Driveway and fire storage take final shape

We spent all of August, September and October outside as much as possible. We did take a couple of days off each week to rest our bodies and do some other things.  We're learning!  Anyway we know the winter rains are coming soon so there'll be lots of time for indoor projects then.  While the weather is nice we've been continuing with improvements to the driveway, drainage and creating beautiful banks and paths on the street side of the house.
NOTE: Due to technical difficulties...the font below is a bit smaller than usual.  Sorry!

in August Jim started shaping the slope between the driveway and the road.
Moving dirt from one place to another is as common for us as moving rocks or lumber.
There are always things to be moved!

Jim shovelled soil into the truck then took the truck to the road level and distributed it where needed.

He dragged wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow across the driveway to beautiful this slope.

Part of the driveway project was incorporating a better system of adequate drainage for our property.  Jim gave this much thought for weeks then designed, built and installed a 4' deep sump box. This means that rainwater runs down the driveway along small ditches that direct it towards the sump. Once the sump fills to a certain level it overflows into two 4 inch drainage pipes that exit out at the side of the property where the runoff provides moisture to all the plants on our lot perimeter. 

The plywood sump box, getting wrapped with thick landscape
cloth before being 'planted' into the ground at the base of the driveway.

The basic sump buried in place before runoff pipes are added.

Jim dug a huge trench to bury the runoff pipes leading away from the sump down hill.

You can see the two pipes getting buried under the driveway and away from the house.

Those pipes are connected to the sump about a foot below the level of the driveway.
This is just after lining it with some rocks. Sure looks pretty and new!

Countless hours were spent clambering up and down our slopes, digging more ditches, shoveling, racking, moving rocks, gathering more rocks, etc.  Jim did the brunt of the heavy work while my left arm continued to heal after breaking a bone in June.  His efforts were incredible because he wanted to get the system up and running before heavy rains began.  

Digging at night when it was cooler.
I had to practically drag him in for dinner and then he would go back out and work again til 9:00 or so. 

Back at it again in the morning. Filling in where the pipes were buried.  He did this all the way to the perimeter!

Filling in the ditch took a LOT of rocks then gravel!  There are always places for rocks of varying sizes and shapes.

First major rains after the sump was installed.  Worked great!

Finished sump with cover.  We can open it up and clean it out any time we need to.
It's safe and protected and doing its job!

Wood!  We're surrounded by it.  We'll be incorporating lots of wood in the house, showcasing Jim's talents as a craftsman.  The cedar tree, which will be our closet, is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The four pieces of cedar marked for cutting with the chainsaw.  A work in progress...

However, Jim's talents extent outside the house to the yard too.  Since we'll have a wood stove in our living room, a place to store firewood had to be built.  Jim envisioned and built a beautiful firewood structure that also acts as a retaining wall for the slope between the driveway and the road.  We already have the corrugated tin roof materials for completing this great structure.  Lots of neighbours and walkers have stopped to talk about it and admire it.

Yes - I can use a socket set!

We found this pile of discarded marble near the highway and loaded the truck with anything we could carry.

Marble slabs create the 'floor' of the wood storage structure.  How many storage sheds have a marble floor???

The reinforced structure also acts as a retaining wall for the bank leading up to the road level. 

We categorized the stones: potatoes, turnips, mandarins, walnuts, and eggs.  Helped for finding the right sizes.

The roof shape echoes the house roof.  Already we have a bit of firewood stacked!

Roof next!  Of course it will mean moving more piles of stuff but that's part of the building game!

Jim marked the driveway so we knew where to add a couple of loads of gravel.  We had two loads of gravel delivered and will need a bit more to complete the driveway project then we should be set for whatever the winter brings weather-wise.

Finding the right level for a load of gravel.  We wanted to build it up a bit near the house and slope the
ground towards the sump that we installed.

Delwin and Jim getting the first load emptied.

OMG! That's a lot of gravel to sift, move, rack and compact.

One day later Jim was using our truck to compact the new level of the driveway.  One more load to go!

So worth the work during the summer.  By next year the grasses will have taken over again.
The deer love the new path that makes it easier for them to walk through our yard.

Rocks, trees, sunsets and water.  What more do you need?

Until next time!

Tricia and Jim

Viewpoint Sointula

It's been over three months since our last blog updates.  Time flies when you're having fun!  We're not as young as we used to be and our bodies get sore quicker but we keep chipping away at creating our house, home and garden.  

Balance is also important.  I've joined the local choir and we're getting ready to perform at Winterfest in two weeks.  Winterfest is our major winter festival with various workshops and musicians playing throughout the weekend and an amazing craft fair on Saturday.  The evening entertainment (by donation I think) features local tongue in cheek humour and frivolity.  Everyone enjoys themselves at Winterfest.  In mid December we're singing at the annual Christmas concert.  After the concert maybe I'll stop hearing Christmas music in my head!  Jim joined the Malcolm Island Lions Society and is enjoying the opportunity for friendship that comes with such a great service group. They recently worked all weekend on improvements to the Lions cabin at Mount Cane, the local ski hill about 1.5 hours south of Port McNeill.

As we enter November we're rewarded with the most amazing sunsets.  Jim designed the house to take full advantage of the winter sun and part of that is enjoying the sun as it streams in on sunny days and warms the interior.  As night approaches we often enjoy dinner in front of our windows watching vibrant colours reflecting off everything as the sun slowly disappears.  How lucky we are to get six months of sunsets before they're too far to the north for us to see.

We've done a bit of beachcombing, taken a drive and walk to look at the straightest longest log you've ever seen on a beach, and enjoyed driving the quiet roads of Malcolm Island.  Life is good!

One of the small lakes just south of Port McNeill, just off of the highway.

Yes! Fresh wasabi is grown right here on Malcolm Island!

Collecting more rocks, of course!

One of the few colourful maple trees, just before the first frost.

We did take time to bring back our worldly possessions from Victoria.

Another shot from our living room.  Life is good.

Jim and Tricia
tandjbowen13@gmail.com

Finally some siding and the start of our deck!

Finally we have siding on most of the house.  Campbell and Brian worked tirelessly with Jim to get the mountain sage Hardi planks in place.  Hardi planks are fire proof so a great option to choose. Now our house is beginning to blend in with the landscape rather than sticking out like a sore thumb.  Then it made perfect sense to continue working with Campbell to frame our deck so we did that.  Progress!

Each sheet was carefully unwrapped, cut to size, and installed in a few days.

The black tar paper will be covered with shingle art after the winter.

Once the planks were mounted Jim clambered up the scaffolding to use a tiny paint brush for touch ups.

Late day sun reflecting the few remaining cherry leaves.

Now that we have the Hardi planks up on the water side of the house it seemed like the right time to frame for our future deck.

The three of them worked like a well oiled machine.  No time wasted by these guys!

Plan is to add a couple of sheets of plywood and a guard rail so we can get a feel for this new space.  Cool!

In the spring we expect to add a new element to the water side fo the house. We'll be putting Hardi shingle panels up above the deck level to give a little contrast to the green siding.  Stay tuned!

Tricia and Jim