Week ending June 10, 2001
An interesting week. Despite the dismal forecasts, the weather has been pretty great here. No heavy rain, and no stifling heat. (Only the basil in the garden is complaining).
Since we have a guest, I've taken some time for recreation. We've had some interesting hikes around the island; I've found some new trails and areas that I haven't seen in the 20 years we've owned this property. And Saturday, on Hornby Island, we toured a circular hike in Helliwell Park. If I had realized how splendid that coastal area was, I'd have been there many times before now.
Earlier this week I completed "deer-proofing" our property by building this gate on our driveway entrance. Greta, our guest, knew I was proud of this structure so she insisted on taking this picture of me in front of the gate. I wonder how long it will be before the first deer somehow finds some way into the yard. It always happens.
The sunken patio area in front of the house (toward the road) is the current project. It was partially excavated by bulldozer when the house was being constructed. Now I'm digging by hand, (I mean pick and shovel). We Norwegians are stoic, and don't complain much. But ouch, ouch, ouch. When the excavation is finished, then comes the sand, retaining wall blocks, and patio bricks. It's nice to have a hobby.
We're still trying to garden, but the soil is not very fertile currently. Yesterday I filled up a "test" hole I had dug a couple months ago. I included a large amount of seaweed and a bag of composted chicken manure. Now I'm waiting to see what happens to the 6 butternut squash seeds I put in the top.
I've found one plant that seems to like this area. Unfortunately. It looks like the perennial morning glory; also called "bindweed". It seems to be sprouting around in the poor soil that was disturbed by the bulldozer. I've been doing regular patrols and weeding these, roots and all, whenever I can find them. Let's hope I can eliminate them now before they get established.
Our next destination; probably Buchart Gardens. Weather permitting, we'll travel to Victoria in a day or two. I'm enjoying being "forced" to take these breaks.
Week ending June 17, 2001
This has been the weekend of the annual Denman Island Home and Garden Tour. We have a lot of unique homes and fascinating gardens on this island. Eleven of them were open for viewing this weekend.
We made the tour again this year, and found the sites so interesting that we needed two days to see them all. Due to the cool spring we have had, some of the gardens were not on their full bloom yet. But still we think this was one of the most spectacular tours yet.
I am starting to develop a complex though; everyone's potatoes seem to be developed so much further than mine. I wonder if it's because of my poor soil, or my late start?
Lise came out this weekend to join us for Fathers Day. Very enjoyable. And I received a nice card. Unfortunately my gift was left in Erik's car and it'll be a couple of weeks yet before I find out what it is. I guess that's one way of prolonging the fun of Fathers Day.
Earlier last week we made the trip down Vancouver Island to Buchart Gardens. It was great, but would have been even better in a few weeks. The annual bedding plants hadn't yet established and started their splendid display. And the roses were still just buds due to the cool weather. We stopped in Chemainus, and found it to be a really fascinating town.
With these, and other social activities, I haven't accomplished a great deal of development. The front patio has been dug, and the cement blocks for the retaining wall have been delivered. Unfortunately I haven't figured out yet how to establish a firm even bed for the foundation blocks. So this will be another construction adventure as I flounder to get the first course in place. The curved walls are adding a dimension of complexity.
I'll update this site with a picture of the construction early next week. Meanwhile here's a picture of Marit and Grete sitting in the site of the next following project; a patio deck outside the french doors of the dining nook.
Week ending June 24, 2001
Here's the retaining wall as it looked yesterday. A fifth row of blocks has been added since, and the ground has been generally leveled. And I've almost finished spreading and leveling a couple inches of sand, in preparation for patio blocks. The immediate challenge facing me now is figuring out how to make some decent steps down this wall. Yes, I know I should have thought that out before.
While working on the retaining wall I've been able to watch the mason bees at work. The lower bank is damp, and the bees have been foraging for wet clay to seal their last egg enclosure. There are becoming fewer and fewer bees daily. Last year, all bee activity had ceased by the first July weekend.
Activity of the hummingbirds is increasing around my feeder. They all seem very territorial, and fight for the feeder. I haven't determined yet which bird is dominant.
And a special treat, for me anyway; the violet-green swallows have shown up this week and one pair has started nesting in a bird house I had erected for them several years ago. Finally!
On Thursday, the most magnificent yacht I have ever seen sailed out front towards Comox. Ultra-modern and slightly smaller than an ocean liner. It must have been Jimmy Pattison.
Earlier this week we toured the island with Grete; Campbell River on Monday, and Long Beach and Tofino on Wednesday. On Thursday we were joined by Janie and Gordon, my cousin, who took Grete back to Vancouver for the last week of her journey.
(Janie brought me a pot of "hens and chicks" sedums; a great addition for my garden. Remember, that's the rent for visiting here: one plant to remember you by.)
Now it seems rather quiet. Back to the grind of landscaping and development. We miss Grete already.
Week ending July 1, 2001
Marit took this photo and wanted it to be the picture of the week. It's currently her favorite corner of the property. She sits just outside the french doors, often with a cup of coffee, watching the water and seeing the hummingbirds argue.
Marit hasn't had a good week. She seems accident prone and has broken a ceramic lamp, a wine glass, and the leg on the TV stand.
Earlier this week she pointed out that we needed a low porch in the front for both doorways. So we designed a wooden landing to be made out of the cedar planks I had intended for a back patio. It took only a few days and I had it almost completed when....
Guys; have you ever moved furniture when your wife decided to rearrange the room, only to have her say "It isn't working! Just put it all back!
By noon Saturday I had everything ripped out and almost recovered back to the status I'd been six days previously. Well, at least I have a bunch of short pieces of cedar planks suitable for framing the next raised garden beds that I dig. And the shortest pieces make excellent kindling.
And I've decided to rip apart a section of the new retaining wall I built. This is totally my fault; I can't blame my wife at all. I'll install a "sunken" stairway up from the front patio to the driveway. Just couldn't figure any other suitable method for stairs.
So, two steps forward and three steps back sums up this weeks activities.
By the way; Happy Canada Day everyone. Summer seems to have arrived the past two days. I've been slathering on the suntan lotion. Even the deer seem to prefer resting in the shade. One deer has been browsing next door every day, and resting in the shade of a fir tree. I'm certain that it's muttering some nasty thoughts each time it looks over at me... behind my newly constructed deer fence.
Week ending July 8, 2001
Yes, we took mom from the Normanna Rest Home and successfully brought her up here last Thursday. All has gone well, and she's really enjoying her stay. Here's a picture of the three ladies. I think they're critiquing my construction of the patio brick floor in front of them.
I'd like to report all the progress that I've made this week. But truth is, there have been so many diversions that I'm still in the middle of doing the brick work on the front patio. And I still haven't torn down the section of retaining wall to build some access stairs. This project (like many of the others) is going to be a lot longer that expected.
I haven't seen any mason bee activity this week. I suspect the last of them have completed their life cycle. A week ago the few remaining bees were looking very tired . Their wings were worn and frayed. One was sitting quietly on the ground. I didn't prod it to verify if it was still mobile. But their progeny are safely stored in their cardboard tube nests; secure behind clay seals. They'll emerge next April to start the cycle again.
My good friend in across the water in Bowser has sold his home and is moving down to Parksville. This morning he drove over and gave me a load of compost (half a yard) and sold me his near new chipper/shredder machine. That's the one machine I've wanted for years. Prospects for a thriving organic garden are looking good. In one or two years. Maybe three.
Next Tuesday we'll be taking mom back to the rest home. She'll have a lot to tell her friends; like the big birthday party of a neighbour across the street yesterday. She met all the neighbours that she's heard of over the years but never known.
Marit will stay down for a few days, and send me back by bus.
Week ending July 15, 2001
Well, we took mom back to the rest home on Tuesday. She had a great visit, despite her limited mobility. In fact she said it was the best vacation she's ever had. I told her "You don't get out much, do you mom".
After getting mom settled in the home, I came back by bus and ferry just in time to catch the last sailing to Denman. Marit stayed in town with the car.
In the past few days, I've figured out the step system for the front. Only one small drawback; the entire wall has to be rebuilt since the blocks don't align properly when abutted to the stair opening.
So here's the view on Saturday morning. The first step was in. The wall section between the stair and the house had been taken down and partially rebuilt. The blocks piled up by the house are those which were pulled out and not yet re-used.
By dinner today (Sunday), despite some rain showers, I've finished the stairs and rebuilt that first section. Tomorrow I only have to rebuild that long section from the steps "in front" of the picture. Brick by brick! Then I can get back to finishing the patio blocks on the ground. (I'll update the picture then, maybe on Tuesday)
Marit should be back in a day or two. (I hope so; the laundry basket is getting full.)
July 17 Update
Here's the steps to the front door. Just like the wall, these steps were built twice. The first time I found there was a significant slant on the steps. They had to be taken out and modified. I'm continuing with the patio blocks now.
Marit got home today. And in case your wondering, I did the laundry myself earlier.
Week ending July 22, 2001
At least the patio work is over. Almost. We've decided we need one more step on top, to raise the stairway above any possible runoff pouring down the stairs this winter when it rains. I'll get the materials tomorrow.
Fitting the final patio stones against the curving retaining wall was a challenge. The supplier where I bought most of the supplies took pity on me and loaned a hydraulic splitter. Actually, even with a free loan, the supplier made money since I managed to mangle quite a few bricks with it that had to be used as fill.
Since the picture was taken, I've filled in behind the wall with rock, topped with dirt. The rest of the soil is being used to fill in the low depressions against the foundation on the north side of the house. It's a good thing I have a quality wheelbarrow.
We won't know how successful the garden is until it's harvested, but it's looking very good. All the seaweed seems to be effective. I'm really curious to see the extent of the potato yield. And we look forward to fresh beans soon. We've had lettuce for some time now.
The biggest challenge this afternoon has been to review our plans and attempt to do some specific layout of the landscape areas. We want to prepare the most important areas for planting as soon as the rainy season returns this fall. Time seems to be passing very swiftly.
Week ending July 29, 2001
Marit wanted to show off the clematis blossoming at the old cabin. Very little care; no watering, no fertilizing, and it just keeps blooming every year. When we tear down the cabin, we'll have to erect an arbor to support this beauty.
We've added a planter to the front patio area, along the side of the garage. The intention is to partially hide the rough concrete foundation. It's built out of landscape posts and has been partially filled with seaweed and (sub)soil. Maybe by next spring we can have some fertile soil.
Marit has found a few nooks and crannies in the retaining wall that have room for some dirt. And she's been planting little succulents, like "hens and chicks" on these spaces. It's kind of fun, but more things for her to look after during this dry season.
Actually, it's not completely dry. We've had a few days of clouds and showers, but the rain has amounted to only a few millimeters; not enough to help.
Lise and Gary came up for an overnight visit earlier. (They brought some more of our furniture from the condo). They're touring around the island now, between Tofino and Victoria. We expect them back next Tuesday.
And the major project this week has been starting on the landscaping. Real landscaping. Like re-shaping the land. I don't like the contours. So I've been using pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow to loosen the hard packed crust and move hills to hollows. And several fruit trees that were in the way and not producing have been uprooted and turned into firewood.
Unfortunately there's a lot more of this blistering, aching activity to complete in the coming weeks. And I'm not absolutely sure this aging body is adequate for the job. If anyone has a spare tractor available, it would be an appreciated gift.
Week ending August 5, 2001
Well, I took the easy way. Wide scale cultivation with the pick and shovel was too slow. (And a bit painful). So I called for a rototiller.
I hired a man with a large 8hp Troybuilt "Horse". In two hours it made some progress on a 5 meter strip in front of the house; deeply tilled where I had previously used the pick, and lightly scratched where I hadn't broken the soil. In the middle of the yard where the soil has been compacted by delivery trucks and lumber piles, the rototiller tried six passes and failed to even dislodge all the stubborn grass.
So I hired more horsepower; a tractor with a tiller attachment. It was more effective,... for the first 10 minutes. Then it limped home with a broken tiller.
Here's a current view of our landscape from the front yard. We'll try again as soon as tiller is repaired. When...? I don't know.
At least there's enough ground broken up for me to continue with my new hobby; rock picking. Part of the area that was churned over looked like a quarry.
Lise and Gary came back visiting earlier this week and stayed several days. They helped stack my wood piles and get my firewood arranged for this coming winter. Marit participated with enthusiasm.There's still a small pile left that is intended for kindling. I'll spend a therapeutic day soon practicing the zen of splitting wood into tiny pieces. Unless someone else comes and volunteers for this meditative exercise.
The steps have been started on the path down to shore. I'm using leftover landscape ties anchored with rebar. Naturally I ran out of material quickly, and will have to get more next week in Comox.
Today it is finally raining with blustery winds so I've been inside catching up on my bookkeeping for this project. I have incentive; a partial tax rebate on the materials and labour spent on its construction. Marit has been cleaning and baking; fresh bread and great muffins. Mmmm. Rainy days can be useful too.
Week ending August 12, 2001
A real heat wave this week, after the brief period of rain last weekend. I've used a lot of sun block lotion recently.
I didn't get the kindling chopped. And I didn't build any more stairs on the beach access (although I did go into town and buy more material to make them). Instead, I slaved on the front yard all week.
Graham Johnstone replaced the bolts that had sheared off and crippled his tiller. And he returned for another try on my compacted field. Success! In two hours he had the designated area churned up as fluffy as icing sugar. I was exhausted. Graham was just sitting and driving. I was running behind with a bucket and wheelbarrow trying to retrieve the bigger rocks he kicked up before he hit them again on his next pass. Marit came out and helped; I couldn't keep up with all the boulders he dislodged. (We categorized them as walnut, apple, grapefruit and watermelon size. Walnut didn't count.)
After the tilling, I raked, leveled, and picked rocks. For days! Then I borrowed a roller; rolled, raked, leveled, and picked some more. (A great roller. It was originally intended to hold water for weight. But when it started leaking, the owner filled it with cement. It was heavy!)
This picture was taken Saturday morning, before the rolling. It's a little misleading in that the rest of the property behind, and to the sides, does not show. It's tastefully covered with ornamental grasses and wild flowers. (Translation; weedy and not cut.)
I've ordered 15 yards of fish compost to spread over the area. It should arrive early next week. Hopefully I'll be able to spread at least 3 to 4 inches (8 - 10 cm.) over all the area to be seeded in lawn. I wonder if it smells?
It hasn't been all work and no play. This week was Denman Island's Festival of the Arts. Wednesday evening Marit and I attended a violin and piano concert; a classical concerts with Catherine Ordronnea and Kai Gleusteenn of the Barcelona Symphony. It was great. And Saturday evening I attended a piano concert with Eleonore Krullaarts. There were art exhibits and other events throughout the week.
On Monday I had the rare privilege of watching a brood of tree swallows being coaxed out of their nest box by their parents, and learning to fly. They succeeded. But one youngster kept returning to the house for two days and demanded to be fed. But even he has now flown off and the bird house is now empty. On Tuesday there appeared to be a gathering of four families around the old home site; Two families of tree swallows and two of barn swallows. I don't know where they all came from. But I haven't seen a mosquito since.
Earlier this week I took a bike ride on the logging roads north of Chickadee Lake on this island. I found where the gravel quarry is. Returning, I took a wrong fork in the road and had an extensive tour of the back country before returning to the quarry and choosing the proper fork. Not all my exhaustion this week has been the result of rock picking.
And speaking of logging; I learned from one of the logging truck drivers that the last load of logs will leave the island this week, probably Wednesday. If he drives it he plans on taking a big plywood sign saying "Last Load" and drive through town. He expects a celebration and a parade. After over 3 years, thank God that's finished. Now maybe there will be some room on the ferry again. Week ending August 19, 2001
Monday At 8:00 AM this morning a big truck arrived and dumped 15 yards of fish compost in my yard; a small black mountain. There's and odour, but the breeze is blowing away from the house. (Some neighbours are quite aware of it's presence.)
We left all this for the morning and went to visit an old friend in Bowser who has sold his home and is moving to Parksville. Mel Brown has found the place just too big and the maintenance too intensive since his wife died. Wednesday is the moving day.His kids have all pitched in and are helping with the move. So all we could do was have a last look at his house and wish him well. Marit got quite emotional, and used up quite a few tissues.
Back at the homestead in the afternoon, I started preparing the area we had marked out for lawn. Then slowly the realization came; "WHAT WERE WE THINKING?". There was way too much grass. We never intended a lawn that size. More garden, shrubs, and flowers. So I called a time-out; and drew new boundaries, scaling back the size of lawn. Things look much more reasonable now.
Unfortunately the breeze changes in the evening, back towards the water. And we are now on the downside of the small black mountain.
Tuesday Once again we revamped the location and shape of our intended lawn. It just didn't look right after we reviewed it this morning. By now, most of the wood ash that I had saved from last winter and spread over the newly churned soil are outside the lawn area. I guess I know where NOT to grow potatoes, or plant rhododendrons next year.
Anyway, we've placed about 5 cm of fish compost over the entire area now. Marit joined me this morning, shoveled compost into wheelbarrows and brought them down for me to spread. She kept up until lunchtime, even after she realized she had the heavy part of the deal.
This whole operation of churning the soil has been like an archaeological dig. Interesting articles were turned up,like a tent peg that I'd lost about 20 years ago before the cabin was built. And a broken neck of a beer bottle, probably from the same era. The shredded pieces of drain pipe were a little disturbing, but everything still seems to be working. And the burned splitter for a TV cable in the barrels of ashes is a mystery.
Wednesday A quieter day; went into Courtenay this morning, which chewed up most of the day. We visited for the first time a garden centre east of the city; Paradise Plants Garden Centre. A delightful place. It's still too early to begin our landscape planting; the sites aren't ready and the specific locations aren't chosen. But we found some plants we just had to buy. And with grass seed, our casual visit cost us another hundred dollars.
Back home I started digging the compost in the lawn area with a spading fork, mixing it with the soil. But I started wondering if the seed could be sown directly on the compost at the surface. Is the compost too "hot" to burn the seedlings? I'm going to try a test patch tomorrow morning and test the idea. Should know in a week or 10 days.
Thursday Planted the test patch of grass today. Now we'll just watch for green in about a week.
Last night a large log drifted in to the beach at high tide. We tied it there to keep it. This morning I went down with my old chain saw to cut it up. Five minutes later I found out what Homelite meant by the model "Mini-Lite". It broke on that large log. A motor shaft just sheared. So I need a new chain saw.
Heres a picture of the log, sitting on the beach right in front of our property. (You may be able to see the first few cuts my saw managed to make). Actually, it's right on our property., since I own the first 40 feet of the shoreline.
Instead of wood, I drove along the beach gathering seaweed. There now is a truck load in the yard. It'll help the gardens.
A small 8 foot dinghy that we have is in need of some repair. So I began the fiberglass patching this afternoon. Tomorrow I'll try and finish it after today's work dries.
Finally this evening I dug up three of out potato plants and filled a shopping bag with beautiful blue potatoes. Yes, blue ones, inside and outside. Hey, why be normal?
Marit has spent a fair bit if time picking early season blackberries. And she's pretty scratched up as a result. Wounded actually. But she says it's worth it. She now has enough for a batch of wine. (I guess I'll have to pick my own for a pie).
Friday Finally took some time to put in that series of stairs beside the dining room. They go down to the path leading to the beach. The next challenge will be building more steps on the steeper parts of that beach bath.
It seems that I didn't put enough of the hardener in the fiberglass resin. It's still sticky today. So I brushed a little hardener directly on the sticky resin. I'll see if I can continue working on the boat tomorrow. Dug more potatoes today. The vines have died down. I don't know if it's because of a blight, but I don't want to leave the potatoes in the ground just in case an infection can spread to the tubers.
But mostly, I've been just staring at the property and trying to visualize how the landscape development should proceed.
Saturday Back to my favorite hobby of "rock picking". Yes, I've started digging a new row of raised beds. That's always a good activity if other developments aren't yet clear enough in my imagination. With Marit's help I think we've decided where the raspberry bed and the asparagus bed will be located
We had potato salad for supper. That's quite a visual experience when the potatoes are blue; very different.
We picked more wild blackberries after supper. Those thorns are wicked. But after all the abuse my hands have been given this past summer, the blackberry damage was trivial.
SundayWell, finished one raised bed complete with seaweed and fish compost. But Marit has questioned my priorities; suggesting rather strongly that other projects are more pressing. Like making a driveway, or building steps to the beach. So I guess I'll start excavation for the driveway tomorrow if the weather holds.
With some luck, we may be finally getting some rain storms coming this way. It's been a long time. I'm actually looking forward to a good storm.
Week ending August 25, 2001
Monday Development today was on the stairs leading to the beach path. The side is now planted with heather; plants that have previously been given as gifts. And a beautiful rhododendron has found a home blow the heather on the landing area. I figure this is a reasonable time to plant since some rain is forecast for tomorrow.
Just in case the weatherman is correct, tarps were anchored over everything I want to keep dry for the rest of the season.
Tuesday Wakened at 6:00 AM by a very annoyed cat outside my window. I'd forgotten that Marit had briefly let her out yesterday evening. She's a blind house cat, and usually spends the night in our bed. The wet bedraggled cat was not at all happy when I let her in, and she let me know that.
It had stormed most of the night, with heavy winds. We received some rain, but most of the it fell just to the south of us. It's interesting seeing the radar map from the weather site; we're just on the northern fringe of the rainfall.
It has stormed all day. Power has gone out several times, once for over two hours; a falling tree on Vancouver Island cut off electricity to all of Denman. Supper was cooked on a small camp stove. A great day for organizing old garden magazines.
Wednesday A satisfying day. No rain (unlike what I hear from Vancouver). I began digging the bed that will border the lawn on the south east. It's about 40 feet long and 4 to 5 feet wide. I've removed the top 10 inches of soil, and have been digging and loosening another 10 inches of subsoil. I think I can identify where the cement trucks parked last year with their heavy loads because the soil is extremely compressed and difficult to penetrate. By supper time I was exhausted, but it felt good to have put in a solid day's effort.
Thursday It's frustrating dodging the rain showers. But I'm not that crazy; to stay out in the pouring rain just to dig dirt. But at the end of the day, I've finished all the excavation, loosened all the subsoil, and started filling the bed again with soil and seaweed. Lots of seaweed. I expect to use a full pickup truck load in this one bed.
The picture shows the bed today at mid-afternoon.
It's been a great workout. Not just the shoulder action; I've developed (by necessity) a technique of leaping with both feet solidly onto the shovel, trying to force it into the compressed soil. This is occasionally followed by a less-than-graceful sprawl into the muddy ground. Fortunately there hasn't been any audience. Marit went shopping into Courtenay today.
Friday Finally finished the bed. With the loosening of the soil and the addition of all the seaweed it's 6 to 8 inches higher than it was originally. I'm sure it will sink though.
This afternoon, drove down to the beach for another truck load of seaweed.
Saturday Finally decided that the fish compost on the future lawn area should be dug under. I sort of forgot that 2000 square feet takes a bit of digging, and I'm only halfway finished by the end of the day. However I did take some time off from the project to gather another truck load of seaweed from the beach.
Marit has been making preserves from the blackberries which grow wild here, and some crab apples from our neighbour. Today she had to re-process one batch of apple jelly that didn't set. After adding a bit more sugar, and boiling again, it solidified quite well.
Sunday The lawn is all dug and raked. By hand. A couple neighbours think I'm slightly crazy.
Tomorrow I'll roll it and be all ready for seeding as soon as the forecast indicates rain is imminent. Maybe this is just ensuring we have a long lingering dry end of summer.
Week ending Sept. 1, 2001
Not too much development accomplished this week. Even today's picture was completed a week ago; the plantings and the steps to the beach path.
I have an excuse; Wednesday was absorbed by a trip to town (Courtenay) for a chiropractor visit and for general shopping. And we've been honoured to have the kids visiting for the weekend. Lise and Gary came Thursday afternoon; Erik and Sara joined us on Saturday.
Gary and Lise helped with the digging and gardening; all the potatoes have been harvested and temporarily stored in the garage.
Earlier in the week I managed to seed the lawn, and put winter rye on the first garden bed just before a an evening of rain. And I also started digging the garden bed between the lawn and the driveway. This one is a real challenge. It's been compacted to a depth of 40 cm because of continual heavy traffic during construction. "Digging" involves extensive pick axe work, not simple shoveling. So I'm taking it a small section at a time; and mixing in lots of seaweed. (So far I've brought up 5 pickup truck loads from the beach).
It's been an interesting weekend. Erik and Sara were twice out fishing in his smaller rowboat. We didn't get many fillets but the cat is well fed and very happy. And today was the annual Denman Island Fair. The weather has cooperated and we're all quite satisfied.
PS. I'll see how my photography turns out on Wednesday and try to post a new picture showing the group later that day.
Week ending Sept. 8, 2001
The picture of the group, which I had sort of promised last week, was vetoed by the participants. Especially Marit. No one looked very flattering.
Today's picture was taken Saturday morning. It show's the garden bed I've dug between the (future) driveway and the lawn area. The "lawn" is also in the future tense since the seed is not germinating in this warm dry weather.
To dig this bed I had to excavate the top 16 inches of heavily compacted soil using a pick. Below that I could use a shovel to loosen the soil for another 10 inches. Then the excavated soil was broken up, sifted through a screen, and mixed with some seaweed. It's now 8 inches higher than it was originally; a real raised bed. The piles of dirt by the house represents a new garden bed being dug beside the retaining wall. (It's not as compact). However that project had a sudden interruption yesterday. We suddenly sold our cabin!
Yes, the old yellow cabin we had used for 19 summers. An acquaintance on the island drove up and made a deal. He'll trailer it away next week. All I have to do is remove all the things I've stored in, and under, the cabin. And all the potted plants and outdoor furniture on it's decks. And the mason bee residences from its walls. And the lumber leaning against the back of it.....
As of Sunday night, the cabin has been emptied, the mason bees are hibernating in my garage, and all plants except the tomatoes have been moved.
Oh, and that front garden bed has been finished. Many of the perennial plants we've been accumulating have been planted in that bed today.
Tomorrow I'll finish removing all the "things" stored under, and against, the cabin. When I'm finished, I may go to Courtenay and buy a new chainsaw. I'll have enough money from the sale of the cabin.
Marit is emotional and sentimental about that cabin. She doesn't like to see it go. This afternoon she left for Coquitlam. She'll be there a few days. Hopefully it'll be gone before she comes back so she won't have to see it taken away.
And next weekend Erik heads for Toronto, chasing his dreams. The universe is unfolding.
Week ending Sept. 16, 2001
Free! Logging lessons. Come on up and learn how to cut firewood with a chainsaw. This entire pile has to be cut into stove length pieces.
These pieces of wood are known as "slabs"; the waste product after trees have been cut into lumber. I got them free from a portable sawmill operation on the island. It took four trips with my pickup truck (shown in the background) to drag these lengths home. So I should have enough firewood to see me through the winter.
Marit came back Thursday afternoon. Erik wasn't so lucky. He was in Toronto last weekend visiting his lady, Sara, and missed his flight home on Monday morning. On Tuesday morning as you know, all flights in Canada were cancelled. He's expecting to catch a flight home later tonight, one week late.
What a week. For the rest of my life September 11 will remain a vivid memory.
It's been strange to have no vapour trails in the sky. The only airplane activity was the scrambling of fighter jets from Comox at 5:00 AM Wednesday to investigate some radar blips.
The cabin is still here, as shown in the picture. Tomorrow the buyer will be here to dismantle the porches and take them away. On Saturday the moving operation will commence; jacking it onto a trailer and towing it away. The landscape will certainly change drastically.
This week the main activity has been building a stairway on the path down to the beach. I'm using landscape ties anchored with lengths of rebar. It's only partially finished; another 1-2 days needed.
Actually there hasn't been much spare time this week. Marit does a huge task load keeping this place running, and when she's away I'm overwhelmed with it all. (And watching the drama in New York and Washington absorbed a few days too).
Lots to do next week before the rains start. Interesting times.
Week ending Sept. 23, 2001
In memory of the old cabin!
I started building this cabin twenty years ago. It was intended as a temporary structure; five years maximum. We've spent a lot of enjoyable and interesting times in that dwelling. This is how looked a week ago.
I don't think it was happy to be sold. When I removed the horse shoe above the door, originally given to us by Marit's father, it popped off the wall and smashed me on the nose. I took that as an indication. The cabin wasn't leaving gracefully.
But now it's gone; towed out the gate last night. It was a tense day, after several days of preparation. Not entirely smooth. Tempers were flaring and adrenaline was flowing. But as dusk fell, the cabin reached its new home about 2 miles away.
I took a lot of pictures. And I'll try and put together an accurate diary of the adventure. Possibly by Tuesday; check back and see if its available.
In other developments, the stairs to the beach are almost finished; just one more step to build on the bottom landing. I'll get back to that tomorrow morning.
And the lumber pile isn't much smaller. I've done some cutting when I've had the opportunity but there's still a huge opportunity for anyone wanting logging lessons.
Erik is on his way to Toronto. Sara flew here to meet him, and they're driving back together. We just heard from them in Calgary.
Marit left again last Thursday see him off. (And she didn't want to be here when the cabin was taken). She'll be back next Friday.
So, autumn has now arrived. And although it's still sunny and dry it won't be long until the rains come and the fire has to be started in the wood stove again. We've had the chimney cleaned this week. And there's lots of dry wood piled in the back. So I guess we're ready.
Week ending Sept. 30, 2001
Here's how the property now looks, from the front door facing the road. The lawn area is becoming green although it's still rather patchy. Winter rye is growing on some of the garden beds. Compost mulch and manure are piled in the background. Some are covered with tarps.
And there's no cabin in the in the scene. For those who haven't yet seen it, the move of the cabin can be selected in the table below.
The pile of lumber is all cut up and stacked. My first attempt at piling the wood was embarrassing. The first gentle breeze in the late afternoon sent it tumbling.
The rain earlier this week was very welcome. It's been cool, chilly enough to warrant heating the house. But I'm very stubborn and insist on waiting until at least October before firing up the stove. Fortunately summer has come back today with warm sunshine.
And I'm back playing in the dirt again; digging another garden bed. I'm stockpiling all the stones I can unearth. These stones take on a new significance. When I put in the driveway, I've calculated I need 24 yards of these stones as the base. (That's a bit over 20 cubic meters.) Whatever I don't find, I'll have to buy and have trucked in.
Marit returned on Friday. And the cat, who has been starving for attention and affection, is much happier.
| return to home page |