CROSS THAT ONE OFF THE LIST

I can finally say that we are done the ceiling.  Rejean finished installing the dimmer on the pot lights (they show up  yellow in these pictures - they do not appear that color in person).  We are very very happy with the results.  It is warmer now and sound is not as hollow as before.
In the second picture, you can see a lighter color on the wall at the end of the room - that is where the tv will be installed.  It used to be where our "Wall of Fame or Shame" board was which is now behind the couch.  I have a slab of walnut that I varathaned and took to Joanne Nichols to have that saying etched on it to hang over the board.  She is the same person who etched our mirror in the bar.  She is very talented.
The plan is to install the tv and sound system then do the floor and then we will be done.  I figure by the end of February it will be completed.
Then our wood...

MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT

Well, it is not a pretty story...about 200 dead crows near Halifax, and now there was a concern for Avian Flu.
They had a Bird Pathologist examine the remains of all the crows, and he confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu, to every one's relief.  However, he determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impacts with trucks, and only 2% were killed by car impacts.
The Province then hired an animal behaviorist to determine the disproportionate percentages for truck versus car kill.  He determined the cause in short order.
When crows eat road kill, they always post a "look out Crow" in a nearby tree, to warn of impending danger.
His conclusion was that the look out Crow could say "Cah" but he could not say "Truck".

Sorry.  I just had to share this joke with you -   It was printed in this week's Northshore Sentinel, our local paper.  It made me laugh.

PROOF

Not the best picture but you can see the poof of snow produced from the boiling water thrown over the balcony.
 It was a cold one again today - I went to the Sault  and the temperature hit -32 according to my car temperature indicator.  I finally remembered to use my car seat heater.  Niiiice.
The temperature is supposed to warm up (read -17) for the next couple of days - downright balmy.
But hey, it is Northern Ontario.  I would rather have these cold temperatures than the big thaw we had a couple of weeks ago.  This is real winter weather!!!  Fur hats and all.
See Ya Bye

DARTS ON AXE

Wednesdays have been designated as Darts Night on Axe.  Last nite was my first time this year - not that it would have made a difference - I am lucky to have hit the board.  See that zero on the final picture?  That is my zero that Bob so nicely subtracted from the 6 for me.  I baked some cinnamon buns for some snacks and that is what the guys are getting into in the first picture.  I think Rejean is laughing so that is why he looks that way.
I was laughing so hard when we were trying to get the game organized - we had 7 people show up so we had to decide how we were going to do the teams.  Bob sat out the first game then Linda, then Joy, then Arnold etc.  It was so confusing when the switch was made because of who was following who and whose team they were on.  We finally got the hang of it by the 7th and final game.  My team only won one game (I think I had something to do with that) but there were times when I got over 50 points but then I got zeros too.  Consistently inconsistent - just like my golf game ;o)

See Ya Bye

SOME FUN IN THE COLD

I have no pictures to show you but take my word for it - this really happened.

Woke up this morning and checked the outside thermometer and it read -30!!!  I started the fire.  I then thought of a video I had seen where someone in Siberia I think, had thrown boiling water off a balcony and it turned into snow - just a cloud of snow floating out from the pot.  I decided I was going to try it, once it got light - it is still dark at 6:30am up here.
I waited until it got light out then boiled my water and hit the balcony.  I never thought to get a picture.  But it really worked!!  A cloud of snow floated upwards and out from the cup of water I threw off the balcony.  I tried it a second time.  What a blast.  I tried it later in the day when it was only -24 and with cold water but it didn't work.  I guess the secret is boiling hot water - and -30!!!

I will see what the temperature is tomorrow morning and try it again - this time with pictures.

CAUTION!!  Boiling water is very hot - do not attempt unless  accompanied by a responsible adult - or you are one :o)

STILL AT IT

We got the 2 ceiling fans installed today and I must say I am very happy with them and with the detail Rejean put around the boxes they are in.  It mirrors the detail in the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs where we have a light.  And we are in the process of installing all the little trim pieces - the first picture has some finished boxes so you can see what the whole ceiling will look like - eventually.  It is a labour of love I guess you might say.  It will look beautiful when we are finished so that is what I keep in mind  as we are working on it.  There is still a ton of work to be done - we have to decide where the pot lights will go so he can do the wiring - in some spaces there is not enough room for the pot lights to be installed so we have to see where we will need light and do the best we can.
Once we get the ceiling installed, we work on the tv and then the floor.  We should be finished by spring when we have to get out to the bush to get cracking on our fire wood supply for the next few years.  A Northerner's work is never done...

Plus it is frickin' cold outside!!!!!  -21 right now!!

Plus, Kim confirmed we did have over a foot of snow during the 2 snowfalls we had recently and she should know - her and Terry are the snow plowers around here.  Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

SNOW DAY

I think we got a good 8-10 inches of snow last nite - there were snow fall warnings out for our area and I guess we got it.  It was a bit breezy as well.  I brushed my car off yesterday and today it needed it again.  Rejean had to blow snow again today!!  And it was cold.  But sunny, which makes it a bit warmer.  I had to fill up my wood box and the work out room wood and I even loaded Rejean's up late this afternoon.  I worked all day until 3:30 in the garage finishing up all the little trim pieces someone cut up for me plus other odds and ends needed for the ceiling fan installation.  We will have 2 in the main room - exactly like the workout room fan.  Guess how many ceiling fans I will have in my house when these 2 are installed.  8! That's right, 8.  But you need them.  One in each bedroom, in the living room upstairs and over the kitchen table, one in the workout room and the 2 in the main room downstairs.  It does circulate the air in the summer and the warm air in the winter.  We don't have air conditioning up here so you need some sort of cooling system.  It does work.  So I guess they are justified.  Don't even get me started on phones...