When we built the house, we had to cut down 2 trees, which were piled to the south of the shop.  Last year, B in Law Steve and sister Susan cut a path through the trees and brush for the Bobcat.  Over the winter and the past few weeks, we burned the small stuff, cut up the larger trunks and branches, and moved the stumps over to the fence line where they will reside for awhile.  First photo is from last fall, 2nd is a reverse view from today.  We now need to split and stack the firewood, and use up more of the crushed rock so we can finish the clean up, start a garden, and build an equipment shed.

This tree is what one sees from the dining room. We have lived with it for 9 months but decided it needed to go.

Cam gave me a hand to fell it. We put the branches in a pile and the deer have been happily munching on them ever since.

And this is the view without the tree. The two brown trees in the distance will be the next to go.

These are the stairs that will connect the upper and lower areas.  I started on them this week because I need to get them built and to finish the rock retaining wall so that I can finish the backfilling and then dress with topsoil. Once this is done, my Bobcat road can be remade into the front and side porches.  I also extended the flat lower area by about 1/3 and am leveling it.

And this is where we were one year ago on St Pat’s Day

Former neighbours in Ottawa and good friends Cam (cabinet maker extraordinaire) and Elizabeth came out for a week to check out the house and ski in BC snow.  It was great to hang out with them.  We joined them one day at Big White (about an hour from here) which has had 8 meters of snow this year and has a 2 meter base.  Great day at a big ski area.  They are both excellent skiers.  Mizuho has some Angry Birds as ear warmers. 

Two days later, we golfed at a nearby course – the course opened the last week of February.  So, we were able to ski and golf the same week, and will be able to continue to do so for at least another month.

A few hours after they left for the airport, I found this tree on the driveway.  It had been dead for awhile and was on my list of things to do.  It moved up a few notches.

I quickly cut it up and moved it off the road. We will split and stack it in April.

My helpers.

Next on the list are outdoor stairs and backfilling, workbench for the shop, railing/bookcase for upstairs, installing bathroom drawers, and building some more drawers for the kitchen. And maybe a bit of skiing and golfing.

….is coming along slowly.  We (mostly Mizuho) painted the bedroom and ensuite the same blue as the main floor guest bedroom.  We are expecting most visitors during the summer, so decided on a cooler colour.  The first photo is looking through the ensuite to the bedroom.  The next two are of the bedroom.  We are thinking of a floating laminate floor with an area rug for the bedroom.  Will (should) be ready for guests sometime this summer.  Just need to decide and install flooring, baseboards, doors, door trim, bathroom tiles, and vanity and sink.