Getting to know you

The summer long project, interrupted only by three weeks of berry picking has been fencing the north property line and two cross fences. The end result was two more pastures for grazing, a couple more riding trails and hopefully never having to tramp across the neighbours fields to bring home the horses again. I’m not finished mind you, but...

A “Fair”ly good day

Yesterday was the Millet Fair and Geo and I did well again. His results so noticeably dominated the photography competition that when picking up our prize envelopes at the end of the day the nice lady recognized his name right off. “Oh, you’re the fellow with all the nice pictures” My lace cardigan came in second to a pair of socks because my buttonholes were too big. Darn it. My rose placed second...

Ice for your summer drinks

Hail storm came in from the east yesterday evening. I knew something was coming because the dog was stuck to my knee. Not a helpful arrangement as I sat on the floor with a glue gun, an opened package of 1500 gold sequins and a poofy pink tulle skirt, attempting some crafty work. (More on that in a later post) Power outages just as Cabrerra was coming to...

Hot diggedy

I told myself I had to get the car paid off first. Technically there are still a couple months to go with that, but who wants a tractor in October?  Oh, I guess maybe for clearing snow. Friend and advisor, Doug Hutchison, gods rest his soul, counselled many years ago that I should purchase a Kubota.  I went with the cheaper Sears, belt-driven,...

Excerpt from Wilder

It was three days to Independence Day, the fourth day of July….The air was still and cold that night, and the stars had a wintry look. After supper Father went to the barns again…..When he came in, Mother asked if it was any warmer. Father shook his head.“I do believe it is going to freeze,” he said.“Pshaw! surely not! Mother replied. But she looked worried.Sometime in the night...

You’re looking at what?

The farrier stops by this morning, gets out of his truck and as I’m walking off the deck he says “What have you got here in the backyard? Can I take a look?” You can see the gazebo from a certain part of the front road because the approach is a much lower elevation. I’m chuffed that he has noticed, and happy to give a tour.  Chris walks down the steps saying “I’ve got to put in...

The mosquitoes are coming

Quick, get the walls up. The skitters are small, but they will only get bigger now that we’ve finally had rain. Finished Saturday putting down more pavers to make the floor fit the larger footprint. Assembled the west wall yesterday. It fit so tight when I lifted it into place that I had to knock it in with the sledgehammer. Good for keeping out...

Dear Mr Leyland

I try each morning to make Detroit Tiger’s olde English D in my coffee’s foamed milk. Some days are better than others.  But the boys aren’t leading the division. What gives? I wear the lucky shirt. I work late so I can watch the games that start at 5 p.m. What more can a Tiger fan do? I have discovered that every day that I work on the...

One dormer in 38 seconds

Timelapse of the dormer constructions. Boy oh boy, it was up and down the ladder a bazillion times. It turned out nicely – the roof line matches the rest of the hip rafters very well. Apart from screening and a little decorative fascia, I plan to leave the sides and front open. Once I had all the plywood in place and I stopped to relax and watch a ball game, I looked up from below and swore a blue streak. I...

How ’bout them angles

3 common rafters, 4 hip rafters, 16 jack rafters – and I still have to figure out how I want to frame up the entrance area (where the 4th common rafter would have been). We want some kind of dormer – skylight – thingy. I’ll do that in 2x6s so it won’t be so heavy looking – and bonus – easier to cut the angles on...