Christmas Update

Finally, I've got some photos to share with you just before the holidays. Phil has been very busy this last week - our workers are completely unreliable & this has put a lot of stress & pressure upon Phil's shoulders. He's holding up very well, but it doesn't make for a very festive holiday when neither one of us can remove this project from our thoughts for very long.

As you see here, there is insulating going on!! Yeah!! The tarp is still on the roof (unreliable crew - just not doing the work) but the roof does not leak & since we've had heaters & hehumidifiers going for a couple of weeks, the wood is dry enough to take the next step.

A few months ago, our guy at Home Depot called us up about a sweet sale on knotty pine for our ceiling. They've graciously held onto it for us til we asked it to be delivered last Saturday. We will be putting a protective coating on it before installing it - Sikkens or some type of varnish....But the whole idea is that I/Phil won't be touching the ceiling for many years down the road & with that huge wall of windows, we need something with a bit of UV protection.

Phil did put in some Christmas lights - this shot was at 10:30 this morning & it's extremely dreary outside. This shot is from the loft down into the living room with the pellet stove in the corner. It's very cosy up in the loft & since the ceiling was insulated, it's brought the space down a bit - it was very open before. And once the pine is installed, it will be a wonderful little haven....


Here's Phil in his office. I'm still trying to convince him to put R-12 insulation in the wall between the office & the kitchen so that in the next couple of years when we build a Murphy Bed against that wall, guests will be a bit insulated from the noise in the rest of the house.


Here's the west wall - all the siding is now done. But they haven't finished the supports for the decking on the first floor that goes from the front down along this wall to the door on the side.....I don't understand the hold up on the deck (other than Phil's comment that they would damage the wood because they are.....opps, can't write that word in.....let's just say, disrespectful of our property). You can also see the tarp still on the roof & the last window on the second floor to be done - it's the glass block window & they've been promising to do it for over 2 weeks. Today is supposed to be the day, but it's been 2 hours since they said they'd be here & I don't think they'll actually come in.

This is the last wall to be of concern to us. There were 2 windows & the sliding glass door that were damaged back in November with that horrible storm. Thank goodness we have builders insurance!!! The large window on the right was replaced on Saturday (now it's tempered glass) & the sliding glass door was also replaced. If you go back to some previous photos you will see that this new door is larger!! The other door was standard size & sat down about 4 inches below the top window line. Didn't look very nice & the carpenter wouldn't install the door up to match.....What they (Phil & carpenter) didn't realize was that the door opening that was framed in was for a custom sliding glass door......So, since we had to have it replaced, we now have our custom door & it fits & looks much better!!! The last window to be replaced (above the sliding door) wasn't ordered for some reason, so now we have to wait another 4 weeks for it to come in. But from what Phil said on the phone to the carpenter, that wall can now be completed because the window will be easy to slide in. So, the windows need trim, flashing & then the siding & soffits can go up. Can't wait for that to get done!!

So, I'm sounding bitter - because I'm very disillusioned. I love that we are building our own house & while it seems to be taking WAY TOO LONG for you 'mainlanders', it's actually going very well for being in West Bamfield. I would definately build another house - just anywhere else but here & with a proper crew & proper contracts.

Phil & I are headed to Okotoks Alberta to take care of Katrina & James for whole week!!!!!!! Can't wait, it will be such a blessing to have time with them & clear our heads of the problems we encounter. Phil is so stressed out (& we both know that NO WORK WILL BE DONE while we are gone because they are.....opps, still can't print that word) but Phil has decided to cancel on our idea of going down to Mexico for the rest of January.........I really do not want to have to go back to the house so soon, so I just might have to look for a cheap last minute deal on a holiday by myself & get out of the country!! Anyone interested in joining me??? The earliest we can book out is the 15th of January & I'm up for pretty much anything!!!

Seriously - call me!!

Oh - & there is only 2 more days on the 'vote for your choice of weathervane' - I need a few more votes & maybe in January while I'm wasting my time on a sand dune, I'll figure out what it will actually look like on the house........