One last time

If we had a mantra for October and most of November - it would be the words "this is probably the last time". We were thinking that the fabulous weather couldn't last and that each warm evening would be the last; until next summer at least.  And so we would take the time to sit and enjoy a glass of wine on the porch on "the last beautiful warm evening" or gather our chairs at the end of the day and go sit down by the river to enjoy the sunset "one last time"; each time thinking that this was it. But it worked out that these words were just repeated over and over - we had a fabulous fall! Of course while thinking that things would end, we also held our breath and hoped that the warm sunshine and dry days would continue just a bit longer so that we could finish the main part of the workshop construction - and holding out breath seemed to work just fine.....

We were in "foam" mode again and were adding layers and layers of  foam to the workshop roof. This is one job where we actually looked forward to it being the "last time" (in fact I think we may have been muttering "one last $#*#*%  time"). It is a fairly tedious and tiring job. Along these same lines, we are both hoping that building this roof would be "the last time"! (However, there is the wood shed and then maybe a tractor shelter....). At any rate, we were both grateful for the weather that allowed us to get it all done.

As much as the summer stretched out, there were still signs everywhere that fall had in fact arrived. The leaves were turning colour and some of the trees, somewhat stressed by the dry conditions, began dropping their leaves.

The red squirrels were busy, gathering up food, and lining their nests with things to keep them warm for the winter.  One of them discovered a stash of felt packing material in our outside shed and we watched as it dragged pieces of it through the woods and up a tree. This was no small feat - especially when it got caught in the branches! The rather blurry photo below of the little guy/gal in action was taken through the screen of an upstairs window in the cabin.

Apparently, the felt was not the only nest making material that was used. One day I noticed that one of my inspirational message "flags" was missing from where I had hung a string of four between two trees. It looked almost as if someone had sawed it off with a knife - the remnants of it still hanging on the cord. The missing flag read:  "LOVE An inspired form of giving, love breathes life into the heart and brings grace to the soul". Who would steal my "love" flag?

But then, in another location, I noticed an entire of string of Tibetan prayer flags had also disappeared.  One day they were there:

And the next day - nothing there but the knots that had been tied at both ends of the cord.

Then we noticed that the original set of flags were being moved along the cord that held them in place, and each had a new series of chewed holes in them.  Yes, the (now blissful) red squirrels were the guilty thieves!

One has to wonder "why now?" The flags have been up for years and  none have disappeared but each day the remaining flags are a bit more tattered and one of these days I'm sure that all of these will also be gone. Oh well - it is a festive and inspirational nest that they are building and I hope that they enjoy them as much as I have.

Getting back to the house...Once the foam installation and strapping were finished on the south roof of the workshop, we took a few minutes for a quick "Hurrah"  - and then moved to the north side. Rob was beginning to take stock of how long it was taking, and thinking that despite the current good weather, it was possible that we were going to run out of time this year. It was already October 5th, and he still needed to do the north side foam and strapping, add eave extensions and gable ends, get plywood up on both sides, then the metal roofing, and then the solar panels! Oh, and there were also some changes being made to the indented area at the back, as well as moving the doorway to the longer wall (we don't like to discuss the reason for moving the door - something about the voltage drop and maximum length of battery cables and one connection being on one side of the door and the other connection being on the other side of the door - which means the cable has to go over top of the door - apparently it's one of those planning things. And who would have thought that you need 18 feet of cable for a 3 foot wide door!

But moving on... as you can see from the blue, blue skies, the good weather continued, and thus so did the work!

October 12 and the north side was almost done!

The next area to be done was the "corner overhang" .  Originally Rob had planned on adding this at a later date, but realized that it was easier to do it now and integrate it into the rest of the roof  rather than having a separate lower section of roof.  The roof was framed with a temporary support for now but will have a simple timber structure inserted at a later date.

Despite the long work days, Rob was often still game for a walk together at the end of the day.  One warm evening, a thick fog rolled in and we went for a long walk as the sun slowly went down.  The light was lovely; the warmth in the air quite unbelievable for mid-October.  When we spotted the cows in the fog, I took a few photos and the images looked like paintings - I was more than pleased with the results!

In previous years, we would get more than our share of rainy days and this would enable Rob to stop construction, and allow time to research the next project, pick up building materials, or in some cases get orders placed for items that weren't available locally.  (It would also give him a chance to recuperate a bit from all the physical demands of building!) This fall though, rainy days were few and far between so he would try to work on the job site during the day and do his research and ordering in the evenings.  We were still hopeful that we might get the solar panels on, so there were lots (and lots) of details to work out and parts to order.

Rob moved to working on the east and west sides of the shop, building the rake overhangs (and moving the scaffolding way too many times).

Next we got the plywood up on the south side!

Coincidentally, it was this same time last year when we were finishing the metal roofing on the new house. At that time Rob had said he couldn't have worked any longer because of the cold and the dangerous conditions so we had serious doubts about actually finishing the roof on the workshop, but we were going to try.  We were beginning to get real frost at night, making it impossible to work until the frost melted and the roof was dry and of course the days were getting shorter and shorter, with daylight savings about to kick in as well.

I had finished splitting the firewood by early October (yippee!)

I was now doing my best to get ready for winter - start stacking all that wood (not my favourite job), cleaning up outside and pulling our winter coats and boots out of storage and finding space for them in the cabin.  And then on October 27 the snow arrived.

This wasn't the usual few warning flakes that we would normally get, it was a good solid snowfall, and it lingered for a couple of days.  We were a bit disheartened, but the weather forecast promised more sunny weather, so we hoped the snow would all melt and we could continue working. It was strange to see the trees still bearing their autumn leaves, with snow all around.

By Halloween the snow had melted, and our friend Bob arrived to help with the plywood on the north side.

The roof liner went on, the "warm" temperatures came back, and Rob and Bob got to work on the metal roof.  We had pretty much decided to just get the metal on the south roof and then (if possible) get the solar panels up . The north side would probably have to wait until spring. It was a fine plan that was much easier to say than do!

Some days this job went faster than others but it was a complex procedure.  The flashing had to be cut and fitted together and then each piece of roofing had to be cut and folded and crimped at the end so that it would lock on to the flashing. We also decided to install the brackets for the rails that would hold the solar panels since it was easier to do this as we went along.  I would have to say that things were rather intense at this point.... and for the next couple of weeks!

But they did it.

So, south roof finished - time to start installing the rails. By now the work days were beginning at around 11 a.m. because there was too much ice on the roof before then which made it totally unsafe.  By mid-afternoon though, it would be warm and sunny and the crew would be back to wearing light hoodies or T-shirts!

I was pretty excited when I thought that the first solar panel was up - but it turned out to just be a test run to make sure things were going to work out.  This was our first time doing solar panel installation, so there was a lot to learn, and a lot to think about.

We continued installing the rails, and were all excited to think that we might actually get the solar panels on this year after all!

After checking that each panel was working properly, and documenting the serial numbers and performance data for each one, we began installing them.  This time we didn't stop long to admire the first one - we just kept going!

With not much space between the panel and the roof, it was difficult to reach in and make the connections.

Each panel is held in place with an edge clip that has a built in grounding connection (it is actually difficult to reliably connect a ground wire to aluminium).

Even with knee pads on - this job is hard on the old knees. (did I just say "old knees" - whoops !)

While installing the second column of panels, work ground to a halt.  The wire connections were hanging below the panels and some were touching the roof. Rob had originally thought that they could be lifted a bit more, but as it was there was a danger that over the years the insulation on the wires might get damaged. After an evening researching the problem Rob came up with a plan to attach conduit supports to the rails and then use stainless steel wire wraps to hold the wires.  We had to do a lot of calling and driving around to gather up the supplies from various building companies and electrical supply companies, but we managed to get what we needed and a couple of days later, we were back at it. Everything worked fine.

We really have to thank our friend Bob for all his hard work and perseverance.  I'm sure it took a while for him and Rob to get used to working together, but they did a fine job and we were an excellent team!  When the bit kept falling out of the torque wrench and disappearing off the edge of the roof, Bob suggested putting some roofing sealant in to help hold it better and I suggested some coloured tape to make it easier to find when it did fall off!  It takes a community .... or a couple of extra bright minds...or whatever !

I tried to keep them both fed with hot nutritious soups for lunch, and tea breaks in the afternoon. But when I showed up with hot tea as they were putting in the last column of panels, neither of them was willing to take a break for tea time.  Luckily we have a great tea thermos to keep things hot! And I couldn't blame them for wanting to get it done.

As the light of the day slowly faded, it was finished.  No champagne, just a big sigh of relief, a sip of tea, an enormous thank you to Mother Nature, and we were done.

But a few days later, while working on the North roof,  20+ cm of snow arrived - and so that's probably it for the roof for this year! Not much power generation from those panels either.

Fluctuating February

I feel like I begin every blog posting with a comment about the weather.  But when I read a friend's blog recently, and she too brought weather into the conversation, I realized it's because both of us are in the midst of a building project, and the weather affects so much of what we do and when we do it.   This year, February was much milder than previous years, but with those mild temperatures came snow storms, rain, ice pellets, and fluctuating freeze-thaw cycles that turned our long roadway into a rather treacherous skating rink! I had two "snow days" in February when I couldn't make it to work, and a third one in the first week of March.

Rob loves being in the new house during a storm. The inside is snug and warm, and incredibly quiet, despite the howling winds outside, and the blowing snow that is visible from so many directions through the windows. "Snow days" are also plow days for Rob though, so once the storm passes it pulls him away from working on the inside of the house and back out into that winter wonderland. 

For me, a snow day is a great time to go for a walk, with my camera tucked away in a waterproof bag (although it does little good once I pull it out to take some photos).  I like to check the road conditions just to confirm that I made the right choice in not driving to work. This is the main road at the beginning of one of the storms, so I definitely made the right choice that day!

 I'm always amazed how our world becomes so "black and white" during a storm.

In the photo below there is a lone wild turkey making it's way to the tree line.  I'm sure there were more turkeys already sheltered there as they usually seem to travel in groups.

Along with snow days, we also had some pretty mild weather, and were surprised one day to see the temperature go up well above zero.

Rob and I make good use of such beautiful days to refill the wood boxes with firewood, clean up the snow that slides off the various roofs and piles up near doorways and walkways, and enjoy a few good walks, especially by the river.  What a difference a warm sunny day makes!  My favourite place to sit in the winter is on this log, at the edge of the river. It's sheltered from the wind, close to the river (but not too close!) and I can happily sit there, watching the occasional bird, listening to the cracking sounds of the ice, and the soft sound of the river flowing by.  I can almost - almost - imagine that in a few months we'll be splashing around in that river to cool off from the summer's heat!

February is also the month that Rob and I celebrate our anniversaries - of our first date, and moving in together, and of course there is also Valentine's Day.  Our friends Gary and Liz commented that we never post photos of ourselves on the blog so here's one for them.  It's a photo of Rob and I when we first bought this property, some 25 plus years ago, sitting near the river in one of our favourite spots, (which is just a few feet away from the log in the photo above!) 

Work has, of course, been progressing in the new house.  I've lost track of how many feet of electrical wire Rob has run, but it seems to be a lot. I've already gone back to the store twice for additional rolls of wire. (Rob knows exactly how much he has run I'm sure!)  I liked how he rigged up two pieces of extra eave extension to accommodate the spools of wire, which made it easier to unwind them as the wire got pulled through the house.

There is a certain thrill in looking at the electrical panel too!

There is also a little story about that perfectly nice timber tucked in to the right of the panel. Rob carefully chose the placements for all the timbers in the house, knowing that some would crack more than others as they dried. He placed this timber in the corner where it wouldn't be very visible as he was sure this one would crack a lot. Well, it hasn't cracked at all. In fact it's just a beautiful and perfect timber. The highly visible timbers? Yup, cracking away .... I think the cracks just add to the beauty and character of the timbers though. And it's entirely normal.

After Rob spends a long day pulling electrical wire, and wiring up electrical boxes, each evening we've been discussing lighting and lighting fixtures.  

Now, I said I wouldn't write about getting the truck stuck on the ice one day, and the wood ashes someone put down on the ice to help get some traction, that had dozens of nails in it, so I won't. (Whoops!) But I will write about the fact that Rob is a bit of a collector of things - you know - those things that you keep and never throw out? Ever?  Bits of this and bobs of that... spare parts, used parts, (not to mention several parts from scanning electron microscopes... ) And there are times, when I might perhaps suggest that he has collected a bit too much "stuff". Well, I will gladly admit that this has turned out to be a good thing more times lately than I can count, but it has proved to be really, really good in terms of lighting.  Having built three stores, a workshop, a log cabin, and the dome, we (?) seem to have collected quite a bit of lighting over the years, and it looks like now we are going to be able to put a lot of it to good use. And having spent some time on the web looking at the cost of fixtures, not having to buy some is definitely going to help with our limited budget. We've also been looking at fixtures that we like, and trying to figure out whether we can somehow make something similar ourselves.  But that is a long term plan, and in the short term, we will have to get some lighting in place throughout the house.

While working on the electrical, Rob had to put up some drywall sheets here and there in the house.  What a difference it makes to see drywall up.  This is the entrance to our bedroom. We both started envisioning a nice piece of artwork on that wall, but of course when the door swings open, it will largely cover that up.

This is a small closet in our bathroom.  We think it will be an open closet, with maybe some shelves up top and a closed unit below.  It would be a good place for extra towels and such.  I guess this is more exciting to us right now, as we have been making do with having three towels since we came here. We don't have a lot of space in the cabin, so most of our linens are in storage.  On the other hand, we haven't needed more than three towels, so I'm not sure that we really need more now, or a place to put them! Having lived happily with "less" all this time, I am pretty sure there are some things, where I don't want "more".  So maybe these will be empty shelves ! Or a place for some of our funky fun pottery pieces and artwork.

Of course, that said, as much as I don't want more "stuff", I do wish for more "space".  Especially in the kitchen.  On a recent day off, while our banana/carrot bread cooled on a rack (balanced somewhat precariously on top of the toaster),  I cleaned up the counter and made some room for the bowls I needed to make granola. So imagine my surprise when I returned to the kitchen and found my little bit of space, occupied by a bunch of tools !!
Nice...
I have to admit, I couldn't stop laughing when I took a photo of it.

I decided not to include photo after photo of electrical boxes, and wiring.  While it is exciting to see progress, when you've seen one electrical box, you probably don't need to see another one.  I will say though, that there was a lot more to it than I thought.  While we didn't need to know what exact fixture we would be using, and where, we did need to decide what kind of fixture (LED lighting, or regular fixture with LED bulb) and at least approximately where we thought we might install them, in order to ensure there was something to connect to later on. All the wiring has to be run before the insulation and drywall is put in. The floor is solid concrete and there is no basement, so unlike a lot of houses, it's difficult to add wiring later on. And of course, we had to meet all the electrical code requirements for ground fault interrupters and arc fault interrupters, using the appropriate wire where required, and the correct sized boxes etc., etc. etc.....  Today we even had to think about where we be will running speaker wires, so had to decide where the speakers will be mounted.  I think both of us could do with some sort of more mindless task for a bit, as it feels like things have been pretty intense the last few weeks. Every night Rob would check and update his wiring diagrams (see below) and make sure he had everything he needed for the next day's task.

As soon as we finished up with the "rough" electrical wiring, we arranged for the first electrical inspection and yay!- it passed!. Of course then we began to think about the next series of jobs. Within minutes of the inspection, Rob was talking about running the plumbing that will bring hot and cold water to the various parts of the house.  And we still need to decide on how we will actually get hot water. (More on that in a later blog I think!)  

Once the plumbing is complete, we can schedule another building inspection, and then we can begin to put in the interior insulation and get that drywall up.

Now the weather is beginning it's pre-spring tease though.  This weekend the temperatures rose above normal, and the birds began to stir.  It's hard to stay indoors when it's sunny and "warm" out!  There's a part of me though, that feels like I'm not quite ready for winter to be over - I lamented today that we didn't go snowshoeing once, and I never curled up by the wood stove with a good book on a snowy day... Oh well, I can save it all for next winter I'm sure (and I'm not quite convinced that we won't see a bit more winter weather yet!)  Only a few days ago I might also have been whining just the tiniest bit about having to bundle up in so many layers, so many times in one day. So today, with the milder weather, we tried to balance some indoor work, and web research, with a couple of nice walks in the woods and along the river (wearing no wool hat or mitts!). Listened to woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches, and admired the tracks of the wild turkeys all along the river edge.  And of course Jet had some playtime in that lovely snow too - as before long it may all be gone.