...much needed break....

We needed a break from going to the cabin, so we we have taken a week off, and decided this was the week to relax and recharge.  So, this is what we did... we packed a picnic, and drove to the lake, and just enjoyed each other's company, and the beautiful views...

It was just quiet and relaxing, except someone was complaining there was too much food... but, apart from that, it was perfect.. giggle.... and, I kinda like this guy... a lot...

I don't usually like to have pictures taken, but this was such a perfect evening...  and yes, I drive a Kia Soul - complete with chipmunks under the hood!
 

Jim bought me this blanket earlier in the week, and I took it to the lake to use at our picnic, but, there's a little too much dirt on public picnic benches, so I didn't want to use it and get it all dirty... And, there a moose on it!!!

When we first got to the lake, there were Canadian geese swimming around.. but, after we had dinner, when Jim went to take pictures, they had all swam away.. I guess they don't like to have pictures taken either.  It's the Canadian in them.

But, even though we didn't go to the cabin, we were working on a little bit of cabin stuff... so, actually, this post takes in two weeks.. one where we didn't go and the next weekend, where we did... So, brace yourself..

One of the things that we decided was that we needed to make the cabin a little more livable so, we decided to take a trip to Home Depot and pick out the cabinets to build an island in the kitchen.  There are so many freakin' possibilities, it's mind-blowing We made some solid decisions, pulled them off the shelves and set them up in the aisle, and after a couple of changes, our decision was made.  I didn't get the bookshelf at the end of the island like I wanted - due to lack of space, but I did get everything else.  We just might be able to add it as we build it in the kitchen. I wanted the bookcase to put some of my cookbooks in it... I have just a few.. like maybe.... 1k...

And, this is how we got it to the cabin... with a plethora of other stuff..

And, this is where the pieces are stored for now... in the middle of my kitchen... it's starting to get a little crowded..  

When we were at Home Depot, Jim and I usually go our separate directions... and, we usually meet up at the cashier...  Jim was done with his purchases, and couldn't find me.. There was a sales person who asked him if she could help.  He simply said that he had lost his wife and she responded..."Oh, I saw her.. she's wearing a purple polka dot shirt today... she's in the plant department".  When Jim told me what she said, I had to look and see what I was wearing... sure enough... What's weird is that they know who we are, not just what I was wearing that day.... weird..

This week we bought some end tables which will eventually go outside on the deck... I was looking for end tables that would match the rattan chairs we already have.  So, I found these end tables and thought they would be perfect.  But, because we don't really live there all the time yet, every time we put the chairs on the deck, we have to bring them back in when we leave, so, they have a temporary home in the main floor, bedroom.  I really liked these.

And, Jim suggested decorating a little bit... This is what he chose to be on his side of the bed... makes sense to me..

And, I thought I had a chicken to go on the end table on my side of the bed, but alas, we only have roosters - so, this guy is going to have to suffice for now.  He doesn't look particularly friendly, but, I think that's kind of how my disposition is first thing in the morning - so, it works!  And coincidentally, we went and saw Clint Eastwood in "Cry Macho" this week!

A couple of weeks ago, we dropped off our trailer in Coalville, Utah so we could pick up another load of bricks.  The lady that we are buying the brick from suggested that we drop off the trailer and her son would load it, and he has been doing that the last couple of times.  So, we drove up to  Coalville on Thursday evening, to pick up the trailer filled with the bricks.  Her son, bless his heart, stacked two layers of brick.. we usually only pick up one.  We didn't know how the trailer would fare behind our truck, but, it was super slick... no problems at all.. Now we know we can get the two layers of brick, drive across two mountains, and up the hill in front of the cabin, and the truck actually can make it.  

However, unloading the brick is a different story.  We had to make it to Orderville, Utah by 12:30 pm to pick up soffit and facia materials, so we had to unload the trailer to make room...  Wow... what an undertaking!  I moved the bricks to the side of the trailer, and then Jim put them in the wheelbarrow and dumped them onto the ground next to the stacks we've piled up. And, we only had time to take one layer of the brick off the trailer..  Didn't have time to stack them right then... that happened on Sunday afternoon.  And even then, I didn't get them all stacked... too pooped to continue.

This is what it looked like when we left.  This will be a job for next weekend.

We have been searching for fascia and soffit for the longest time.. There are still a whole lot of building materials that are currently backordered for months, and this is two of the products.  Whenever we called to ask if anybody had it, they told us that it was backordered for another 2 - 3 months, minimum which will take us into snow season now.  Just by accident, we called a little hardware store in Orderville, and the owner answered the phone.  He said he had some, wasn't sure how much, but it was in a storage warehouse offsite. The store is a grocery store at the front of the building, and a hardware/tack/feed/craft store to the back. He said that if we came back the next Saturday, he would get it out of storage and let us know how many pieces he had.  We needed about 69 pieces and they are 12' long.  We told him what we needed and if he had ANY at all, we would take it.  We got there on Saturday, and he said that he did not have 69 pieces he had almost double that amount, AND he had the fascia.  We paid cash and that really made him happy because he didn't have to run a card through the machine, and pay 5% surcharge.. So, we made a friend.  We were absolutely thrilled that he had it.  He has a bending machine that we are going to go back and use when we are getting to the point of putting the fascia up.  Was a little miracle.

Here's the soffit, sitting on top of the bottom row of bricks... We didn't have time to get all the bricks out before we left..  But, it worked, so we're happy.

I don't know if we mentioned it before, but the water on the mountain is hard, hard, hard... unbelievably hard... And, because we don't have the propane set up yet, whenever we need hot water, I boil it on the stove - like for washing dishes etc.  This is what the pot looks like after boiling water.. it's incredible.  We were talking to the neighbours, and they said that they bring water from their home in Nevada whenever they go to their cabin... I think we are going to be doing the same..

As we've mentioned before, we have had a whole lot of  building materials in several storage units - we had 3 units in Provo and one in Panguitch, and we have decided to start closing them out.  We closed out the biggest one in the spring, and now we are working on the smaller unit in Panguitch.  This storage building has additional roofing materials, and a whole lot of wood in it.  I think Jim forgot how heavy and awkward the roofing stuff is... it was beastly to get onto the trailer.  We'll use it for the covered deck.

And, we finally got a little bit of a walking space between things.  We're moving things out little by little... and, there was only so much strength left in our arms when we got done.

But, I did find a couple more of those cool doors.  Jim says he knew that the doors were in this storage building, but I totally forgot.

And, I totally forgot about this beautiful piece of granite.  We decided we are going to put it as a counter top in the basement bathroom... You can't see the colours very well, but, this piece has a pink and grey stripe to it.  It was a little dark in the back of the unit, so I couldn't get a really good picture.

And, in my quest to find a company to reproduce the brass signs for the bathroom door, Jim found the "Boys" door, so I can send this picture to companies.  It's been a little difficult trying to explain to someone what I need made.  I sent the picture of the boy's door to a company in Lehi, Utah, and they said that they can make the signs I need... Now, I just need a quote before they're made.  I know it's going to be expensive, I just don't know HOW expensive, or if there are any alternatives.  I'm supposed to get a quote some time this week.

And, you see this brass plate... well, if you look at the door below, this plate fits over where the door handle used to be... We aren't sure what this plate is called... it's not a kick plate, but is it called a push plate?  Questions....

You can't see the "GIRLS" sign as well as the "BOYS" sign...  thank goodness Jim found the other door.

We're still purchasing bits and pieces that are going to be needed... this week, we bought the shower head for the basement bathroom, and more flooring for the bathroom.

My assignment this week, is to pick out the flooring for the main level bedroom... I am so stoked.  This is what I absolutely love doing.  When Jim asks me to pick out something, doesn't matter what it is, it is like Christmas all over.  So, the search is on....and as Jim knows, I love shopping and I'm really good at it - much to Jim's dismay...

And, remember how much I love mooses.... well, here's the latest find...

And, with that, the adventure continues, and we sign off for this week.

Love, Jim and Cheri