New Autumn

Autumn came fast at the T.S.  B and I returned from our honeymoon in Europe just in time to see the Autumn colours.  It was spectacular.

We have been working very hard since our return.  We built a new addition, insulated the floor with spray foam, blocked all of the soffits so that we don't have the noisy starlings getting into the attic, we purchased and installed a new Pacific Energy super efficient wood stove, installed a new chimney and piping.  We have put plastic over the windows, spray foamed drafty areas and put gaskets over the electrical outlets.  We have packed all of our belongings into plastic storage bins and moved them into the new addition.  We have hooked a rain barrel up inside on the top floor because the outside line from the barrel is starting to freeze.  B's dad dug us a pond a little closer, so we might be able to pump water from the pond into the barrel on the top floor, rather than hauling it from the house in a barrel with the tractor and then pumping it inside.  Let's hope we've dug deep enough that the pond won't completely freeze.  Having that water access closer would be a life saver.

We had moved out for 2 weeks during the deer hunt, and are now back with a new layout and a decorated Christmas tree - our living Norfolk Pine!

I am really looking forward to winter, although it seems pretty slow coming.  Temperatures have been abnormally high this time of year.  We haven't even had an 'official' snow fall yet.  To me, that means 2 cm's falling to the ground.  We had a light dusting last week, but that's about it.

We are very warm and cozy in the T.S. right now.  We think there is enough wood to last us all winter.  I hope!

We are extending our family at the end of December.  We are welcoming Pickles, a chocolate point Siamese cat.  We're hoping she'll be a great mouser, because we have a mouse problem!  I am very uncomfortable with the idea of poison, and we've been wanting a pet for a while.  She's going to fit in perfectly with us.

Aside from all of that, we have attended a workshop on being your own general contractor for straw bale buildings.  It was very informative, and the information will be useful when the time comes for B and I to put our building plans into action.

Before the depth of winter, we are meeting with the conservation authority to see if there are any issues with installing a culvert on our property to allow us to build in our dream location.  If there is an issue, we'll have to think long and hard whether we want to build so close to the road.  We also have to have the local excavating company in to give us a quote on our options for a driveway.  If all goes well, and we are allowed to put a drive back to our dream location and it isn't going to cost us too much money, then we'll start putting a floorplan together for our home.  I have made dozens of these.. I guess it's just finding the right one to suit our needs.

The first lighting!

Building the addition

The new layout