Christmas Celebrations and Wishes

So yes, we have been neglecting the blog!  It all started on Dec 14th when Mom Hawkins turned 85 and we went to Victoria for an extended weekend of celebration with Jim and Elaine.  Since then it has been nothing but fun fun fun.  But just to let you know the inspectors came and it was all good, just some paperwork to be finished and we are COMPLETE!  Well, only in the final inspection sense.  We still have lots of finishing touches to put in place.

Len got bathroom and bedroom doors put on the garage loft and down in the basement so that all our company could be as private as need be.  (Doors are not necessary for a final inspection here).

Then we began preparing for our visitors.  First to arrive where the Dunkleys - our daughter Melissa, husband Blair and grand daughters Cathryn and Victoria and doggie Tucker.

Blair helped do some finishing

Victoria was sick for much of the visit and needed lots of sleep

We made pies, went on a horse-drawn sleigh/hay ride, and walked in the snow.  Len took Melissa, Blair and Cathryn out to cut down a tree and we all decorated it.  Poor Victoria was sick with a bad cold for most of the visit.

Kyla and Chris and doggies Deuce, Tank and Asia arrived on Christmas Eve.  We went to a candle-light service before having a great salmon dinner prepared by Chris and then we opened presents.  Everyone slept in  on Christmas day and then it was stocking time.

Molly and Dolly at the Hills Guest Ranch where we took our sleigh ride

Cathryn was in charge of the fire

Merry Christmas dinner

Dad and Kyla out on the trail across the valley from our house

Lots of fresh snow

Boxing day we went to see the Hobbit movie in our small town's theatre.  Then we said a sad goodbye to Kyla and Chris this morning (the 28th).

So maybe this family activity explains why there is a shocking lack of house-finishing going on.  Len has his New Years resolution ready - he is going to take weekends off in 2013.

Speaking of which, Christmas blessings to one and all, and all the very best for a great New Year.

Cath

Finishing up

I am busy finishing the items that were mentioned at the inspection for our final on our permit. The first thing was to cover up all of the insulation and vapour barrier. In the basement this meant finishing up some peripheral projects. One of them being the 200 amp panel in the utility room.

I started with blocks at the top to secure the wiring

Next came a box frame around all of the panel and wiring

Finally a little drywall to finish

The green light at the bottom is a panel surge protector

Next project was the drywall for the garage.  The ceiling wasn't required so I did just the walls at this time.

Garage done and baseboard waiting on the floor

Next project was one that I thought would take a couple of ours but I was at it from 7:00 to 7:00. I had to put vapour barrier on all the walls where the floor joists meet the outer wall and add insulation if there was none.

In the utility room

In the storage room

Tomorrow I will be building a gate for the deck where we intend to have our stairs to the garden. I actually have to build the gate and secure it with screws as if it was a solid rail panel. Then, next spring I will undo it and build some stairs.  They won't sign it off otherwise. The last thing to finish will be some securing of waterlines and wiring downstairs. 

I am going to Victoria on Friday so tomorrow is the day to finish everything as I am scheduling a final, final inspection for Monday.

Len

Doors done...check.

There are lots of steps when you're installing doors from scratch and then to make it look good with trim work and paint. It does eventually all come together and voila a door.  I completed the three main doors upstairs but left the master bath for now. Not on the priority list.

Powder room door by the kitchen

I have been putting off the ash pit in the basement and it has been filling up.  For the purpose of easy cleanup I have created an ashtray that folds in the middle for easier emptying.

Here is the tray with a hinge riveted down the middle

Hope this works

Ashes piling up

The new tray in position.

I have a little work to do on the door but is serviceable for now. I will be starting on the drywall that is required downstairs so we can get our final done

Len

Finally, some doors

So our final inspection has come and gone and we are on to other things.  We still have to put drywall downstairs and in the garage to cover the vapour barrier but that can wait.  We have the gang from the flying club coming over this Friday so a little detour from inspection issues. We thought that a door or two would be more appropriate and so here I am installing doors.

I routered the doors for hinges back in Kelowna a couple of years ago and now I have to match them to the door jam.  I assembled the jams in the garage after a little dado on the top and installed them nice and level.  Now Cathryn could go ahead and paint the jams. 

I built a small jig to router out the door jams and it sure saves a lot of chisel time. With a 1/2 inch diameter bit in the router it does a pretty professional job.

Never buy what you can make

Once the frames are in and the hinges are on, the doors can be hung.  Then I have to drill for the locksets and do some careful chisel work to set the lockset in place.

Waiting for door paint

Door finally on the office

A door for the bedroom, how original

Tomorrow will be the addition of all the trim, the door stops, some painting and lockset installation.

Len