This Week, We're Getting Plastered

Dear Ridgers

This week we're down to a crew of two, with Nathan having worked his last day on Ruth's Ridge this Friday past. I'll miss him, his work, sardonic wit and love of all sayings pessimistic – his favourite website being despair.com.

Delaeno is also wrapping up his time on the Ridge, with some soffit installation to complete, garage door openers to install and a couple of doors to adjust. By week's end I will be the sole grunt on the project. I can hardly believe this phase is coming to an end.

That said our friend, David Ives, and his nephew, Dale, will join us on Tuesday to get Ruth's Ridge plastered.

It was a delight to find new followers of this blog this past week. This morning at church, Muriel Conner mentioned that even her sister in England was reading the blog. "Margaret Ivory is your sister?" I asked. Hi, Margaret. I'm sorry I haven't been giving Muriel enough hugs of late, but it's time to get back to regular church attendance now that we're close to having the world's most elaborate camping facility.

Yep, as soon as the taping and plastering are done and Ruth & I have primed the interior, we're going to camp out in the house. I should be able to get one washroom plumbed and, with a microwave, toaster oven, kettle, mini-convection oven, we'll muddle through as complete the finishing work that looms months into the future.

Anyway, it's the first Sunday of Advent and we need to be back at church in 30 minutes to prepare for the Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4:30.

Much for which to be grateful, much to look forward to, much energy to pray for. Soon we'll have an internet connection on the Ridge and, then, I'll be able to do a bit more extensive blogging, maybe filling in some of the gaps in the story of our little story.

A Post from the Past

It's a mite staggering to realize that three weeks have passed since I last posted to this blog. But then I've been staggering from rising to bedtime with an ever-depleting energy reserve.

Back on November 1st, Bro Bob & Ronda were kind enough to drive Mom & Dad out for another visit of the project.

Ruth's Ridge has been dramatically transformed in these three weeks, although the changes are no longer as dramatic as when the foundation, framing and roof were being erected. The exterior is largely the same other than that the fascia and soffit are complete save another day of work on the verandah soffit.

The short course on progress goes as follows: the well has now been mated with a pressure system; the septic system is complete; the temporary electrical service has now been superseded by moving connection of the underground supply to the in-house distribution panel; drywalling is well underway.

We received approval of our insulation and vapour barrier a week ago last Thursday and drywalling of the ceilings commenced immediately thereafter. With a little luck getting some last-minute wiring and water-supply plumbing done, we'll be ready for drywall taping and plastering as of Thursday/Friday.

This past Tuesday, having completed all of the ceiling drywall installation, I volunteered to crawl up into the rafters to take care of the cellulose insulation blow-in. Eleven hours later, the job was done and I descended covered in the remnants of yesterday's news.

With luck our friend, David Ives, and his nephew, Dale, will be on-site this weekend or Monday to begin the process of taping and plastering.

Delaeno and Nathan are nearing the end of their tenure on Ruth's Ridge. Once the drywall is up, there are a few jobs awaiting completion: soffit, door adjustments, garage door openers, etc. Then, they too, will move on regular, non-commuting lives, leaving Rebus & I as the only regular labourers. Ruth & Sadie will, of course, join us as soon as Ruth & I get the primer paint on the drywall, then begins some weeks of camping and months of installation and finish work.

This year, maybe we'll just put a bow on the house and say Merry Christmas and as open the front door together.