ANOTHER BUSY DAY

Yesterday was very productive. With Peter's help we were able to get the .................

east gable 3/4 done.  We need to order 4 more sheets of steel so hopefully this job will be completed next week.

After lunch we worked inside installing the stove hood. This was an easy job and we will re-route the black electrical cord once we have an outlet in the box below the hood.

As you can see our forest is getting a major thinning. Thanks to Matthew and Nathan we can now see so much further into the forest.

Sadly our turkey left her nest. We suspect a raccoon must have found it and eaten all the eggs as we couldn't find any egg shells when we looked.

Off to Peterborough shortly.

Thanks for stopping by.

BUSY

Hi Everyone!

We are fine just very busy. Yesterday we worked from 7 to 7, had supper then called it a day.

Today, Peter will be here at 8 and we will work together until 5. The boys arrive at 4 and work until 7. 

Tomorrow we are off to Peterborough for the day. I have an appointment and we want to see Sean and Casey.

Thursday and Friday will be like Monday and Tuesday. The weather is warm and dry and we only have the boys for another two weeks so it is work, work, work.

The turkey is still on her nest. We expect the eggs to hatch around the 20th of June.

Thanks for keeping an eye on us.

Safe travels

HEAT WAVE BUT WE ARE COOL

Yesterday, Toronto had it's first "heat alert" day this year and we are still in the month of May; think what June, July and August might be like. I wish I could take a picture of the comfort level in our house. 

Temperature at 6:30 pm

Outside it is 30*C (86*F) inside it is 24*C (75*F) without the use of air-conditioners, cooling systems, or other mechanical means to achieve the temperature difference. How did we do this?

It all relates to the house construction. Our house faces south with massive windows, floor to ceiling in the south wall. You would think all that glass facing south would be a problem. 

South wall 6:30 pm (note overhang)

The secret is the overhang above these windows. It extends the roof out 5 feet which keeps the direct rays out of the house during the summer months. In winter when the sun is lower in the sky, we get the full benefit of the sun to warm the interior of the house.

The massive amount of concrete in the walls and floor help to maintain a constant temperature throughout the year. In winter they absorb the heat from the sun and wood stove and give it back into the house during the night.

In the summer we open the windows at night to allow the cool night breeze into the house which is absorbed by the concrete. During the day this coolness is released back into the house keeping us cool without spending energy to achieve the comfort level.

If you are thinking of building in the next year or two, think ICF, specifically Durisol ICF.

Thanks for stopping by and "stay cool"

She's Back

Yesterday about 4 pm I decided to check on the nest before the boys arrived to cut more trees. I had a rough idea of the location but was not able to  see any eggs from the path. 

This is the brush where I thought the nest was located.  As you can see even at this close range you can not detect the nest. Thinking the nest had been abandoned I walked up to the brush trying to see the eggs that I hoped no raccoon had eaten. Nothing, not even an eggshell could I see. But then to my surprise I saw a head and realized the turkey was back on her nest.

I've decided we will leave that area and cut trees elsewhere until the eggs have hatched. It is amazing how close I was and yet she didn't move. She knows her ability to stay perfectly still when predators are close is her best survival chance. Once the eggs hatch the baby turkeys must leave the nest within 12 hours. I'm looking forward to seeing the little ones with their mom.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

TURKEY LEFT

It is a sad day here. Looks like our turkey has vacated her nest. We would see her under the bird feeders several times a day and suspected she had a nest nearby. 

Yesterday while clearing the trees we cut down on May the 12th, Matthew was startled when she suddenly erupted from the brush he was about to move. 

We thought the nest would be further from the house but it was tucked under the limbs of the trees (in the middle of the picture above)  the boys had cut down 3 weeks ago. 

We immediately left and worked in another area hoping she would return but so far she hasn't. There are 13 eggs and I think by now they have been left too long without her attention. 

We love living so close to nature and want to avoid disturbing their habitat or life cycle to the point where they leave the area. Next year we will be sure to give her lots of space if she decides to hang around here again.

Send us a note if you have any suggestions.

Update - 3:10 pm

The turkey in the above header just showed up and is enjoying what bird seed it can find on the ground. Unfortunately I don't think it was the one on the nest.

ECONOMIC HIT MAN

I'd never heard the term "Economic Hit Man"  until Don loaned me the book.

"Today we still have slave traders. They no longer find it necessary to march into Africa looking for prime specimens who will bring top dollar on the auction blocks of Charleston, Cartagena, and Havana. They simply recruit desperate people and build a factory to produce the jackets, blue jeans, tennis shoes, automobile parts, computer components and thousands of other items they can sell in the markets of their choosing. Or they may elect to not even own the factory themselves; instead they hire a local businessman to do all their dirty work for them." page 212 Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins

In light of the recent collapse of the garment factory in Bangladesh with over 1,000 garment workers, mostly women, killed and our realization that so many of our "goods" are produced off shore, this is a book you need to read.

"We live in a time of terrible crisis - and tremendous opportunity. The story of this particular economic hit man is the story of how we got to where we are and why we currently face crises that seems insurmountable. This story must be told because only by understanding our past mistakes will we be able to take advantage of future opportunities................" pg 258

Hope you get a chance to read the book. It's informative, riveting and full of documented historical accounts. You won't be able to put it down.

Thanks for stopping by.

BBQ SAFETY

We've enjoyed using our "Big Green Egg" with Carol and Don here the past few days.

Our BBQ sits just off the deck on one the south landing. Although we have to contend with the bugs it is a little further away from the house for safety reasons.

It's easy to regulate the temperature even though it burns charcoal. Simply adjust the dampers to the opening needed to give you the temperature you want. 

Steak, hamburgers ...................

fish, even desserts are done to perfection. One safety consideration that is mentioned in the operating manual is "flash backs". 

Notice the singed hair? If you open the lid too quickly when it is hot, the gas "flashes back" out the opening and over you. Fortunately I got away with just a few singed hair and this happened just a few minutes after I warned my sister about  opening the lid too quickly. Can't be too careful when using a BBQ. 

Be careful friends and safe travels.