A Wealth of Wood

Wood, wood, glorious wood.  We have it in spades on Malcolm Island.  And we're lucky enough to be able to use some of this sought after product in our new house.  Over the last few weeks we've been beach combing on warm days and found an amazing piece  of wood to turn into something quite unique. Plus we've been able to get both cedar and pine and from one of the two local mills.    Sweat equity and good weather both go a long way and we've been taking full advantage!

From one of the local mills...

This is a partial load.  Had to go back the next day for the rest of it.

Hosing off the boards so the sawdust doesn't stain the wood while it's drying for the next few months 

Of course it all had to be packed own the lower level of the property. Board by board by board!

Then stacked and stickered so that there's drying room around the planks.

Cover with old metal siding and add a few rocks for good measure... 

And you have a stack of beautiful wood protected from the sun and rain ....drying over the months.
By the way...this was the most snow we got this year!  Was gone by noon the same day.

The last batch was finished at 10:30 p.m. last Thursday evening by floodlight.  

The last batch of wood had to be brushed off and covered before we headed south to pick up some finished boards from a cabinet shop down island.  We had to work long after the sun had set.  Here you can see Jim working away.  He's outside the bathroom window on flat ground, stacking the boards that I cleaned and passed down to him.  Once all were stacked and stickered we started building a cover to keep the boards in good shape while they slowly dried.  A labour of love!

The other wood - from the beach - has the potential to becoming something special.  Or perhaps a few special pieces.  We found the tree a month ago and marked its location with a float and rope strung in a huckleberry bush.  Then we went back another time and analyzed the shape and location of the tree.  We still haven't got it to our property yet...soon!

See the curl in the tree?  This is the same curl in picture #1 at the top.  Jim can hardly wait to cut into it!

Had to cut a piece off of it so we could roll it towards the water.  We'll likely drive the truck across the beach to retrieve it.  Soon!

Last Wednesday evening Jim and I drove back to check out the tree at sunset.  As we arrived at the beach three loons began to sing.  The sun played off the clouds with colours of purple and pink, gold and chiffon.  I can see more evenings on the beach!  A second later an eagle flew over us just as we heard a seal that was sunning itself, catching the last bit of warmth from the rocks.   Rocks and trees make our world go round!

Until next time.

Jim and Tricia

Sointula Science

Over the last couple of weeks we've taken a bit of time off from house building to enjoy Seedy Saturday, two garage sales and the local Science Fair.  You've got to stop and smell the roses sometimes!

Seedy Saturday was a chance to purchase seeds and seedlings already started by local gardeners.  An educational booth was set up and local farmers sold earthy delights and fine herbs for cooking.  Homemade lunch rounded out the event.  A documentary on GMO foods was presented in the evening before things wrapped up.  Next year we'll be in a better position to purchase seeds and seedlings.

We also attended two garage sales, one of them in an old net loft built over the water.  There are only a few old lofts but they're always locked up.  This one was open for the sale.  It was a hugh empty space, except for the garage sale items and we found some great bargains. We sure had fun looking at the breezy historic building inside and out. It smelled a bit musty but we loved it anyway.

Earlier in March everyone on Malcolm Island was invited to attend the annual Science Fair at the A J Elliot Elementary School.  There are 36 kids at the school split into 3 classes.  The teachers and student started their science fair research in October.

Doors opened at 1:00 and we could hardly find parking when we arrived a few minutes later.

See Mr. Lion?

Every student participates from the youngest in Kindergarten to the oldest in Grade 7. Next year the big kids start taking the school bus ferry to Port McNeill to attend high school.  What a change for them going from a small local school to a larger high school where kids from Port McNeill, Alert Bay and Sointula join together!

For the science fair each kid was given an outline to follow.  They used the library and internet for research.  The young kids chose an animal to study while the older kids studied much more complicated subjects.  Each student had a script summarizing their findings so they could chat knowledgeably with those of us wandering about.  We stopped and talked with most of the kids, teacher hovering closely if needed.  Learned lots and saw many neighbours and friends supporting the school.

Ruby, our very cute next door neighbour, is 5 and she decided to do her presentation on the Sea Turtle.

Ruby the Sea Turtle

Ruby was dressed with a sea turtle backpack and a turtle clip in her hair and colourful stuffed sea turtles hanging around her pictures.  Her neighbour's presentation was on horses.  

Kids did presentations on everything from pulleys to friction, acidulation of shells to the impact of tidal waves, DNA research, microplastic in the ocean, Vancouver Island marmots and even the forensics of finger printing.  The entire gym was humming and it was a fun afternoon for all.  We can hardly wait til next year!