Adventures in Retirement
No, not me. We were fully vaccinated months ago. This time it’s the second round of shots for Maggie. Now she can go out and about and visit with others more freely
To celebrate the event she got her first trip to the ocean today. Quite timid about it to start then got right into it. Loved the feel of sand in her toes. Didn’t dip a foot in the water though. I guess she is saving that for the next trip
Progress has been ok on the bathroom reno. Probably close to estimate on effort but calendar-wise a week long so far. Had to leave the project sit for 5 or 6 days so far in order to attend to some personal items and a couple days helping out on other projects when an extra arm was needed.
First up was some dry rot. While we didn’t know it was there I am not really surprised to find it. The shower head nipple pretty much just fell off when I grabbed it. Corroded completely through.
The other bit of unplanned work was to completely redo the laundry plumbing inside a new half wall. I don’t have before picture, let’s just say it was “rustic”.
Lost another day to the electrician and opening up walls for him will add a half day to fix too. Hope to be tiling in a couple days, depending on how the mudding goes.
It’s too early to be called spring but the mild winter is definitely advancing the growing season so far. The yard is beginning to wake up.
You know, nobody ever calls about a drainage problem in the summer.
We have really noticed the days getting shorter. Soon the rains will start, marking the beginning of another puzzle season.
We have decided to try our hand at winter gardening. Nothing too ambitious. This fall it will be just some garlic. Garlic is a very popular crop around here and there are a couple of farms growing it commercially. In fact the garlic grown here is considered by many to be quite superior.
Since the summer garden is still in the ground I decided to build a new bed for this. Closer to the house and lower to the ground. COVID has driven prices up on many materials, wood and soil bing two significantly impacted items.
To make space the haskap experiment is coming to an end. They plants were not thriving or fruiting. Kelly was ready to pull the pin last summer. I convinced her to give them one more summer. That summer is now over – out they come and in goes the new winter bed.
We finally have some summer weather. After a cool and wet June and start of July the sun has come out at last. Highs in the mid 20’s. Beautiful days.
Taking advantage of this we decided to take a drive around the island with the top down. Nice to get use of a convertible roof. There are only so many days you can. After a drive and a walk we thought we would stop at the greenhouse on the way home.
Of course we did…
We were planning a day out last week and while I waited for my wife to get ready I decided to sweep off the deck. The fir bud covers have been raining down from the trees for a few days now and the deck is absolutely covered in them.
It was probably a good thing I did, because I noticed some sawdust. Now I know I haven’t been doing any work, so who was?
Dang. Sure enough several small round holes in a deck post. I guess it is now my turn to do some carpentry.
Tearing off all the cedar cladding I find what I am now expecting. Something has decided to use my house as their’s. Not sure what it was, as there were no visible critters still there. Ants or beetles most likely.
Unfortunately they did manage to chew up about 20% of the base of the post. I figured the best solution was to replace the entire thing.
It’s complete now. Used pressure treated 2×6’s instead of the spruce that was there. Also added some water proofing membrane to the beam and the first foot of the post, then 18” of tin flashing, then building papered the rest of the post, Overkill probably but it shouldn’t get wet.
I suppose this it the trade off to living here. It has nicer winters than the prairies but back there no one ever tried to eat my house!
Physical distancing remains the order of the day. We’ve been spending a little time in the yard. Planted the parts of the garden I could. Seeds only, too soon for tomatoes plants. Cleaned the gutters. Washed the truck. Cleaned up the shed a bit.
The priority project at home was a ramp for the dog. She is 15 years old this week and is starting to have a lot of problems with stairs. Some days she has a hard time just standing up. The next day she’s good for a two mile walk. Regardless, it’s getting worse and she fell down the stairs the other day and was on the limp, so something needed to be done.
A little longer than originally planned. I had to pull off a set of steps to build this. The local courier delivery guy uses these steps a lot since they are closer to the road. I figured I had better build them assuming a person would use them, not just the dog. So…wider and shallower.
Next up, irrigation.
There is a common thread to many people’s reaction to self isolation during the pandemic. They have the greatest intention to accomplish all the things they have been putting off for so long. I am no exception. Well, as far as the intent goes anyway.
I have had a moderately productive week. Planted the garden. Pulled four truck loads of fallen trees and branches out of the forest to start a chipping pile. Wait, did I just transmogrify a task? Cleaning up from wind storms into future mulch making?
I also FINALLY managed to get back into the shop and resume the shelving project. In fact, I finished it!
Doesn’t really look like a lot of work does it? Poor things sat in that cold shop most of the winter because I didn’t want to leave the heat on overnight. Electric heat here is flipping expensive, and the doors to the shop are pretty poorly sealed. Two coats of stain and five coats of lacquer takes a long time when you only do it when the weather is warm enough overnight.
Pretty happy with the result. I have three extra shelves I can add to the stack or use in another location. Need to buy more stainless round bar first. I knew I should have bought that extra piece.
My Elysium 