Tuesday, July 10, 2007

The grey Area

Only in the real world could there be Anti-freeze in toothpaste, snow in Buenos Aires and The Simpson's Kwik-E-Mart takes over 7-11.
It could be time to raise the drawbridge on this island.


Straw Bale House Update: With excavation plan in hand, we had the initial "scrape" done for the slab foundation. Now we can actually take measurements without clambering through the bush. We did have to take down one large cedar tree, which we had wanted to save. But after last winter's storms, we know it isn't worth having a large tree hanging directly over the house. While the excavator plucked trees and stacked them, it gave me the opportunity to limb them and buck them into usable lengths. It reminded me of (when much younger), when I used to do this for a living. (It also gave me a chance to break-in my new toy.... a 365 Husqvarana chainsaw.... I'm glad we have a tool budget for this project). The next step is to dig the perimeter foundation; we should have the foundation plan within the next ten days or so. The slab will be poured late to avoid damage, (as it will be our finished floor). We have the (precious) topsoil piled up for future use and enough firewood (in log form) to keep me busy until we can proceed with the foundation work. There's still no power on site and it may be a few weeks yet before we can trench the lines to the house site.... which brings me to our second toy purchase... a new generator. I had my heart set on diesel, however they were simply too expensive.... so a gas model Honda is now ready for action. Oh, and we found out that we we'll have access to high-speed Internet via Telus, (a luxury for islanders). We will not have access to cable TV!!
Research continues on a "greywater" system. Such systems are illegal but much safer and environmental, if done properly, than to dump it into a septic system. Our plan is to have no unusable effluent. Our shower and laundry water will irrigate fruit trees and berries. California has published a brochure on greywater systems, that explains that they are illiegal and do not meet code. The brochure then explains how to make a system and offers a $500 grant to do so. Go Arnold!

Our local farm shack opened for business last week. Now we can walk over to see what's for sale and plan dinner accordingly. (it changes daily) All the organic veggies are picked in the morning and sold the same afternoon. In other good Island news, our cafe is now open for dinner until 7:00 p.m., and the store is open during the week until 9:00. It is well justified as the island appears to double in population in July and August. This is evident at the ferries where there is often a one sailing wait during the week and two at peak times on the weekends.

The weather has been warm and sunny. This week it is expected to be in the mid 30's, which is a little unusual for Denman. Compared to surrounding areas, we're usually a little cooler in summer and warmer in winter. We have found that the temperature on the new lot is considerably warmer than at our current house near the water. We're thinking that straw bale will be very useful on hot summer days as it will stay considerably cooler than a conventionally constructed house.
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A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups--porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain, some expensive, some exquisite--telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups . . .and then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of Life we live. The happiest people don't HAVE the best of everything. They just MAKE the best of everything they have.

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