Winter Prep.

Nothing too startling to report on. Of course there is the mini saga of the Three Goats...two nannies and a Billy, but I missed the opportunity to take pictures. They showed up the other afternoon and were snacking in front of Gabriel's window, on the seed from the bird feeder and some remnants of greenery on the Wygelia bush. They circled the house a couple of times and then went into the work barn. I thought they might have escaped from the neighbour to the West and went to let him know. He was very pleasant and came right over in his truck only to announce that they weren't his ! He kindly offered to take them into his care and promptly left, returning ten minutes later with a transport box on the back of his truck, into which we loaded the goats and off he went. Certainly justifies the title of my blog ! When did you last have goats in your backyard ?

Well, we had snow overnight on Monday so I had a chance to try out the snow blower. It worked well, and I only got slightly sprayed !

Transition !

Most of the outside work is now completed and with the temperature below freezing none too soon.

Got a nice lighting fixture installed in G's room to illuminate her main book case. In progress is a big clean-out in the basement and the set-up of a mini workshop.

Put out the Xmas lights on the hedge and G's pine tree. Working well to check the timer. Far to early to have come on...but ready for mid-December.

Got a snow blower. Never had one before. They are in short supply. Dug out my old snow-mobile winter outerware so should be warm enough ! I figure two passes down, and two up the driveway will be satisfactory. I'll see soon enough. Passed up on the electric handwarmers, but not unhappy to have an electric start.

Fresh garden tomatoes still going strong.. Parsley fading fast !

Wednesday, November 12th.

A beautiful day... too good to not try to do some finishing work...

Porch/Ramp Project: Construction completed.

Trimming, finishing touches, painting, siding, electrical will be on-going, governed by weather and will !
Plenty of light ! That is a plexiglass strip below the windows, and in the transom above the windows. The windows actually work !

It was too dark to take a picture to show the railings and the counter at the top, against the white wall. Tomorrow, Gabriel will try out the ramp and see how she handles getting into and out of the car.

Lots of paint needed, and matching siding on the outside walls/door. Something to look forward to doing when Joe returns next Spring.

A Last Minute Project

Somehow I have really scrambled this post up. I tried to be smart, and prepare the blog and then paste it in. So, I will have to leave most to your imaginations.
This picture was taken at the end of work on Wednesday, November 5th, showing the new roof, ramp and entrance area. Using the tractor and loader to bring in railway ties for the foundation and to pull out the old posts at the bottom of the previous ramp.

On October 24th this is what the ramp/entrance looked like.

This picture,taken in January 2008, creates the justification for a covered entrance way.

A LAST MINUTE PROJECT:

Our last trip to Montreal was in the rain, and it was both unpleasant and difficult for Gabriel on the Ramp from the solarium.

Actually this was taken in January, 2008. Somewhat awkward to get up the ramp to the solarium.
October 24th, 2008. The original ramp. Functional, but unsheltered and tricky to got onto directly from car. Wide car door- Narrow throated ramp !
So, time for a design and specs ! - 1) Must be sheltered and closed off from elements- Remember the prevailing wind- from West and the piling up of snow- Against a door ! So a barn style sliding door.. just like the new one at the bus.. but should not be solid, since it will be open through the Spring ‘til early winter, and would effectively cut off the view ! The new door at the bus is designed so that when it is open it is almost invisible. Painted red, and with a window aligned with the first window on the bus ! 2) Needs a wide opening at the entrance so that the car is right against the ramp. 3) Lots of natural light, and 4) must fit the general lines of the front of the farmhouse.

So: Setting a foundation to support the roof and walls:


Bringing in the second railway tie. The tractor was also used to pull out the original posts at the bottom of the ramp. November 2nd, 2008.

Well, here we are on November 5th, 2008 and the framing is all but complete, the roofing (corrugated clear plastic) is on, and the ramp and landing are finished.

The weather has been great and promises to stay so ‘til the weekend so with a bit of luck I’ll get the walls and windows and the door done by Saturday. First job tomorrow will be to put in a couple of railings so then Gabriel can try it out.

Don't expect another post with pictures 'til we go to town and have access to hi-speed. It took forever to load these pics, and then got them in the wrong order, and I'm too lazy, scared to try and manipulate the,

.