I'm sure it will be warmer soon ....

As I read through the previous blog entry, I was once again surprised at just how much work was completed on the house in the past few weeks.  Lately, we have been living and breathing nothing but "windows" and I had totally forgotten that at the end of the last blog we still did not even have the house wrap on!

The weather has not been kind to us; the temperature kept dropping and there was little sign of any sunshine. As much as we kept hoping for a reprieve, it didn't happen and Rob kept working despite the cold and snow - he just bundled up in more and more layers of clothes and did his best. But nothing could keep his hands warm. Gloves just don't help much when you are handling metal scaffolding and whenever more dexterity was needed, the gloves had to came off.  Keep warm became a mantra. With Christmas approaching I was working more hours at the store and away from home more often, so I wasn't always there to keep him stoked with hot drinks and warm food while he worked.  I found myself stocking the freezer with numerous lunch-sized containers of hearty homemade soups and these helped to warm him up each lunchtime but he was also clearly burning up much more energy than he could possibly take in and his weight was actually dropping - and there wasn't a lot there to start with! Despite it all, the housewrap went on and the windows got flashed (a photo of Rob "flashing" the windows was not available)....

Rob put plastic around all the window openings in an attempt to keep the house a little less drafty and to keep it sheltered from the rain and snow. Each time he worked on a different window frame, he had to remove the plastic covering and then install the flexible flashing that protects the rough opening and wall. It was difficult to keep everything dry so that the flashing would stick. If it was cold then it was usually snowing and the snow slid off the roof and onto him and the window opening. If it was warmer, the water from the melting snow dripped onto him and onto the frame as well. He was unsure what to wish for and I could see his patience was wearing just a little thin (luckily, he has absorbed a little yoga through Elizabeth and I so all was calm)!

We had a few delays in the arrival of the finished windows and missed a little "window of opportunity" (no pun intended) when the weather warmed up briefly and the snow melted. It sure would have been a good time to get the windows in! But they didn't arrive and the weather turned colder. There were days when we began to wonder if we would ever get them in this year. Finally, the first delivery arrived - and we were pretty glad to see them!

We couldn't wait so I helped lift and fit the window on the east side of the bedroom (one that was manageable!). We were pretty excited to do this first one.

We worked together and hoisted it into place, just to test the fit. It quickly became clear that Rob would need a little more help with the larger ones when they arrived - these windows are heavy!

By now the sun was setting (i.e. it was dark) so we could not actually finish the installation and had to wait until the next day. Unfortunately, I had to work and missed all the excitement of seeing the first one truly installed - but I did get a photo of it later on!

We had another delay in receiving the second batch of windows - pretty normal for this type of thing. We can't thank our friend Bob enough for coming out on the cold, cold days and moving the scaffolding around, only to have to go back home when the delivery was cancelled.

Needless to say, it ended up being a cold day when they finally did arrive but Bob came back to help again.  In the end, all the frames were installed but some were missing the glass due to an ordering mix-up. These were temporarily filled with plywood to keep them square and the company will come back to install the glass later on.

It's quite something (for me at least) to go from seeing building plans on a computer screen, to seeing things actually in place.  For example, I couldn't really picture how the kitchen window would look once it was installed so I couldn't wait to see how it turned out! I have always admired the kitchen at my brother and sister in laws' mainly because I loved the big windows in front of their sink - I definitely wanted something similar in our house. Now, as I stand inside the new house and imagine prepping food or doing dishes, I look up and can see trees and sky and river.... it's perfect.

The dining room has two sets of windows. One faces south which allows all that lovely warm winter sunshine in (with the same view of the trees and sky and river that the kitchen has), and one faces west with a view of more trees and more river (the river actually flows around the corner of the house).

Below is a view of the dining room window - but from the outside!

The big living room window went in last. Rob had worked hard on the living room window designs. He changed the shapes, the layout, the size etc. so often that I could hardly remember what the finished design was. Rob wanted a seamless window above and below the beam with something to complement the timber scissor brace - and I think he got it right !!  We'll know for sure once the final pieces of glass are in - but so far everything looks wonderful.

The north corner window (the one on the right below) faces a rather special area that attracts a lot of wildlife. We are really looking forward to curling up in a chair and watching whatever goes by!

The bedroom (below) has less glass but we included the same type of upper peaked window as the living room (there will be glass in it eventually).

There are no interior walls yet but this shows the mudroom and the bathrooms - and an upstairs window.

As soon as the windows were installed Rob cleaned up, took the scaffolding down, tucked things away, and installed a temporary door at the entrance to the mud room. More snow was on the way and it was pretty clear that the house is as closed in as it is going to be for this year.

Despite the lack of insulation it already feels warmer inside (especially on a sunny day).  When the sun comes in to the dining room, I can feel myself basking in the light and watching the river flow (well it's flowing right now but that is only because we had a thaw at Christmas - normally at this time of year I would just watch the river ice!).

This November photo is more normal for this time of year - the river is slowing, filled with ice, and the hoar frost coats the trees at the river's edge.

But on Christmas Eve the fog arrived, a sure sign of warmer weather.

A few days of above normal temperatures, (seriously - it was much warmer than we had most of November!) and the river bank was clear of snow again with just a narrow band of ice at the edges.  Sadly this won't last though, as colder air will be arriving in time for New Year's.

December is always a reflective month for me. I'm not sure why - perhaps it's the absence of bird song, the stillness and quiet all around us. We spend more time in the cabin, as we ready ourselves for the winter ahead. As Christmas approached we reminisced about Christmases long past - the late night drives home while listening to Christmas stories and songs on the car radio and the times we had visiting family and friends - eating, drinking, gift exchanging..

This year we talked too about Christmas future - when we look forward to being in the new house, with room for a Christmas tree, and some of our old familiar Christmas ornaments strung up, and a place to put some of our Christmas-themed stuff. This was our third Christmas here in the cabin, and I suppose we are missing some of the things we used to do ... The first year we were here we pulled out some of our decorations and tried to tuck them here and there amongst the boxes and things we have piled here.  Packed them all back away a couple of weeks later. This year we opted to just wait until next year.... Unpacking in the new house will be like an entire Christmas in itself!

We are reflective too as we look back over the past year, and take time to think about all the work that went into the new house.   This time last year we had barely finished the concrete pads, and covered them all up with straw and plastic before they were buried in snow. And they remained that way for far longer than we had imagined!  We can't help but hope that spring arrives earlier in 2015 than it did in 2014.

But spring is still a bit of a ways off.  And we are pleased with our accomplishments, and trying not to wish that we had got more done.  We walk to the house several times a day, and go inside, walk around and talk.... plan....and dream.   We've been so close to the project that I think sometimes we forget just how special this place is.  When the two people delivering the windows arrived and one went into the house, I don't think I'll ever forget hearing his voice exclaim - "come see - you won't believe this place - it's incredible!"  And it is .... absolutely lovely and incredible indeed.....

For the next couple of months, the physical work on the new house will largely cease.  Rob is already busy looking at plans for building his own doors, and researching wood stoves, chimneys, concrete stain, types of gas stoves, wood boilers, solar designs (batteries, chargers and you-name-it) .  He's been redoing the workshop design, and finalizing the interior house designs.  I think it will be a busy few months!  But we are also taking some time to relax, read a little, and enjoy the warmth of the wood stove. Taking our cues from some of our four legged friends....like GB

and Jet (he of course is an expert at finding his own comfort wherever it may be)!

Discovering November

Well I must say these past two weeks have flown by and yet somehow stood still at the same time.  I guess we wanted to hurry up and move, but also needed the time to do it.

We've had cold, wet and windy days, we've seen snow squalls and hail, and we have enjoyed sunshine and warm temperatures that made us think of summer again.  One day this week I could not get enough of being outside, it was so warm and pleasant, and I was out in a long sleeve shirt and jeans. The next day I woke up to snow, and was back to wearing a winter jacket and gloves and toque. Typical November weather I guess.  We watched the weather carefully these last two weeks though, as Rob was in the process of transferring the last of our stuff, and didn't want to load or unload in the rain if possible. For a while it looked like that wasn't a possibility, but the weather suddenly changed in our favour.

We were incredibly fortunate that two of our neighbours, Sam and Dane, gave up an entire day for us and moved our heaviest stuff last week.  We are so excited to be on this new adventure, that we don't really think we will miss much about our lives all those years in the village, but there is no question that we had some truly wonderful neighbours, and we will miss them.

Although I walk with Jet 3 or 4 times a day, it is still not possible to spend time taking photos while I am out with him. He really requires lots of attention, and isn't one to stand quietly (you can probably hear Jet sighing now - because I am going to say that he doesn't stand quietly - NOT LIKE THE LAST DOG .....)  But it's true. Zuni would stand still, on leash, for ages, and quietly, while I approached herons, rabbits, beavers - you name it.  This is definitely not Jet's style. At least not yet.

So after we finish playing with him, and walking him, I usually go out by myself with my camera and have a good long walk. This is such a different time of year, and I haven't spent much time here in November before so I find it really wonderful to be able to wander around.  With most of the leaves gone, we can see the reflection off the river from many different parts of the woods. We can see much deeper into the woods, and walk more easily into areas that are usually too thick with vegetation during the summer (and thick with poison ivy!)

I can also clearly see the paths that the deer use. And other animals. There is a lot of "scat" around. (I'll spare you the photos)  My brother pointed out that during the winter I will be able to see a lot more tracks in the snow, and I'm looking forward to that. I'm not very good at "scat tracking", but maybe this winter I will be able to use the combination of tracks and scat to figure out what is living in the area around us.

The grey and brown tones of November always seem to make me somewhat reflective. One of my Flickr friends says I should view the falling of the leaves as replenishing the soil ready for spring growth, and I am trying, but I still find it to be a rather bleak month.  The sun is low in the sky, the shadows are long, the days are short, and the birds are few and far between. With this view I walked this week, and tried to look closer at the natural world around me with a different eye. Sure enough, I have discovered that there are logs lying in the fields and forest that are covered with a multitude of lichens and mosses. I will have to read up on it as I don't have a clue what I am looking at. But they are beautiful, in a variety of colours and shapes and sizes. Some of them make me think of coral.

Yesterday Rob and I heard the sound of the Ravens, and looked up to see 15 of them just above the cabin. The talked, they soared, they barrel rolled. Talked some more. They circled around and around, before they flew off, mostly in groups of two, but some in three's or four's, and slowly went off in different directions. I didn't take any photos. I simply stood holding my breath I think, and watching, in awe of them. I've never seen a group like that before.

Later in the afternoon, I heard Ravens in the forest on the other side of the main road, making a variety of sounds I have never heard before. Then 2 flew up, joined by 3 smaller ones who I guess were juveniles, and they proceeded to fly and talk, and roll and it was just amazing to watch. The two adults flew side by side in a variety of movements (sort of like watching the Snowbirds in action - but much better !) One of the younger ones flew higher and higher and further and further away, and I could hear the adults talking as they disappeared over the trees. Then some urgent sounding calls. Maybe calling that young one back?

I took some photos of them flying as I think I would like to play with the silhouettes and then print them onto fabric. Of course, I will have to make an effort this winter to learn a bit about photoshop first! This is just one I played with for a little while.

Walking back I was smiling, feeling pretty fortunate to have the time to watch these activities. Then a flash of red in the trees next to me made me stop as a brightly coloured bird flew past. I watched for a while and a more yellowish, olive coloured one followed. I took some photos and looked them up, and it seems they are Pine Grosbeaks, a male and female. Pretty common, but I've never seen one! It's a fuzzy shot as he was hiding mostly behind the branches, but came out long enough that I could see his wings and the bands of white on them.

I also discovered one of the "No Hunting" signs that our friend Frank erected on our property years ago in an attempt to keep the deer safe.  I was surprised to find it, or what is left of it. It is high on an enormous pine tree, and so many trees have grown up in front of it since, that you would never know that you could once see the sign from one of our roads.  I miss Frank, but it made me feel like a bit of his spirit lives on in these woods.

We visit the area where we hope to build almost every day. It's good to see the changes in the sun and shadows, as we are hoping to harness some of that solar energy and need to know how much the sun changes with the seasons.  Although we are still in drought conditions, the river is finally higher, whether due to the rains or changes at the dams further upstream.  I can no longer stand on the rocks in the river, so have to be content to stand at the shoreline.

 

 

Last week I spotted a coyote in the field where the cattle usually are. I of course look for it there every day now, but haven't seen it again. As soon as it saw me, it ran off across the field. We hear them howling most evenings and again in the early morning. It's an amazing sound.  The other day when I looked there were no cattle or coyotes. But I kept feeling like someone was watching me. Sure enough when I got past the treeline, there was one lone cow in the field. He ran off bawling for the others a few minutes later.

I spend a lot of time in this area as the birds seem to stop here on their migration routes, and there is a good view this time of year across the fields. I also discovered that with the leaves gone, I can see the main road, and catch sight of Rob's truck a few kilometers away when he's coming home! You can just see a glimpse of the road on the left, but I now know that I can see it again on the far right as well.

We had heavy snow squalls one day last week, and I stood here and watched as they came over the tree line and up the hill. Wished I had my camera, it was quite a sight.  We had snow again this week, and in the areas where the sun doesn't shine through, it has stayed. It stayed on the roof of the shed for quite a while. We want to put solar panels here, so obviously this is the wrong side of the roof to use!

The ground was hard and crunchy this morning as we had a deep frost, and my feet were cold in my shoes when I was walking Jet.  But I am snug and warm in the cabin, the sun is shining through the windows, I can see the river flowing, and every now and then a chickadee lands in the tree outside. I think we are going to have some nice days in here this winter. We already have some books on the shelf ready to read, books on wood working, photoshop, digital photography, tree care, forest management, timber framing, house design.... and lots more!  We are almost ready to hunker down, put our feet up, and get ready for our next project.