Damped Down & Holding

Four nights ago, as I moaned about the weather (again), I checked back to the same day last year. Cold, windy & rainy this year compared with hot, sunny & roofing last year. Well, I'm happy not to be roofing, but I wouldn't mind a little more sun c/w heat units.

That said, today has been absolutely gorgeous, and visits from neighbours Ed James & Robert Dodd, builder extraordinaire Delaeno & friend Jim were all bonuses. I didn't bust chops to get things done; the weather was just too intoxicating. I did, however, get the garage sorted (after a couple of hours of help from Jim earlier this week) so that one car can now park inside and so that I can start cutting baseboards and casings when the weather turns – as I regret to predict will happen soon. Ruth was also home today and got a batch of soup together for Delaeno (who was here to say hi and to spec materials for closing up the Bonus Room stairs in the garage). She also got another batch of trim boards and trim detail painted.

I managed to surprise Ruth yesterday. When she came home, she found a newly shorn husband as a present for our upcoming anniversary. She's suffered my shagginess very well, but it was time to get back to presentable. The beard may be next, although she's in favour of my keeping it. In any event, I won't shave it until I can unearth the portrait of my dad's grandfather, who he pointed out I now closely resemble. That image to follow.

The pissy weather notwithstanding, we have had a couple of absolutely breathtaking mornings here this week, and they are the real reason for this particular post.

This coming week, I'll be calling for our first pre-final inspection by Deryl or David from the South Interlake Planning District. I say 'first' because they and I know the house is not quite ready to pass the interior inspection. Given that they've been exceedingly understanding of our living here through under some pretty rudimentary circumstances at the outset, I'm happy to have them check our progress and to have their input on some of our finishing steps inside.

The exterior (other than for staircases, final grade and landscaping) should be completed within the next week or two. I have a few more days of caulking on the siding and, with a little luck in finding a plasterer, getting 85' of parging done.

Can't stop thinking about the inevitable arrival of the stark season, though. ("God, let Gord be wrong.")