All Done!

The house is officially done. We got the hand off last weekend from the builder, and it was fully primped and preened.



We chopped some wood.



Had some visitors.



Took a first bath.



Burned our first fire.



Sunshine in Prince Edward County.

Old Meets New

The woodstove area is near complete and the finishing touches are being done on all sides. This past weekend we had the chance to do our first few burns on this unit and it is really amazing. The photo below shows the carpet on the second floor and a few new chairs we got from The Brick. You gotta love The Brick. This was also our first weekend sleeping on real beds eating from a real kitchen, where we could wash dishes with real water!



For even more fun we continued work on the shed in the back 40 by adding 'heritage' boards taken from the old red house. These boards we so old you could even see turn-of-the-century newspapers stuck on the side advertising things like 'Gillette Absolutely Pure Cream'(see below) and Sasperella. Does anyone drink that anymore? Max even found some old books and bottles in the walls dated pre-1900. Pretty cool!

Graded and Near Fully Grown

All the grading is complete and finishing touches are being put on the house this week. Floors are in, kitchen is in, carpet...now we just need power!

Big Backyard

Here is a view of our new big backyard. The white thing is not actually a spaceship but a propane tank. The outside of the house as a whole is pretty much done. On the inside, the big focus is getting power this week (hopefully) and laying down the reclaimed hardwood floor.



This past weekend I also got a chance to start work with the brothers/sons on a shed in the back 40 to be used to hold gardening supplies, lawnmower, etc. The plan is to use as much leftover/junk/free wood as possible to build this baby.

A Mason At Work

Here is a real 'in progress' shot of the mason's work in the living room. We are a creating a rubblestone backing for the area that will go behind the wood stove. This feature is intended as a simple visual reference to the stone chimney on the outside. I think the house is cozy already but, when complete, this zone will really make you want to curl up in a chair and fall asleep.

We just finished a week at Lake on the Mountain. Our annual pilgrimage to the land included a launch of this new model rocket. We fired it several times but the parachute just wouldn't open (200 feet up in the air), so the last time we just filled it with bits of tissue and let it pop like a little daytime firework.

The house has board and batten siding almost done, chimney done and inside painting is well along. This week the digging starts to get in power and water. It's looking great.

Chimney Coming Up

The masons have been making quick work of this chimney.

A New Angle

They haven't finished the siding on the house yet, but here is a cool angle. All the drywall inside is done and they are completing small details like roof painting, trim, etc. We love this elm tree.

Siding Going On

The new 'red house' on County Road 13 is being born. The red wood siding is going up this week, in addition to the stone chimney. In many ways the design of this house was inspired by the old derelict red tin house that also sits on the property and this siding really pulls it all together.

Front Deck

A summer-soaked shot of the front deck. Red siding goes on next week.

View From The Inside Out - Drywall

All the drywall is up now and they are sanding this week. These shots are from the front room on the second floor. This will be a good spot to kick back with tea and a Hobnob.

Roof is Done

The steel roof is on, insulation is going on and drywall was loaded in yesterday. Hot week in the County.

Lookin' Good

In the past two weeks we've had all kinds of visitors, cut a trail, tarted up the cabin, built a wood pile, picked wild raspberries, met the neighbours, partied on Canada Day and been chased by mosquitos. The farmhouse is coming together nicely with real locking doors, windows, plumbing and electrical conduit and an almost done black steel roof. Everything is progressing well and the next few weeks are sure to be very busy.



Here is the 'Little House on the Prairie' cabin with a few finishing touches.

Windows and Steel Roof

The steel roof is coming on and the chimney is there. The windows came on Friday and the house is starting to get sealed up.



Even the deck is starting to be built.

***Also, a nature update - the eggs have hatched! There are now four baby killdeer birds running around the property chatting with their mom.

Really Coming Together

On the way back from the show in Kingston, we dropped in a for a quick visit. The shell of the house is now all fortified including electrical, pots, some plumbing, duct work. The roof is ready to go on this week as are the windows.



The killdeer mommy bird is always happy to see us...not. They have an amazing ritual to protect their eggs like these

Gables On

The gables are on.


Here's the view from the big gable in the centre.



A shot of the big backyard.

The Top Floor Pops Up

The shape of the top floor is coming together. By the way, who is this great 'Tyvek' anyway? Was he one of the great players in the Russia-Canada '67 game who was immortalized with a line of superior home sealants?

Walls Are Up

First floor is up including the massive stage...I mean deck, at the front of the house...

Cabin Loft

The cabin is now officially accepting guests. Teenagers of all ages will really enjoy this loft.

Framing Has Started

Framing on a few sides.

Enviro basement (floating on insulation)

Giant Pink Floor

Here is another picture from the builder. Underneath the cement floor, the entire house will sit on a bed of pink styrofoam insulation (it is pink, but the result is green). It is almost like the house is always sleeping on a giant pink bed, and I think the kids will like that idea.

Fresh Images from the Builder

A big view with diggers.

Len says, "There are some wild Turkey eggs (13) located just in front of your home near the last corner in the driveway… no turkey in sight."

The septic is now in place.

A Basement is Born

The basement walls are up and the skies seem to say '...this basement will have ominous potential to hold musical instruments and create sounds of Zepplinesque heaviness...'. Let's hope this is the case.

Footings Are In

The footings were poured last week and the basement was just poured yesterday. Well to be drilled on Friday. Things are really moving along.

Cabin Almost Done!

I spent this past Saturday working with Frank, Albert and Max 'High Wire' Ullrich to finish the shingles on the cabin. This 108 square foot cabin sits in the meadow right behind where the main farmhouse will go. The smell of cedar and cozy surroundings will make this cabin a favourite of both young and old. - Dave