Friday, 23 December 2011

Once there was a way ....

With Christmas approaching, it has been a short week. Nevertheless, progress was made over the garage, where we finished laying the logs around the perimeter and started the dormer windows and door. The weather was sunny and warm all week and so no time was wasted clearing snow although, a couple of heavy frosts required almost as much effort in the mornings before work could commence. Working at the height of the garage carries its own risks so, I was glad once we had finished the perimeter and at least put a small barrier between us and the ground.

The quad decided to play up mid week. I went to start it up on Wednesday only to find a pool of fuel on the floor of the trailer. After investigation I discovered that I had left the fuel valve open and it was only the carburettor overflowing but, after repeated attempts to start it, I managed to kill the spark plug. So on Thursday afternoon while the boys were enjoying an end of term barbarque, I went into Cranbrook and bought another one.  After draining the bowl and replacing the spark plug, it started first time but, it now needs a tune so I am searching the internet for help doing that.

Heavy snow is forecast for next week while I am away in Calgary so I have moved the trailer and quad into the garage. There is still quite a lot of wood work in there so I haven't been able to turn the trailer so the back doors face outwards but at least, when I get back next week, I should be able to get into the trailer and be able to get the quad out of the garage with the plough to clear the driveway. Work starts again on Tuesday 4th January and so it will be a couple of weeks before the next progress report. Having said that, I will publish a short blog next week to let you know how Christmas went. I am sure you will all be dying to know.

This is becoming my favourite view of the cabin as it is ideal for getting a good perspective of the property and its surroundings. You can see the dormers over the garage taking shape and this was taken before I moved the utility trailer from beside the wood piles into the garage.

From inside, the dormer windows look very different. The roof will slope down between and on each side of them and we can almost see the height that the roof will be at. I made a model of the cabin so I could see what the roof formation will look like but I forgot to take a photograph of it before I left the property this evening. I will photograph it next week and include it in my next blog page.

On the other side of the garage you can see the start of the shed (long) dormer with its French window (leading out on to a deck) and two standard windows. You will have noticed by now that I have gone for long windows throughout the house (except the bathrooms and kitchen for obvious reasons). This is to make the most of both the views and the sunlight.


From the outside you get a better impression of what the dormer fronts will look like. The sides will be stud walls with log siding put on. The impression will be that the dormer side walls are solid log.

At the back of the garage you can see where the French window will come out and the foundation footings that the wood stilts will stand on to support the decking - more of this at a later date.

The same wall but from a different angle.








And finally, the trailer at home in the garage with the quad (behind) and its trailer on the left.

Well, with Christmas only two days away and a new year approaching, thoughts turn towards family and friends who will be absent this year. So I send to all those who have been kind enough to read this blog, comment and offer words of encouragement, a heart felt thank you and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Thoughts also turn to the path that lead me here and whereas once there was a way to get back homeward, Blighty and Sarah seem a long way away now.

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