Record setting warm temperatures hit Denman Island today.... 14c in my woodshed. As always the pineapple express is accompanied by strong winds. This time of year the wind makes short work of the leaves, but the old orchards will loose their apples more slowly, to the delight of the deer population. Straw Bale House Update: The Hydronic heat SBK manifold has been assembled and mounted (temporarily) in the mudroom. It's quite a unique system that is comprised of modules. The number of modules can be adjusted to meet the needs of the size of install. We will have four heating zones and eight (loops) modules. Each loop (module) can be throttled within the zone. In other words, different areas of the same zone can be controlled (heat controlled) individually. (Sort of zones within a zone) Zones are: Great Room (consisting of kitchen, dining, living room and den) , Bedroom, Entry Hall and Ensuite. The heating tube layout drawing was done (thanks Clay) and tubes are being installed this week.
I have to say, I have an increased respect for the American public and congratulate them on electing a president that says he'll talk before he shoots. It seems he's won over all the demographics except white males... not sure what that means. The more I watched the pre-election posturing, the more I think publishing polls should be abolished.... along with the public endorsements of the media. Shouldn't the media be impartial?
As the Canadian federal election nears it's neck & neck between the Lying Thieves and the Thieving Liars. The Pot-Smoking Skinny-Dippers are running a distant third. Same old, same old for Canadian politics. (Judging by lawn signs, Denman Island seems to be heavily leaning toward the Pot-smoking Skinny-dippers... there's no shortage of support for both activities here.) Meanwhile south of the border there's more action than one can resist. I'll predict that the US pres debates get better ratings in Canada than the Canadian leadership debates. I can only say from this little island.... what the...? It's hard to believe the magnitude of the financial situation there and the ripple effect it will have world wide. Is this what happens to all self-policing industries? The prediction of American debt was underestimated in my December 2007 Blog... can I add another trillion? Strawbale Update: Masonry Heater core has been assembled. The brickwork can be done after the slab is poured. There's lots riding on that slab pour!
A Canadian's Point of View. You've just gotta love American politics. Isn't it just the great stuff that soap operas are made of? I'm just fascinated by the strangeness of it all. I've been trying to figure their system out for a year or so and I've been wondering..... Can they possibly make their electoral system more complicated or confusing? I highly doubt it, but it's sure entertaining, isn't it? So, I'm thinking to myself, if this McCain gets elected and a little way down the road has a jammer...(he's seventy something, and not looking so good, so not a long shot.) This makes the self proclaimed "hockey mom" president of the United States. How weird is that? OK, she's been in the PTA, a councilor and mayor of a town of nine thousand, and Governor of Alaska or something for two more years.... why do I still find that a little scary? One thing I've noticed, is that if you're non-religious in the States, don't bother running for political office. Ms. Palin seems to fit the mold of right wing evangelical bible thumping, pro lifer and that should get (them) lots of votes. And let's face it, she's kinda cute, so how bad could it really be,... and could she do any worse than George W.? Isn't it also so strange that they've been campaigning for a year and a half for an election in November....spending hundreds of millions of dollars meanwhile we'll have a six week federal campaign blitz, don our touques, head to the polls (on the way to Tim Hortons) and have a new government in October. Now that's efficiency!
The Denman Island Blackberry Festival was held on Sunday. It's a quasi traditional fall fair with a Gulf Island twist. The Fire Dept. Took part with their burger BBQ and annual slow-pitch softball game... (in which we didn't get our butts kicked this year)... in fact even held a lead at times.... end result was a tie and several promises (or threats) about next years' game.
Some totally random stuff that I've been meaning to post.... starting with Demetri Martin. A very funny young man.
Denman Island Trivia I came across this archived newspaper clipping of a ship that wrecked near our house in 1903. The article ran in the New York Times.
Boo Radley (our cat) mastered the art of bird capture a few weeks ago. Picture a scene as Sylvester catches Tweedy Bird, only to be smacked on the back of the head until said bird has been spit out. This is pretty much what happened and indeed the bird did fly away. A few days later, birds of another feather flocked to our back yard and even climbed the stairs, where the now "belled" kitten decided: maybe wild turkeys could have a free pass.
That American Presidential Primary is something to behold, isn't it? After campaigning for two years and spending tens of millions of dollars, it comes down to a popularity contest. While watching American Idol I was thinking, why not just phone in a vote for your favorite candidate. Chances are, that long before November rolls around and a new American President is elected, we'll have a new Canadian government, (perhaps by June). (We like surprises.) I've been labelled (at times) as anti-American on this blog, I deny it and I do post the comments that are clean and worthy of a response. What I see on TV, are Americans that are exited about change and candidates that give them a real choice and above all, hope. "Fear is easier to instill than love and hope" Richard Nixon. Good luck with that down there. (can I still come visit?)
We went to see Alex Cuba at the hall on Friday night. This two time Juno winner kept the house rockin' with those infectious Latin rhythms. check out his music video...
Straw Bale House Update: The weekend's sunny weather was perfect for cleaning up the building site. As with most of my projects, the cleaning up is the hard part. The last of the beams have been milled and delivered, including the two cedar lunkers that will adorn the front entry. Now, all we need is some staining weather. A hydro transformer has miraculously appeared on the lot! This is incentive to get my act together and apply for a temporary power permit. Our "ferry hill" is a construction zone. As the road to the ferry is only two lanes wide and ferry traffic must line up on the road, it has not allowed for easy access to the ferry if dropping off foot passengers. Traditionally this has lead to a form of ferry hill frogger where one must drive on the wrong side of the road before or between oncoming traffic. Islanders have become very adept at it over the years, but perhaps the ferry corporation has realised there could be a liability factor. Soon there will be a third lane to remedy the situation. Soon we will have a second ferry to help out until we get our regular ferry back. The "Klitsa" (an unfortunate name for a ship says Kari), shall arrive mid March.
Record setting warm temperatures hit Denman Island today.... 14c in my woodshed. As always the pineapple express is accompanied by strong winds. This time of year the wind makes short work of the leaves, but the old orchards will loose their apples more slowly, to the delight of the deer population.
zones and eight (loops) modules. Each loop (module) can be throttled within the zone. In other words, different areas of the same zone can be controlled (heat controlled) individually. (Sort of zones within a zone) Zones are: Great Room (consisting of kitchen, dining, living room and den) , Bedroom, Entry Hall and Ensuite. The heating tube layout drawing was done (thanks Clay) and tubes are being installed this week.
