Gone to the Dogs

Up to the lot for another look at the hole in our property... this time with four dogs in tow. Would that be a herd? Daughter Kyla was the dog wrangler. It was a rainy, sunny, cloudy kind of weekend and we were forced to park the little old RV in the lower part of the new driveway the first night when things were more than a little soggy. Chris (hard-working son-in-law) joined Len in cutting up the trees Len felled last time we were up. We met (again) with Ken who is doing our foundation and (finally) with John who is doing all the final digging around the site, including the basement, septic, and a hole for the hydro pole. Sounds like things will start up in earnest within the next 10 days. All the clean-up of the lot is impressive, but we are getting tired of looking at a hole without a house in it. At least it is not full of water!  Here are some pictures of the dogs starting with Jack (upper left), Asia (upper right), Deuce with Chris, and Banjo (bottom). Kyla is demonstrating the value of the peaked hat yet once again. It was a short visit, coming late on Friday and leaving after lunch on Sunday. We had brought 2 pickups full of stuff plus Chris and Kyla's trailer full. We unloaded them into our rented storage locker. There was a bunch of stuff I had no idea we owned! A lovely drive home via Little Fort. The hills sure are green with all this rain.  The next time Len goes up in 2 weeks it will be for the duration of the summer and hopefully there will be some action in our "hole".

May Long Weekend part two

We had visits to the lot from Ken, who is doing our foundation work, and Joe, who did the rough dig of the basement.  Len spends a lot of time looking at plans. We are relying upon getting good information from the many helpful people we are meeting through this process. Couldn't reach John, the septic, basement and electric pole digger-guy, but hope he is still available to help us out. Ken says he knows others in the area, so we won't be stuck if John backs out.We went on a couple of nice walks, meeting neighbours in the area who were chatty and friendly. One of them, Rusty, witnessed Len giving himself an expected shower as he fiddled to straighten the awning of the RV.  I guess it really had rained quite a bit! Len was soaked! Sorry, too busy laughing to take a picture. This picture is of us in our groovy new hats bought at the Bargain Center in 100 Mile House as we didn't remember to bring hats.  They are handy not only because of the rain, but they also hide grimy hair. If you look closely you will see Banjo (the dog) also enjoying the fire. There is a burning ban so we won't be burning any bush this spring. but camp fires of 1 meter or less are permitted. Len spent Monday doing a bit more digging and felled 4 dead trees.  We took the RV into town to fill with water and propane, and dump the tanks. We got out of town at 4:05.  Went home by way of Little Fort which is a nice route with a lot less traffic than the other way. Drove into the driveway at home at 8:50. Not quite 4 hours, which is as good as it gets with a quick pit stop on the way for gas and a bite to eat.

May Long Weekend part one

Rain! Sleet! Snow! Sun!  We had it all!  We spent Friday in town (100 Mile House) getting our permits - pretty neon signs to put up - renting a storage locker for the items we brought up with us (the first of many such trips), and getting the RV set up, groceries put away, etc.  On Saturday, Len was up for some serious digging for putting the electric lines underground.  Here he is, digging 18" down through roots and rocks, and still smiling after making over 60' of progress.   Meanwhile, Cathryn was digging slightly lighter, easier stuff - wood chips- transferring the pile from one side of the driveway to the other.  The former location will soon be covered over in dirt for her garden.

By the end of the day we were both stiff and sore, so headed across to the Hills Guest Ranch where they have a lovely pool and hot tub.  Well worth the $14 - we swam and then soaked and headed back to the RV.

On Sunday Len attempted to move some dirt down the hill using the back hoe, but it was too wet and the hoe spun it's wheels, took out a little tree, and almost got stuck.  Len gave up (for  today) in disgust.

Back to more trench digging instead.  We spied this beautiful woodpecker in the woods.

Visual progress

While we wait to get up to 108 Mile Ranch this coming weekend, Len installed the new cabinets in our present kitchen.  They have some touch-up finishing to be done, but look good, don't you agree?

May is here but the foundation isn't

Well we found out that the foundation won't be underway until June.  So we are hoping that some of the digging can happen in May just so we feel that something concrete is happening.  (pun intended).  Len is talking about going up this weekend, and next weekend for sure, to move around some dirt with the backhoe.  Meanwhile back at the garage, the cupboard doors are stained, the drawer insides painted, hardware is ready to install and soon the pantry cupboard will be done!

More talk and money

Another week of talking about doing something.  We now have insurance arranged.  Not cheap, apparently because we are out of town.  We have a hydrant right across the street, but I guess a volunteer fire department doesn't give the insurer that much comfort.  We are also putting on a metal roof and fire-proof cement siding, but apparently that isn't enough. So we will be paying about $1500 per year.  Compare that to the $400 we presently pay.  Ouch!  Still waiting for the quote on the foundation and basement walls.  The digging is to start May 1st.  We will definitely be up there for the May long weekend and hopefully will have some new pictures to show you.  Meanwhile, Len is to the finishing up stage of the cabinets he is building for our present home.  I will post a photo when they are complete.  Spring is definitely here in the Okanagan and I am looking at a beautiful pink peach tree right now.  A bit of sadness realizing this will the last year to enjoy fresh fruit from our own trees.  But who knows, if global warming does enough, maybe 108 Mile Ranch will have fruit trees in the future....just trying to be positive.

Is nothing news?

News flash!  Nothing is happening!  Well that is not entirely true.  Len has been in contact with several people several times.  Our permit is in process.  Our foundation quote is "coming".  Our pole is waiting for the digging guy to dig.  Same with the septic and basement.  All things hinge on each other.  No wonder people have contractors to do this for them.  The plan is that Len will go up to the lot in a couple of weeks and possibly move around some of the dirt we have piled up from the first dig.  I have a plan to fill in a low spot low on the lot, just below where the house will sit, so that I can have a garden there.  It is a very sunny area and so is perfect, I think.  We can put up a tree or two between the garden and the house if it seems too exposed to the road and neighbours.  Meanwhile, back at our present home, Len is practicing making kitchen cabinets by making some much-needed pantry cupboards in our garage-turned-workshop.  Lessons to be learned abound!  And of course much new equipment (jointer, planer, router, tablesaw...) needed to be purchased.  Stay tuned....  here is a picture of our garage-turned-woodshop