The Adventure has begun

Yesterday the travelling began with a short flight to Vancouver. There was no fog, so there was no worry of a canceled flight, although we did fly lower than the clouds and more over the water than usual.

Sky train to Seabus to stay with friends in North Vancouver.

Today I took the seabus back over to Vancouver to watch a couple of films at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Good eats with my friends both nights.

I can feel that travelling adventure has begun because I am meeting and talking with strangers, (more so than usual). I met a woman from Ucluelet while waiting for the bus at the South Terminal yesterday. Today, before the VIFF film started I had a nice chat with a woman who was born in Uruguay.

Tomorrow is an early start and the real travelling begins. I fly to Toronto and connect to Santiago arriving Friday morning.

Reclaiming the Yard.

 Wasn’t it just yesterday that I moved in to my not so little house? 

It is hard to believe it actually has been three years.

Here is a post with a few updates from under the plum trees …..as I get accustomed to posting from my cell phone.

There have been a few changes as expected, but I am pretty happy here.

Lets see…… I put in a backsplash in the kitchen. And since that picture I painted the walls a light brown or sand colour. The island usually sits the other way. 

The hall closet got lost in the drawings when a wall had to be moved. So I build a rack for hanging jackets. And since that picture I moved the shoe closet next to the front door. 

 

I decided that if I wanted to grow things I really did not want to share everything with the local deer and the bears. So I paid lots for fencing to be built. Cedar on the front of the backyard and chain link along the sides. 

 

I build a compost in an old freezer, (Not my design). And since that picture, I painted it green and painted the back of the shed a colour close to the colour of my house. 

I had a 5.1 KW solar system installed on the roof. I am grid tied, so I rack up credits in the summer and then have smaller bills through the winter. And yes that means in summer my car runs on sunshine. 

 

The green house was destroying with a heavy snowfall. My Dad helped dismantle the wreckage. I may rebuild some day. 

I am slowly reclaiming more yard for growing stuff. And I put in some chipped paths. No real grass to mow except under the trees. I can use the trimmer for these small areas, AKA whipper snapper. Along the chain link that is a plant called red escalonia which will fill in nicely in the years to come, which is good because since this picture the neighbours have taken down the brown fence. The shrub is bee friendly. 

I build a platform under the plum tree… well frankly because I was too lazy to cut the grass under the bench. 

 

Inside the bathroom I installed a clothing rack over the bathtub. It works great for drying the towels and for socks, underwear and small stuff, while the shirts and other clothes hang on the line outside or in a doorway.  Oh and I painted. 

 

Dora is sitting atop a box that is next door to the toilet. I build it to hold the pellets I use for cat litter, and a bin of the used litter (without the poop). The spent litter is burned in winter and tossed in the yard in summer. 

And speaking of fire in the winter. I build a fancy wood shed to match my fancy fence. 

Still more yard to reclaim for growing. Oh look there are the cedars I put in along the side fence line. And my first sun flower from seed (albeit indoor start).

Still more pathways to create.

And the kids relax in the sun. Its always so relaxing to watch people work.

Batman.

Oh alright I shall update things... It's been a week in my new house....

I am going to back track a bit as I found a few other pictures I did not upload.

Moving started on Thursday with a few boxes. Friday I had a couple of friends with a big truck help out and most of the big and heavy stuff was moved. Sunday I found another friend with a truck and a couple of more helpers for the rest of the boxes - except for two more loads in my car that I took over on Monday.

Monday actually started with the kids off to the vet for a check up. When they were done they visited with a neighbour for about 4 hours while I finished the moving of boxes and while I cleaned the cottage by the sea.

When I stopped back to pick up the kids... 

... I was being watched by Batman. A mini batman- from another neighbours yard.

Here are the kids as they start checking out the new digs.

And then for the next two or three nights the local big black bear raided and severely damaged my hazelnut tree......

He was up 10-15 feet up in the tree and I threw rocks at him one night. The next night I yelled at him and he left. Apparently he came back in the middle of the night. I thought he might fall right trough my shed roof. The tall branches in the middle are extra shoots... Mr. Bear took out branches on the main tree trunk.

Big hole here....

So Wednesday I had a fresh air vent put in. I figured that meant I was clear to start lighting fires. Little fires first, as the new stove needs to be seasoned. Look how clean it is.

Apparently the building inspector is still not quite happy, as he is not sure this new vent can supply enough air compared to my cooktop hood, dryer and bathroom fan. Hopefully answers this week.

And now that my fruit is picked and my outside veggies are done .... I like deer again.

Over the deck railing....

Through the front window....

This one may have come closer if I had something to offer...

Hey look new flowers......?

And another look at the damage to my hazelnut tree.

I did manage to pull off some hazelnuts for me. 

I realize I have not taken a picture of the cold room with my two red bookcases full of jams, spirits, fresh apples and hazel nuts.

And I am sure the tree will survive...

Inside I continue to unpack and organize things.... Look flowers. 

Flowers from a neighbour and flowers from my Mom!

Saturday morning the rain held off and the sun came out.

it was time for morning coffee on the back deck... For those that go outside! Like my screen doors.

I bought two new dark brown chairs for the front deck and these two raspberry chairs for the back deck! Guess I need a table or two.

I am still scared that the kids will try to charge through the new screen doors.

The kitchen island came together.

The island matches the table sorta.

The TV, computer, radio (through cable), and the dining table. I could drop the leaf, or pull it away from the wall and put up the other leaf for a bigger table. Two more chairs in the basement.

Incidentally I am still loving my new Leaf- Nissan Leaf. Kinda cook plugging in at home.

I washed the front room windows. I can see the ocean clearly now.

I still have three more windows in the back to do.

The bedroom still needs work... I have to sort out my closet and all my clothes.

Yes it's a seal.

So today's project was the guest daybed, and the reading daydreaming nook.

Another Ikea project.... Step one done.

And finally three hours later... It's a double bed.

Or just a single bed... With a place for sheets, towels, extra blanket..

..... Remember mini batman who was spying on me when I moved the cats in and out from the neighbours'?  Perhaps it's the welcome wagon....

Meanwhile back in the den everyone seems to be relaxing.

And I decided to put a hole in the wall.....the first picture is up!

Because there are two types of people in the world... Map people and not map people.

I am a map person.

The deer are everywhere!

Okay so they are most always in the neighbours' yard, I am just looking at them from different rooms... The bathroom....

Sometimes these cats even move...

The long weekend is almost behind me now. Most of the unpacking is done.

But sill much to do upstairs.

The organization of the camping gear downstairs, a trip to the recycling centre with all the cardboard.

The selling of stuff I don't need: my old winter tires, the old kitchen table and TV stand.

And of course the forever downsizing and decluttering..

Sporadic updates will follow. 

Company arrives in less than a month!!

I closed the door, but I opened the window!

Ok I will be quick... Because there is so much to.

I am in. 

I moved out of the cottage by the sea and I am in my new house. We are here the cats and me, and it feels pretty good.

There are things to put together and things to acquire.... 

And yes still more decisions to make on wall colours, blinds, back splash....

The shower floor is grouted, but I cannot use it yet. Floor guy will be back on Wednesday.

Yes I can use the bath tub.

Towel bar cut down to size and in place and a hook for clothes or towel or something....

Laundry works...

It was rush throwing into boxes, as all moves are...

Now where is everything!

The kids are still exploring about...

A neighbour dropped off some pea soup, fresh cherry tomatoes, some frozen chicken soup and some fresh cut roses. What a nice welcome. 

I am sure I will get to the soup... But I cracked a bottle of wine and turned on some music while I make the bed, clean put the kitchen away.

The kids have found the litter box and their food.

Sadly that sign by the wood stove says do not use... The building inspector was by and wants me to put in the fresh air intake before I use it.... The friggin window is open!

More wine... I am in the house that designed and watched being build.

I will take a few days off and unpack some more before I post more pictures..