adieu Jasper...

Our dear Jasper, Marmalade's shy, handsome brother, was last seen on September 9 in the morning when we let both cats out.  An hour later Marmalade returned, but Jasper didn't.  We have posted notices, asked neighbour, informed vets...to no avail.  We really hope he has gone "walkabout" and returns, as he is missed a lot. 

On a happier note, the substitute teacher day bookings are steady and Brian is enjoying taking a paid course that will equip him to start the bed and breakfast business.

Marmalade has caught two bats recently while prowling around in the attics above the main house and the summer kitchen.  Thankfully, both were unharmed and we were able to catch them in a container and move them to fly away outside (where they probably promptly fly back into the attic via one of the several holes and cracks!).  That is the construction project for the weekend...to close those access areas and put up a bat house along the eaves on the outside of the house.  They are amazing mammals, and the ticking noise an angry bat makes is very interesting to hear.

Brian has uncovered several beams and boards that have Roman numerals and symbols incised in them by the builders in 1760 when they put the house up, so I have attached a few photos of those.

The living room has now been completely gyprocked, and by doing research on the net and watching a few YouTube videos, Brian found out about a gyprock (plasterboard) hoist that made doing the ceilings a breeze.   He rented this rig, and as you can see from the photos, the room is now looking much different than a few months ago!  We had a fierce dominoes game with Aunt Marg and cousin Marcia in the living room with a fire burning in the wood stove to celebrate the coziness of the new insulated living room with double-glazed windows (Marcia remains the undefeated champion). Floor sanding is next on the list, and we should have a living room with furniture in it by Thanksgiving. 

There are approx. 25 adults and various littles coming to the Thanksgiving dinner here at the Valley House.  We haven't had one since Dad's death in 2004, so it will be just wonderful to gather here again.

Bye for now! 









Looking for her brother



Jasper

A beam with the carpenter's marks

Brian contemplating the ceiling of the living room...will the hoist work?

On goes the gyprock, tilt it so it faces the ceiling....

Crank the wheel and up it goes!

The gyprock is held in place while being attached to the underlying strapping

A happy "gyprocker"

What a great job!

Full moon in September

Annapolis Royal taken from the Granville Ferry side of the Bay of Fundy

Loved this garnet coloured dragonfly