Gate finally finished with Christmas lights and Japanesy furniture tacks on each of the vertical slats.  May end up putting a small roof on this gate next year.  Finished lectures for the trade policy course for the year, final was yesterday.  All that is left is grading the exams (a bit of a grind punctuated by thoughtfulness and unintended humor).  First snowfall a few days ago but highs of plus 5 in the days ahead should melt most of it.

Found a perfect Christmas tree on the lower part of the property, about 4 meters tall. Will need to get more lights before dressing it.

And a video of Taisho playing with his new friend for the first time.

December 1st and our neighborhood golf course is still open, as are the ski hills. No snow yet in the valley.  Finished classes last week, only the exam left.  Gave a 2hr presentation on Saudi to a continuing education group, and had another couple of interviews.  Went to an opera performance (opera singers with a piano accompaniment) and a Junior A hockey game – both great fun.  Taisho started puppy classes and had a play date with another 6 Shibas at the local dog park.  Busy moving rocks and dirt before the ground freezes, cutting branches up to burn in stove or mulch in the spring, cleaning the eaves, draining the hoses and putting up the Christmas lights.  This tree, just above the switchback, died in the spring so I cut it down today.

ATV is useful in moving the branches to the burn/mulch pile, and the logs to the firewood pile.  The white tarp is covering a 3m high pile of branches.  Have put 500kms on the ATV in last 3 years, almost all on the property.

Finally completely finished the fence and gates with the final front gate today.  Will be getting a barrel bolt tomorrow as other ideas for latches did not work.

And Taisho channeling DiCaprio.  He believes his domain encompasses all he can see.

Have been remiss in updating the blog.  M and I spent a delightful 6 days in DC, visiting old haunts, former colleagues and counterparts, and much time at the museums and galleries.  This is a larger than life size sculpture at the Hirschorn Modern Art Gallery.   After DC, we went to Toronto for several days as I was officiating at my nephew’s wedding.  A great time was had by all.

This is our house in Chevy Chase where we lived about 50 years ago.  Also visited the neighborhood and my old high school.  Excellent memories of a time that greatly shaped my eventual development (such as it is:).

Mizuho flew to Tokyo for a few weeks and came back with 12 week old Taisho.  He was a champ for the 11 hours on the plane and another hour on the ground before doing his business in the garden across from the airport.  Totally awesome fella.

Got the fence done just in time for Taisho’s arrival.  Good thing as he likes to be outside and has thoroughly checked the perimeter.  Have installed a temporary gate but need to design and build something permanent. 

And another of Taisho, just because.

4 years ago we started construction of our house.

Much has been accomplished over the intervening years, but there are still a few items on the to-do-list, including some kitchen cupboard doors and some kitchen cupboard uppers; front hall closet doors and gables; railings for upper stairs and rest of bookcase/barrier; railing for downstairs stairs; some baseboard trim; a bunch of built-in cabinetry for the master and guest bedrooms, and doors for the walk-in, laundry/pantry and master bedroom.  At some point I will need to build some cabinets for the roughed-in kitchen in the basement.  Outside, we need to finish the fence, build a gate, finish the terracing below the lawn, finish the river rock around the house, build and fill three large planters, reduce the pile of dirt and rock, place and fill 3 gabions, install a hot tub and deck/skirting (location tbd), build a few more rock walls, and finish the area behind the garage (once we decide what to do with it).

In short, four years after we started the house building it has transitioned from a project to a lifestyle!

Two motorbikes being stored for the winter in the new garden shed.

The new dog/deer fence on the left, and the new terrace on the right.  Lots of rock and loads of dirt delivered by Bobcat with some spread by M.  Still need a few more loads and some leveling before we plant more lavender.  Flags are to alert the deer to the new fence and will be removed in November.

Cleaning out some stumps that date back to the original site clearing (tossing them over the edge at the switchback).

Will be removing or burning or mulching the rest of the limbs and branches and then this area will be clear for the first time in more than 4 years. 

Plan on using this stump for another house number at the street.  Logs behind the stump will be made into benches and placed around the property.

Friend of mine was clearing out his garage and gave me this 6″ jointer and some bar clamps. Sweet! Same guy that sold me the table saw and dust collector.

These are a few of the matsutake mushrooms that our friend and neighborhood Japanese farmer picked on the weekend near Nakusp, in the West Kootenays. Delicious!

This is what 9 tons or 11 yards of 1″ round stone looks like.  We only need about 7 yards but I am sure we will use it all.  Mostly being shifted about with the bobcat, but it all needs to be pushed and pulled around to level it.  Mizuho is finding it very good exercise.

At how it looks after getting wet.

Since we started landscaping about 2 plus years ago, we have had landscape fabric covered by some rocks around the edges of the house, garage and shop in the area under the eaves.  Most are now covered in round stone, with another 30 metres of perimeter left to do.  Its beginning to look as though the house is actually occupied 🙂

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Work on the shed continues. Coop and I just finished the aluminum soffits so all that is left is some trim on the gable ends.  The back of the shed has double doors for motorcycle storage.

The area in front of the shed is being leveled out.  I will build 3 raised planters 1m x 2m in front of the shed.  The pallet is a temporary step.  The area under the wide soffits will be used for wood storage.

Work on the fence also continues slowly.  This gate is flanked by welded steel wire fencing coated in black pvc.  To the left is the first section of the deer fence – polyvinyl netting 8′ high that is almost transparent at any distance. 

Another section of the fence which has the cables run and is ready to have the polyvinyl stretched and hung.

Fall is arriving here quickly, a very nice time of year.

We helped our neighbor harvest his first crop of grapes. Lots of fun and a good investment of time as these grapes shall be made into Chardonnay – he had about 4 small truck loads of these.  He also has gewurztraminer and pinot gris and pinot noir grapes.
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Lastly, came across a great deal on an electronic drum kit, complete with amp and speakers. A winter project.   Went to a Mavis Staple (80 years old survivor of the Staple Sisters who can still shake it up) and Jonny Lang (guitar phenom – famous at 15, now in 30s) concert last night.  Kelowna is well served with entertainment.

Summer appears to be over.   We saw an all-time-low temp for yesterday at +14.  Only a few plums left but lots of pears and the apples are coming on strong as are the grapes.  Our neighbor’s vines are coming along well.  We are planning to help him with the harvest in about a weeks time – cutting the bunches of grapes and filling baskets which he will then move to the pressing floor.  He has about 5 varietals on 4 acres, and although he only planted 3 years ago, he is getting a very good crop.

Still enjoying the remnants of our French wine from our cellar. Bourgogne.  Ahh….

Have now landscaped around the garden shed – putting in rock walls, building up and leveling, spreading mulch – and have finished the double doors for the motorbike entrance.  Need to get some aluminum soffit material and install, and then install the trim and gable ends.  Also moved and filled the 2nd firewood shelter (cut up but not split logs seasoning for another year).  Still need to move some additional cut up logs for another year of seasoning. 

Should have some photos of some additional steel fencing, some polyvinyl fencing, and some additional leveling, and hopefully the beginning of the main front gate.  Am preparing (rock walls and filling with gravel and dirt and then leveling) the area behind the shop as well for planters I hope to build in the early spring. 

With the help of a friend, I have been cleaning up and organizing the site, as well as leveling the ground around the shed and moving rocks.  A flat tire on the bobcat has slowed things but shall be getting a new one put on the rim today.  The stacked fir tongue and groove will be used as planter walls next spring.  Coop and I installed the double doors on the back of the shed (photo next update) and M painted the fascia which is now ready to be installed, as is the corner trim.  Soffits will be next, but may not be this year.

Moved the sifter over and now again using it for dirt. My plan is to spread some excess crushed rock on the upper area and around the shed, and then put a few inches of dirt, mixed with some mulch, on top.  Should be smooth and well drained, I hope.

Fences between the two gates and the shop/house are now completed. Need to now build the front gate on the steps and the welded wire fence at the front of the house.

UBC asked me to teach a 3rd year course on trade policy this fall at the Okanagan campus.  As I thought I would regret missing the opportunity more than I would regret the work required to prepare the course, I accepted.  But much of the past three weeks has been spent creating the syllabus, readings and content. The first of 23 classes (40 students) is on Thursday.  A new experience that I expect will be both interesting and pleasurable.

Peaches are almost done, pears and apples are now out.

Work on the house project has been a bit slow this month due to some very hot sunny weather, followed by with smoke from wildfires burning around the province and in Washington State, and a delightful 2 day 700km bike ride through the East Kootenays. The Saudi – Canada spat also consumed a fair bit of time as I was asked to do 4 TV interviews, 3 radio, and 4 press, and finally concluded with an op-ed in the Toronto Star. If you are interested, the following links will get you to:

1. The first TV interview on CBC when the story broke. Gets interesting at the 3 minute mark. 100,000 hits so far –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hk51exZ850

2. A MSN news piece that was largely composed of bits and pieces from the first interview, and some other sources – http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/trudeau-made-a-glaring-tactical-error-thats-getting-canada-hammered-by-saudi-arabia/ar-BBLIAUm?li=AAggNb9&ocid=sl5cdhp

3. The last interview I did with CTV – https://www.facebook.com/CTVNewsChannel/videos/1911090225618966/

4. An op-ed I was asked to write for the Toronto Star – sort of a pro and con debate – https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/thebigdebate/2018/08/14/has-canada-mishandled-its-relationship-with-saudi-arabia-yes.html

While I have been receiving support for my comments from several former colleagues, I may be removed from some of the Christmas card lists of certain politicians.

Pat lent me his power washer and I have been going to town with it. Cleaned off two rock outcroppings in the back yard, as well as this massive rock wall in front of the shop/garage.  Next step will be to level the parking area and pack it down.

Some progress on the garden/motorcycle storage shed – roof, windows and door, and some critter screening around the bottom.  Still need to do soffit, fascia, corner trim and finish the door/window trim, and install the large double door on the back wall.

And this is the second gate of four, made of cedar 2x4s and some welded wire fencing.

Have also been busy with a non-house project – details next month.

Neighbor’s vines from a few weeks ago, coming along well.  Currently eating local blackberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, and apricots with peaches around the corner.  Work has slowed a bit as it has been very hot (up to 35 a few days).

Completed a firewood shelter beside the shop made of four 4×4 posts, a 4×4 beam, five rafters, some lath on the ends and the rafters, and a metal roof.   Wood is from trees on the property that had been cut to length over the past 2 years and split this month.  Almost 2 cords should be lots for the winter!  Side of garden shed is in the back, awaiting roof, windows, doors and one more side.  Currently working on gate beside firewood shelter.  Fencing material arrived today! 

One gate and 2 steps mostly completed.  Gap will be filled with welded wire fence and a few more rocks will be placed beside the steps.  Steps will be topped with river rock once we get the 5 tons we need (not too urgent).

Enjoyed the 1st Annual Upper Booth Sip and Dine Evening wherein 16 of us visited 7 houses in the neighborhood.  A great time was had by all.  We served Greek style harumaki,  Pineau des Charente with white wine, and ouzo.  Also went to see the play Midsummer’s Night Dream outdoors at Spearhead Winery.  While not my favorite play by Bill, it was very well done and most enjoyable.

And the big news is I shot a 42 for nine holes the other day, including 7 putts for birdie (of which I made 1). By far the best round I have ever had.

After a month of holidays, we got back to work. But we first had excellent visits by some blog readers – Eldon and Tina, very good friends of some 30 years from Ottawa, and John, a friend from university days, and France.  Coop and I then worked on the garden shed (which will also serve to store 2 motorbikes in the winter).  All framed and raftered – awaiting the steel roof panels I ordered; the installation of the rest of the siding that Mizuho has been staining (doing an excellent job on a great many feet of tongue and groove fir); the double door I need to build; and two windows and an entrance door that will be installed after the roof is on.  At some later stage soffits and trim will be added and interior shelving.

Fruit season is upon us, with cherries and berries (straw, blue, rasp) in abundance, to be followed soon by apricots and peaches.  We pick most of our fruit from our neighbor’s orchard – good people and fruit, minimal spraying, and the best prices in town.

Had several furry visitors the past few days – two bucks and two fawns on the lawn – and a great horned owl that is huge and hanging around in the lower part of the property, and eagles soaring around most of the day.  With all our flowers, we have also been attracting hordes of happy honeybees and a couple of hummingbirds each day.

Most of the end/corner supports for the fence are now up although I need to install another 4 supports.  Will be ordering the fencing material tomorrow.

Also working on the gates as I want them in place before I close off the yard with the fence – don’t want to trap a deer inside.  This one is a combination of cedar 2×4 and black painted grill and pipe.  The next one (beside the shop) will likely be welded steel mesh (2″x4″).  We will then decide which we like better for the final one at the front of the house.  In the foreground are wildflowers that have self seeded.

Forecast for the week ahead is for highs between 30 and 36 so work outside will proceed slowly.  Hope to finish the fence post supports, build/install another gate and a firewood shelter, and roof and side the shed in the next few weeks.  Neighborhood dinners, golf games and swimming in friends’ pools may slow things down a bit.