Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Home again

Sort of ad-hock but ended up moving home on the weekend.  Built Tessa a temporary pen so she'll give the new lawn a chance to knit before adding her special touches. Gradually (mostly Shannon's doing) stuff from our other home finding its way back.  She is also busy cleaning her way out of that place leaving it better than we found it - least we can do since they wouldn't accept any rent.  Amazing how where your 'stuff' is roots you to a place, and it was a nice place, a refuge from the mess that "105" had become and truly a home for the three of us plus our 'adopted son' Brandon and all the drop in riff-raff that helped to take our minds off things in the evenings.  There is still a pile of stuff to do to make "105" home again but each day we make a little progress.  Spent the weekend working on the garage which won't become a workshop again right way - going to get it in shape for storage of things that would otherwise be in the basement etc so it is out of the way for construction. Fix the electrical, insulation, vapour barrier, sheathing with OSB.  Single handedly did the vapour barrier and acoustical sealant without becoming the tar-baby:  I'll call that a win. 

Took Tessa for a walk thru George Lane Park the other night and back thru the downtown core.  The park is closed for safety reasons - pathways missing, fences and trees down, and most of it still covered in debris and silt.  Pretty sobering.  Downtown has some life but the majority of businesses still either boarded up during repairs or surrounded by construction fences.  Handmade signs augment store signage stressing "We're OPEN, come on in!"  but really, most of it looks like a construction site.

Work plows on, the time of year I can usually take a breath - but not this year.  On top of everything else its busy and the crews are nipping at my heels wanting projects to run to.  Yes, yes, coming right up!  A list at my elbow grows of things deferred ... no shortage of winter projects this year either.

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Friday, August 23, 2013

I'm having a "Holy Shit it's Friday" moment

Sod's getting watered, cat and a bunch of our crap from Olds is home, got some tools and supplies for the weekend.  Shannon has been cleaning endlessly. Hacked and slashed my way thru the week and somehow arrived at Friday.

Weekend plans, get the garage back together (insulation, OSB on the walls, etc) along with attending a 25th anniversary party. Eric's last day of work today... where did the summer go?  Coming up on my favorite season though - gotta get to the mountains soon.  But still need to move some mulch, dig a sump hole, build a wall for the vac, - where is my list?

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Friday, August 16, 2013

Free Sodding Lessons

Always been intrigued by the fine art of laying sod but were too intimidated to give it a try?  Saturday is your chance to give it a go!  Professional instructors on site to teach you how to:

Drive a wheelbarrow!
Shovel loam!
Pull a grade!
Handle actual live sod!
Get sent for coffee!
Run the roller!
Step on a rake!
Drag hoses & watch it come to life before your very eyes!

All for FREE!  That's right, FREE!!!  Freedom Fescue blend & Premium Dream Kentucky Bluegrass blend will both be in use - decide which is your favorite in a no-risk environment!  One day only!  Hurry down, limited supply - once it's down it's down.

No lookie-lous - If you're late just bring beer. Or come along to Silverland for the rest of the day where you will get truly down & dirty!  There will something for everyone out there.

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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Chilkoot / Kluane / Sod

Had last week off work (company-wide holiday) and as per plans made last winter Eric and I headed north to backpack the Chilkoot Trail and then spent some time in Kluane NP in the Yukon.  It was a great trip, especially because I got to spend the time with Eric and sort of forget about work/flood concerns for a bit.  I'll have photos up eventually.  About a thousand frames to sort thru.

Upcoming: hope to sod this weekend, that will be the last major hurdle with the landscaping (lots of fiddling to do after that as time permits) and hopefully go help out a bit with Silverland workbee.  Now that people are mostly sorted at their homes we can start in earnest at the camp.  Thankfully others who were less affected on the home front have stepped up to organize that.  

Work is still busy, just mostly taking things day-to-day now covering off what I can where I can.  It will be September soon and the larches will be calling! And the contractors will hopefully be able to start on the house interior.  Dusty business.

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