He didn't stop for long, as both of us were keenly aware that the seasons were changing, and colder weather was due to arrive. The push was on to try to close the house in.
Rob was eager to begin the framing around the timbers, but as always, there were still lots of details that had to be taken care of first. There were some adjustments that had to be made, and then he set to driving in pegs, and tightening up the frame.
As always this year (and last year too!) the weather is a troubling factor. According to CBC, 5 of the last 6 months have been wetter than normal, and every month since November 2013 has been below average in temperature except for May and June. The good news is that September was "normal" for average rainfall and temperatures. Still, we had our share of rainy days in September, but at the end of the month some sweet warm weather arrived! It didn't last long, but we enjoyed it while it was here.
Rob began by framing in some of of the lower levels and windows. There is just something magical about staring out of a window frame, and imagining yourself doing it in the future when there is a window there - and like little kids we would run around saying "now I'm looking out the kitchen window, now the bedroom window...."
I don't know which windows I get the most excited about, but the dining room window here really is going to be lovely. (It will be in 3 sections of fixed glass). No matter the season, the view will be pretty...Of course I will love all the windows!
Our friend Bob came out on several occasions to help with the framing, especially the areas that were higher up. Rob spends a lot of time moving scaffolding, and climbing up and down it to retrieve tools, lumber, etc., so it was great to have a second pair of hands. (And legs!) Thank you so much, Bob! He will be back to help when the plywood sheets go up over the frame.
I now work at least four days a week, and by the time I get home it is usually dusk, so I miss out on a lot of photo opportunities. On my days off, I try to stop by the work site more often with snacks and drinks for Rob, and camera in hand to take a few photos. So while Rob sometimes feels that he has made little if any progress, by the time I see the house it seems to me like it's gone through a lot of changes! Entire walls go up in just a few hours! (Well, on a good day) What could be nicer on a sunny day than some fresh homemade banana bread, and a good cup of Salt Spring Island Coffee, served in my most beautiful mug - a gift from my super sis...featuring one of her gorgeous paintings. Well of course it would be better if she and my brother were there to enjoy it with us...
As always, I love looking at the beauty of the surrounding area, and the more I am away from here, the longer I linger outside on my days off. I think I will never tire of the river, the fields, the forest, the views, the sounds, the scents, the wildlife.
I must say though, that I drive to work along stunning country roads, with amazing vistas of rolling hills, trees in full fall colours, old log barns, pretty sheep, cows and horses, and most days a glimpse of some of the local wildlife - deer, wild turkeys, hawks, ravens, crows, turkey vultures - and one day - an absolutely stunning view of a bald eagle.
The house site has it's own share of visitors. This week Rob saw 5 Sandhill cranes fly over, hovering right above him on the air currents, with their haunting echoing call. The wildflowers between the house and the river are now feeding flocks of chickadees and migrating juncos. Further up along the road I discovered a small number of white crowned sparrows passing through.
We are both eager to sit in this lovely new house and gaze out the windows (not yet installed of course!) to see what other visitors pass by here.
Like the osprey... who hangs out in the trees along the river, and then dives down into the water in hope of snagging a fish.
Not unexpectedly, frost arrived in September and again in October. Rob has to wait on frosty mornings for the frost to melt, it is amazingly slippery on all the wood surfaces, and not safe to be clambering around the structure on those mornings.
Although most of the plants have faded with the frost, the hardy Black Eyed Susans continue to bloom in some areas!
We also have a "sweet spot" in front of the house that for some reason has Evening Primrose and Mullein blooming profusely even now. We'll make note of that as a possible site for some herbs in the years to come!
And we have a new small clearing after one of the remaining dead spruce tree snapped in a recent wind storm. Funny, we thought something looked different, but it took a good look around before we realized it was a freshly damaged tree.
Slowly, despite the rain, the frost, the fog - and yes - the flurries - the frame is going in. It is now almost ready for Rob to attach the plywood sheets. We were hoping for some clear dry weather during this time, but the earlier forecast for a week of glorious weather has changed to frequent rain showers. We shall just have to wait to see what happens.
Rob has moved into warmer clothing and continues to work as much as possible.
It's hard to imagine that just a couple of weeks ago he was wearing shorts! (And not happy about the amount of rain water of course!)
When a warm front blew in again last week we were optimistic, but the colours in the trees inform us that it is fall after all, and we will just have to hope we can get this house closed in before the snow flies.
