able to pick up laborer and a couple of framers looking for work and start immediately.  We are still window shopping.  We found one window supplier that was less expensive, but his attitude was to change the window sizes and appearance.  We did not like this approach, as we paid an architect good money to get the appearance  both inside and outside to be consistent. 

I have continuous crashing and banging overhead.  The poor cat spends her day under the lazyboy.

Today they plan to strip all of the drywall and take down any more walls that will be changed.  So  far the demolition has really opened up the space and we can see the possiblities.  The house was built as a box with no bearing walls, so we are able to really open things up. 

Speechless

Speechless

This was Friday

Window shopping

Today we have rain, but it is warmish.  We went window shopping today (literally).  Because I had to sit around and wait for man talk to happen, John took me out for lunch.  Today we are having fireplace repair done by a couple of young characters.  We have run into quite a few characters and they seem to all be having a really great time and really enjoying their work. 

Yard work

Today

Yesterday

The blog did not cooperate and swallowed yesterday.  We have a lot of organizing to do and some shopping to attend, trying to get me connected with a cell phone and gathering infomation on the city.  The city has a very extensive recycling program that runs curbside.   Having been used to one bin does it and a garburator, now we have to sort it out into four different categories in four different receptacles.  The newest feature is a green bin that recycles everything from bones, to scrapings to snotty kleenexes.

We had a visit from Alison and Darian.  They commented that we are now living like university  students (at least we have a little more money and will not starve) .  We went out for dinner with them and then they returned to Victoria.

Down to business.

Today we are starting to behave like a construction company, phone calls coming in and phone calls going out.  We have people scheduled to come by and look at the first job which entails demolishing the driveway and front steps.

I hear a chain-saw.  Dare I look.  John came in a moment ago and commented on his hands being a little bloody.  He was out "pruning " brambles with a machete. 

Saved by the cable guy

Halfway there

Kamloops! Great drive, lots of sunshine.

Here begins the caper that will take place at the corner of Nottingham and Crossbow.