5C's Que Pasa

Can you believe it is already the Friday of our Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend?  Time is flying almost as fast as the leaves are falling.  Colin and I have no family here so we treat the weekend no differently than most and at this time of year that means work.

Today Colin is in Kamloops doing photography and after some banking errands I will be catching myself up to date on all of our business books.  Finally.  Once that is done I am only about 2 1/2 weeks behind but first on my agenda will be thinking about and making to do lists for Mexico.  Lots of prep to do.  This new house has to be winterized differently than others and we found a few surprises that need to be rerouted underneath to avoid freezing pipes.

We plan to work in the RV Saturday and Sunday, cleaning, unloading things back into the house and loading things back into the RV.  It is almost like starting from scratch.   I thought it would be easier having lived in the RV, but I don't think it will be, I have to go thru each closet and drawer and cupboard and sort things.  We moved so much stuff into the RV that could not be packed and it would be silly to carry it all down to Mexico and back.

I found these strange spots on my ceiling yesterday....

...and these rainbows on my counter top!

The culprit, lower sun in the sky and our kitchen pendant lights.

So we are having to wait until next Thursday to get the fireplace completed. Because of the holiday the gas fitter was not working today and is only back on Tuesday so really I can live with a Thursday install.  The parts I found are now in Kelowna, however my new dilemma is finding matching paint for the 8 inches of black pipe that will show just at the ceiling where the fireplace vents.  I have spent hours on the phone with every paint store here in Kelowna and some in Vancouver.  Right now I am awaiting a call from a California paint store.  The original paint is a Sherwin Williams water based industrial enamel but no one here in Kelowna has that type of paint……well there is one company but it is not hight heat resistant paint which I suspect it should be.   So either we live with a black connection or figure out the painting thing next spring.  It really would be easier to pre paint the black pipe before install.  Worse case scenario we will visit a US Sherwin Williams store on our way home in April.

Being short ( 5'4″ ) got me in trouble last night.  I was taking a casserole dish out of the microwave when somehow the round ceramic plate that rotates at the bottom of the microwave came along also and crashed onto the floor into several pieces.  Colin was more concerned about damage to the stove top and the porcelain floor but they were just fine.  I never had such a fancy once before and really prefer my old one which is the same one we have in the RV.  So I spent 2 hours on the phone this morning going from person to person to person, from Canada to the USA where some kind person in customer service took pity on me and is sending a replacement at no charge.

The girls are bored today, Colin left at 9 AM and is likely not back till after 10PM.  When they get bored they lick themselves like a cat.  Weird.

Wishing you all a great holiday weekend, wherever you are and whatever you do.  Relax and enjoy and be Thankful for all you have!!

Tags: 319, CJPS, Family, friends

Calgary is getting snow showers and we have blue sky and sunshine.  It was down to -5C last night with the windchill but we are back up to 14C today.  Truly a perfect autumn day.

So yesterday the fireplace never got set up.  The installer discovered that the pieces he needed ( if you remember the $350.00 plus that we spent with George, the first gas fitter, on parts that are not acceptable to #2 gas fitter and are not returnable )  have to be special ordered.  Not only do they have to be special ordered from Quebec and from Ontario they actually need to be manufactured!  Wait time, 2 -3 weeks, plus delivery and then the install.  Needless to say that is not acceptable to me.  After much back and forth this morning with a variety of people, me who knows nothing about installing and venting a propane fireplace found the parts in stock in Kamloops, just a few hours away.  They will be delivered tomorrow!!  I do good work if I say so myself!  Unfortunately the gas fitter is now booked till next Thursday, October 11th.  I told them “not acceptable”!!  They will get back to me tomorrow.

The good news is that the stained glass window came in and it is fabulous, more that we could have imaged.

I had no idea that it was coming today, just a hint but no promise, no phone call and no email. A big job for one fellow to install.

...and here it is! A representation of our life here and on the Isla. Love, love the plumeria flowers.

With all the light coming in it is difficult to get a good shot. I will get a professional on it soon, I promise. The colors change in the light, are different from either side and again looks totally different at night.

Perfect for my morning bath!!! Just love it!!

Bonus day today, no trades at all!!

Tags: 319, construction

Bit by bit, day by day, hour by hour we are very slowly getting it done.  Well at least done to the point we are happy with, before heading to Mexico for the winter.  Over the past few weeks there have been times where I began to doubt we would head south but I am more optimistic.  On the other hand I am far from ready and honestly don't have the energy to get ready so we very well may just leave without all my normal pre purchases and organization.  Certainly not my style to just wing it but it is a possibility.  It is a bit more difficult for us as we don't eat meat or chicken and I like to bring a variety of foods we can eat.

The girls are tired of all the comings and goings, they need a vacation also.  Caeli has adjusted perfectly and has found new little areas to hang out in. Carmeh is very unsettled and nervous.  She requires us to hold her a good deal of the time as the various loud noises like air guns frighten her.

Carmeh cowering from the step building.

Caeli just lies anywhere she can find a soft place. This pile is now spread on the floor waiting the gas fitters to complete the fireplace install. They are late!!

We have been very fortunate with the weather and getting our home constructed.  Last night we had our first wind storm.

Battening down the hatches yesterday afternoon!! Things were flying. Hopefully todays forecast winds of 30 to 50 km/h won't stop the fireplace install. They have to cut a hole in the roof and do a lot of things up there.

After today we will have another 10 days of sun but much cooler daytime temps, highs of 18C and lows of -1C!!  Perfect to try out the new fireplace, I hope.  We got the windows cleaned yesterday and our view is even better:).  The painting is complete with only 2 areas of wrong color painted on top of the correct color.  I will fix it myself!  Done with that guy!!

Carmeh on a previous sunny day with no trades in the house. Relaxo!

Caeli is getting fat just sleeping. She needs her beach walks. We all do!

Yes we live on Duck Lake and it is to be expected but they seem to be getting louder and louder as fall moves on.

Colin took this shot at 11:50PM, he said the ducks were swarming in front of our beach house.  After he took the shot he woke me up so I could see for myself.  Of course the ducks prevented me from falling back asleep for awhile.  The geese are loudest during the day and sleep at night.  Smart creatures.

The photo was taken with a Nikon D700 at 11:50PM, hand held, 6400ASA, exposure time 1.6 seconds, aperture F2.8.  No photoshop was used.

Had a busy Saturday, some more touch up painting but he still never finished and our 2 sets of stairs were completed.  I think we will wait till spring to deal with stair railings.  I know what I want but I need to keep some pesos for Mexico.  We spent the lovely fall day inside working but we are making progress.

Tags: 319, construction, Duck Lake, Mexico

Thank God it's Friday!!!

Yesterday wasn't too bad, our Phantom Screen door was installed and my custom made TV stand appeared.  A few smaller inside items were completed.  Only stressful thing was the house builder showing up to do a tour of our house to new clients of his.  I don't mind it ( for now ) but I had previously asked him to at least call ahead and he didn't!!  I mean what if I was in my tub:))

Colin helping Vi, our wood guy from Fiji put up the final bead on the final beam. We still have a few projects for Vi to complete before we head south. The rest he can do while we are away.

The best part of yesterday was my massage.  However I seem to be having some electrical issues in my body, no matter which side of my body is touched, I am now getting electric current  like spasms all along my left side.  Very strange.

I had an appointment in Kelowna today and very very shortly I hope to get off the computer, complete my must do business for today and head over to my lounge chair with a glass of vino blanco and start a new book.

The best part of today is that we had no trades come in and none are coming tonight.  Tomorrow is a different story but for today it was great just having our own space.  Colin worked on photoshop all day and is soon heading out to pick up more wine, can't run out over the weekend!!

I had ordered some solar lights for the arbor area last week and they arrived today.

What I like about these lights is that they are also sound activated.

Enjoy your Friday evening everyone.

Tags: construction, vino, Wine