Island Cottage

Because of other projects at the mainland house at Fosters Point and Alaska travel, I did not get to spend as much time at the island as I would have liked.  But I still got a little done ... such as putting in a composting toilet (with a water interface ... hence no flies will zoom up your wahzoo while you are concentrating /  contemplating).  I still think the two 5 gallon bucket systems I had been using was just fine ... let alone having the ultimate virtue of no expense.  But as usual I was outvoted by Paula who stated  this was a necessity ... and then ...  GLARED at me (you know that look ... it means "Defy me and you Die ... you have to sleep sometime").  

Many thanks to those that helped with island projects.

The composting toilet and new laminate floor  ...  October

Click here to see the 270 degree view from the cottage deck 
For more info on the cottage work (including thanks to the helpers) ... use these links:
cottage 2011

Island visitor information

We enjoyed Vancouver ... particularly since more hurricane force winds and rain forced us to cancel our plans to visit Victoria and Whistler.  It is a very scenic and modern city on the ocean and close to the mountains. 

Around the House

Paula wanted more raised beds (she always wants more raised beds to plant more stuff) ... so to cure her of this tendency ... I made many more, namely  9.  Her job was to fill them with dirt.  I figured this labor would stop her for asking for any more raised beds forever.  However, she , as usual, out foxed me and invited friends to come for a work weekend and fill them for her ... 


They had hula hoop breaks to stay loose ... May



Wheelbarrow races ... May


9 new raised beds ... June


View from the chimney of 15 raised beds (there are 3 more just out of sight to the left and 1 more at the bottom) for a total of 19 ... August

I hope these are enough raised beds for Paula .... 

I decided that I needed a lightning rod on the house.  I came to this conclusion because I had to cut down a big tree that towered over the house (because of rot).  Hence I lost whatever  protection the tree allowed.  Also, I already effectively had a lightning rod on the house ... a state regulation requires a stainless steel pipe liner for the chimney with a protruding cap ... that led straight to the pellet stove in the living room.  I thought it would be best if the lightning went to ground via a different path.  Also, a lady that grew up in the house remembered that during a lightning storm (before the big tree had grown up) the chimney had been struck and sparks flew from the chimney everywhere.  So I got my old climbing equipment out from the closet and rappelled off of the chimney and ran the 1/2" copper cables down from the rod I installed in 2 separated directions and grounded them.  Paula was not amused to see me dangling around the roof.  Since then wise folks have told me that old climbing equipment in a closet should stay in a closet ... an old person taking it out of the closet (let alone using it) is clear evidence of rampant dementia.

 
The lightning rod with minimalist weathervane (the ball is only decorative) ... December

The scene of the lightning rod installation (it involved a lot of dangling to string the ground wires along the roof and down the building sides) ... December

Herons at the end of the Point ... before the dock ... April

Great Blue Heron on the end of the Point close up ... April

With the new dock the Heron moved to the float (showing his approval) ... October 

There he is ... October

Finally ... 
the Dock is completed

I have been working for 3 years on the dock project.  It took about 1.5 years to get through the permitting process and about 1.5 years of working with the contractor to get the job done.  It was finally completed at the end of June.  I did some work on the project in order to get it done the way I wanted (which means if I wanted something that took a lot more time than normal, I did it).  All the heavy lifting was done by the contractor (thank goodness!).

The granite blocks are all ~2'x2' by 8-12'.  All together they weigh about 40 odd tons.  Two sides of the blocks were cut by a stone saw so they would be flat and parallel.  The other sides were rough split.

It turned out very well.  The pier head is level within 1/16" over 50 feet (its best to be lucky).  Good Job by Falls Point Marine of Freeport and Carter Becker and crew.

Barges and cranes and geese ... June

Granite blocks being assembled to make the Crib ... June

Drilling holes to pin the Granite

Finished ... July

View from due South ... July

View from the Chimney ... August

Hurricane Irene Effect -- but Carter fixed it with little damage -- that won't happen again ... August

The full dock picture ... July

Link for pictures of the old dock that was destroyed by the Hurricane of '38.

Link for pictures of the minor storm of 3 Dec 09.  There have been much much worse storms ... which are what I want to prepare for ... this minor storm is just a hint of what can occur. 

             
                Other Pictures:

Denali from Talkeetna  ...  September

Ridge on Denali -- the skiing was tough but exhilarating ...  September

Denali Glacier  ...  September

Denali bear with autumn foliage  ...  September

Setting out for a hike (Vicki and Paula) ... we turned back before the snow covered peaks  ...  and before we were eaten by bears ... September


Big spaces in Alaska with moonrise  ... September

Alaskan Glacier near Valdez  ... September

From Denali Highway  ... September

Crags to Starboard with last glimmer of sunset ... September

Sunset 1 from Fosters Point ... April

Sunset 2 from Fosters Point (Paula and Sam in foreground) ... November

Sunrise 1 from Fosters Point ... October 


Sunrise 2 from Fosters Point  ... November 


Halloween on the Dock (the Lobstermen liked it) ... November