January 1, Monday 8:30 PM
Lise, Erik, and Gary went home this morning. It was great having them here for the New Years weekend. And it's hard to get motivated and started back into the interior development.
It was pleasant and warm outside today. Too warm to keep a fire burning in the Jotul. There were red-winged blackbirds singing, and frogs croaking; almost like a spring day.
After cleaning some of the remnants of the evening, I started back at it; the floors, that is. I laid the floor on the upstairs hallway, and hung the door on the entrance to the master bedroom. (That may not sound like much, but it's a challenging days work for this amateur.)
I could easily get quite lazy these days. Too much good food during the holidays.
January 2, Tuesday 10:45 PM
This is a late report. We just returned from an evening shopping trip to Nanaimo, which is a major expedition from here. We've picked up some more building supplies and interior items.
I feel it's been a wasted day. I wanted to do more flooring, and door installation. But Marit felt there were other priorities; like cleaning the high inside windows. So I didn't progress very far on the "real" development of the house interior.
Sorry. I didn't even get a picture taken today. Tomorrow I hope to at least get another room floored and another door installed. (I'm getting a floor fixation).
It's been so warm today with the sunshine, we had to open a window. We had several honey bees fly in. Strange.
January 3, Wednesday 8:00 PM
Back to the floors and doors. The downstairs hallway is done, and the door to the guest room is installed. The floor in the guest room is over half completed. But that's been a slow and awkward job as all the furniture and storage boxes in there have to be shifted and moved. Some of them are very heavy.
I managed to break a drawer when it fell out of a cabinet I was trying to move. Now I'll have to get clamps and try to use carpenters glue to fix it up.
The clumsiness of my youth still haunts me.
January 4, Thursday 11:00 AM
Well gang, once again I have to leave this comfortable front room (pictured), and travel to Vancouver. Marit is scheduled for some medical tests on Friday morning, and a knee operation on Monday. We'll be gone until at least next Tuesday, January 9.
I'm afraid Marit is going to be in some pain and won't feel like walking much. She certainly won't be climbing stairs.
In the next few hours I'll be working on the guest room floor. Earlier this morning, I cut all the "kick plates" to size under the shelving units. But that's all that will be accomplished for the next 5-6 days.
Don't forget us. We'll be back. Next Tuesday, I hope.
January 9, Tuesday 8:00 PM
I'm back. Alone! Marit's knee surgery was done yesterday as scheduled. And today (starting at 3:00 AM) the pain has been too intense for her to consider traveling. Tylenol-3's had been prescribed, and they are helping manage the pain. But there's a great deal of discomfort.
She has chosen to stay there in the condominium with the kids until her checkup with the doctor next week. I'll go back then and take her to the doctor. And the plan is that we'll both return to Denman after. All three I mean; the cat is there too.
So I've just arrived with a car full of belongings. A fire is warming the house. It feels good to be back; out of the city.
Tomorrow I'll turn my mind to what interior finishing has the next priority. Tonight I'm just going to watch the logs burn.
January 10, Wednesday 8:30 PM
The winds really howled around the corners of the house last night. But today was a beautiful warm sunny day.
There were lots of tasks waiting. Firewood to chop. Moving and arranging boxes in storage. Even bills to pay and finances to sort out.
I had to go across to Buckley Bay to pick up some window screens that had been couriered up from Vinyltek Windows. And as long as I was across the water I went into Courtenay to complete all the business that had accumulated.
In short, it was a busy day, but no progress on the basic interior development of floors, tiles, and trim. (I did get my stereo assembled earlier this evening though.)
Marit reports her knee is much better. She has not required the Tylenol-3 pain killers today. So we are optimistic.
Meanwhile, I'm having a quiet evening again by the wood fire. I don't even have any appropriate picture to replace this one. Tomorrow I'll have to get back to basics.
January 11, Thursday 9:30 PM
Can you guess what this picture is? I've been laying tile on the upstairs bathroom floor. Just dry, no mortar yet. I have them all cut to fit. And each is numbered with a green tag.
There is a heating coil laying under them on the floor. Tomorrow I'll apply mortar, on the coils and all, and lay the tiles in one operation. I hope this works better than the 2 stage approach I did previously downstairs. Wish me luck.
Marit reports that her knee is about the same as last night. Still painful but not bad enough to require Tylenol-3. She's been walking on it without the use of crutches. Very carefully!
Tasks take longer to complete when she's not here. Not just the cooking and cleaning that I have to do during the day. I can't find things. She usually knows where I left things better than I do. And she can find them faster. I still can't find the 1/4 inch tile spacers.
It's always interesting looking out the windows. Early this afternoon there was an eagle on the beach ripping and eating its catch. But when the crows became too pesky, it flew off carrying the remains of its meal. And in the brush on the slope, I saw a golden-crowned kinglet in the company of some juncos. There's fresh deer tracks in the yard too. I'll have to start thinking of fencing soon.
January 12, Friday 9:00 PM
It's been a long day; preparing for tiling, and installing the tile. Only half the tile work was completed when I took this picture as the day faded at 4:15.
But by 7:00 PM, the tiles were finally embedded in mortar in the upper bathroom floor. It looked just like yesterday's picture. When we bought the tiles, they were a special sale price. I now suspect I know why; they were not all exactly the same size. (I don't need that extra challenge).
I heard the sea lions barking today. It seems to me they're early this year. They come annually when the herring gather to spawn. At some areas on the island, people don't get a good night's sleep until they leave in 6 -8 weeks. They're so noisy all night long.
Even in this rural area we have our disturbances. I was momentarily startled earlier when a pheasant "exploded" into flight almost at my feet when I went out to chop some wood.
January 13, Saturday 8:30 PM
Recycling day today. Took all the cans, bottles, plastics, and newspapers up to the recycling centre on the island.
The mortar wasn't dry enough, so I did not grout the tiles today. Just smaller jobs instead, including setting up the closets.
Actually, the upstairs closet had to be redone; the contents removed, and the installed hardware moved to the other side of the closet. This meant removing all the plastic expansion plugs in the walls and plugging the holes with drywall patch. I'm doing major renovations here and I haven't even finished the interior yet. Anyway, the racks and shelving are all done. The picture is the best view I could manage of the upstairs closet.
The downstairs closet was a challenge too. I couldn't understand why things didn't fit, until I realized the wall was on a "2 in 12" slant; not 90 degrees.
Tomorrow I'll tackle the grouting of the tiles.
This morning I noticed fresh deer tracks in front of the house that were very, very large. I wonder if that elk that is rumoured to have swum over to the island was around here.
January 14, Sunday 7:45 PM
I noticed that the neighbour's skiff is no longer anchored out front. I don't know if they've sold it or taken it up for the winter. This was the view as I stepped out on the balcony to look. Incidentally, the body of water is "Baynes Sound", between us and Vancouver Island.
I completed grouting of the upstairs bathroom floor today. Tom, the plumber, is scheduled to come on Tuesday to install the toilet. And I guess I should now start to tile the the sides and top of the bathtub enclosure.
This afternoon I decided to fully set up our television system. We have a satellite antenna with two receivers. I activated and set up the second receiver, and connected a television in the master bedroom. I'm also trying to do some recording of a program tonight. It's a bit different than the old cable setup.
The house, by the way, is the official residence now. There's no bed left in the old cabin, and the refrigerator is unplugged. There's no going back.
Our cat has some major adjustments to make after I bring her and Marit back here on Thursday.
January 15, Monday 7:45 PM
The electrician was here this morning, completing the remaining tasks. Here mike is pictured installing the range hood and the under cabinet valence lights. He also spliced the power supply to the well water pump enabling the water tank in the house to control the water supply; not the cabin.
At noon, I went off-island to Courtenay to pick up some cold medication. Yes, a dandy head cold, and we have no pharmacy on Denman.
Coming home I started working on the floor up on the stair landing. but I butchered the first two boards I worked with. So I philosophically decided I wasn't meant to do fine woodwork right now. I had supper instead.
At the moment I'm pleasantly spaced out and feeling quite mellow. The kindling is split and the wood is cut for tomorrow. And I think I'll tun in early and try to get some sleep tonight.
January 16, Tuesday 9:45 PM
Today it was the plumber's turn to finish his tasks. Tom came and installed the toilet in the upstairs bathroom. He also put the taps and faucet on the bathtub. So we're now fully operational. Almost, anyway. As you can see from all the dark grey cement board around the tub, I still have quite a bit of tiling to do yet.
The flooring is finished on the upstairs landing. And several doors have been installed, including the bathroom door shown in the picture. Each of the doors had it's own unique problems. In fact the last door isn't really installed. I'll have to take is out and ream out some drywall around the door frame.
And throughout these day long activities I've been sniffling and sneezing (Whine, whimper, complain).
Tomorrow I'll be heading down to the mainland again, to take Marit to the doctor Thursday morning, and bring her back to the island in the afternoon. So I won't be updating this tomorrow.
See you Thursday evening.
January 18, Thursday 7:00 PM
Once again, we're back. The cat glowers, "Finally"! It was a long trip for Ozzy; about seven hours. She had to wait in the car while Marit stopped at the doctor for a post operation checkup.
The doctor reported that she had a bad tear in the cartilage; a very large tear. which he repaired. He also found an area of osteo-arthritis near the femur. But he said she should feel a lot better now when the surgery heals. For the present, she's going to stay downstairs in the guest room and not use the second floor. Her reason?: The cat will follow her, and the cat will fall off the stairs or the upper floor. I don't have the railings up yet, and the cat is quite blind.
No construction this evening. I'm still too "high" on cold medication to get motivated. So we're sitting in front of the fire watching the hockey game.
January 19, Friday 9:30 PM
Well I mangled the gyproc around the door pretty badly, but I managed to install the door to the second upstairs bedroom. I think I'll depend on some wide trim to hide the damage.
After that Marit wanted some smaller projects done, like towel racks and mirrors. It's surprising how much effort each towel rack requires. She's rather upset I took this picture of the downstairs bathroom; says it isn't finished yet. True; in addition to her further refinements, I have to build window sills.
The cat is continuing to explore the house. She keeps going until she bumps into something. At least she has the route to her litter box quite well memorized.
Tomorrow is supposed to bring quite a rain storm. But tonight the sky is star filled and quite beautiful.
January 20, Saturday 9:-0 PM
This is the upstairs hallway. The door on the end is the one I had difficulty installing yesterday. At the edge of the hallway is a sharp drop one floor down into the living room. It is not a good passageway for an unstable person, or a blind cat.
So I was off to Nanaimo today, buying supplies for some railings. This will be a long slow project for me. It requires careful detailed workmanship which is not my forte. The first setback has already occurred; I forgot to buy the appropriate screws, so I may be a day late in starting.
Otherwise today, I've just been installing and setting up some various hardware.
Marit stayed home while I was in Nanaimo. She echoed one of my frequent complaints; "I've been puttering all day, but don't seem to have accomplished much."
January 21, Sunday 7:30 PM
Yes, a cryptic picture tonight. It's a floor level shot of a kitchen cabinet trying to show the "kick plates" I installed today throughout the kitchen and bathrooms. But I'm afraid all it really shows is that our floor isn't very clean.
It's been quite a day. Marit has come down with a bad cold; probably the same one I've had since last Sunday. I think it has hit her harder than me. She's in bed now watching the Golden Globe Awards. (Maybe the cold can take her mind off the sore knee).
So we haven't been the most peppy or the most productive. But we've had interesting times watching a log boom being slowly towed up the sound, and the covey of pheasants strolling in front of the house.
Tomorrow I'll try to paint all those spindles and stair railings with primer. Then I'll try assembling them.
January 22, Monday 7:30 PM
My cold is much improved; almost over it. Marit unfortunately is not. She's laying in bed this evening watching the hockey game.
We've had a philosophical discussion earlier about the stair banisters; paint or stain? The resolution is to paint the spindles white, and stain the rails and footings a darker brown. The picture shows the various pieces laying on the second floor landing. They've since been removed for priming.
Meanwhile I've constructed a window ledge for the downstairs bathroom, and erected shelving in the laundry room.
At dusk there was a very playful sea lion out front here. It was breaching the water and diving with a flourish of its tail slapping the water hard. Always something of interest.
January 23, Tuesday 9:30 PM
Earlier this evening there was a slide presentation given at the local school by an author of the history of logging in the Comox Valley. (That's the reason I'm so late with the update tonight.)
But it's another of those days where I wonder why so little got done. I didn't even have a photo available, so I quickly just took a current shot of our front room.
There's been a number of minor cores, and neighbours dropping in. But bottom line; I still haven't finished priming the rails for th e stairs and hallway yet. This is definitely going to be a long project.
Marit is in bed, still in the middle of the cold that I gave her. I expect it will be several days yet until she's feeling noticeably better.
The first day Marit feels well enough to go shopping, we'll have to go to Courtenay and get a grocery supply, and the stain for the handrails and footings.
January 24, Wednesday 8:00 PM
Marit is a bit better today. She's sitting up watching the hockey game, not laying in bed. She was even well enough to take a trip into Courtenay for some groceries.
Here's the components for the railing that I finished priming this morning. Incidentally, that's a section of the second upstairs bedroom with the storage room in the background. Now I have to prepare the banister and the footings.
While we were in town, we drove to Comox Builders Supplies to choose the stain for the banister. Those guys are great; they ended up opening cans and dabbing samples on the type of wood we will be using. We ended up with eight different colour patches to take home and sample. I'm amazed at their patience, and very appreciative. We'll evaluate the colour combinations tomorrow in the daylight, and I'll probably run up immediately and buy a can.
I'm also surprised that the guys there knew about Marit's ailments and asked about her health today. They'd just been reading this web site.
January 25, Thursday 9:00 PM
It's a clear night. The stars are sharp. And it's getting colder. My woodpile is already shrinking. But as I show in the picture, there's still a good supply by the back door to keep the stove warm.
Earlier today I went in to Comox and bought the stain; the winning sample was "Miniwax Golden Oak".
Marit suggested it should be applied by a rag, and then wiped off shortly after. In fact, with my encouragement, Marit undertook the complete job of staining. I had other activities. Guys, have you ever complained to your wife that the floor was too messy? Yes, I was vacuuming the house while she stained.
Unfortunately, the stain appeared very blotchy on the hemlock wood. We, I mean she, will apply a second coat tomorrow and we'll see if it's usable. If not, we'll paint over it.
The primer paint I used yesterday is really good stuff. The paint that is on my fingers won't come off, even with a good washing.
January 26, Friday 7:15 PM
Frost in the morning, but what a beautiful day. This picture shows the dining nook at midday.
We put a second coat of stain on the banisters this morning, and started to assemble a section. I found my original forecast is correct; it's going to be a very long and slow undertaking. One friend advised us to paint more than just the primer before erecting them. It's difficult doing a good paint job after their erected. We may take a day and follow that advise.
Earlier today Marit painted the window sills in the kitchen and bathroom with some old enamel. The old paint had formed a tough skin on top which we had to take out. Unfortunately we left the mess on top of some newspapers and forgot it. Guess which blind cat walked through it, across the new laminated floors, up into the upholstered chair, and even onto Marit's black pants.
Well, more adventures tomorrow I'm sure.
January 27, Saturday 8:00 PM
Fog in the morning and it only lifted 500 feet. A cold clammy day.
We decided to get some semi-gloss latex and pre-paint the spindles of the banisters. So I spent the morning going to Courtenay again, getting a liter of paint mix "no. 971". When I returned, there was a call from the paint store. They had mixed it wrong; used the additives for a FOUR liter container. They were extremely apologetic, and drove down to the ferry landing in Buckley Bay with a correctly mixed liter. All I had to do was go across on the ferry and pick it up.
By 3:30 PM, I had the can of paint. That's a rather long winded explanation for my slow progress and lack of accomplishments.
Marit painted some spindles in the late afternoon. I put up another door; this one is into my computer room. The picture shows the dining room to the right. The kitchen is to the left. And the pile of boxes is the flooring that is yet to be laid.
Maybe tomorrow we accomplish something significant.
January 28, Sunday 7:45 PM
Marit wanted to re-run this picture from Friday. It's definitely not today's scene. Rain started in the late afternoon.
We're both not operating on all cylinders. My cold resurged with a vengeance. We're both coughing and sniffling as we wield our paint brushes.
Marit has been carefully and meticulously painting the components of the banisters. I've been putting a primer coat on the door I installed yesterday. With the 15 panes of glass, it's a real chore to paint.
I've started to assemble the railings, but don't have anything yet that can be shown in picture.
And of course we had to stop and watch the Super Bowl. Any old excuse will do.
This morning I watched a deer prancing along the shore. It insisted on staying in the water, even though there was dry beach right beside it. Occasionally it sank up to it's stomach and had to swim, but it wouldn't tread out of the water. Maybe it was just having fun.
January 29, Monday 8:00 PM
A beautiful day. This was the view off our second floor sun deck early this morning. The snow has come quite low in the Baufort Mountain range across the water on Vancouver Island.
The boat anchored out in the water is the next door neighbour's oyster skiff. He's recently had some kind of scaffolding mounted on the stern; probably for winching containers of oysters.
Marit has continued painting; railing spindles and doors. And she's boiled up some chicken stock and made great nutritious chicken soup to help combat our colds.
I've proceeded constructing banisters. In fact, I've built the first section about three times, making every error possible.
You know, about the only difference between weekend and week days here is the mail delivery. Today was a good day. The pension cheque came.
January 30, Tuesday 8:00 PM
Another beautiful day; Marit sat out on the sun deck for a while this afternoon watching the Blue Heron fishing on the beach below. Sometimes I'm glad the weather forecaster isn't too accurate.
Here's the first section of the railing. That only took three days. I'll only make half the mistakes on the next ones. That lone post ("newel") on the left was also a challenge. To anchor it decently I had to take up the floor I had previously laid on the upper landing.
Marit continues painting. She's changing the colour of two walls between the kitchen and the dining nook.
Just in case the weather forecast is correct tomorrow, I've been out protecting the daffodils with wire netting against the deer. I wouldn't want to have to do that chore in stormy weather.
January 31, Wednesday 7:30 PM
More railings! I've actually done more after the picture was taken. I'm putting newels (posts) up on the landing by the door to the sun deck. Yes, I've had to take up the floor. Again.
Marit continues to paint and clean up the minor construction blemishes, like drywall mud on the exposed beams. And we're still hanging mirrors and towel racks, etc.
A surprise visit today. The electrical inspector came along with the electrician. That's the first and only inspector we've had on this project. We passed of course.
Tomorrow we're going to do our major shopping in Courtenay. We're feeling a bit better with our colds today. Must be Marit's good homemade chicken soup.
And another fine dry day. I'm actually becoming concerned for our neighbours down the road. They rely on rain water to fill some large cisterns for their household use. They might be getting thirsty.
For the diary of previous months, select the month below.
| May, 2000 |
| June, 2000 |
| July, 2000 |
| August, 2000 |
| September, 2000 |
| October, 2000 |
| November, 2000 |
| December, 2000 |
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