..onward and upward....

Here's a funny... I got this picture of the cabin, and when I initially saw it, I thought to myself that this was a really pretty house, and a pretty picture... and then, I realized, it was OUR cabin... such a nice surprise.  

We, rather, Jim and Howard are still working on the deck, and this is the concrete that is now in the conex waiting for it to be mixed and poured into the holes.

 

Howard just keeps digging holes for the footings.  It will be cool to see the forms set in and concrete poured... I think the holes look like... graves...

We shoot level lines out from the cabin to make sure the deck winds up in the right place.  I'm glad Howard knows what he's doing.

The backhoe started leaking so we temporarily stopped digging.

And, here's a couple more graves....

There's going to be a lot of concrete in there!

And here we have a form and road base placed in the hole.  This is in there to assist in the levelling of the hole as well as draining moisture away under the concrete apparently.  We got a tamper to compact the road base in the hole.  We are learning a lot.

I'm excited for the deck to be completed..

And, here's another little bit of excitement... I was looking for the stone mason for about six months - all I knew was his first name, his wife's first name, and the city he lived in - no last name, no address, no phone number.  Well, I found him!! I found a phone number, and I texted the number and he responded!  I was stoked.  I don't know if he will do our job, but all the time I have spent trying to find him has paid off.  Jim thinks I should be a private eye or something along those lines... giggle...  I was just a really determined person.

In last week's post, I mentioned that Jim was also building the island in the kitchen.  Well, he put all the cabinets together this past weekend, and it's beautiful.. We had purchased one panel of maple butcher block for the top, just to see how we like it, and we love it!  So, I ordered the 2nd piece and I got an email today saying that the 2nd piece has come in and we can pick it up.  So, that's on the agenda for this week.  And, I had this idea that I wanted some of the tin that we are going to use as back splash put somewhere on the island, just to tie the whole room together, and this is what Jim came up with.  I really love it.  We are going to put just regular oak wood under the metal pieces, to protect them from feet and knees hitting them all the time.  I really like the look and we'll put some trim around the tin to finish off the look.

Jim is planning a 16 inch overhang so we can set a couple of bar stools on the end for breakfast seating.

This past week, we had a little problem with the backhoe - was leaking hydraulic fluid like crazy.  Jim thought that it was probably one of the seals that needed to be rebuilt, so he started to tear the backhoe apart.  Once he got into it, he found that it wasn't a seal, but it was a hose!  After a trip to Panguitch for a new hose we discovered that we didn't have the right tools to tighten the fittings on the hose.  So backhoe work is temporarily on hold till be get crowfoot wrenches?  What crows have to do with it, I don't know.  Um... I don't know much about backhoes, but I do know stuff leaking out is bad and this looks bad.

He tried to repair it, but didn't have the right tools, so, we had to order the tools from Amazon in order for Jim to tighten everything up this coming weekend.  See the new hose, the clean looking one in there? 

One of the problems we have in the cabin right now is the floor... it is just particle board on the floor and when you walk on it over time, little bits and pieces stick to your shoes or slippers or socks and it is the worst.  So, Jim found a glue type stuff and he started painting the floor with it.  Hopefully, this will keep the little wooden bits off of the bottom of my socks and in my bed!

This is the area from the French doors going into the living room...

And, here's the floors in the kitchen all glued down...I think this is really going to help.

This is the 2nd oven in the kitchen.  Jim thought it would be a great idea to put a cabinet under it for utensils and pot holders and the such.  I thought it was a great idea also.

I saw this wall covering idea in a restaurant in Provo (Cubby's) and I really liked the look.. This is made with just pallets that have been pulled apart and stained.  

I thought I would like the idea in the basement bathroom, but now I am thinking about half walls in the basement bedroom.  So, on Sunday, I took a drive over to Home Depot and picked up some stain.  There is tons of colours of stain, so I picked out the ones I really liked and bought the small little containers... and, made my samples.  With so many to choose from, it was a little difficult to whittle it down to 8 I really liked.  But, I think I am going to go with these 8, or maybe get rid of the 2nd colour from the right.  I am not sure about that one.  Once I put the stain on a stir stick, and let it dry, I'm questioning this choice.  I have a little bit of time to play with, so, this one is still up for discussion.  Jim likes my idea, and  didn't flat out tell me "NO" so I am assured this isn't a crazy idea.

And, I found a rooster for the bedroom that I really, really liked.... With all the glass work that I do, I thought this rooster was more to my liking.  He's made of blown glass, and the colours are so vibrant and beautiful, I couldn't resist.  I was really thinking that Jim was going to give me the Jim look - you know the look... like his eyes are saying, "Really?"  But, when I showed him, he really thought this piece was beautiful.

And, this is the piece that  Coy calls, "Creepy Bunny".  He's been sitting in my house for a year or so now.  Jim had some room in the truck, so I sent bunny to the cabin.  I am not sure where he is going to go, but I really liked Creepy Bunny.  Jim says that this rabbit looks like he's from Alice in Wonderland, and is about to talk to you.  He probably has a lot to say, but as of yet, he's been silent and patiently waiting...

So, from Creepy Bunny and glass Rooster, the adventure continues.

Love, Jim and Cheri

..Working Hard... tryin' to beat the weather....

After waiting 8 months, a small miracle happened this week.. We got the call that our Jacuzzi was delivered to the store and was ready for installation.  There is only one small problem... they won't be able to get up the hill with the hot tub because of the snow at the cabin...  We were originally told that the tub would be ready in August, and we thought that would be just perfect - we would have a couple of months of use.. BUT, it didn't get built until October, and now it's just too late.  So, it's going to be stored at the store in Springville, Utah until spring.  When I left the store, I went looking for our tub, and found it.. with my name written on the side!!!  (For those who don't know... my first name actually is Love...)

Our tub is the 2nd down on the right!  Hopefully, she's not getting squished!

We had a snowstorm on the mountain this past Tuesday, and this is what was left.  We were told that it was super cold, and the storm was pretty fierce... We have part of the deck that is covered, and you can see which part is NOT covered...  This past weekend, it was in the mid 50's which was nice for working, but at night it gets down into the lower 30's, so it's too cold to sleep there... I didn't go down to the cabin this weekend because of the cold.  I have atypical pneumonia, and the cold really causes me havoc, so, I usually stay home after the first snowfall..  Jim stays in a motel for a couple of nights, and at least doesn't freeze or get sick by sleeping in the cold.  We are waiting on the HVAC guy to schedule installation of the furnace still... When that goes in, I am anticipating a lot of things to change.  We still have the two skidoos on the property, so if the furnace goes in, we can skidoo into the cabin each day and still work during the winter cold.

As you can see, we got a little bit of snow sliding off the roof....

A couple of weeks ago, we purchased the cabinets that go under the island, and this weekend, Jim started to put them together.  The drain and water lines are now routed inside the cabinet.  I decided that I didn't want the black granite as the top of the island because it would make the kitchen too dark, and switched to the idea of butcher block.  I ordered one maple top a couple of weeks ago, and it came in last Thursday... I wasn't quite sure how I was going to like it, but when Jim put it together, I absolutely love it!  I think it's beautiful.  We'll glue two countertops together to make one large island top.

The wood is maple, (I don't know if it's Canadian Maple, but.....) and I am such a huge fan of butcher block, I couldn't resist.  I think it's so warm and beautiful.

And, the deck building project is coming along superbly.  This is the first column support form with rebar set up that was dug, waiting for the cement to be poured.  The plan is to prep four of these and then call in a cement truck.  Jim will make steel columns to hold up a big glulam beam.

And, I believe, this is the 2nd hole dug... but, I could be wrong.. I think it looks a lot like a grave, but that's just me.  Jim confirmed it really is another hole for a form to be set in.

In digging the 2nd hole, with all the snow and the warmer temperatures, the ground was really muddy and sloppy, and the backhoe got stuck.  The guys had to work for about 40 minutes to get it unstuck.  (As a side note, when I was a kid, we had these neighbours that bought a backhoe or a trackhoe or something along those lines, and they were going to dig a hole for something... I flat don't remember what.  But, their digger got stuck, and it stayed stuck in the front yard for years and years.  When they sold the property and moved, the backhoe/trackhoe/digger thing was finally unstuck and moved.  We lived way out in the country and nobody really cared that the backhoe was left in the front yard, but I am sure the new owners didn't appreciate it.  I wish I remembered what they were going to build, but I just don't.. But, I do remember that backhoe thing.  I think, if my brothers are reading this, they might know what kind of machine it was......)

I don't know how the guys got the backhoe unstuck, but as you can see, they did!  Jim said it is going to take a couple of days to dry out, but also said it is super mucky down there... It sticks to your soles really bad.

It is so relaxing to work in the trees.  Even if you get the backhoe stuck, it's a great time.

There are going to be 5 supports for the deck,  Four of them will support the big glulam beam running across the front of the cabin.  Jim built four of the forms for each of the columns to be built on.  This is going to make the deck super strong.  There also has to be a form for a pad for the propane tank to go on - something that needs to be poured and the tank delivered at the same time the furnace goes in.

And, yes, when Jim got to the property, there was LOTS of snow... it melted as the weekend went on.

Our deck builder brought his own rebar bender/cutter.  Apparently he didn't like the one Jim had, and yes Jim's was a lot more awkward to use!

Can I just say, I hate snow... But the rebar looks so good.

When we were in California this past week, I found this little coat hook and I immediately thought of Coy.  I am not quite sure where it is going to go - probably in the basement bedroom.. or at least, where Coy is going to sleep.

 Some of the other gems I've found recently.  

I am not too sure how to install this piece, but it shows the different cycles of the moon.  I thought it would be an interesting piece by the jacuzzi...

While in California, I found these two mail slot fronts.  I don't know the history behind them, and I don't have a clue where I am going to put them, but I found them interesting.  Maybe it's because my father worked for the post office, or maybe I just liked the brass... I don't know... they just appealed to me.

And, I found a pair of these mugs in the Golden State also.  And, I know exactly why they appealed to me...  Moosehead - making Canada proud!  Giggle.

It's been a productive week... I didn't particularly work hard, but I am sure a couple of other people did. 

We'll keep you updated, as weather permits.

Love, Jim and Cheri

GOOD THINGS HAPPENING...

 

After a week of "va-cay" Jim made a quick trip down to the cabin to meet with some deck builder contractors.  And, we've actually found a couple of good ones - just waiting for the quotes to come in.. hopefully.  Actually, these two sound pretty promising.  

Because he had to make a quick midweek trip, I sent him with some boxes and "stuff" to take down... Jim has another name for my "stuff", but we'll just keep that one a little secret for now.  I wanted a small table and chairs for the balcony... I picture Jim and I sitting there, in the early mornings, eating a croissant and reading the newspaper... I know Jim and everybody who knows me is laughing right now because they know I wear a sign that says, "NOT A MORNING PERSON DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COVER IT.."  I don't do mornings very well...  But, I love the look of the table and chairs... It kind of reminds me of the little bistros in Paris..  (hint, hint, Jim... I'd like to go back to Paris....).  But, I do appreciate Jim taking the time to temporarily put the little set on the balcony so I could see how it looks...  thank you.

A big surprise was getting this picture... Jim put a couple of cupboards up, so I have some place to put the few dishes that we have stored in boxes and drawers..  This is going to be so much nicer.  I was surprised and thrilled all at the same time... the insulation and sheet rock isn't in yet, but, I have cupboards... I realize these are going to have to be taken down when we get the four way completed, but for now, I love it.

And, Jim took a couple pictures of the trees getting inspired for winter....  I love the colors the trees are proud to show off during the fall, but, I don't really like the fall... everything is dying and I find myself really fighting depression... I can handle the winter, even thought I don't like snow (I know, fine Canadian I am hating the snow) but, the fall is depressing for me...  I can't wait to get through this season, hibernate through the winter, and then start welcoming the spring...  I am truly a summer kind of person.  I love the warmth and the sunshine...

We got to the cabin late Friday night.  As we were driving closer and closer to Panguitch, we can see the temperature dropping, and dropping and dropping.  By the time we hit the turn off, it was in the low 40's.  I checked the weather report and it said that the low for the night was going to be 31 degrees, and let me tell you, it was pretty darn frosty in the cabin....  Getting into pj's was a fast and furious event!  Jim said this was the time he really would have liked a pair of Dr. Denton's - you know the long underwear looking pajamas with the feet...  uhuh... (I would have taken pictures and shared them...  giggle)  I thought we were going to have to sleep with hoodies and jeans on... You have to remember, the heating and A/C is not yet installed, and with only studs for walls etc, there is no way to really warm one specific room.  But, we do have an electric blanket on the bed, and that saved our bacon...  It was really cold getting into bed and under the covers, but I kind of cuddled up to Jim all night long, and it actually was nice and toasty...  

And, here's some truly exciting news!!!  We found a guy who is going to build our deck!!  I swear, I'm not joking.. With all the problems we have had in trying to find subcontractors, this guy is legit!  AND, here's a big plus, he actually knows what he's doing, as opposed to a whole lot of other people who THOUGHT they knew what they were doing, or tried to con their way into a job...  We are so absolutely thrilled.

Our first concern is the deck.. and, this is what they were working on this past Saturday.  I usually don't do a whole lot with the construction phase of the cabin, just because I seriously don't know what half the stuff is, or how to do it.  But I'm really good at going to the hardware store and picking something up... And, this past Saturday, I was sent to Orderville to do just that - pick up stuff.  It started with picking up a pallet load of 80 lbs, bags of cement, and ended up with a pallet load of cement, two Sonotubes, some 2" x 10's x 10 feet long, and rebar...  Made me a little nervous... I have NEVER driven the truck WITH the trailer and have never picked up such a heavy load...  I am usually a really slow grandma kind of driver, but this trip back was even slower.  The guys met me at the bottom of the hill, and, both had a good laugh when they saw me, with about 5 cars behind me that couldn't pass...  But, I got the stuff, and made it back in one piece... with just a few heart palpitations.

This is the first 21 bags of cement being loaded..

 

And, here's the trailer with all the goodies on it!!

And, what is a Sonotube you ask?  Trust me, I didn't know what it was...  I had my list of things all written down in my trusty Toronto Maple Leaf's planner, and just read off the list to the people at the hardware store, and they actually knew what I was talking about...(The girl that was helping load the trailer, was so nice... I was talking to her because I thought it was pretty cool that she was working in a hardware store, not just as a cashier (I know that sounds really sexist, but it's not meant to be... most women don't carry around 80 pound bags of cement....)  She said that she had a degree in... accounting, but she found it was incredibly boring... sigh...  said she couldn't see herself at 60 and still being an accountant... Talk about deflating my ego to nearly nothing!  

So this is a Sonotube.  You apparently fill it with cement and rebar and the post to support the deck... I'm sure Jim can explain this better than I can!

The deck building got underway bright and early by digging a hole to put the footing in... (Ok, I'm in really uncharted territory here.... so just go with it).  Jim built a form that goes into the hole for the Sonotube to go on so that we can pour the cement...

..and, Howard, our deck lifesaver, dug the hole... he's very particular and wants to do it perfectly!

..Then the form got put into the hole, and after a whole lot of measuring, the cement work starts.. This was supposed to start on Sunday morning.  Supposed to...

So, Sunday morning comes, and guess what... it is pouring rain...and we had 21 bags of cement still sitting on the trailer, potentially getting wet.  Jim and Howard got it all covered up, but the work outside could not continue... It was so cold outside, and so wet and muddy, this project had to be suspended...  The Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day to work... But, not Sunday... 

..cold and rainy... with a little bit of hail thrown in.  The inside of the cabin was freezing cold.  I didn't get all that brick stacked from last week, and it was my intent to get it stacked this weekend, but with the rain, it was a no go... AND, as we are all sitting around inside waiting for the rain to stop, which never did... the lights start to flicker, and then power went out completely.  I waited for about 30 minutes and then decided to call the power company.  I flat couldn't remember the name of the power company... had to look up the last payment on my phone (I have it automatically paid so I never look at the bill....) and I call the company.  This lady answers the phone and I ask her if there is a power outage in Kane County.  She says that the only place there is an outage is in Bryce Woodlands.  I tell her I'm in Bryce Woodlands.  She then asks, "Well, if your power out?"... Um.. I answer her with a slow and hesitant..."yes..." and, she says,  "Well, there ya go."  My question is.. why would I be calling the power company, if it wasn't because of a power outage...I don't usually call just to chat.. She then told me there was a lightning strike and she didn't know when power would be restored...  That kind of ended the work for the day.. inside and outside... (It took about another 30 minutes to come back on...)

But, we had a little electric heater/stove downstairs, and Jim brought it up to the main level to try and provide me a little bit of heat so I could at least get out of my pajamas... It wasn't great, but if you stand really close, you can actually feel a tiny bit of heat... At least, it was enough to get my clothes changed...

While I was getting ready to go home, Jim busied himself with little bits and pieces of work... one being getting a deadbolt put onto one of the French doors...  I guess sooner or later it had to be done.

And, remember the moose that I got last week.  Well, he found a home this week - up on the mantle!  I think he looks handsome.

Well, we are thankful for small blessings and miracles this week... We found some help and we are anticipating amazing things.  Howard knows construction and building code, and is going to help us navigate the finishing of this project...  Many thanks.

As always, the adventure continues.  Love, Jim and Cheri.