Weather still holding

Another outstanding week of good luck and hard work. The weather has continued to hold and the work team has put in long hours and taken pride in their work. However, the pace of work has taken it's toll, with me at least. I haven't had a day off for over three weeks and a few old injuries have started to play up a bit, one or two repetitive stress injuries have emerged along with a few cuts and bruises and a few joints and muscles have been complaining. I had to resort to a fist full of pain killers and anti-inflamatories to get any sleep at all on Friday night and so on Saturday I took the day off and today (Sunday) I paid a long overdue visit to the hot springs in Fairmont. It was well worth the hour's drive to get there and I already feel much better.

As this photo shows, we eventually got the last valley and jack-rafters in place and, apart from two small bits at the front of the cabin, what you see here is all that remains to be covered by the framers. Monday is a bank holiday (Canadian Thanksgiving) and so they will be back mid morning on Tuesday and finished by COP Wednesday, it is hoped.

The large valley between the main roofline and the prow on the kitchen side of the prow. Actually, there was a blue sky but, the sun just below the roofline has made it come out white on the photo.

The roof over the deck outside the kitchen door and the tricky interface between it and the garage roof leading down from the 'dodgy valley'. The framers did particularly well here.

I hope to collect the siding for the bedroom wall next week sometime.

I also hope to get the windows for the North Wing in.

Garage doors have been ordered but, it will be two or three weeks before they arrive.

On the front of the house, the deck has now been covered and the porch dormer constructed ready to be framed and sheeted by the framers along with the hole at the corner - then it is job done.

I am very pleased with the way the covered decks have come together with the main roof.

During an idle moment we counted the rings on some of the posts and beams and it was with both pride and pity that I learned that some of the wood we have been using was around a hundred years before I was born and I have no doubt it will still be here, as part of the cabin, more than a hundred years after I am dead.

This side is also proving to be a wonderful afternoon autumn/winter sun trap and begging for some grape vines for the summer to finish it off.

On Friday Sean, the roofer, came by to take final measurements before purchasing the metal sheeting that now has to go on the whole roof. His boys should be here sometime next week to paper and baton the roof ready for it. Once the paper is on, then the roof will be water tight.

The fireplace people also came along on Friday for a recce for the two wood burning stoves that they will install on Tuesday. Next week therefore you should see two metal chimneys sticking out the top of the roof along with a couple of holes for water outflow ventilation - all required before Sean's boys put the metal roofing on.

Looking at the photos, I can see why some people think this is a large house but really the chunky logs make it look bigger than it is. Now the roof is nearly on, the inside is beginning to get smaller and it will continue to shrink as more and more goes into it.

I have tasked a sub-contractor to put the septic and water in and he should be starting in three weeks time. I have also called for a quote for bringing electricity from the road to the house but, I haven't heard from them. I will need to chase them again next week.

I was hoping to have the cabin in a state to have my children over for Christmas but, unless my prime contractor can deliver a surge to get everything he is contracted to do done then, I think I am going to miss my target again. Shame.