Not Quite Rockin'

Sheet-rockin', of course.

Another visit, another bunch of pictures.  I find the details of construction fascinating.  More so since I continue to believe that we will enjoy the result someday, even if not until sometime after the visit of the Easter Bunny.

I hope I'm not boring you.

"Welcome!" declares our snow-bound greeter.

Mud season has started.
The lawn may need some work if construction ever finishes.

What's the significance of this shot?
The truck on the right means that Andy, the heating guy, has braved the mud.
And is working!

The furious pace continues.
As you can see, insulation and the coat rack are already installed.

With the place sealed up and insulated, albeit without finished walls,
the ambiance was much better.

Which means we didn't freeze our asses this time.
Of course it was warmer outside, this being the end of March,
but the fireplace made the place warm enough
that windows needed to be opened to regulate the temperature.

Ceiling boxes and supports are in place for lights and fans.
I hope they are securely fastened!

Wiring in place for external sconces and plugs.

What decking material do you like?
I like the low-cost one that requires no maintenance for at least 25 years.

Progress, yes, 
but there is still plenty to do.

Mary measures to see that a washer and dryer will fit
in the small laundry space off the master bedroom.

Almost the wake-up view.
Maybe we'll remove the plastic film and labels.
But we don't want to be too hasty.

Dryer vent on left will be installed under the deck.
Soffit vent on right is for shower and bath exhaust.

"Enough.  Let's go next next door to see Pete and Mary.
They always share their food."

Knee wall for the island is in place,
all wired up for appliances.
The tamarack boards drying on the racks to the left
are for siding the entry way.

I see a power outlet and a speaker just below the higher beam.

In soccer, too many headers can give you brain damage.
I hope the same is not true for radiant heating.
Go, Andy, Go!

Paper mockup of where the heating unit
for the radiant heating will go.
Lots to think about regarding thermostats.
We'll want to make sure that we know if anything fails,
heating wise.

Tubes full of heated fluid will make for toasty toes.

Maybe all those wires will be powered up someday.

And it could also be that we'll have plumbing.

Loft and main floor awaiting drywall.
The guest cottage is looking much more like a place to stay.
In fact, Mary has strongly suggested that happens first,
so we can be sure to enjoy weekends during black-fly season.

The guest cottage panel awaiting breakers.
With the insulation in place, the wimpy little heater
actually makes a difference.

Outside not showing too much difference since last two visits.
Note the two flues atop the chimney chase.
A good sign.

Also a good sign is that it
doesn't look as if the snow will last 'til May,
as it sometimes does.

Unless we get another storm...

Beauty and the Blizzard of '17

The wind blows the falling snow almost horizontally.  

Hunker down in one's hopefully heated home?  Better, I think, to get out into it and enjoy the stark beauty.

For those who cannot appreciate the magnificence brought by the blowing snow, scroll down to see the indisputable splendor of others well adapted to the situation.

I love to ski in gentle breezes.
Don't you?

A frozen moment of a view toward the trees through driven flakes.

Drift ridges begin to form.

The cumulative effect of the flakes obscures the distant trees
like a frigid fog.

Like underwater sand, the snow is shaped into ridges.

But why in one place and not another?

What unseen flow caused this pattern?

The shelter of a large tree makes appreciation much easier
as the wind whistles past.

The wind is too strong for the trees to catch much snow.

"There is no bad weather," a man once told me.
"There is only bad clothing."
That he was a salesman does not make it any less true.
Yes, I should have worn my ski goggles.

Debris is still visible from the near hurricane-strength windstorm
we experienced last week.
I'm glad I'm not one of those still without power.
Life is never boring.

More ridges.

More snow.
Visually peaceful, even with the high energy wind.

I met some friends on the course.

They didn't stay long.

My tracks will soon be covered.
Unfortunate for all those who follow them.

A few places blown clean.

More ridges!
Yes, I am easily fascinated.

More drift patterns,
easily explained by the position of tree trunks.

The steady wind and its effects defy
describing this as a "Still Life."

As expected, my tracks have disappeared
wherever they were exposed to the wind.

Here are some others, also undeterred by the the wind.

"Blizzard?  What blizzard?"

"I've looked every which way and don't see any blizzard."

"A few flurries, maybe."

"There are more interesting things to think about
than the weather."

"Right down here."

"Huh?"

"Were you talking to me?"

"What were you saying?"

"Oh, now I get it."

"Scrumptious, don't you think?"

"Definitely."

"Not a bad restaurant.
We should come here more often."

"Yes, Dear."