As we pass the 5th anniversary of the start of this project and approach the end of the year, I thought it appropriate to reflect. Major house projects included building planters, terracing the back yard, felling trees and cutting/splitting enough firewood for a few years, moving tons of dirt, mulch and rock, acquiring a seacan container, building two rock walls, filling two more gabions, creating a dirt verge along the driveway, chipping up branches, and finishing the cabinets in the kitchen and almost in the front entry, and tonight cutting, trimming and putting the first coat of oil on 8 shelves. Also found time for some travel to Japan (friends, flowers and hot springs) and to the UK and Vienna (music, theater and museums), a road trip through Alberta and Saskatchewan, and several motorbike trips in the valley and to the Kootenays and Washington State (twice involving camping and once kayaking). Also enjoyed several visitors from out of province and out of country, helped our former neighbors in Ottawa move to Kelowna, helped our neighbor transfer this year’s pinot noir to wine barrels, bottle last year’s pinot noir, pulp up several hundred pounds of apples for cider, and made some sausage. And we have had a full year of enjoying the company of the delightful Taisho. In the final days of the year I am preparing to teach a 4th year seminar on international relations at UBCO and preparing my house to-do list for next year – we shall again not be idle or bored.
The front closet, with doors. Cam made the two top and end doors and gable – I sanded, finished and installed. Still need to install maple baseboard and maple/fir top.
The new 20′ container, leveled and placed (shoved around by Bob). Am building wood storage on the left and at the back, and general storage on the right. There will be additional wood storage outside the container, to the right, and a roof to the left to shelter the ATV and Bobcat. But will first need to paint something cool on the outside walls.
Having had seller’s remorse since I sold my 335 18 months ago (had it for 11 years after our Saab 9000 for 19 years, I have been looking for a fun 3-season car that is more engaging to drive than the SUV. Found one in Penticton – a 2014 M235 rear-wheel drive manual with a in-line six that benefits from an aftermarket EMU. To paraphrase the Beach Boys – fun, fun, fun until Daddy takes the Beemer away… Next summer, the ATV will live outside and next winter, the motorbike will be in the gardent shed but even now, they all fit in 1/2 the garage.
Taisho continues to be a delight – he loves all dogs and people, and is very easy going, especially for a Shiba. Mizuho and I are girding ourselves for a polar bear swim on Jan 1 with some good friends. Happy New Year to all our blog friends!