Color my world.....

I have received some floor stain samples which of course are not at all what I was expecting. They are much more orange-y. The top dark board was the first sample which we figured was a bit too dark and didn't have enough red in it. Now that we have tried the red colours....
we are liking the dark. Which is a totally different supplier and much more expensive.
Ideally I would like something between these two options.

Ponderosa Pine
the ideal color combo 

The countertop is coming along, this is the second piece. It's not quite finished yet, a bit more filling, polishing and then sealing and on to the next piece. Terr has added another color to the mix to tie it in with the cabinet doors which are a cherry color.

The painting has finally begun. Today the primer will be done and tomorrow the ceilings. This is all being sprayed thanks to an airless sprayer we borrowed from a friend. So I guess by Thursday we will be able to start painting the walls with color. We have chosen similar colors to the Beausejour house for the main areas. The kids have chosen different colors this time around.
We have started building cabinet boxes, so we will carry on with that. Once the kitchen is painted then the cabinets and flooring....oh my we may move in yet.

The speckled painters..... back to work

Enough Already.....

We had more snow! Yippee!  That was a bit of sarcasm. Actually the snow is not so bad, if you don't count the fact that our road is last on the "to be plowed list". Here is what happens if you let your insurance lapse and you can't get your vehicle out on the road regularly.

We decided it was high time to clear the snow off the roof of the trailer.

I am surprised the roof hasn't caved in yet.

This proved to much more strenuous than I anticipated.   Luckily for me Terry broke the second rake and now I am taking a break and making some lunch. Much less strenuous.

At least the view is good from up here on the roof!

Tree-valanche!!!!!

Friday.......Winter Activities Day

J's ice ornament

 Friday once again....time flies! Terry and J boarded the bus this morning to head to the ski hill. The daughter however wasn't feeling well, and the dog really wasn't feeling well so I opted to stay home and tend to the ill and injured. Luckily the human ailment was short lived and we were even able to hit the Nordic trail in the afternoon. The canine injury however is not good. Laddy has not been having a good few months.He has been having trouble with his hind quarters for quite some time now and was put on pain meds before we left the prairie. We now have a new V-E-T who is trying a bit of a different approach......different meds. That is all been going well enough but it seems he has injured a front leg somehow.....perhaps on the stairs outside. Its not something anyone witnessed. Yesterday limping and today unable to put any weight on it. This makes getting around quite difficult when the back end already has issues. He is not a small dog. I have been carrying him up and down he stairs today and trying to decipher the grunts, whines and barks and get him what he needs.

Me.....

Whew.....didn't mean to go on about the dog like that. We are watching him for the weekend so see if its just a sprain.
Shasta and I got out, as I was saying, for a lovely ski. It was just starting to snow..... we are supposed to get about 15cm overnight, then tomorrow  5C.
If the roads aren't too crazy tomorrow, us girls.....Shasta, Nik's girlfriend and I are going to go shopping. The girlfriend wants some help buying a bday present for Nik. Then we are coming home and she will stay for dinner.
Picked the boys up from the bus....they had a good day on the hill, aside from the bout of freezing rain that stuck to their goggles. Now we are snug in our wee trailer while the winter storm has its way with the world outside the windows. Hope you are all cozy and warm.

Carrying On.......

Due to last weeks virus I was unable to post. Well....not unable but I just didn't feel much like it. There has been a nasty bug going around and Terry and I were privileged to be partakers. For me just a crazy sinus/headachy thing. Feeling much better now although it doth linger. I am battling  the culprit head on with lots of water, sleep, VitC and have even pulled out the big guns reishi mushroom, garlic capsules and loads of chlorella and spirulina. Take that.

Later today I am going to go and cross country ski with J's class. Here is a shot of the trail first thing this morning. I thought I would go for a walk before the sounds of children filled the air.
Its interesting...I never seem to have time to indulge in simple things like walking in the forest. I have been longing to do it but there always seems to be things that "need" doing. Even my walk today was cut very short as I remembered something Terry needed me to do before he headed out. He's finishing up the small reno at the threads guild today.

We have more snow again but the temperatures remain fairly mild. The high today is forcasted to be -6C, a little colder than usual.

The counter top project is coming along nicely. The top is nice and smooth and glossy. Terr has spent many hours sanding, polishing, filling, sanding and polishing again. He says it will look like something that was pulled out of a Greek ruin. I'm actually very OK with that. We plan to go ahead and do the rest of the kitchen.

I have also been spending quite a bit of time researching floor finishes. I wanted something that had no VOC yet would protect the floors, we also wanted to stain them as well. There are so many products out there. I think we have decided to go old school, an oil and resin stain topped with a hardwax finish. Very natural although there will be maintenance and I am now searching for a floor buffer. Anyone got one hiding away in their attic/garage/basement somewhere?

We have laid out the kitchen cabinet plan and seems we are able to do it all using up cabinet doors we have been hauling around for some years. You have probably seen some of them in our various projects in the last few years. Terr picked them up for a song somewhere in rural Manitoba. They are dark cherry and quite lovely. Now.....if the drywall taping would just be done......any second now.....I'm sure of it.

The children continue to do well. Nik has exams coming up and Shasta and J are enjoying winter activities. Ah to be young and carefree.  Nik also has his band trip coming up in February so we have been busy fundraising. They have an annual event coming up Cafe Jazz, an evening of music desserts and silent auction. Should be fun....the proceeds go towards lowering the price of the trip for each band member.

I have also been trying to get into a program through Selkirk College. Its a government sponsored program to fill needs in the workplace. I have applied for the Early Childhood Education Assistant Program. A lot of the courses that are a part of this program will fill some gaps that I need to get back into the schools. I have filled out forms, written tests and now just have to see how many people they are going to let in. They are trying to expand on the original number and if that gets approved then I am in. The majority of the program is distance/online with some workshops and some practicum, 24 weeks in total.

Winter is great but I think we all can't wait for spring. I am however very grateful that the days grow longer and longer.

Cheers

Happy New Year

 Happy New Year! My wishes may be tardy but they are heartfelt. Have a  happy healthy and prosperous  year!

Today I went for a walk  while I was waiting for my car to get repaired. It was sounding a little like a jet engine, apparently it was a wheel bearing. So I had two hours to wander down the Rail Trail. The old railbed that runs up the valley is now a hiking/biking/ski trail. These pics are of Crescent Beach which is a popular swim spot in summer.
I didn't see any wildlife today but I did see some tracks.

Wildlife tree

Wild Turkey

Elk?? or a really big deer

Raccoon

The kids start there downhill ski program tomorrow. They are excited. A day at the ski hill all in the name of education...gotta love it! Dad will not be a chaperone tomorrow as his body is still recuperating from yesterdays skiing. Maybe next week.

The drywall taping continues and.........

Terr and his friend Jeff poured the island top today. This is the trial pour. How this one turns out will dictate if we get more concrete or go for granite. I'll keep ya posted.

We have a Manitoba visitor for the weekend. A friend of Nik's is out. His Dad and Uncle are snowmobiling in the Kelowna area and they dropped Lucas off on their way. Should be interesting.