Pia Lyotier

Living in Canada, on the west coast, it is starting to be that time of year where the heat goes out the holes, cracks, doors, windows, etc. if you live in an old house. So, what better time than to start thinking about blowing in some insulation to help lower our Carbon-Footprint and lower our energy costs.

Well, that was one of our projects, this week. So, we started yesterday, at 3:00 p.m. mind you, because we finally figured out the correct amount and had to go back to buy 40 more bags, meaning that now we have 66 bags and a blowing machine.

I wanted to use Owens Corning with the Atticat machine, it all looked so clean and easy, it was not available and you could not find it anywhere. So Home Depot and Rona won out.

What a messy job. They said to wear goggles and a mask, but truly for the 2k we are saving, it would have been better to just have it done by the pros if I could have afforded it.

We had some good laughs looking at each other after doing the first half, we looked like little dirty (because the product is gray) snowmen, covered from head to toe in stuff. Oh and for anyone out there, the breathing masks need to be replaced every couple of hours. Yuk, what a nasty job. Oh, and breathing that stuff. Yuk, yuk, yuk.

But we have 1/4 of it completed, we know how it works now, and we should be finished today. Thank goodness.

Hopefully it is going to be really toasty in here.

Have a good day, I will report in with pictures when I am finished.

Hello All, it is winter, well almost. It is a really windy day here, the trees are stretching like we do in an intermediate yoga class and holding on with all their might.

Yesterday was a hard day of labor. We cut out 2' x 30' of 3" of ashphalt and concrete on the driveway in order to build steps out of stone. So it involved moving all that after much sledge hammering and banging, and then unloading 2500 lbs. of stone blocks.

Today is the attic insulation, so I will just include a picutre of the dug out driveway, and the job pending. Will also send picture of finished product.

Why is everything harder in real life to do than it looks? Boy that was hard work. Even with the right toos.

OMG - I love the seasons. Today it is a gorgeous morning, crispy chilly, light skys with very light cloud cover, fresh snow on the mountains accross the water, sunshine, and a beautiful full moon. Ah.... And no rain yet, even though they have promised rain solidly, only 1 out of the last 3 days.

Updates, the garden is finished for winter. Yeah and boo!!! One yeah, it is done, but two, boo, now to inside projects and no more gardening till spring. Oh well, part of the fun of winter is planning.

OMG - The neighbor from you know where... Well, we sent the letter, but from us, not the lawyer. Decided to send it first and see the reaction, then from the lawyer if necessary. Worked well. All the stairs removed or moved. Also, we don't speak now, but that is okay.

Doing attic insulation today. Should be a new experience.

Anyway, to all, hope you had a wonderful Halloween, and are now getting ready for Christmas (or Thanksgiving if you are in the US).

Still haven't heard from any Nova Scotians or Newfoundlanders about where is a good place to buy property. Still looking for input.

Today is one of the days of the continuing saga of the Neighbor from you know where. I still haven't provided the letter to end the use of property permission granted, but today I got a call from the Ministry of Highways accusing me of putting stuff on their right of way, which they have not used or looked after for 40 years. Of course I have not put anything on their property, other than branches and stuff that have been cut by the neighbors or blown down in the storm, but it was very annoying that the Neighbor from You Know Where had the nerve to be such a busy body and actually call them on me. I wish she would just leave me alone and get involved in all her own business.

Oh well, I am not ready to move.

Everyone that has participated in this experience with me can now see my work in progress. It was so rewarding today. I made it through 5 beds I think. I live on the side of the mountain, so to have moved 1 cubic yard of garden soil, plus another 1/2 cubic yard of pea gravel is really rewarding.

So here goes, I hope all your computers are not overrun or anything with the pictures.

Here is the garden in process

HOPE ALL ENJOY