A WHOLE MONTH SINCE THE LAST POST!

 

Wow, been a long spell since I posted a blog.  While I’ve posted quite a few photos on Facebook lately, there just hasn’t been enough for a blog.  We have been on pause forever, it seems.  We did finally get the keys to the house on May 14^th.   However, there have been a few bumps in the road since then.

The promised clean and ready to move in house didn’t happen.  The drywaller made such a mess then because it wasn’t cleaned up properly, the other workers tramped through it for weeks.  The cleaning lady they hired came back last Saturday evening and we watched her mop the floors five times changing the water each time.  Even after five, the water was still dirty.  The walls hadn’t been wiped down well either and shelves and tops of doors and cupboards still had a layer of drywall dust on them.

We pointed out lots of issues when we had out walk through on the 14^th and as the floor got cleaner, more issues popped up such as scuff marks.  Aileen finally started cleaning herself and has about eight hours of cleaning in so far.  While doing that, she has found more items like glue spills, scratches and other marks.  We clearly aren’t impressed with the quality of clean up by the company.

Our internet is scheduled to be installed tomorrow, Wednesday.  The bed comes Thursday and the appliances Friday.  They should be hooked up next Monday.  We have been moving some stuff in but have been holding back waiting to hear what they plan to do with the floor.  If nothing happens soon we’ll get the rest moved in and if it needs moving, they can look after it.  As far as the layout of the house, we are very pleased how it turned out.  Aileen is looking forward to using the kitchen.  After the appliances are in I will post some photos.  I will say it is 1323 sq. feet, three bedrooms and two baths.

As for the rest of our time, we have continued to work around the yard and gardens here at Karen’s.  She tells us the yard hasn’t looked this good in years so she’s pleased.  We still get out for our walks most evenings and Aileen for her earlier walks.

First trailer load moved to the new house

Karen and Bev were our first company and we had our first meal on the deck

Karen and Sydney visiting while Aileen gardens

A friend gave Karen some Fall Crocus bulbs and there turned out to be hundreds if not thousands

Balsamroot 

Sunset through the Acacia tree at Karen's

Tulip

The carport and deck being added on to our house

Karen's Wisteria that she planted about fifty years ago

Pink Dogwood

Wet Wisteria

BEAR TRACKS AND WILDFLOWERS

Spring has arrived in a rush.  We went from rather cool to downright pleasant almost overnight.  The past few days have been low to mid 20sC which is probably high 70sF.  That was a good enough excuse to take the RZR for a ride on Friday.  However, as noted below, it was a short ride.  It was great to get out in the peaceful forest just the same!

Not much happening on the house front these days.  They are still painting and finishing the inside but nothing happening on the deck and carport.  Apparently the framing crew has some Covid-19 related issues and are short staffed.  Our possession date has been moved to May 14 now.  No idea if that is guaranteed though.  Not having a fixed, cast in stone, date is creating problems for our planning.  Things such as appliance delivery, insurance and utility switch overs need a specific date.

Karen's dwarf nectarine

As I said we had a short ride.  At 2.8 kms (1.75 miles) from the car, we arrived at this narrow spot.  That is solid ice under the fringe of snow and those tracks that are close to the drop off  are from a narrower machine than ours.  It is dicey enough when the road is bare.  So that was a No Go.

So we turned around and found a nice warm spot for our lunch just back down the road.

Lots of ice on the road

After lunch we tried the next road below and found these big fresh bear tracks

We powered through some snow to access the lowest side road which proved to be snow free and fairly level once through the initial snow.  But, that was short lived as there were a couple large windfalls that blocked the road.  That was fine because there were lots of these Spring Beauties to admire.

Buttercups and Spring Beauties

Looking down from the flower meadow to Aileen on the left in the red coat and the RZR.  The road cut across a steep hillside.

Sagebrush Bluebell

Yellow Bell

Not sure what this is but I think it could be a Sagebrush Bluebell plant.  I thought the colours were great.  They don't look as good here as in person.

 

ANOTHER UPDATE

Some progress being made at our new house.  These were taken the day the driveway was poured.  Work continues on the inside finishing as well.

And the finished product

Karen and Aileen down at the packing house picking through cull apples to bring home to feed the critters.

Daffodils here at Karen's

Apricot blossom at Karen's

We had to go to Salmon Arm for an appointment one day and while waiting wandered around McGuire Lake Park where these tiny flowers were blooming in abundance.

Peach blossoms at Karen's

Plum blossoms at Karen's

One of Karen's Azaleas

 

PROGRESS REPORT

 

We closed on the new home March 18^th.  We supposedly take possession April 30.  Progress is being made with the drywall finisher being there most days.  Some of the outside finishing continues as well.  Since our unit was delivered, two more have arrived so the crews will be very busy there for several weeks.  Deer Park Estates is complete now as all 102 lots are occupied.

Aileen has been working in the gardens cleaning up and doing some planting.  I have been constructing new deer proof garden enclosures.  Nice to have something to do outside at this point.

I made a trip up to Salmon Arm to collect our mail so I could submit the income tax stuff.  I have started changing our address over to our place but will continue to have some mail go to the Salmon Arm address since it is still available.

I have picked up a couple of geocaches so far and as the snow retreats at the higher elevations hope to get more active.  Once we get possession of the house outside activities will have to compete with making it our home.

One of Karen's orchids against an abstract painting 

Those are all tiny individual orchid flowers against the same painting.

First daffodil at Karen's

Outside progress on the lot

Buttercups yesterday

An old dump rake just like the one I used to ride on when I was about six.  I had to jump down from the seat every time I had to step on the trip lever.

Lichen on a rock yesterday when I was climbing up the mountain.  The rock is over two feet in each direction.  From a distance I thought it was a cut log end.

The view over St. Andrew's golf course from the top.

More buttercups from yesterday

OUR BIG DAY ARRIVED TODAY!

 

Well, the big day finally arrived and our new house was delivered to the lot.  It seems like a long time since we began the process.  We were up and out the door early this morning suspecting the truckers might have moved in the dark to avoid the Kelowna rush hour traffic.  Sure enough, as we approached the park, one unit was parked just off the highway.  The other one was already on the lot but still hooked to the truck.  We enjoyed watching the whole process which turned out to be pretty slick.  The only downside was the strong NE wind that chilled us to the bone.

We moved back in to the motorhome this past Friday.  We will probably be in the motorhome until sometime in May.  The company is saying they think they need another six weeks to complete the finishing inside and the deck and carport.  We’ll see how close they are to their timing.  Somewhere along there we need to have our appliances delivered and we need to buy a couple of mattresses and box springs to go with our bed frames.  After we get moved in, we will figure out what other furnishings we need to look for.

I’m looking forward to flower season.  So far we’ve seen a few buttercups and this morning when Aileen walked up the river from the lot she saw a yellow bell (fritillary) bloom.  I hope to get the timing right for going up to the flower meadows we discovered last spring.

The front half arriving

The back half being lifted off the dolly

Then they put these rails out that the unit is slid in on.

Partway in

The roller setup.  The bottom rollers are for moving it to the side while the top ones are for moving it length way.  These are so effective that one person was able to move it length way and two pushed it in.  I got it on video with my phone but I haven't been able to download them to my computer.

Backing the front section in between the neighbour and the porta potty.

Starting to slide them in together

Protective coverings removed ready to mate.