... SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

We had something really unusual happen on the way to the cabin this week... It was a Friday night, and we stopped in Spanish Fork to get a bite before getting on the road... we didn't get driving as soon as we had liked, but were making the best of it.  We went through a drive-thru and as we pulled up to the window to get our food, the guy in the window said, "The car in front of you paid for your food.."  What???  We have NEVER had it paid forward for us and we were super surprised..  Such a nice gesture and made us smile...  So, when we got to Panguitch, I bought a bag of groceries for their local food bank, just to pay it forward Cheri and Jim style.  Now, with this being my birthday week, this is what I would like... pay it forward to someone you can actually see... doesn't matter where or who..  make a donation to the food bank, buy a sandwich for someone standing in line behind you, sweep snow off someone's walkway, give a flower to someone who looks sad, buy an ice cream for a kid who is crying.. doesn't matter what, just do something out of the ordinary...  it feels great to give, and wonderfully surprising to receive. 

As usual, our welcoming party at the cabin consisted of Bessie and Bossie... After working in the College of  BioAg at BYU for years, I still can't tell the difference... so this might be Bessie and Bossie, but it might be Bert and Ernie also.. All I know, is these bovines seem to own the road and stare at us, every time we show up.  Giggle.

The main project this weekend, was to dig out more of the septic hole so that the 1/2 inch gravel, (not pee gravel) can be put in the bottom and the septic tank set.  This was a little bit of a challenge because when Jim measured the depth and width, he found that instead of being too shallow, he was too deep and had to replace some of the dirt, add the gravel and then level it out.  This was a challenge, as the side of the pit wasn't frozen dirt, it was rock.  So, it was eventually,  back working with the back hoe. 

Jim first of all got the pipe out from the house to the inset running downhill aligned, but, didn't much like crawling into the pit to really check it out.  Quite frankly, I don't blame him... Here's a guy who just had knee replacement surgery and he's climbing up and down a 12 foot ladder... not pleasant.

Jim always seems to have an interesting job at the cabin, and I kind of just sit there with little to nothing to do... So, before we went this time, we decided that I would start working on the hearth.  I was really excited for this, and it's a lot like piecing together stained glass - so, I really was really enjoying this.  I had read a little bit about doing this kind of rock work, but have absolutely no experience, so, I'm running kind of blind.

The hearth had been kind of a catch all for building materials, so I figured the first thing to do was to clean and sweep it down...check

All nice and clean, now we needed to bring the rock over that had been stored on the steps going upstairs to the loft...  check check

Next, we trip and fall and start bleeding... hey.. when was this part of the script?  Whether it was in the script or not, this impromptu chapter turned into a reality.  I tripped on the side side of the loft stairs and took a header...  After a huge crash that could be heard outside the cabin, (which brought Jim running) the first thing I did was check my nails.. I was convinced I had broken a couple - but, upon inspection, nothing was broken.  Big relief... But, my fingers were cut and bleeding, and my knees are now black and blue.  What was interesting, is that I fell on the insulin pump that is inserted at my shoulder - it didn't get smashed, but the skin around and under the pump is bruised...  So, I guess it could have been worse - saved by the pump!!

After Dr. James M. Streeter came to the rescue, I was good as new (with a couple of ibuprofen to ease the pain of my shoulders and knee, and my wounded pride) I was back at work.  Jim thought I should be taken to the hospital, but my stubbornness kicked into overdrive...

This was my job hereafter... stapling down the wire mesh that holds the mortar and rock into place...

..and, here's Jim, adding sparks to my heart... Ok, it wasn't to my heart, but he was cutting the wire mesh so I could staple it down.  I was just thrilled that he didn't cut off a finger, or I didn't staple my foot to the hearth.. now, that would have been a story!  I have never worked with an air powered staple gun before, and, it's pretty intense. . . I like air tools!

...all mesh up and stapled into place.... on the side...

and bottom...

..and the rock has been set into place.  It takes a little bit of juggling to get everything to fit.  We thought we had just about enough cut rock to fill the hearth, but we were considerably short.  Jim is going to have to cut a bunch more for this weekend to finish it off.

We are putting three inch thick, cut rock on the flat surface of the hearth, and the uncut rock up the sides.  I am really thrilled how it's turning out.  This picture makes the rock look pinkish, but it is actually more yellow... We believe the rock to be honey quartz... and it has a very subtle, creamy colour to it.  

We did buy another drink rack for the jacuzzi area this past week... We travelled down to the cabin with it, sans the three pieces of glass, but, you can kind of get the gist of what it looks like.

One of the projects we wanted to complete by the end of the year, was to clean out and close out one of the storage buildings that we had building materials in...

  

This is what Jim pulled out today - the granite for the bathrooms..   This first piece, I believe is going into the main floor bathroom...

...and, this piece, is going into the loft bathroom... this green piece is my favourite.  I showed it to my boss today, and he said it kind of looked like a road map... and, I think with the white cabinets, this green is going to look fabulous.. it's more green than the photo appears.

The rest of the counters in the main level kitchen and the downstairs kitchen is black with a little bit of a fleck to it.  And, right now, those pieces are being stored outside the side door of our house in Provo!.. and, to answer your question... we did get the storage building totally emptied out!  Now, only four more to go.  This was the biggest of all of them.  

And, on our way home, we saw the most amazing moon over Bryce Canyon.  This picture just does not do it justice - it was absolutely beautiful.... there were cars stopped up and down the road taking pictures... a sight I would like to always remember.

We are quickly losing our window of opportunity to work here.... last year, we were snowed out by October, but Mother Nature is giving us a little break this year.  We are hoping to get the septic tank delivered (December 11)  and the water running to the house before it snows like crazy... here's to crossing our fingers.

Well, stay safe, stay healthy, and on to another amazing adventure.

Love, Jim and Cheri

Thankful....

As we are coming into the Thanksgiving week, our social media has been flooded with positivity and friends and family professing what they are thankful for.  In reading some of these posts, I came across one that seemed to echo what is in my heart, and I would like to share....  I am not going to alter or put my own feelings in here because it has been so beautifully written...  So,  Susan Fuller - I thank you for your thoughts...

"I am so grateful for where I live. I frequently wonder why I am so blessed to have been born in Canada, a land for me that has provided so many freedoms and opportunities.

I am grateful for our home and the building of it. During the building process I increased my ability to change my attitude despite my slow changing environment. I gained the ability to be grateful for each improvement in our home, like being grateful for stairs from the basement to upstairs or a kitchen sink with running water. I'm grateful for having built this home with my husband, the process resulted in more than a building! "

We aren't quite at the running water stage of our building adventure, but I do find I get impatient with how long things take, and I get a little snarky at times... I am thankful I have a husband who is patient with me... I am thankful I am Canadian - I really love being Canadian, BUT, the United States has provided Jim and I with opportunities above and beyond. We are thankful.

It was a super busy weekend... we weren't expecting to be able to get to the cabin at this time of the year because of snow, BUT, the weather has been so mild thus far, we were able to go and work.

The first BIG project was to get the last load of retaining wall blocks from SLC and put on the property. The guy that we bought them from has been super accommodating and we promised we would get all the block off this property by fall, so this was the last hurrah for that. The block are super heavy and being that Jim and I both had surgery recently, we were unable to do the needed work. So, Brianne and Lowell, and their friend Miranda came for the day, and moved the block off the 18 wheeler. I can't express how much we appreciate their willingness to help and their hard work.

While all this activity was going on, Jim supervised with his aching knee...

Coy and his little friend amused themselves as only two little boys on the top of a mountain can. What an amazing playground. Their favourite place was the septic system trench that goes from the house over to the hole where the septic tank is going in... What is funny, is earlier in the day, Coy was standing on top of a pile of gravel that is going to go underneath the septic tank. As he is standing there he asks, "Nana, what is this stuff?" I told him that is was pea gravel and he had this horrified look on his face thinking that I said, "pee gravel" instead of "pea gravel"... and, he imagined that people were peeing in this gravel... I set him straight and he calmed down a little. BUT, I guess it's ok to play in the septic tank trench... they didn't have a clue where they were playing, which made it even funnier...

It was after the boys left that we realized that some of the tools we were working with, were in different places.  For example, the shovel was by the fire pit, but the funniest yet, was the hammer.  I don't know what they were doing with a hammer, but it ended up in an interesting place.  Maybe they though they were Scottish and we in a hammer throw.. don't know.  The whole thing made me giggle...  I don't know about Jim, but I thought it was hysterical...

We are still working on getting the septic tank in - and, still have to dig out a whole lot in the trench and the 13 foot deep hole.  Jim started working on it on Sunday.  The ground was a little disturbed from little boys running back and forth, but he got it dug out and started levelling the pipe... The pipe going from the house was going uphill, instead of downhill, so it had to be fixed.

We are feeling like we are not going to be able to go up to the cabin with the truck much longer, so, we decided to be proactive and pull the skidoos down into a storage area.  We missed the deadline last year, and it kept us from working during the wintertime... This year, hopefully, we'll have a few more weekends to go work, and when the snow comes, we'll skidoo up.  

As we were leaving, the bulls were out in force to say goodbye.  This one particular cow was originally in the middle of the road.  Jim rolled down his windows and moo'd at him, and he quickly ran away.  I told Jim that I figured the bovine was thinking something along the lines of, "What language is this guy speaking?"  I just sat in the passenger seat, watching and listening to my husband moo... was hysterical.  Jim said he must have been saying "get out of the way, but he didn't know it".

And, I'm still collecting things for the kitchens.. We have two kitchens, so I have to be prepared. A couple of weeks ago, I found these beauties.. I was originally thinking they would be great to put M&M's in, or some kind of treats for the grandkids. BUT, Jim tells me, they would be great for breakfast cereal. It would keep mice out if we have visitors. I concur.

And, last but not least, I found a killer deal on towels yesterday. We have three bathrooms at the cabin and one jacuzzi, so I figure we are going to need lots of towels. So, I bought 40. Yes, 40. Get over it! When you come to the cabin, and step out of the shower or the jacuzzi, you won't be lacking for towels.. Giggle. And they were a killer deal!

So, that's our activity this past weekend. We'll be going back the day after Thanksgiving this week and staying until Sunday, and hope we can get that septic hole dug out. The ground is rock hard so we are going to have to take a pick axe and a shovel to dig. Gonna be interesting. Jim keeps telling me that it's the journey not the destination, but this part of the journey is kinda rocky, not my favourite. I hope the weather holds and we'll be able to get a little more done.

Until then, the adventure continues.

Love, Jim and Cheri

... not a work weekend... more of a get away from Provo kind of time....

It was kind of a weird couple of weeks - just trying to get back into the swing of things again.  I hadn't been to the cabin in quite some time, so this was the perfect time to go.  Jim is still recovering from knee replacement surgery, and I was just a couple of days off having kidney surgery, so this was to be a non work kinda time... much needed.

It looks like we had a little bit of snow, but a lot of it melted away, as evidenced by what is still visible.  It was an absolutely beautiful weekend... a little chilly, but pleasant.

We met with an HVAC contractor and are waiting for his bid.  It would be nice to have a little bit of heat!  But, for now, here's our furnace.. Giggle.

Jim found this amazing chest of drawers a week ago, and we picked it up a couple of days ago.  We do not know the history but, we do know the age...from research Jim has done it was made around 1790.  Yes, it's 210 years old.  Jim found similar ones on the Internet.  It shows its age with a few dings here and there but it is beautiful mahogany faded into a blonde kind of color. 
 

And, a couple of years ago, we picked up 10 pieces of this tin that, if I remember correctly, was from a hotel in Kansas City when it was originally built a billion years ago....  It was originally on the edges of the ceiling.  Well, Jim took this one piece to the powder coater and had it coated white.  We are going to put it as the back splash in the kitchen between the cupboards and the countertop, and it will match the stove and oven perfectly.  I feel it turned out beautifully.  In fact, the powder coater guy said that if we didn't use all 40 feet, he would like to buy the left overs from us.  I was totally psyched about how this turned out.

Well, it continues . . .

Love, Jim and Cheri

...inches.. within inches... groan

Tuesday - 10/13/20 - After our little vacation to California over the weekend, Jim was up bright and early this morning to make the drive to the cabin to meet with the plumber to find the end of the pipe underground that seems to be alluding us... The plumber showed up, and within 5 minutes, had run the snake down the line (with camera attached) and found the end of the pipe... and, nope, it wasn't cemented in, buried in the dirt, it was within INCHES of where Lowell and Jim were digging... inches...  $350.00 later, the job was done, and the pipe found and now we move on... groan...

Jim called the people with the septic tank liner and asked if they delivery on Saturday....nope.. So, the plan is Lowell and Jim are going to go down to the cabin this weekend to prepare the septic tank hole by leveling the bottom, and putting in the gravel, and then the tank people will have to deliver and place the tank without us being there.... scary thought, hope they do it right.

While Jim was there, he worked a bit more on the electrics..

This is the main level bathroom... It's pretty... After the fiasco with the stupid septic system, every little bit of positivity gives me hope.

On our last visit to  California, my friend Debbie presented us with a gift she and her husband picked up in Colorado... All I can say is, I LOVE IT!  I love moose, and these placemats are going to be amazing!

... We found the pipe, and now to move forward...

We found the pipe, but the problem remains that we need to prepare the hole for the concrete septic tank to be placed.  Jim and Lowell dug the hole, to the length of the boom of the backhoe and were still about a foot short.  We have tried to get a couple of guys with bigger track hoes to dig the last foot, BUT, apparently, they are too busy.... and, just don't show up.  So, we are left with the solution to use a pick axe and shovel and dig it out by hand, or use our backhoe, and dig in a ramp six feet down, and then dig the rest of the hole with our backhoe...  It's still up in the air.  But, this is where we are at this point.

The wood is 13 and 9 feet long.  This would represent what we need.  What we have is 13 by 8 feet.

And here you can see the trench that brings the sewer pipe out of the cabin and over to the septic tank.  We just have to make sure everything is running downhill.

The hole is 12 feet, 6 inches deep.  Once we add the gravel in the bottom it should be the perfect depth.

We will be back at the cabin in a couple of weeks...  we've had a whole lot of everything going on the last month, the most important being Jim's total knee replacement surgery on the 19th of October... it's been a long, painful journey, but, Jim is recovering nicely.  I won't scare you with the pictures right out of surgery, but here's where we are now... staples have been removed, and the healing continues.

And, on another note, we lost our longtime housemate and friend, Mokie, our cat... He left cat hair everywhere, hogged the bed, howled for Cheri's special ham treats every morning, chastised us when we went to work, and we miss him more than we can say... We will not forget him, and hope he remembers us.

I get a little frustrated with everything cabin related taking so long, but Jim keeps telling me that it's the journey that makes it worthwhile...  I've wanted go quit a million times...but, Jim keeps me going.  I so appreciate the work that Jim and Lowell have put into this project this year.  We could not have come this far, this year without Lowell's strength, and motivation... much appreciated.

Till next time.... the adventure continues, 

Love, Jim and Cheri