Digging Out

No more excuses; no more postponing. The sun was out. The cats were clamoring (including a 4:00am session of meowing and pestering that led me to--once again!--go to the door, open it, and demonstrate that the deep snow was STILL THERE!). It was time to dig out.

This is what I faced when I opened my door this morning:

The plow guy had done a great job of plowing the driveway, but I had a stretch to shovel to reach the driveway.

First, I used a dust pan and broom to carve out a place to step outside the door.

Once I opened up a path to the driveway, I invited the cats outdoors.

Given that these shots were all taken during the morning, aren't these shadows dramatic? The sun is still pretty low in the sky this time of year.

It turns out that being outdoors wasn't that all-fired important after all. The cats lasted all of ten minutes before going back inside.

Digging out the car took awhile...

Check out this bug I found on top of the snow. Do you think this guy tried to get somewhere during the blizzard?

I had just finished moving all the snow away from the front of the JayBee when I heard the avalanche start, and jumped out of the way just in time to avoid having the snow on top of the JayBee hit me in the head. So, then, there was more snow to move.

Finally, that part was done.

The bulkhead was buried in a deep drift. (I keep the bulkhead clear during the winter because it provides the only access to my furnace.)

Can you see, buried in the snowbank below (a little left of center), a wooden barrel laying on its side? Oops. My plow guy got a little carried away. That barrel is usually standing over my septic pump with a yellow caution sign attached as warning for the plow guy.

I dug out the oil tank, the bulkhead, and the barrel. Unfortunately, the caution sign is lost in a snowbank somewhere. I sure hope the septic pump is alive and well.

I didn't have the energy to get up on the roof...but it really needs to be dug out too. (It's possible we'll get rain [!] this next week; that would NOT be good on top of this snow.)

I took care of the heavy snowbank across the end of the driveway...

...then turned my attention to shoveling a path to the deck.

I took this last photo while standing on the deck. See the bare patch of ground next to the railroad tracks (near the lower left)? That patch was never completely covered with snow during the blizzard, due to the wind constantly moving and sculpting the snow. 

I have no idea what our total accumulation was from this storm. Somewhere between two and three feet, I guess. It's difficult to tell, given the dramatic drifts and such. This is not a lot of snow for us to receive during a winter, but it sure is a lot to receive at once!

Blizzard 2013

I'm posting this now (well before the storm is over) for you, DWR!

Oh, my goodness, what will I do with all this snow?! I'm cozy and happy indoors (the power is still on here), but when I open the door to ponder beginning to move snow around...

...it seems so overwhelming that I just close the door again. This accumulation really is stunning, given that the ground was bare when this started. (I stuck a yardstick in the snow out beyond the drift up against the door, and it currently measures 29" deep.) 

The storm is not near over here. The snow has been falling heavily all morning, and I just heard the radio weather report. ("One to two more feet of snow expected before the storm ends.") Yikes!

The cats are going stir crazy. Apparently it's way more important to be able to go outside when it's not really a possibility. They keep asking me to open the door and then they freak out. They won't stand still for photos, so I was only able to capture Bear briefly before he bolted. Notice his irritation, expressed with his ears.

This next shot shows George peeking out the sliding door next to the deck. From his viewpoint, he's looking at the wall of snow on the deck.

Thankfully, the JayBee appears to be doing okay through this. Due to the snow being powdery light and the high winds, the snow is regularly shedding itself off the roof. The snow in front of the JayBee is not very deep at the moment; this is thanks to my plow guy, who came by a few times last night to clear things out.

Wherever you are, may you be safe and warm.

Pretending It's Spring (Pantry Cabinet 1)

Surprisingly, the day began with temperatures in the low 40s. Felt like the beginning of spring. Ha! I used the opportunity to hang out a JayBee-related gift I received for Christmas. Dale made me a birdhouse duplex that looks like the JayBee! Very cute.

I've had lumber, intended for a JayBee pantry cabinet, clogging up my house for a few weeks...

The warm temps today prompted me to open up the JayBee...

...and use my saws to cut the pieces for the pantry cabinet.

I ran out of time (I still have a few more pieces to cut) but I got a lot done and, by the end of the day, my house was stacked with cabinet pieces. (The piano hinges are sitting on top of the stack.) Also by the end of the day, the temperature had plummeted. This next week will be frigid. I guess it really isn't spring yet!

Below are a couple of my pantry cabinet drawings. This cabinet will be narrow and tall; it will sit in front of the water heater (see floor plan). The whole cabinet will be on wheels (that lock) so, when necessary, it can be moved out of the way for access to the water heater.

Also see:

Pantry Cabinet 2

Pantry Cabinet 3

Pantry Cabinet 4

Pantry Cabinet 5

Pantry Cabinet 6

Pantry Cabinet 7

Pantry Cabinet 8

Pantry Cabinet 9

Project Recap

It seemed that the JayBee project was on a tiny roll during the autumn months, but that ended when winter cold moved in and I came down with a heavy cold. Even though I'm recovering from the illness part, the winter and the holiday season will keep me busy and away from making real progress on the JayBee for awhile.

I celebrated a birthday some days ago. Take a look at this unique and appropriate gift from my sister. She painstakingly colorized my JayBee drawing and then had the image put on a set of postage stamps. So cute! Also the perfect gift for someone who is diligently (and ever so slowly) downsizing (and doesn't need more "stuff").

As I was recently recapping the project in my mind--going over how far along things are and how much more there is to do--I went back and reviewed photos of the project thus far. Even though I've been a director and carpenter throughout, there are photos that surprise me--that make me think "I did that?!" or "However did that get done?!" Strange phenomenon, that. It's a good exercise--to review and remember; it provides inspiration, and also some reassurance that surely the rest will happen eventually too.

If you haven't followed the blog of the Little Yellow Door project, it is worth checking out. Ella built a Tumbleweed Fencl tiny house--and it's done! Ella's "The house that never ends..." post describes so well the paralysis that can set in when self-doubt and the fear and hugeness of the project are allowed to hold sway. Her completed project also so clearly demonstrates the reward that lies in overcoming the mental obstacles by making progress on one tiny piece at a time. Eventually, those pieces add up to a completed home!

I will use the winter months to move forward on these pieces:
- Drawings: I recently finished drawing the framing for the west end bumpout. I plan to complete plumbing and electrical drawings for the JayBee as well. (There are some plumbing bits that need to be done on the JayBee before the west end can be completely closed in.) I will draw the rest of the roof framing and I will calculate exactly where the vents (for the plumbing, the hot water tank, and the stove/heater) will pierce the roof.
- Cabinet Construction: I have drawn plans for a cabinet that will serve as a food pantry in the JayBee and I hope to make a little progress with constructing it this winter. (It will be a rolling cabinet so it can also serve as a wall in front of the hot water tank.) I have some ideas about a mini-cabinet/shelving unit that I want to build next to the JayBee's door to hold keys, mail, a charging station for my phone and iPod, etc. I will draw plans and possibly begin constructing that.
- Research: I will use the winter months to research and consult with some professionals who might help with JayBee construction. I think I'm going to hire someone to install the roofing on the JayBee once the framing and sheathing are done--the major reason being that I don't want to buy the tools it would take to cut the angle cuts on metal roofing. I need to find both a plumber and a electrician; I'd like to do the basics myself but use the professionals to ensure compliance with codes and to make the connections with utilities.

Don't worry; I won't be idle! As I come up with JayBee things of interest, I'll post them.

In the meantime, below are photos from a few recent walks with Bear and George. The dog in the last photo is the neighbor's dog that is allowed to run loose--much to my irritation and the terror of my cats. On a walk with George, I was surprised when he suddenly shot off and disappeared way up the railroad tracks. Well, he knew who would be bounding around the corner a moment later--the dog. She ran in circles trying to follow George's trail--but he was long gone way up the tracks to the left.